My name is Ginto Isanaku.
I can't believe how it all started, if you're asking me. One day, I was a normal 17-year-old kid, watching anime like any other kid, and the next...
My life had changed.
It all started six months ago, when a mysterious package showed up at my door...
Six months ago...
"Bam! Take this! Flaming Fist of FURY!"
The TV in the living room played my favorite action anime, showcasing an amazing fight scene. As the fight wore on, I got up to get popcorn from my fridge.
I live in Tokyo, by the way. In Harajuku. My house wasn't too spectacular. I lived with my parents and my older brother, Shintaro. He was an avid gamer, and a bit on the bigger side.
"GINTO!"
Speak of the devil.
I got up to see what he wanted, and as soon as I went inside his room, he showed me a letter he'd gotten. It was written in a formal language, from one of the top headquarters in the world: Zenith Studios.
The Apex of ALL things gaming and entertainment. Shintaro read the letter.
"Hello, Shintaro Isanaku. We are inviting you to participate in the upcoming Death Game project this weekend. If you accept, please call this number below."
080-6666-1234
Me and Shintaro shared a look.
"Dude!" Shintaro yelled. "WE get to be part of their new big GAME! That's so amazing! I wonder what it's like? Do you think it's a virtual reality laser tag game, or a dungeon simulator, or—-?"
I stopped him right there. "We? I didn't get an invitation!"
Shintaro looked at me with a confused expression on his face. "What do you mean? Your invite should have come in the mail!"
I scratched my head. "Nope. Not ringing a bell."
He pointed down to the last part of the letter, which surprised me.
"P.S., we are also formally inviting your brother, Ginto Isanaku, to participate in the game. A separate letter for him should come soon."
He set the letter down, smiling at me. "See! You're gonna be a first-hand player in one of the most anticipated games of this decade!"
The thought did excite me. They were a top-tier entertainment company, and the Zenith brand was the company that produced all the anime that I watched.
"Okay, I'll wait for my invitation," I said, hopeful. "Hope it comes soon, I don't want to be late!"
But days flew by, and nothing ever came in the mail. Since it was summer and I had no friends of note, I continued to check outside every single day, and yet, there was nothing. No mailman ever came to the door.
But on Friday night, right before the game was supposed to start, something happened.
I was busy inside my room, drawing anime characters, when I heard the opening of a car door. Someone walked up to my window and left a package right outside of it.
I was confused, since typically the mailmen left any mail at the front door, but before I could question it, he was gone.
I opened the window and picked up the package, which felt surprisingly heavy. There was a letter attached to the top, which read:
"Hello, Ginto Isanaku. You have been invited to participate in the upcoming Death Game. Please take this package and make your way to the nearest warehouse at once. The games will begin shortly."
