Extra Among Extras
Click-clack! Click-clack! That was my daily routine these days—simple as could be. Work by day, and without fail, gaming by night.
A god-tier new release from my favorite series had dropped. Psychologic. The legendary JRPG franchise that shot a has-been game studio straight to the stars overnight.
I wasn't really into JRPGs in general. Honestly, turn-based games felt outdated in this day and age. But this one? Totally different.
For starters, it was wrapped in a high school slice-of-life package. School life by day, saving people from the Other Side by night—an urban fantasy vibe.
Nice... living that youth life for real. The thought just slipped into my head.
The classic youth story: studying at school, club activities, hanging out with friends to build bonds. And depending on your progress, romance options too. Pure youth elixir.
Then nights spent facing trials with your crew, bonds tested and deepened. It had everything to make an otaku's heart race—stylish BGM, illustrations that'd suck your soul right out.
After wrapping up work each day, I'd unwind with Psychologic 3. This was already my third playthrough. Getting bored? Nah, it always felt fresh.
Haven't stepped outside in forever... As a web novel writer, my job kept me glued to my desk all day, gaming all night. Full hikikomori mode.
Stay cooped up too long, and you'd lose your mind—or maybe it was just an occupational hazard. Either way, one crazy idea hit me.
What if... I end up possessing someone in this game?
Total madman territory. But weirdly plausible. You never know. For real.
Maybe my web novel brain was wired that way, but I started simulating it nonstop. Possession was inevitable.
I've gotta prepare.
Years as a writer had left my body in shambles. Showing up like that would be disastrous. What if I ended up as a protagonist's ally, fighting monsters? Yeah.
So I got right to it. Signed up at the local kendo dojo run by my junior.
I'd dropped out of college in my second year, but we still kept in touch.
"Wait... Senpai? You're suddenly into working out? Did your health check come back with red flags or something?"
My junior stared at me like I'd lost it.
"You never know. I might possess someone in the game I'm playing."
I said it dead serious.
"Senpai... please live in reality. Just a little."
He looked at me like I was a patient.
"Anyway, teach me some self-defense."
Sure, self-defense meant martial arts, but who fights game monsters barehanded? Swordsmanship was the smart play.
"Sigh... not like it's a bad thing."
Good guy—used to dealing with lunatics like me.
Anyway, I started kendo. Adult class at 8 PM.
By day, I carved out time from writing to study.
This game's got a Japanese setting, but... Basic education wouldn't differ much. Especially core subjects like national language, math, English.
I dove straight into high school curriculum.
Grades mattered in the game. Prep now.
---
A year passed uneventfully. No possession yet—bummer. But my prep? Perfect.
Kendo first. Entered a working-man's tournament, took first place. Bumped my rank to 1-dan.
Honest truth: pick up a sword, and I could handle most punks. Swinging bokken and wooden swords built stamina and strength too.
"Senpai's seriously got talent in the weirdest spots."
My junior, now an instructor, gawked at me.
Studies bore fruit too. Took the college entrance exam for "realism." Scored high enough for a top Seoul uni.
Should've studied back in school. Entrance exams... not as bad as I thought.
Bitter realization. Anyway, I was now a jack-of-all-trades, scholar and swordsman.
Prepared for possession. Totally.
Just need the possession itself!!!!
I fired up the game, waiting for that day.
-------
About a year and a half later.
I woke to an unfamiliar ceiling.
"Kkieeeek!!! Unfamiliar ceiling!!!"
Obviously not my room. Some foreign, exotic house I'd never seen.
Unfamiliar ceiling. Translation: different world, possessed into another character. Common sense.
Senpai... go to a hospital. My junior's dumbfounded mutter echoed in my head, but I ignored it.
A web novel writer's dream come true. Why read 'em? This was proxy satisfaction made real.
"What's wrong? Screaming like that."
Then an auntie rushed over.
"Ah... just a nightmare."
Sudden possession would rattle anyone, but I was a web novel pro. Possession expert (sorta).
This lady? Mom, obviously.
"O-okay..."
She looked insanely sad. Something up?
Anyway, up and at 'em. Shower, assess the situation. Figure out who I was.
Deep breath. Mirror in the bathroom.
"...Fucking hell."
I clicked my tongue.
Wasn't expecting a lead role. Extras are standard for possession, right?
But which extra? I'd simulated every possibility. Dead serious about this.
And this body? Worst case.
A total wimp stared back—peak unlikable vibe.
Arikiri Shota.
Yup. First event's victim.
First week of March. I was marked for death.
Trembling hands on my phone screen.
February 14th today. Roughly three weeks till doomsday.
I was on death row. Timed out.