Chapter 6 - The Hero From Another World

John

John H. Maverick, 22 years old and a college graduate. Living by his own since High School, John is no stranger from the hardships of life. Being an independent man, he learned many skills that made him survive through life's harsh trials; as he calls it. Growing up from his upbringing, John is a firm believer of hard work above all else, for that's how his been living for his entire life. From housework's, part-time work, school, projects, and tests. His been working hard on those things just to get a better future in life. And now that he finally graduated from college, such burdens are no more.

"[Sigh...] How cold..."

Walking through a snowy path, John can feel the cold and snowy winds penetrating through his body. Despite wearing a coat in his walk, it proved to be ineffective for the winter weather. Regretting to not bring his muffler, he braces through the icy wind, just to get to his destination.

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"[!?...] How convenient."

While walking through the snowy path, John came across a lonely vending machine in some corner of an anonymous building. Thinking that he can probably buy a hot drink, he then made his way to the lonely thing with some coins in hand.

Putting some coins into the thing, John then bought a can coffee. Which he casually drinks while watching the night sky. Seeing nothing but darkness from above, John was quite disappointed at what he was seeing. Yet despite said disappointment, such result was expected. Afterall, John lives in somewhat big city, a place where bright stars are rarely present.

Feeling warmed up from the coffee, John then continued walking in the snow.

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"Yo! Senior John. You came!" A girl shouted.

Arriving at a random park, John was greeted by someone whom he is familiar with. With big smile in her face, the girl then approached the freezing John.

"Sorry for calling you here, Senior John." The girl said. "I really thought that the weather was going to be fine than this."

"[Sigh...] You seriously could have picked a better time than this." John said with tired look.

Seeing John's exhausted look, the girl laughs. It seems that she's very unapologetic about the case. "I see that you're still cold as ever, senior John." The girl smiles. "It's quite cute seeing you act tsunderish despite already graduating."

Grabbing the girl by the neck, John then gave the girl a noogie. "Again, with your nonsensical references." John said. Rubbing her head somewhat seriously, the girl cried for John to stop. Not listening to the girl's cries, John continued his action until he thinks that the girl had enough.

"[Sniff-Sniff...] Senior J-John.. Is still a bully as e-ever..." The girl cried.

"Enough with that fake tears, will you. Can you at least tell me why you called me here?" John asked.

"Boo... Your no fun at all senior John." The girl said with an annoyed look.

"I see..." John muttered "So, you don't have anything of matter. I guess I'll leave now."

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" The girl shouted.

Seeing John leave, the girl quickly panics. Holding John by the hand, she tried her hardest to stop the ever-annoyed John. "Wait Please! I'm sorry." The girl cried. "I promise to not make fun of you again."

You always say that... John uttered in his mind.

Looking at the girl's face, it seems that girl is puppy eyeing John to not leave. Sighing from exhaustion, John then pat the girl's head, as if she's some sort of puppy. "You're so easy to fool, Mary." Continuing his gentle stroke at Mary's head, Mary oddly didn't stop John from patting her head.

"I'm not that dumb, senior John." Mary said. "It's just that you're really good at lying."

Mary Ryegrass, a junior of John from his university. Completely average in everything; be it in skills and even in looks. With such normal yet endearing qualities, she was able to make a ton of acquaintances in their school, unlike the lonesome John. But despite their differences in personality, it didn't stop the extroverted Mary from engaging a friendship with John.

"You make it sound like as if I'm sort malicious person." John said.

"Well you kind of bully me and you're very scary, so I don't think that there's any lie to that." Mary spoke.

Annoyed by her words, John then mercilessly flitches Mary's cheeks. With her face being stretch far from normal, Mary cried for John to stop, once more. "Aw, aw, aw, aw, aw... I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Mary cried.

Sighing from mental exhaustion, John then let's go Mary's cheeks, which relieves the ever-smug Mary. Glancing at her once more, it seems that she's nonchalant about the situation, despite her cheeks glowing red from pain.

Grabbing a wrapped thing in her bag, she then presents the thing to the somewhat confused John.

"What's this?" John questioned.

"You were asking why I called you here, remember?... S-so, this is it." Mary blushingly said.

Receiving the wrapped thing from Mary's hand. John then tried checking what's inside. Opening the wrap, John then saw a small rectangular wooden box. Confused as to what's inside, John then carefully opened the thing.

"Huh?"

Upon opening the box, John saw a sharp looking knife inside. Baffled at what he saw, he then glanced at Mary's face with a somewhat worried look.

"A-a... Knife...?" John muttered. "Could you care to explain why you gave this to me?"

"Well... considering that you were complaining about your kitchen knife's quality. I took it upon myself to buy you a new one." Mary answered.

"I see... You know that you didn't have to do this." John said.

"And if I were to comply by your words. Then you wouldn't even buy one." Mary said. "I know that you very well, senior John. You're the type of person who won't buy new clothes just because you find spending money a hassle."

Hearing Mary berate his qualities, John felt as if a sharp sword was stabbing him. Being a person whom live all by himself in most of his life, he developed the habit of being preservative with many things. Be it in clothes, food and even tools. As such he can't help but cheap in most cases.

