Doomed Extra: Three Weeks to Live
I was Arikiri Shota, on a strict time limit. I'd possessed him, alright.
"No way... I figured it'd be an extra, but still."
Honestly, possessing an extra was the ultimate canon event of canon events. I hadn't even dreamed of landing in a protagonist-tier role.
"Of all the damn... "
I'd ended up in the extra who got used up first in the game.
This world I'd possessed—Arikiri Shota's body in Psychologic 3—kicked off with the protagonist starting school in March. The setting was Emoshita City, a place plagued by bizarre phenomena. Every night at midnight, the Other Side fused with reality, and monsters poured out.
These monsters roamed the night, attacking humans, who were later found as heart attack victims. The police had already pegged it as a serial killing spree and were on the case. And...
'I'm the guy who reveals something's up in this city... then gets offed.'
In week three, a vaguely antagonistic creep picks a fight with the protagonist and turns up dead on a mountainside. That creep was Arikiri Shota. The protagonist, sensing something off, digs into the case, awakens his powers at night, and boom—prologue done.
Yeah... pretty textbook, clichéd stuff. But that's what makes it good, right? Tropes endure for a reason.
No. That wasn't the point.
'Three weeks... I die in three weeks?'
Time was way too short.
Arikiri Shota was a shady stalker type, killed while creeping on the heroine Umi Kiryu at night. Since she was the last person he met, the protagonist interrogates her, and their bond sparks.
Whatever. Point is, if I just don't stalk Umi Kiryu and lay low, I'm golden, right?
I could've spun that happy little fantasy, but I was pessimistic about it. As a web novel author myself, I knew better.
'In the game, Arikiri Shota always dies.'
A sacrifice for the prologue. Essential events in the game might be like "fate" in this world. Stalk or not, death was locked in. Standard possession trope.
I could've gotten offed at home by some freak accident.
"Goddammit...!"
I tried thinking rationally, but the three-week deadline blanked my mind.
"Hoo..."
First things first, I splashed cold water on my face. It cleared my head a bit.
"Do what I can."
I muttered to myself. It was still February. Arikiri Shota—that's me—was a prospective freshman about to enroll at Natori High School in Emoshita City come March.
As a newbie, no one to turn to. Couldn't approach main characters early anyway. Even if I did, they wouldn't help—they had no clue what was brewing in the city.
But it wasn't all bad.
'Still spring break.'
Yeah. Time was on my side.
'Plus...'
Seemed like my previous life's physical specs carried over somewhat. Unlike the original scrawny anchovy Shota, my body had some residual muscle from hardcore kendo training.
Train enough not to get chomped helplessly by monsters, stock gear and potions ahead of time. RPG basics.
'And I'm a pro web novel author.'
Yeah. Expert in this exact setup. So I went for it right away.
"Status Window."
Swipe the hand casually—that's the vibe.
There it was. Game-style stats window, identical to the original Psychologic interface.
'Stats confirmed.'
'Level: 1'
'Strength: 13'
'Speed: 13'
'Durability: 10'
'Luck: 1'
'Magic: 0'
"...Fuck."
I'd expected it, but still cursed. Luck at 1? Brutal.
But hey, the window didn't lie. Possessing this shit-tier character? Yeah, low luck tracked.
No crits for me, that's for sure.
"But... Magic at 0..."
In Psychologic, Awakeners could wield magic-like powers from the Other Side. Magic stat determined that power. Zero meant no spells whatsoever.
Extra life, duh. Just fodder to get murked.
Positives: Strength and Speed beat 10. Thanks to my past life's training, +3 edge.
Look on the bright side. Levels upped stats by 2-3 each time, so this was like level 2 strength. Protagonist started at all 10s. I wasn't slacking in Strength or Speed—small mercies.
'I can do this.'
Finding hope in the little things: shortcut to happiness.
First, level up. Week 1 March monsters averaged levels 1-5. To survive, hit level 5 minimum.
No clue on level speed, but squeeze every second in three weeks.
Goal: Don't die to monsters.
"Alright..."
After washing up, I rummaged deep in my room. Knew right where from Shota's memories.
"200,000 yen..."
Savings piggy bank from childhood. Dude was broke as hell. What ya expect from a high school freshman?
Make it work.
I threw open the closet, donned my least ratty clothes: hoodie and jeans, timeless for the style-challenged.
"Heading out, Mom."
Straight to the door.
"Sho—Shota...? Going out?"
Mom muttered, face a mix of worry and感動. Sad, proud vibes.
'Yeah... middle school year 2: skipped school. Year 3: nurse's office regular.'
Voluntarily leaving the house? Shocker.
"Yeah. Might be late."
"Wh-where to?"
"Kendo dojo."
I named the one spot for early EXP grinding.
"R-right... Have a good time."
Her eyes welled up. Geez, weepy lady.
I grinned and bounced.
I arrived at Kiryu Dojo, a historic kendo hall generations deep in Emoshita City. Prime daytime EXP farm in the game.
'Plus... one main heroine, Umi Kiryu, is the only daughter here.'
Players grinded here for her route.
'Not chasing heroines.'
Survival first, conquest later.
Safe daily EXP, and dojo head Gonzaemon Kiryu hooked you up with physical skills and gear if you bonded.
'Level grind here first.'
Day: kendo practice. Once leveled, night hunts on weak Other Side mobs. My plan.
I opened the door.
Midday, sparse crowd. Center: muscular dude with a long beard. Gonzaemon Kiryu himself.
"Oh? Here to join our dojo?"
Gonzaemon grinned.
"Yes."
"Great. Student, huh? After-school slots are..."
He started on the schedule. Dojos ran timed sessions.
"I'll pay extra. Till enrollment, let me train morning to evening."
I bowed deep. Spec up here or I'm dead!!
"...That's rough."
Gonzaemon eyed me.
"I have my reasons."
I said dead serious. Short, earnest lines land surprisingly well. Life hack.
"...Reasons? What?"
"I want to get strong."
Straight truth. No strength, no point possessing just to die.
"........."
Gonzaemon stared.
"You're serious. Eyes full of resolve. I like it."
He grinned, raised a finger.
"Deal. Special for you: one month. Master basics, don bogu, and first month's free. Pay after."
Bogu: kendo armor. Basics down, skill solid, then full gear dive. Gonzaemon was strict—no bums in armor. Earn it.
Hustle one month, free ride. No-brainer.
"I'm in."
I met his gaze.
"Good. Uniform now. Train."
Gonzaemon boomed.
And so, before high school, I linked up with Kiryu Dojo.