As the night grew darker, The City of Vermillion is filled with the beautiful neon lights of the city.
Akito lay on his mattress feeling utterly drained and hopeless after being let go from his job. Emi, his girlfriend, lay beside him engrossed in a manga on her phone.
Akito let out a deep sigh, wondering what his future held. He had always relied on his job as his sole source of income, and now he felt lost and defeated.
Emi noticed that he was still awake and sensed his unease. She spoke softly, her voice filled with tenderness, "Is everything okay? Did something bad happen today?"
Akito felt ashamed to admit his failure, but he knew he could confide in Emi. "I lost my job today," he replied, his voice heavy with disappointment.
Emi's response was not what he expected. Instead of getting angry or upset, she ran her fingers through his hair, offering him comfort and reassurance. "Don't worry, Akito. I believe in you, and I'm sure you'll find another source of income soon. You're a hard worker, and I'm proud of you," she said with a gentle smile.
Akito felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. Emi's support meant everything to him. He smiled back at her. "Thank You, Emi." Akito smiled at her before he slowly drifts off to sleep.
Akito drifted into a strange dream, finding himself in a dark grass field that seemed to go on forever. His surroundings suddenly shifted to a chaotic office space with papers strewn about and blood staining the ground.
"Where am I?" Akito was confused and frightened, his senses on high alert. "Don't do it, Akito!" a woman's voice rang out from the distance, filled with dread and fear. "What? Who's there?" Akito turned towards the voice, his eyes widening with fear and confusion.
"You'll get yourself killed," a mature male voice cautioned him.
"Are you sure you can do it?" Emi's voice could be heard, asking him with a soft worried voice. "Emi, is that you?" Akito called out as he walked towards the voices.
As he got closer, he saw a man with long white hair and bright white skin wearing a dark suit. The man had his back turned to Akito, so he couldn't make out his face. "Wait, who are you?" Akito pointed at the man, his voice filled with confusion and fear.
The mysterious man slowly turned to face Akito, his hair still covering his face.
"He'll enjoy this, I'm sure of it," the man said, his deep, masculine voice sending shivers down Akito's spine.
"What do you mean?!" Akito yelled, reaching out his hand to try and stop the man from leaving. But just as he was about to catch up to him, he woke up, realizing it was all just a dream.
Suddenly, Akito's eyes shot open, and he jolted up to a sitting position on his mattress, his breathing heavy and erratic. His heart was pounding so loudly that he could hear it in his ears. He tried to calm himself down, but his mind was racing with questions about the strange dream he had just experienced.
"W-W.." Akito tried to form words, his breath heavy and unsteady "What was that all about?" he muttered to himself, as he scanned his surroundings. He looked at Emi, who was sound asleep beside him, and then checked the clock on the wall.
It was only 5:25 in the morning, and the darkness outside the window made the room feel eerie and unsettling. Akito continued to hold his chest, trying to slow his breathing, and then he began to replay the dream in his head.
The more he thought about it, the more curious and scared he became. He wondered who that mysterious man was, and what he meant by "he'll enjoy this".
As he sat there lost in thought, a shiver ran down Akito's spine. He had never felt so confused and frightened before. He couldn't help but feel like there was something more to that dream, something that he needed to uncover. He glanced at Emi once again, grateful for her calming presence, and vowed to himself that he would figure out what that dream meant.
Akito couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered after his strange dream. He got up quietly so as not to wake Emi and went to the balcony to get some fresh air. As he stood there, the cold breeze of the early morning woke him up even more.
"What was that dream trying to tell me?" he muttered to himself. As he tried to remember every detail of the dream, he heard a soft voice behind him.
"Akito? What are you doing up so early?" Emi had woken up and followed him outside.
"Sorry if I woke you up, Emi. I just had a strange dream, and I can't stop thinking about it," Akito replied, looking at Emi with a worried expression.
Emi walked towards him and put her arms around his waist, trying to comfort him. "Tell me about it. Maybe talking about it will help." Akito began to recount the dream in detail, from the dark grass field to the mysterious man with long white hair.
As he spoke, Emi listened attentively, her eyes widening at the mention of the man. "That sounds creepy. Maybe it's just your mind playing tricks on you," Emi said, trying to reassure him.
"But it felt so real," Akito replied, still feeling uneasy.
Emi looked at him with concern. "Maybe you need to take your mind off it. Let's go out and do something fun today. We can go to the park or visit that new arcade that just opened."
"As much as I would love to spend my time exploring this beautiful city with you, Emi, I have more pressing matters to attend to. I need to find another job as soon as possible to support us both." He spoke with determination, his eyes filled with a sense of responsibility and urgency.
Akito turned his gaze toward the cityscape and felt the cold breeze envelop him. He took a deep breath as the reality of their situation hit him hard, and he knew that he couldn't afford to waste any time.
