Archive of Our Own ^beta

A/N: This fanfic is entirely self indulgent. So if you aren't interested in that, please do turn back now. But if you are, read on. It's also my first attempt at a first-person fanfic. Hopefully it isn't too much of a disaster.

I never wanted to be a hero. I never wanted to be the one people turned to when they needed help, when they needed someone to tell them that things would be alright. It wasn't because I didn't care, but because I was a realist. In this world, where humans fought more to survive than to thrive, I felt like trying to be a hero was a lost cause. After all, where would that get me? Probably in an earlier grave than the one that was already predestined for me. I wasn't naive, I knew I wouldn't live until old age.

After all, it's not like I lived in Vale or one of the many fortified cities. Far from it. I lived in a village, with only basic walls and one or two guards. The chances of Grimm or Bandits coming and killing us all was too high.

Okay, maybe I was more of a pessimist.

And I knew that kind of thinking was dangerous. Grimm were attracted to negative emotions. It was basically an addicting scent to them. Like bees to honey, they would come. But I've already lost my older sister, my father and most of my extended family. So really, I think I was justified in feeling a little jaded. Just a little.

But see, something I learned early on was that sometimes, life had a way of being unpredictable. I was certain that I would meet a horrible end. That I would be some Grimm's lunch and that the world would continue on turning without me.

I shouldn't have been so naive. Because I had underestimated my own humanity.

I never wanted to be a hero.

But when those Grimm burst down the walls, I was the one charging them with a wooden bat. I yelled at everyone to run away. Frankly, I was an idiot. I shouldn't have even been bothering to fight. So why did I give it all I had? Why did I care so much more than I believed I did?

Maybe it's because deep down, I didn't want to just await the end. I didn't want to just survive like everyone else.

I wanted to change things. I wanted to be the reason people smiled.

Okay, sue me. Maybe I did want to be a hero. But it's not like I don't have a good excuse for trying to deny it. Remnant had a way of beating optimism out of you.

And it probably would have beaten out the last bits of rebellion in me if something extraordinary hadn't happened.

Remember when I said that life had a way of being unpredictable? Well, care to explain how a young teen of only 15 was able to materialize a rifle and shoot a Grimm dead despite not having his aura unlocked? Yeah.

Strap in, guys. This is gonna get weird.

Like, so weird that it's really hard to explain. But I'll do my best.

My power. It wasn't a semblance. It was something more. I might even call it magic. But it was strange because the gun I materialized? I recognized it. In fact, it was the signature weapon of one of my favorite units in a gacha game I played.

And as the Grimm continued to charge me, I decided to experiment with this mystery power and see if my crackpot theory held any weight. I imagined myself wielding a certain grenade launcher from the same game. And with a flash of blue light, it replaced the assault rifle I had been using.

I stared down at it, an incredulous expression on my face.

"The ability to summon weapons from a gacha game."

Just saying the words out loud sounded stupid. So stupid that I wanted to laugh. But hey, right now, they were saving my bacon.

I pointed the grenade launcher at the Beowulf that wanted to turn me to lunch.

"No hard feelings, yeah?"

And blew it sky high. It was kind of impressive, really. What was more impressive was the fact that my arm wasn't yanked off by the recoil. Was it because it was my power? I was starting to like it more and more. Part of me wondered if it was indeed my semblance. I'd heard that aura could be awoken during dire situations, but given that I was currently bleeding, that theory went out the window.

Did I even have aura?

My internal musings were interrupted by the roar of an engine. A bullhead. Huntsmen were here. I could only roll my eyes. If I hadn't developed a spontaneous power, everyone would be dead. You'd think they'd invest in a faster airship.

Instead of letting the irritation show, I just raised my hand in casual greeting. "Yo."

I was detained. Because of course the Bullhead was from Atlas. And of course they had seen my wild ass powers and wanted to know about it. Sometimes I hated people. But I could work with this. Atlas people, from what I knew, were all about rules. And given that they were in Anima and not Solitas, they were definitely out of their jurisdiction. I could probably pull that card. Or, I could go the more amusing route and annoy them into submission. Y'know, that one sounded more fun. I ran a hand through my shaggy green, black and red hair and gave my interrogator my most charming smile.

"So" I said as I rested my arm on the table. "What can I do for you, officer?"

The officer slammed his hand on the table. "You will tell me what that power was. It didn't register as being aura based. Which makes you an unknown."

I allowed my green and red eyes to bore directly into his soul for a minute before I chuckled. "Haven't even asked my name and you're already trying to get personal? But hey, I'll help you out. I'm Chartreuse Aguria. Pleasure."

"What is your power, Chartreuse?"

I raised my hands in surrender. "Gonna be honest with ya, Chief. I have no idea. It's a Mystery Power."

He actually growled at me. Screwing with authority figures was a lot of fun. But I knew this would only get me so far.

I stood up.

"You have no right to detain me anyways. I committed no crime. In fact, you might even say I did your job for you back there."

"You will leave when we allow you to leave."

I pointed at him. "And that, sir. Is where you're wrong. Because detaining the guy with the mystery power without any restraints? Amateur hour."

I imagined a flash grenade and there it was. I also imagined a pair of sunglasses and they too materialized on my face. I smirked at him.

"I do not pity your paperwork."

I threw it on the ground and in the ensuing confusion, opened the latch of the still flying Bullhead and jumped out. Okay, maybe I wasn't exactly the smartest person in the world for jumping out of a flying Bullhead, but I'd rather be free falling than dealing with authority figures.

But now I had a new issue. I was plummeting toward the ocean. An ocean that most definitely had a bunch of Grimm investing it. I stared at my hand and I wondered. Could I summon more than just weapons from Gacha games? And could it be possible that I wasn't limited to just one game?