Bearing his cheap pride, John then thanked Mary for the present.

"I-I suppose... I'll give you thanks for this." John said in a shy manner.

"No need to thank me, Senior John." Mary proclaimed. "Considering all the times I crashed in your place, you can consider this as payment. Plus, with you just graduating, a present or two is really not out of the ordinary."

Receiving a girl from Mary, John felt a sensation of happiness from inside of him. He never really gets gifts from everyone, so having someone that appreciates him, was somewhat nice.

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"Say... Are you really okay with this?" Mary said.

"Okay about what?" John asked.

"You know what I'm talking about, senior John. You don't have to be ignorant about it."

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"I'm fine with this... To be honest I'm happier that I'm finally cutting ties with them." John answered with a forced smile.

"You can't just say that, senior John." Mary worriedly said. "They're still your family."

"Family huh..." John sigh. "I wonder if they really think of that."

John's role in his family is a somewhat odd one. With his parents dying when he was still young, he lived from other family members to another. In where he learned how dishonest most people are. The only person whom he considered as somewhat close is his grandfather, whom when passed away gave John some inheritance.

Seeing the sharp gazes of his other family members when the news was told, John felt disgusted at that time. Someone as young as him, receiving that amount of inheritance was truly shocking for the others. Some even argued about the decision.

Anyhow, with the inheritance John received. The false smiles of the others grew even larger. Not being able to handle the place, John decided to use the inheritance he received to live by his own.

"Is your situation really that bad?" Mary asked.

"..." John silently stand in the cold

"I really don't know much, but I think that you should reconcile with your family members. Afterall, they're still your family and there's no denying that fact." Mary said in a passion.

Raising his hand to Mary's head, John then gently pats her head. "I would really like to thank you Mary." John said with a smile. "Your very kind and optimistic. And even how much I tried to push you away, you still come to me with a bright smile."

Hearing John's words, Mary can't help but blush. "W-what are you talking about!?" Mary blushingly shouted.

"What I'm trying to say is that, you shouldn't focus much on my life." John answered. "With such kindness in your heart, I'll just be wasted on someone meaningless."

"What are you saying, senior John." Mary said with a worried look. "You're not meaningless. You're my senior. The one whom help me many times in tough situations and the one whom made me realized my dream."

"I see..." John muttered. "Seeing the one whom made you realized your dream in this state, must be very pathetic, huh?"

With John's words echoing through Mary's ears, she can't help but get mad. Not wanting to make an outburst, she then tried biting her lips. "W-why...?" Mary softly asked. "Why do you always, dishearten yourself? I was trying to cheer you up!"

"A-are you okay, Mary?" John confusingly asked.

"I'm not!" Mary answered. "You are always so down on yourself, that it pisses me off!"

Grabbing a piece of snow in the ground, Mary then tried making a snowball. Confused at Mary's sudden action, John wasn't able to react fast-enough when Mary tried throwing the piece of snow.

"Hey! What was that for!?" John asked.

"Shut up!" Mary shouted. "That depressed look on your face, always pisses me off. So be prepared, Senior John. Cause I won't stop throwing snowballs in your face, until I get rid of that sad look of yours."

"Huh?" Not being able to react once more, John was hit with another snowball in the face. Seeing how Mary won't seem to stop, John decided to run and hide. "Stop it Mary!" John shouted.

"I won't stop until I see senior John's usual grumpy face." Mary continued firing his shots.

Annoyed the amount of snow in his face, John decided to join the fight. Grabbing a piece of snow in the ground, he then fired it directly at Mary's direction.

"Ey! That's cheating!" Mary shouted.

"You're the one who started first!" John exclaimed.

Throwing ball after ball, their childish fighting continued for about 15 minutes. Snow covering all their bodies, in the midst of the night. Yet despite the cold winds blowing all over them, they're oddly happy about it. It's as if the cold doesn't matter at that exact moment.

With John out of ammo, he then tried grabbing another piece of snow in the ground. Seeing the opportunity to attack, Mary quickly tackled the unsuspecting John. Pinning him in the ground. Smiling as she pins John with her legs, she then placed the snowball in her hand to John's face.

"I win." Mary smiles.

"[Sigh...] I don't think cheating counts as winning, but sure..." John said.

"There's no rules in regards about pinning." Mary explained. "So, I won fair and square, senior John."

Getting off John's body, Mary then gave John a hand, which he gladly accepted. Reminiscing about earlier, both of them can't help but laugh. They really can't believe they did such a childish thing in the middle of the night.

"Sorry about earlier, Senior John." Mary apologized.

"Don't worry about it." John calmly said. "I really needed the reality checked."

Checking the time in her watch, Mary found out that its really somewhat late. Panicking that her mother would be angry, she quickly apologized to John about her sudden leave.

"I-I'm very sorry for this, senior John." Mary sadly spoke. "I really thought that I have more time."

"It's okay." John said. "Having a girl stay for this late, would be dangerous."

