Shinji

Shinji was peacefully working in a field, pulling weeds and chewing on a straw.

Suddenly, a huge black demon emerged from the grass nearby and started laughing.

At first quietly.

Then louder.

Then even louder.

And eventually for reasons completely unknown, though it seemed extremely pleased with itself.

Shinji did not even have time to say anything.

The demon grabbed Shinji by the belt and shot into the sky, continuing to laugh without stopping.

— VVAAAAAAAHHHHH!!

Shinji immediately began flailing his arms.

The straw fell away and disappeared below.

The demon kept laughing.

Shinji kept screaming.

And so they soared over fields, roads, rivers, and forests.

They flew for a long time.

A very long time.

Shinji's village had long since vanished beyond the horizon.

The demon carried Shinji farther and farther away from human settlements. Every now and then, the demon glanced back over its shoulder. Each time, it would start laughing even louder and fly even faster.

Shinji had absolutely no idea what the demon found so amusing.

At last, a dense and remote forest appeared ahead.

The demon began to descend.

But suddenly, something large and heavy shot out from between the trees and slammed directly into the demon's side.

— OW!

The demon jerked in surprise.

Its fingers opened.

Shinji plummeted downward.

— VVAAAAAAAHHHHH!!

At the very last moment, a pair of hands caught Shinji before he could hit the ground.