The Boss Dazai's Script Got Torn Up Again

[This novel will be released as a paid title on October 8, with a 10,000-word update that day. The first chapter behind the paywall will be Chapter 25.]

Dazai worked diligently for four years without rest or sleep. After carrying out all his plans, he leaped from a rooftop, never expecting the world to restart.

He spent a long time in a daze in the river, letting his consciousness slowly fade. When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was a fluffy panda cub.

He had been taken in by a fierce-looking weirdo who loved knitting dolls.

*

Yaga had been troubled lately. During a mission, he had found a suicidal boy and discovered that the boy seemed to suffer from severe psychological problems.

Yaga studied psychology all night, only to discover that Dazai was a master of psychology. Every time Yaga tried to comfort him, Dazai ended up comforting Yaga instead.

Dazai: "It's normal to feel tired. Jujutsu sorcerers have far too much work to do. You should take a break every now and then."

Yaga sighed, on the verge of tears, and poured out all his troubles. Then he belatedly realized, "?"

Something seemed off. Wasn't he supposed to be comforting and guiding a teenager? How had he ended up venting instead?

*

Just after Dazai graduated from Jujutsu High, the "Book" came looking for him and hurriedly took him back to Yokohama.

Then he discovered that, without "Dazai," this world was on the verge of collapse. With no other choice, he decided to return to his old line of work.

He effortlessly seized power and became the boss, then was driven frantic by the mountain of paperwork he had to handle.

Gojo, his classmate from Jujutsu High, also came to stir things up, filling his office with sweets and dolls made by Yaga.

Worst of all...

The people of Yokohama had memories of the previous cycle!

*

After Dazai was taken away, a gigantic screen appeared in the sky above Yokohama...

Everyone saw two entirely different worlds. As the grand plan of Boss Dazai came to an end, the screen went completely black.

Everyone looked conflicted. They had never met anyone named Dazai.

Until several years later, a young man appeared out of nowhere in Yokohama, seized power, and became the overlord of the underworld. Everything was heading toward that tragic ending again.

But this time, things didn't go so smoothly. Dazai leaned backward and fell from a tall building in the port, gravity sweeping over his entire body.

"Rainbow Dragon!!"

He landed on the cursed spirit and met the furious glares of the crowd. "..."

All that work for nothing again. Did he not deserve a peaceful, eternal sleep that he wouldn't wake from? (dead-eyed)

[Coming soon: Cyber-Raising Cats in the World of One Piece]

Blurb:

As a seasoned otaku, Tsukimiya Ya had watched all kinds of anime and read plenty of fanworks. Recently, he had become obsessed with a relaxing little game.

[One Piece Cats: Grand Line] was a simulation game where each level-up unlocked a new cat.

The only downside was that leveling up required spending real money.

Completionist Tsukimiya Ya (wincing): "Bought it!!"

*

His first kitten was a calico with a straw hat and a scar under one eye. It was always shouting about wanting to become a pirate cat.

After catching the runaway kitten for who knew how many times, Tsukimiya Ya sighed, feeling a headache coming on. "Am I raising it wrong?"

Luffy Cat scratched itself with a hind leg. It was filthy, its tummy was rumbling, and its beady eyes looked listless. "Meow~"

Tsukimiya Ya: This game is so devious! It's basically forcing me to spend money! Who could bear to let such a cute kitten go hungry?

In a rush of enthusiasm, he stocked up on 99+ dried fish for the kitten.

*

His second kitten was a black-and-white cat wearing an orange-yellow cowboy hat, with tattoos on its body. It was a strange kitten who liked to eat and sleep at the same time.

Tsukimiya Ya looked at the test paper the kitten handed him, deeply moved, and rewarded it with a dried fish. "Thirty-six points! My family finally has a cat who's good at school! Waaah!"

Luffy Cat always got single-digit scores or zero on exams, dozed off in the middle of the test, then came home carrying a whole basket of zeroes.

Ace Cat (hands on hips): lets out a proud snort* (happily swishes its tail)

Tsukimiya Ya: Mm... (hit right in the cute spot)

*

One day, he opened the game and discovered that one of his cats was missing!!

Looking at Ace Cat's lost status, he drew his sword and looked around in bewilderment. "???"

Who stole my cat?!

Tsukimiya Ya was miserable for a while because he couldn't get his cat back. Eventually, he pulled himself together and continued caring for the kittens he had left.

Nami Cat, a money-loving cat with an orange on its head; Zoro Cat, who treated dried fish like his three swords; Sanji Cat, the lecherous one with curly eyebrows; the cold-faced Law Cat in a mushroom hat...

He looked at the complete collection badge in his index, but couldn't feel happy. He kept thinking about the kitten that had gone missing, and wanted the rest of his cats to grow up healthy and strong.

In a rush, he maxed out every cat's skill points and spent who knew how many 648-yuan packs. Then the game crashed.

Tsukimiya Ya: ...No way. Did I actually crash the game by spending a little money?

He hesitated as he stared at the black screen, then quickly reported the problem to the game developers.

*

Good news: After the game restarted, the kitten he had lost was back!!

Bad news: Ace Cat had brought a whole bunch of cats with him, and found himself a dad.

Theme: To protect yourself and those around you.