"I-I'm really sorry... I even planed on inviting you to dinner on some restaurant."

"Again, it's fine... You can always invite me next time."

Waving goodbye to each other, John then watches as Mary's figure slowly fade away. Sighing from exhaustion, he then made his way back to his apartment.

While walking through the snowy path, John felt a disturbance all of the sudden. Quickly checking his back, he saw an ominous yet familiar figure standing from behind. Wearing fur coat and a beanie, the woman then smiled at John.

"Why hello there my dear cousin." The woman said.

"What are you doing here...?" John said with a serious look.

"Oh my? Is this how you really threat someone whom took care of you when you were still young." The woman voiced in amusement.

"I said what are you doing here?" John said once more.

"Does wanting to check my cute cousin's well-being satisfies your question?" The woman said in a sarcastic tone.

"..."

"My, my, how scary." The lady smiles. "Such gaze truly makes me tremble."

"Get out of here, Camellia." John said with a serious look.

"Such request would be hard to fulfill, my dear cousin." Camellia said. "For I came here to get you."

"I said get of here! I'm no longer part with the family." John asserted.

"You say that. But as far as I know your still part of the family, even the papers agree with me."

"Like I care."

"You should." Camellia uttered. "You're a candidate to claim grandfather's entire businesses, as such you're needed at the house."

"All of you don't want me being in there, anyway. So, why would you care of inviting me." John said.

"Stop being dumb, my dear cute cousin. I know that you understand how grandfather's last will works. His lawyer will only reveal his last will when all the candidate members all agreed and gathered at the house."

"How convenient." John said with a sarcastic tone. "Then I guess, they have to wait for a long time."

Having enough of the conversation, John decided to leave. But before he can even walk out, Camellia said something that made John stop in his tracks.

"I understand your concern my dear cousin." Camellia said with his gentle voice. "Grandfather was a very kind and honest man. One can even say that his one of a kind. So, having the thought that all his hard work will be taken by such lowlifes is truly infuriating."

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"If you understand what I'm feeling then why are you inviting me to be there?" John asked.

"That's because I love you." Camellia said with a gentle smile.

Hearing the words that came from Camellia's lips, John felt extremely disgusted. It's as if his body was suddenly poisoned just from hearing those sweet words. Holding himself to not puke, he then gave Camellia a sharp glare.

"I see..." Camellia muttered. "It seems that my love for you is unwanted."

With a depressed look in her face, Camellia suddenly threw a bottled drink to John's direction. Quick with his hands, John was able to catch the flying thing with no error.

"Let me warn you, my dear cousin. Just because you don't want to let the others get grandfather's last will, that doesn't mean that the others will let you be." Camellia said with a serious tone. "I was only trying to invite you to the house, for your safety. But if prolonging the thing is your decision then I'll let you be."

Saying her goodbyes, Camellia then left John's side. Seeing Camellia's figure slowly fade away, John then made his way to some public bathroom, in which he took a somewhat long time washing his face. Still remembering Camellia's words, John still felt disgusted at it. With his throat feeling dry, he then grabbed the bottled drink, after which he chugged a somewhat large amount.

"[Sigh...]"

Seeing his face in the mirror, John noticed that his face looks more tired than before. Feeling pathetic at himself, he then chugged the bottled drink once more. Feeling somewhat relaxed, he the threw the bottled drink in some garbage can and continued his way to his apartment.

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As he walks in the snowy path, John can't help but noticed how his more exhausted than usual. Thinking that it's probably just from all his walking. He decided to pay no heed to his condition and continued his way.

A few minutes later, John felt a massive headache which stopped him from his tracks. Not long after he then also felt dizzy, which made his sight somewhat blurry. Losing his strength, John then fell face first to the ground. With cold wind and icy snow in his face and body, John was left confused in the ground.

W-what's happening. John thought.

Using all his remaining strength to get up, he was shocked to see how weak his body was.

As John tries his hardest to get up, a familiar figure suddenly came near to him, standing ominously at his side.

Camellia... John muttered inside his mind.

"How truly sorry I am, my dear cousin. But such deed has to be done." Camellia said with a sadistic yet gentle smile. "How I truly love to be with you, making love at each other's side. But alas such dream seems to be impossible... I can't even help but laugh inside... [Chuckle] What a truly cruel world isn't it, my dear John?"

Being weak to the brim, John wasn't able to hear Camellia's words. But despite being in said state, John was still able to understand what's happening as if his ear was fully functioning. Cursing Camellia from his mind, he promises himself to take revenge. But as his sight slowly fade away, John can also feel his breath lessening. Seeing the inevitable, John slowly closes his eyes. But before he went to what he thought was he eternal sleep, John heard an unknown but soothing voice.

"Oh, Hero from another world, please answer my call."

Huh...?

As a bright light engulfs him, John suddenly found himself in a dark and dusty place. Looking more at his surrounding he saw an odd-looking raccoon and a young girl not far from where he was. Confused as to what's going on, John wasn't able to mutter a word.

"W-who are you?" The young girl asked.

Still confused as to what's happening, John can only mutter a single word.

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"W-what?"

-End