Three days had passed since Ryo's participation in the research study had begun, and finally, the ordeal had come to an end. Emerging from the facility, he felt the cool air hit his face, filling his lungs with the familiar scent of the city outside. Relief washed over him, but a strange unease clung to his thoughts, as if the past few days' events were lingering shadows he couldn't shake.
One of the researchers, the same stern-faced man who had led him into the deeper halls of the facility, waited by the exit. Without a word, he handed Ryo a plain envelope, his expression unreadable behind the mask and the cold, clinical gaze he fixed on him. Ryo took it with unsteady hands, feeling the weight of it as if it held something more than paper.
His heart beat faster as he glanced down, fingers slipping under the flap to tear it open. Inside, he found a stack of bills—more money than he'd ever expected. But there was something else, too: a folded sheet of paper, the edges crisp and precise.
Ryo paused, his eyes still glued to the stack of cash in his hands. This was a lot. The thought echoed in his mind, bringing a mix of gratitude and disbelief. The unexpected windfall felt like a lifeline—a chance to ease his financial worries, maybe even enjoy things he hadn't allowed himself in a long time.
Stuffing the money back into the envelope, he pocketed it with a new sense of purpose and headed for the market. His usual routine of buying the bare essentials was replaced by a sense of excitement as he filled his basket with fresh vegetables, premium cuts of meat, and indulgent treats he normally would've passed by. He even added a carton of strawberries and a fancy brand of tea, small luxuries he'd never considered before.
As he navigated the crowded aisles, Ryo felt lighter. This newfound security was more than financial—it was a reassurance that, perhaps, things were finally turning in his favor.
He kept looking around, relishing the feeling of no longer needing to count every yen. *I have a lot… a lot.* The thought thrilled him, bringing a rare sense of freedom. For the first time, he didn't have to hold back or worry about what he could afford. This money wasn't just a buffer; it was a gateway to a different life. No more washing dishes until his hands went raw. With this, he could cover rent comfortably, eat well, even indulge a little.
With each item he added to his basket, a new sense of independence blossomed within him. Gone were the days of tight budgets, of stretching meals to make them last, of sacrificing quality. Now, he filled his basket freely with rich cuts of meat, fresh vegetables, snacks, and treats, everything he had denied himself for so long. For the first time in ages, he imagined a future that didn't involve scraping by—a future with choices, with opportunities.
At the counter, the cashier rang up his purchase, and when Ryo saw the total, he felt a smile spread across his face. It was no small sum, but that didn't matter anymore.
He paid for his items, savoring the moment as he stepped outside the store, bags full and heart light. The walk back to his apartment felt different, every step echoing the sense of freedom and satisfaction he'd longed for. He couldn't help but feel grateful for his decision to join the clinical test—the reward had been beyond his wildest expectations, and now he felt that maybe luck was finally on his side.
As he made his way home, his arms full with the weight of his purchases, he smiled to himself. There was a spark of life within him, a readiness to face whatever lay ahead. For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of excitement for the future. When he finally reached his apartment and stepped through the door, surrounded by everything he'd bought, a deep sense of contentment settled over him. This was a fresh start, a new beginning, and it felt exactly right.
He felt an overwhelming sense of freedom, something he'd never quite experienced before. Standing there on the rooftop, with the world stretching out before him, Ryo realized that for once, he wasn't weighed down by deadlines, bills, or the need to work endlessly just to make ends meet. The air felt lighter, the sky wider, and for the first time, he could simply be—no pressures, no limitations.
The freedom tasted sweet, like the beginning of a life he'd only dreamed of. He took a deep breath, savoring this rare moment of peace, this taste of a life on his own terms.
He remembered that moment vividly—the way the researcher had looked at him with cold, assessing eyes, offering no words, no introduction, just a curt gesture that said more than words ever could. It wasn't exactly forceful, but there had been an air of expectation that left him with little choice. In that sterile, silent room, surrounded by faces he didn't know and under a gaze that seemed to dissect him more than the tests themselves, Ryo had felt like he was no longer a person, but an experiment.
It left a strange chill in him, even now, as he stood there under the open sky. He knew he'd chosen to go through with it, driven by desperation, but it still felt like he had been pulled into something far bigger and far more secretive than he could understand.
"Well, who cares? I got money now. Hell yeah!" Ryo grinned, letting out a triumphant laugh that echoed across the rooftop. The worries and unease he'd felt before seemed small and distant now, lost in the euphoria of his newfound wealth. He had everything he needed to enjoy life for the first time in years, and any side effects or complications were problems for the future.
"If something happens, I'll just head to a clinic," he muttered with a shrug, his carefree grin returning as he gazed out over the city. He'd figure things out as they came, just like he always had.
( End of Chapter )