Chapter 2: Option
The man awoke with a searing headache, disoriented and overwhelmed by what had just transpired.
He slowly sat up from the bed, his thoughts clouded and scattered.
"I… I died. And I've been reborn."
Panic surged through him like a crashing wave.
His life—gone. Just like that.
Everything he'd known, everything he'd built—it had ended in an instant.
His hands trembled as he clutched his knees, which felt weak and hollow, as if they no longer belonged to him.
"No, no, no… what will happen to my family? My friends?"
Regret clawed at him, sharp and suffocating.
"There were things I wanted to do. Dreams I hadn't fulfilled.
I never bought a house… never retired my parents."
His breathing grew ragged.
"I feel like I'm losing myself…"
He forced a deep breath, trying to regain control.
His heart pounded like a war drum in his chest.
He inhaled again—longer this time, steadier.
Centre yourself.
You need to think.
"At least my death policy will help them. My brothers will be there to support everyone."
And then there was her.
"There was a girl… someone I wanted to propose to.
Like Thorfinn, I wanted to find peace, find love.
I was getting closer to one of my friends. I think… I think the feeling was mutual."
His voice cracked.
"No. No, no—how could this happen?"
He collapsed back onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Breathe. Breathe, damn it."
He clenched his fists and gave himself a command:
"Take a deep breath. Centre yourself. You can't lose it now."
The panic still lingered, but now it was tempered—held back by a thread of will.
"What should I do?"
"Control what I can control. Don't panic over what I can't."
He sat up once more, his expression hardening.
Things I can't control:
– My situation.
Things I can control:
– Myself.
My situation:
– I died.
– I've been reborn.
He took one final breath and opened his eyes.
"I died."
"Goodbye… to my old life. My love to my family and friends."
R.I.P. my old self.
He stood. Determined now, if only slightly.
"So… who am I now?"
He walked toward the bathroom. The door creaked open.
A mirror.
A handsome face stared back at him.
His breath caught.
A wave of déjà vu hit him hard.
He had seen this face before. Somewhere.
Then it came rushing in—like floodgates bursting open.
Memories. Foreign. Fragmented. Violent.
They hit him all at once.
And he vomited into the sink.
His reflection blurred in the glass.
"Jin Kazuma…"
Orphan.
Raised by a single mother.
Mother died in a car crash—left behind a good inheritance.
No surviving relatives.
No close friends.
Just one neighbor girl who occasionally called him Onii-chan.
Other than that—it was just school and home.
A loner. Detached. Quiet.
He gripped the sink tightly.
"Good," he muttered under his breath. "No one to be wary of. No strings attached."
"Alright," Jin muttered, exhaling deeply. "I'm done with my existential crisis."
the jin hear door bell . then he go to open the door .
He stood in the hallway, rubbing his temples, still nursing the pounding in his skull.
In front of him stood a young girl with golden hair—fidgeting anxiously.
He looked her over thoughtfully.
"What should I even call her…? Yeah. Ki-chan."
She had been raised by a single father who was barely home—always working late.
Lonely and often left to herself, she had taken to visiting the neighbor.
That neighbor being him.
"I've got a severe headache today, Ki," Jin said, trying to sound gentle. "Not today."
"Oh… can I help somehow?" she asked, stepping forward a little.
"No." He began to close the door.
"I'll stay quiet! I promise!" she blurted out.
Jin hesitated. He looked at the kid—hands clasped behind her back, her feet shifting nervously.
She clearly didn't want to be alone today.
He sighed.
"Alright. You can stay. Watch TV—but keep the volume low. And don't disturb me."
She lit up instantly and threw a clumsy salute. "Aye aye, sir!"
"What did I say?" Jin said, raising an eyebrow.
"Sooorry!" she squeaked.
He stepped aside and let her in.
Ki scampered into the living room and flopped onto the sofa like she owned the place.
The apartment was modest—one bedroom, a small living room, a kitchenette, and a bathroom.
Jin shut the door and headed into his bedroom. He collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"When is A going to contact me…"
As if summoned, a familiar pop-up chime echoed in his mind.
A: "Awww, miss me already? You look like a lost kitten."
Jin rolled his eyes. "Cheeky bastard. I wasn't missing you."
A: "Don't bother replying—it's pre-recorded. I made it so this voice plays when you think about me or your cheat. Convenient, huh?"
Jin sighed. Might as well let it play out.
A: "Right, so here's how your system works. Listen closely."
*"You'll call up the 'window'—a system interface will appear.
You'll see three slots. You input three character name .
Once you submit them, I'll get the list, pick whichever I like, and return the selected one to you.
That template will then appear in your 'Progress Window.'"
*"And don't worry—your personality and memories won't be overridden.
I want to see your choices, not someone else's. So congrats, you dodged a bullet."
P.S. Some quick advice on what to enter:
NO popular characters. You're not getting Luffy, Naruto, Ichigo, Izuku, Asta, Gojo, etc.
I might bend Rule 1 if you offer something… interesting.
This is High School DxD—so enjoy the carnal pleasures, my dude.
Jin sat up.
"Window," he called.
A soft blue interface flickered into existence in front of him, glowing faintly.
Three empty slots appeared.
"So… how do I type in this thing?"
A: "Just think about it."
"Motherf—" Jin jumped slightly.
"You gave me a damn scare."
He glanced at the slots.
"Alright. Let's start basic."
He mentally input:
[BRYAN MILLS] – Taken
[MAD DOG] – Raid: Redemption
[WINTER SOLDIER] – Captain America
Then he pressed Confirm.
The screen flashed red.
ERROR
Please change the three options.
Jin sighed. "Of course. I was hoping that one might slip through…"
He scratched his head. "Alright. Let's try again."
"Tae-sik Cha."
The new list appeared:
[BRYAN MILLS] – Taken
[MAD DOG] – Raid: Redemption
[TAE-SIK CHA] – The Man from Nowhere
He hit Confirm again… and waited.