End of Everything (Intro) - Afterword

This concludes the first of many possible stories: End of Everything (Intro). I had plenty of fun writing this. As half-assed as it was written, I spent a considerable amount of time making this. I'd prefer not to say how much time exactly. If I did, there'd be a palm smacked right on your face.

Just like Kiyomi, I have a lost sense of direction. Unsure if what is in front of me is real or fake, unsure whether the person I face in the mirror is me, and a disdain for whatever is up ahead is how I used to live my life. Just like Kiyomi. Unlike Kiyomi, however, I wasn't cursed with a Joke that made it so that I couldn't truly die. Since I'm not given unlimited chances with the life I was given, I have to cherish the one I do have.

But that raises the question: how much value does my life have? I haven't accomplished much in the life I've lived. The majority of my time is spent sitting on my ass doing nothing. I've also hurt countless people. Would this make the value of my life negative!? Do I owe money to someone? To whom? What if the value of my life was positive? Would someone owe me money? Who would that be? I wish I could know who this person would be so I can demand some money.

Wait… What if the value of my life is negative and I owe someone money? Dear God, please don't make that be the case…

Just like Olympia, I used to believe that the actions that I take aren't truly mine. It was as if I were some sort of video game character following the commands of some distant gamer. If we were to figure out how the universe was made, unraveling its source code, how would we be any different than a video game? Is free will nothing more than an illusion? Or are the things that I do happen because I want them to happen? Does it matter much? I don't know. And I don't know if my not knowing matters much. But if this train of thought were to continue for longer, then this whole Afterword would just be rambling about my uncertainty. Who the hell would want to read that!? As if there's anyone who's still reading at this point…

Just like Kumiko, I used to doubt whether I was real or not. Silly, I know. But once such thoughts enter one's mind, it's impossible to get rid of them; the anxiety lingers until you are no more. It doesn't get easier, and it doesn't get better. All you can do is forget such thoughts. Fill your mind with things that matter and dilute such uncertainties. What matters matters, what doesn't doesn't.

I can't give out any solutions on how to live one's life. I barely know how to live mine. But if I can leave you, the one reading, any sort of message, it'd be this:

You are worthy of becoming better.

I believe that all people can change and change for the better. Some days we're going to take a couple of steps back, but as long as we counteract this by taking more steps forward, then we can get closer to living happily.

Such a life is difficult to obtain, so difficult that it doesn't seem worth it. But trust me, it is. It will be worth it, and such a life exists.

I believe so.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

You deserve to live happily!

All that I have left to say is that after this Afterword is published, I'm unsure how long it will take for the next set of chapters to be released. I've been wanting to write something for so long, but I've never believed in myself. I don't believe in myself 100%, but maybe if you can believe in me too, we can make this happen. Thank you for all of the support. You are greatly appreciated. None of this would be possible without you.

These are just empty words if it weren't for you reading them. You give this story value. You give these characters value. You give me value.

Thank you—

P.S.

I didn't speak of Kagami and Emonon much during this Afterword, but expect to see more of them in the future. I wonder, will Olympia and Kumiko return? Who will Olympia end up with? Please do me a favor and don't sexualize my characters! If you do, that'd be rather impressive… None of them have been drawn yet!