What is that light?
It's so bright. It's burning my eyes. Can't I just die in peace? Don't tell me I'm going to continue my pathetic life…
Wait. That kid. The one I was about to hit with my truck… Is he okay? Let me try to get up and—
What? Why is my hand so small? And this ceiling… it looks like something from a medieval movie. Who is this woman? She looks… incredible. Blonde hair, blue eyes, smooth skin, and big boo— No, no, no, don't get carried away.
Beside her, there's a man. Black hair, black eyes. He looks like he's in his late twenties, fit, sharp jawline, and honestly, he looks like he should be the main character, not me.
The woman is saying something.
"Whoa, he's so cute, he looks just like you."
What is she saying? I can't understand it. This isn't English. What the f**k is going on?
…
"What do you think we should name him, honey?" the man asks, eyes full of excitement, staring at the woman like this is the best moment of his life.
The woman holds me gently and says softly, "Ren. Ren Kiyoshi."
…
That's it. There's no other logical explanation. I've been reincarnated. And these two people are my parents… I think.
If I can remember right, I died driving drunk. But I don't think I was that drunk. It was night, around 9 pm, the beginning of winter. A kid suddenly ran into the road. I swear the traffic light was green. He kept running straight towards my bus. I tried to avoid him, swerved, and the next thing I knew—
Screech. Crash.
My bus slammed into a wall on the other side. Everything was spinning. Snowflakes started falling from the sky, white and slow. It was… beautiful. More beautiful than anything I had ever seen. Then I heard a voice. The kid. The one I almost hit.
"Sir, are you okay? I called the ambulance. Please hold on!"
My vision was fading. Blood was running down my face. I whispered, "Why?"
The boy froze. He didn't understand. Maybe he thought I had brain damage. He tried to open the bus door, but it was jammed. He kept pulling.
"Do you think it was worth it?" I asked.
The boy looked up, eyes full of tears. "No. No, it's not."
My vision turned darker, and everything slipped away.
…
Well, that's sad, isn't it? But now… I've been given another chance. A chance to start over. This time, I won't waste it.
---
A/N:
Hey everyone, thanks for checking out the story.
I know the first chapter is short, and that's intentional. I want to start by showing the main character's death and rebirth clearly without rushing into the world-building yet. This chapter is just the beginning of his new life, so there's still a lot to uncover about the world he was reborn into, his new family, and what his second chance will really mean.
More details, longer chapters, and the real story will start from Chapter 2.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you stick around.