Every step she took made a soft thud as her wooden sandals met the ground.
Now that she was close, he could see her face clearly. Straight black hair as dark as night, and huge red eyes that made her look more like a porcelain doll than a person.
"Do you wanna live?" she asked, voice cold as ice.
He found he could breathe easier—strange, considering he was just experiencing cardiac arrest seconds ago.
"Not really… I just wanna rest. I'm tired. But hey, if hell's too hot, I'm open for options," he muttered, half-joking.
The girl's eyes widened, and she stifled a giggle behind the black fan in her left hand, her laughter soft and enchanting.
"I found the right person. You've definitely inherited your grandfather's twisted sense of humor…and that annoying attitude, too."
"Grandfather?"
"So, you don't know about him?" She raised her fan higher to her face.
"What are you talking abou—"
He wanted to ask who she was and what she meant, but the pressure in his chest slammed back before he could finish.
Each beat of his heart sent waves of discomfort coursing through him. It became harder to breathe, and his thoughts started to fade.
"Luck... breathe. The pain's too much, isn't it?" Her voice softened, the fan lowering just a little.
He nodded weakly, feeling the world tilt around him.
"I…. I can't feel my body," he gasped.
Her eyes softened, and she placed her delicate hand on his shoulder.
"Rest now, you endured enough,"
When her soft voice reached him, he felt his vision plunge into darkness.
They say your life flashes before your eyes at the end. But there was nothing
There was no peaceful revelation, no grand epiphany about life. Just this overwhelming sense of not knowing. Maybe this was the most terrifying part of it all
And just like that, everything ended.
Tick
Tick
Tick
Luck's eyes slowly opened, and the world came back into focus.
The pain in his chest had dulled to a faint throb, but he was still a bit disoriented as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
Behind him, the cold stone of his parents' tombstone pressed against his back—unchanged, solid.
'What happened?' he muttered to himself, rubbing his forehead.
'Was it all a dream?'
His fingers traced the engraved names on the tombstone again-feeling as real and solid as ever.
Everything looked exactly as it had been before he blacked out.
Looking up, he saw the sun hanging high in the sky, warming the grass below. The leaves rustled softly in the breeze, making a calm, gentle sound.
But something felt wrong. His heart was still pounding as he thought about the beautiful girl in the black kimono.
'Did I really meet someone? Or was that just my mind playing tricks?'
He tried to stand up slowly, his legs wobbling as they struggled to support his weight.
"Let me borrow this for a bit, Dad," he groaned, gripping the edge of the tombstone to steady himself.
"Thanks, Dad," His grip loosened on the tombstone, and he gave it a light pat, as if his father could feel the gesture.
'Maybe that was a sign from my parents that I should turn my life around?'
Experiencing that near-death moment, even if it was just a dream, hit him hard.
The vividness of it-the pain crushing his chest, the fear of the unknown-made him realize just how far he let his unhealthy lifestyle drag him down.
'It's time to swap the junk foods for something healthier,' he chuckled to himself, almost hearing his mom's voice reminding him to take care of himself.
While he stood there, lost in thought, something caught his eye.
A faint shimmer that glimmered in the sunlight. He turned his head slowly, squinting at the ground beside his parents' grave.
There, lying in the grass, was something small. Something shiny.
Moving closer, he knelt down to get a better look.
'A key?'
It wasn't just any key. This one was sleek and modern—shiny black metal with smooth, angular edges.
A small tag dangled from it, bearing a simple number: 0820, printed in bold white letters.
Next to it, was a small envelope.
Curiosity got the best of him, and without wasting time, he quickly tore it open.
Inside was 50,000 yen, roughly 350 USD.
'What's this for? Who left it here?'
It wasn't a fortune, but for someone closed to being homeless, it was a lifeline
'Oh, there's another piece of paper,'
He pulled it out, expecting more money like a cheque. But nope—just a letter.
Yeah, he was greedy. So what? Beggars can't afford to be choosy.
=====
Dear Luck,
If you're reading this, it means you're still alive. My time's running out, so this letter is all I can give you.
Your grandfather left you something important. The details—and where to find it—are right here.
Find it, and you'll uncover the rest of your inheritance.
I'm counting on you. Don't let me down.
-Yuki
=====