"A Desperate Prayer"

The sun had barely risen over the small town, casting a warm glow over the bustling streets. For 14-year-old Taro, however, the excitement of his first day of high school was already overshadowed by the crushing rejection he had faced the day before. As he walked home from the shrine, his eyes cast downward in disappointment, he couldn't help but feel like the universe was conspiring against him. The day before, Taro had mustered up the courage to approach 100 girls at the entrance exam, only to be met with laughter, ridicule, and outright rejection. It was as if he was invisible, a mere speck on the radar of his female peers. Feeling defeated, he had made his way to the local shrine, hoping to find solace in the ancient traditions and, perhaps, a sympathetic ear from the gods. Kneeling before the shrine, Taro had prayed with all his heart for a sexy girlfriend, someone who would appreciate him for who he was. He had envisioned a girl with long, flowing hair, bright smile, and curves that would make his heart skip a beat. As he finished his prayer and stood up, he felt a sense of emptiness wash over him. Nothing seemed to have changed. Shrugging, Taro had made his way home, wondering if he was destined to be alone. His parents, busy with their morning routines, barely noticed his downtrodden expression. Taro spent the rest of the evening lost in his thoughts, replaying the rejections in his mind like a broken record. The next morning, Taro trudged into school, his head hung low in resignation. As he walked through the entrance, he noticed a girl standing by the principal's office, her eyes fixed on him. She was quiet, short, and petite, with a mop of short black hair and a subtle smile. Her figure was, well, unremarkable – flat and slender, with no curves to speak of. Taro felt a pang of disappointment, wondering if this was yet another rejection waiting to happen. But as he approached her, she spoke in a soft voice, "Taro-kun, I've been sent to greet you. I'm Akane-chan, the principal's daughter." Taro's curiosity was piqued. "Greet me? Why?" Akane-chan's smile grew slightly wider. "You're a special case, Taro-kun. You see, according to an ancient prophecy, you're destined to have 100 soulmates, each with a body similar to mine." Taro's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean?" Akane-chan's expression turned serious. "It means that you'll be meeting 100 girls, each one a soulmate, and their bodies will all be similar to mine – petite, flat, and unassuming. But don't worry, Taro-kun, they're all unique in their own ways, and you'll get to know them one by one." Taro's mind reeled as he tried to process this information. 100 soulmates? With bodies like Akane-chan's? It was both exhilarating and terrifying. He looked at Akane-chan, and for the first time, he saw her in a different light – as the first of many mysteries waiting to be unraveled.