There was only one way to find out!

I concentrated on a game. A certain game in particular. And one a certain character in that game.

There was another flash of light and this time, I felt a lot more drained. Perhaps because this was something far more crazy than just a gun?

Either way, I was no longer falling. In fact, I was being held, bridal style. I'd be more embarrassed if I hadn't realized who exactly was carrying me.

Long red hair done into twintails. Burnt orange eyes. An expression that was halfway between embarrassed and happy.

"You always do seem to get yourself into troubling situations, Commander."

It was Honolulu. I was being carried by Honolulu. One of the ships I had actually constructed in Azur Lane. And she seemed to know exactly who I was. That settled it. I knew what I could call this power.

Gacha Manifestation.

Okay, I'd workshop it later. But for now, I realized that I could summon both items and people from the Gacha games I played so much.

"I don't really understand where we are," Honolulu's voice cut in. "But I surmise you have a destination in mind?"

Oh, right. I was her Commander. Which means I had to give her orders now. Okay, this was not where I expected today to go. But weirder things had happened in Remnant. The Schnee Cheese Incident would never be forgotten.

I reached into the pocket of my brown jacket, pulled up my map and pointed at Vale. It was the best destination. They'd never let Atlas come in and screw things up.

"We're headed to Vale."

The redhead blinked before laughing. "Honestly. Summoning me to a different world . . . you really can be a pain."

Her laugh was even better in person. No, bad Chartreuse! Don't simp over fictional waifus made real! That's when you know there's no hope for you!

I didn't get much more time to think because before I knew it, we were sailing through the sky at incredible speeds. I had really underestimated how fast Ship Girls could go! But it was also exhilarating. Freeing, even. And for the first time in my life, I felt the haze of pessimism lift from me. Perhaps, with this power, I could change the world.

Vale was a lot bigger than I imagined. And for a backwater guy like me, it was a little overwhelming. Thankfully, I had Honolulu by my side. She got a few looks, but most thought she was just a Huntress, which was good for me. At least until I ran into someone else who played the damn game. I was still trying to think of an excuse for such a situation.

I wandered into a cafe and with what little Lien I had on me, I purchased a coffee and sat down. I had no idea what I was going to do. I was separated from the rest of my village, Atlas probably wanted to dissect me and I could summon gacha elements. I had never put any thought into becoming a Huntsman. But if I wanted to be a hero, if I wanted to grab hold of that foolish dream that I had all but abandoned, then becoming a Huntsman was my best bet. But I was only 15 and Beacon, the only school I'd consider, only took those who were 17.

"I just don't know what to do," I said as I allowed my forehead to hit the table.

Honolulu snorted from her position across from me and I lifted my head and glared at her. "What?"

"From your mumbling, I can assume that you want to save this world, right?" she said as gazed at me, her eyes seeming to see right through me. Honolulu was a lot more intense in person. "Then, with your power, why not recreate the Azur Lane? Or something akin to that?"

I stared at her blankly before the two brain cells that I could call my own stared at eachother in shock and shook hands. She was right! Even though I doubted I could summon a bunch of people at once right now, I could probably make my own organization! It could be comprised of Ship Girls and characters from the other Gachas I played. And if my theory was correct, I was limited to characters I had ownership of. Meaning ones I had built a bond with already.

I didn't need to wait to turn 17. I could create my own group. A force for good. Like the White Fang were before they got corrupted.

I smiled at her. "Thanks, Honolulu!"

She blushed slightly and turned away. "O-Of course."

Now the only issue was getting a job, raising money and finding a base of operations. But I think I had an idea for that. I just needed a good night's sleep first. Because if I tried summoning someone else right now, I'm fairly sure I'd pass out from the exertion.

Only, I didn't have the money to rent a hotel room.

I could only hope I'd find a warm tree to curl up under.

I did not find a warm tree. But I did find a homeless shelter. It did the trick, even if Honolulu was aghast at me sleeping in such a place. Right, to her, I was pretty well off. Well, the goal was to reclaim that wealth, just in the form of Lien. But to do that, I'd have to be clever. Thankfully, I was good at being clever. I wouldn't have gotten so far in those Gacha games if I hadn't.

For all intents and purposes, Honolulu was my personal guard. Not like I knew how to fight aside from using weapons and hoping for the best. So I couldn't ask her to help with this next idea. No, no. I needed someone else.

That cafe had a help wanted sign. But not just any help wanted sign. It was one that needed a chef. And it just so happened that I knew a very good chef indeed.

With considerable drain on my person, I called forth my secret weapon. Okay, she wasn't a secret weapon, even if she'd call herself that.

And there she was with a flash of light, with her short light blond hair and golden eyes. But the most striking part about her was her maid dress.

"Your orders, Commander?"

To the point as always, Sheffield.

I explained the situation to her and I had a feeling she was judging me for being useless. As she tended to do at all times, even though I knew she really cared deep down.

"Very well," she said and was that an iota of pride in her voice? "I shall blow away these humans with my culinary skills."

She departed and I was left with Honolulu.

"I don't know how to handle her," Honolulu mumbled.

"Really? You two can be similar at times."

Honolulu looked aghast. "I would never treat you so poorly!"

And wasn't that true? Honolulu was like a Tsundere was incomplete. She couldn't be mean no matter how much she tried. I liked to think she was just an awkward bean. Sure she could be standoffish, but she just wasn't mean enough to be a true Tsundere.

Either way, things were looking up. And hopefully, Sheffield would earn enough Lien today to pay for a hotel. I didn't want to sleep in a homeless shelter again.

I placed my hands in my pockets and walked down the street alongside Honolulu, completely ignoring the girl in red and black who passed by me.