Emi smiled softly at him, proud that he is trying his best. Emi's smile of encouragement did little to ease Akito's troubled mind. As she turned to leave, he felt a pang of guilt knowing that he couldn't provide for her the way he wanted to. "I'm sorry Emi," he whispered to himself as she disappeared. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."
As he looked out at the horizon, the dream from earlier still lingered in his mind. The dark field, the blood, and the ominous figure of the mysterious man. It all felt so real and he couldn't shake off the unease it brought him.
But Akito knew he couldn't dwell on it for too long. He had to focus on finding a job, any job, that could help him support himself and Emi.
He considered applying as a janitor, but a nagging feeling in the back of his mind told him it wasn't enough. "I need to do better," he said to himself, determination filling his voice.
"I'll find a job that can make a difference." He took off his shirt and started his morning stretches, feeling the burn in his muscles as he pushed himself harder.
The sun slowly rose over Vermillion City, its rays illuminating the cityscape with a warm glow.
"I'll keep fighting until I make a better life for Emi and me, I won't give up!" Akito's motivation skyrockets as he tried to motivate himself, He went for several job interviews, but unfortunately, luck was not on his side.
Akito sitting nervously in front of a stern-looking interviewer. The interviewer asks him a series of tough questions, but Akito struggles to answer them coherently and stammers nervously. Cut to Akito walking out of the interview, dejected and defeated. "aw, man!" Akito said with disappointment in his voice.
Akito is in another interview, this time with a kind-looking middle-aged woman. The interview goes well, and Akito starts to feel hopeful. But just as he's about to leave, the woman tells him that they've decided to go with someone who has more experience. Akito nods understandingly but feels a pang of disappointment.
Akito is in a third interview, this time with a group of three interviewers. The interview starts well, and Akito impresses them with his qualifications and skills. But just as he's about to leave, one of the interviewers asks him a bizarre question that catches him off guard. He fumbles for an answer and realizes that it's probably the reason he won't get the job.
Akito is in yet another interview, this time with a company he admires. The interviewer seems to like him, and they have a great conversation. But just as Akito is about to leave, the interviewer tells him that the position has been filled internally. Akito tries to hide his disappointment and leaves the room, feeling frustrated and discouraged.
Akito is seen walking out of the last interview with a dejected look on his face. Akito's shoulders slumped as he walked down the street, feeling dejected and hopeless after a day of failed job interviews. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since breakfast. As he walked, he noticed a small burger shop and decided to treat himself to a meal.
"Maybe a burger will make me feel a little better," he muttered to himself, pulling out his wallet to check his funds. After purchasing his burger, Akito walked down the street, munching on the savory meal. He felt tired and drained, but he knew he had to keep pushing forward. Suddenly, his attention was caught by a faint scream coming from an alleyway. His instincts kicked in, and he cautiously made his way toward the source of the sound.
"No! Stop, you can't do this to me!" a voice of a girl yelled. Akito's footsteps echoed as he turned the corner, and that's when he saw a highschool bully towering over a girl, his face twisted with anger, a scar marring his nose, and his eyes dark and menacing. He looked young, just like the girl. He wore a school uniform that clung tightly to his muscular frame, emphasizing the veins that bulged beneath his skin.
The girl's petite figure trembled under the bully's grip, and her white short hair clung to her face as sweat trickled down her forehead. Her glasses were slightly askew, and her eyes darted around frantically, searching for an escape route. Her school uniform was disheveled, with the tie loosened and the skirt hiked up. It was evident that she had put up a fight, but the bully's strength was overpowering her.
Her pale complexion and trembling lips showed that she was terrified, and it was clear that she was in dire need of help. her eyes filled with tears of terror.
"I swear, Yuji. I'll give you the money as soon as I get it. But my father hasn't given me my allowance yet. He wants me to learn to manage my finances properly," she said, her voice cracking.
Despite her desperate words, the menacing figure in front of her only seemed to grow angrier. "Pathetic! Your father's wealth means nothing if his daughter can't keep her promises!" the bully bellowed, his voice laced with fury and menace.
He loomed over the girl, his eyes ablaze with anger and frustration. "You made a promise, and you're going to keep it, one way or another."
"P-Please, I promise I'll pay you back tomorrow, just let me go!" The girl struggled to break free from Yuji's tight grip, desperation etched on her face as she pleaded for mercy. she begged, her voice trembling with fear.
But Yuji seemed unmoved by her pleas. "You've been saying that for days now, and I'm getting tired of it," he sneered, his eyes glinting with malice.
"I think it's time for you to learn your lesson."
With a wicked grin, he brandished a glimmering knife from his pocket, pointing it menacingly at the girl. Akito's mind raced as he tried to think of what to do. He knew he couldn't just stand by and let this happen, but he also didn't want to make the situation worse.