I want to die.

I've tried to stab the blade of a utility knife into my wrist countless times, but I just can't take that final step. Even though I shouldn't have any regrets about this world anymore...

That day, in just one day, my entire life came to an end.

An ordinary morning, the usual conversation with Dad and Mom. After eating breakfast, I head to high school at the usual time. This area has few people and little light, so I make sure to return home before sunset.

A car came up from behind. It's unusual for anything other than farming vehicles to pass through this area. I moved to the left side to give way. But for some reason, the car slowed down and didn't overtake me at all.

The moment I turned around out of curiosity, something like a bag was placed over my head, and I lost my sight. I tried to scream, not knowing what was happening, but a sharp shock ran through my back, and I lost consciousness right then and there.

From then on, it was hell. Blindfolded and not knowing what was happening, I was assaulted by dozens of men...

The hellish time that felt like it would last forever came to an end, and I was released back to where I used to be. No, it wasn't so much a release as being discarded like a toy that was no longer needed.

I don't remember much of what happened after that, and I don't want to recall it either. Of course, I couldn't tell my parents or friends about such a thing, so I lied and said I was sick and couldn't go to school that day.

From that day on, my life changed completely.

Indeed, as the men said, they haven't contacted me since that day. Thanks to the contraceptive pill they forced me to take, I'm not pregnant. If I were pregnant, I might have been able to give up on everything.

I'm worried about when those men will come to assault me again, or if they'll harm my dad, mom, or friends. I can't even sleep properly at night. They also said they filmed it. If that video gets leaked, my already hopeless life will be completely over...

I became afraid of men and even broke up with my boyfriend, and just hearing a car pass by brings back that fear. I've been skipping school more often, and the kind words from my worried parents and friends only make it harder.

I want to kill those men one by one and die, but all I remember is their voices. I don't know their faces, the place, or the car's license plate, so there's no way I can find them. It's impossible for someone like me to live a normal life ever again...

Sigh... Even though it's summer vacation, I'm just lazing around at home every day. Today, both Dad and Mom are at work, so I'm all alone at home. But I don't want to go outside anyway, so it can't be helped.

Knock knock

"Huh?"

My room is on the second floor. Yet, for some reason, there was a knock on the second-floor window. But when I looked at the window, no one was there. What is going on?

Gacha

"Eh, why!?"

The window lock that was supposed to be closed opened on its own due to some unseen force.

And then, just when I thought the window had opened on its own, a shadow suddenly appeared.

"Ahhhhhhh!!"

Suddenly appearing outside the window was a suspicious man wearing a black mask. He was dressed in some kind of strange suit and even had a cape. Huh, but this suspicious outfit seems familiar somehow...

"Excuse me, I know I look suspicious in these clothes, but I'm not a shady person. I won't come into your house, so could you please listen to me for just a moment?"

"What are you saying, dressed like that? I'm calling the police! Or, could it be that you're one of them?!"

I extend the blade of the utility knife that I've thought about using to end my life many times before, pointing it at the suspicious man. What should I do? Our house is far from the neighbors', and even if I call the police now, it definitely won't be in time!

"The criminal group that assaulted you has all been captured. I have a little bit to discuss with you about that."

"Eh..."

I remembered! This suspicious man was the one who was trending in videos a while ago. He helped people after an explosion and resolved a terrorist incident, making quite a splash in the videos for a while, but then suddenly the videos were deleted. After that, any new videos that came up were quickly deleted too, and recently he seemed to be forgotten.

"You were involved in that terrorist incident, weren't you...?"

"Um... yes. If you were watching that video, it should be quick to explain. You can use your superpowers like this. If possible, could you put down the cutter and listen to me for a moment?"

"Eek!?"

Suddenly, a sphere of water appeared right in front of me. When I touched it with my hand, it felt cold. When I poked it with my finger, it trembled and moved in the direction I pushed it.

Wow, it looks like the outer space I've seen on TV! I can't believe there really are superpowers like in the videos I watched.

"......For now, please come inside."

"Ah, excuse me, pardon me."

In the video, he was incredibly strong, and if he were to get serious, I would be no match for him. His appearance is suspicious, but I don't get the feeling that he's a bad person. Besides, my desire to hear more about the story of the men who assaulted me being caught won out.