Kai Nakamura sat at the back of the school clubroom, watching a group of his classmates huddle together around a table, intensely focused on a card game. They were part of the "Strategy and Tactics Club," a name that made it sound far more serious than it actually was. In reality, it was a group of nerdy kids who met after school to play trading card games, board games, and sometimes strategy video games.
Kai had been a part of the club for a few months now, though "part of" was a bit of an exaggeration. He was more like a spectator. He would sit on the outskirts of the group, watching everyone else strategize and duel with their decks. He admired how passionate they were about the game, even though he didn't fully understand the rules. Despite that, being around them made him feel like he belonged, even if he wasn't really participating.
Today, the card game of choice was *Legends of the Void*, a complicated, multi-layered strategy game with thousands of cards, each representing different creatures, spells, and heroes. Kai didn't play, but he enjoyed watching.
"Your turn, Hiro!" called out Mei, the only girl in the club, and arguably the most competitive. She smirked as she placed a powerful card on the table, a glowing phoenix rising from the artwork on the card. "Phoenix of Eternal Flame, attack his Life Points directly!"
Hiro groaned, adjusting his glasses as he glanced at the card. "You always pull out that phoenix right when I'm about to win. You're cheating, I swear."
Mei leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms triumphantly. "Cheating? No. Superior tactics? Definitely."
Kai chuckled to himself quietly, wishing he had half of Mei's confidence. He shuffled a few cards he had in his hand—cards he'd never had the guts to play in the group. It was like they knew something he didn't, like they had all the secrets to winning and being noticed.
Just as the game was getting heated, Kai's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A message from his mom:
**"Kai, your grandfather's condition is getting worse. The doctors say it might be time. You should come to the hospital as soon as you can."**
Kai felt a tightness in his chest. His grandfather had been sick for months now, and Kai had visited him often, but something about the tone of this message felt different. This time, it felt final.
He stood up abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. Mei glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. "You okay, Kai? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Kai forced a weak smile. "Yeah, uh, I've gotta go. Family stuff."
The group didn't press him further, and Kai slipped out of the clubroom, his heart pounding in his chest. As he walked down the empty hallway toward the school's exit, he couldn't shake the heavy feeling that had settled over him. He had known this day was coming for a while, but that didn't make it any easier.
---
**The Hospital Visit**
Kai arrived at the hospital about half an hour later, his steps slowing as he approached his grandfather's room. The sterile smell of the hospital always made his stomach churn, and the soft beeping of machines echoed down the corridor as he walked. When he reached the door, he paused, taking a deep breath before pushing it open.
Inside, the room was dimly lit. His grandfather, Kenji Nakamura, lay in the hospital bed, looking frail and small under the white sheets. His once-strong frame had withered, and his skin was pale, almost translucent. But despite his weakened state, his eyes—those sharp, piercing eyes that Kai had always admired—were still as bright as ever.
"Kai…" his grandfather croaked, his voice raspy but filled with warmth.
Kai walked to the bedside and sat down in the chair next to him. "Hey, Grandpa," he said softly, trying to smile despite the lump in his throat.
Kenji smiled faintly, his lips cracking as he did. "I knew you'd come," he whispered. "I've been waiting for you."
Kai's heart sank at those words. It felt like his grandfather was saying goodbye, and Kai wasn't ready for that. He wasn't ready to lose him.
"How are you feeling?" Kai asked, though the answer was painfully obvious.
Kenji chuckled, though it came out more like a dry wheeze. "How do you think? Old… and tired." His eyes softened as he looked at Kai. "But I've still got a little bit left in me. Enough to tell you something important."
Kai leaned closer, listening intently.
"Kai," Kenji began, his voice low but clear. "When I was your age, I wasn't much different from you. Quiet, awkward… feeling like I didn't belong anywhere." He paused for a moment, gathering his strength. "But I want you to know something… You have greatness in you, Kai. More than you realize."
Kai frowned, shaking his head. "Grandpa, I'm just… I'm just me. There's nothing special about me."
Kenji's hand, frail and trembling, reached out and gripped Kai's wrist with surprising strength. "You're wrong," he said firmly. "You've got something inside you, Kai. I can feel it. I've always known it. You're destined for something greater. Something extraordinary."
Kai stared at him, his mind racing. His grandfather had always been a bit of a dreamer, always talking about destiny and the power of the human spirit. But this… this felt different. It felt more serious.
Kenji's breathing became more labored, and he squeezed Kai's wrist tighter. "Kai… you need to promise me something."
"Anything," Kai whispered, tears welling up in his eyes.
Kenji's voice grew fainter, but his eyes never left Kai's. "Promise me… you'll become a hero."
Kai blinked, confused. "A hero? What do you mean?"
Kenji coughed, his body shaking with the effort. "A hero, Kai. The world needs people like you. People who can do what others can't. People who can protect the ones they love. You have that power… I know it."
Tears spilled down Kai's cheeks as he nodded. "I promise, Grandpa. I promise."
Kenji smiled weakly, his grip on Kai's wrist loosening. "That's… good to hear," he whispered. "I'm proud of you, Kai. So proud…"
And with those final words, Kenji Nakamura took his last breath, his body relaxing as the light in his eyes slowly faded.
Kai sat there in silence, holding his grandfather's hand, the weight of his promise heavy on his shoulders. He had no idea what his grandfather had seen in him or how he was supposed to live up to that promise, but one thing was clear.
Everything in Kai's life was about to change.