Boom! The world around me faded to black, a suffocating darkness that enveloped my senses. I felt an all-too-familiar sensation, bones cracking and splintering under the weight of failure. The sharp pang of despair surged through me, igniting the same old fears I had tried so hard to forget.
[GAME OVER]
I opened my eyes, blinking against the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital room. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils, a grim reminder of the fate that had befallen me. I glanced down at my legs, my heart sinking as I took in the sight of the bandages wrapped around my crippled limb.
"Not again," I muttered to myself. Was this my destiny? To live as a loser, forever haunted by the specter of Akira? The weight of my failures pressed down on me like a heavy shroud, suffocating my spirit.
Desperation clawed at my throat as I reached for my phone, my fingers trembling. I needed to hear her voice, to tell my mother I was okay, that she didn't need to worry. But deep down, I knew it was too late. She had died—my heart shattered at the thought. I was too late to call her. Too late to tell her I loved her. Too late to stop the heart attack that had ripped her away from me.
"No, no, no!" I cried, slamming my fist against the hospital bed. I refused to spend another seventy years wallowing in self-pity and regret, watching everyone else move on with their lives. The thought alone sent a chill down my spine.
With a determination born of desperation, I hoisted myself into the wheelchair beside my bed. The effort was excruciating, but I couldn't remain trapped here. I wheeled myself out of the room, navigating the hallways with a growing sense of urgency. Each turn brought me closer to the rooftop, the same place where my dreams had crumbled to dust.
As I pushed through the final door and emerged onto the roof, the wind whipped around me, the cool air slicing through my skin. I felt alive, electric with a huge dose of dread and exhilaration. This was it. I would rather end it all now than struggle until my hair turned gray.
Maybe the screen would appear again. Maybe I could make a deal with fate one more time. I closed my eyes, allowing the memories to flood over me. I thought about the last moments of my previous life, the way I had let everyone down, especially Hana.
It was painful to think I had never gotten the chance to tell her how I felt before it all went wrong. My heart ached at the thought of all the "what ifs" that haunted me.
As I took a step forward, preparing to leap into the abyss, a familiar voice called out behind me. "Yuki!"
I turned to see Rika, tears streaming down her cheeks as she ran toward me. Panic filled her eyes, and I wanted nothing more than to hide my shame from her. "Please don't! Don't do this!"
I couldn't let her see me like this. I took another step closer to the edge. "Rika, stay back!"
Before she could reach me, I made the decision. I jumped, the ground rushing up to meet me, the wind roaring in my ears. As I fell, everything went black again.
---
[Will you do anything to be given one more chance? Yes or No]
A voice echoed in the void, wrapping around me like a serpent. Anything, I thought. Anything but a miserable life. Tears streamed down my face as I cried out my answer.
"Yes!" I shouted, my voice filled with desperation.
---
I blinked back into existence, and to my astonishment, I found myself back in the familiar confines of my school. The gym echoed with the sounds of basketballs bouncing and sneakers squeaking on polished wood floors. But this time, I wouldn't be a passive observer. This time, I would take control.
I charged toward the locker room, my heart pounding as I caught sight of Akira laughing with his teammates. Rage bubbled within me, a fire igniting in my chest. This time, I wouldn't wait for the championship to confront him. I wouldn't let fear hold me back.
Without hesitation, I stormed over to where Akira stood. The moment I approached, his laughter ceased, and a smirk replaced it. "Look who it is—the loser."
My fists clenched at my sides, the anger surging through me like a tidal wave. "Shut up, Akira!"
Before he could react, I swung my fist, landing a solid punch square on his jaw. The impact reverberated through my arm, sending shockwaves of adrenaline coursing through me. Akira staggered back, surprise etched on his face as his teammates rushed to restrain him.
"What the hell, Yuki?" one of them shouted, holding him back.
I saw the disgust flash in Hana's eyes as she pushed through the crowd, her expression a mixture of shock and disappointment. But this time, I didn't care. I was no longer that timid boy who had cowered in the shadows.
"Why did you do that?" she yelled, her voice rising above the chaos. "You'll get suspended!"
"Good! I don't care!" I shouted back, my voice echoing through the gym. "I won't let you or anyone else treat me like a loser anymore!"
Akira's eyes blazed with fury as he broke free from his friends' grip. "You think you can just waltz in here and punch me? You're nothing!"
"I'm everything you'll never be!" I retorted, adrenaline fueling my anger. But before I could swing again, the principal appeared, barking orders for everyone to disperse.
I was suspended from school with immediate effect, but it felt liberating. I had finally made a move, taken control of my fate. However, as I left the school grounds, the exhilaration quickly turned to dread. I hoped to return home, to see my mom's welcoming face and breathe in the aroma of her home-cooked meals.
But when I stepped through the door, the smell of despair hit me like a brick wall. The apartment was messy, clothes strewn about, the dishes piled high in the sink. No one was home. I called out, but only silence answered back.
"Mom?" I whispered, panic setting in. I searched every room, each corner of the apartment feeling emptier than the last. My heart raced as dread twisted in my stomach.
The familiar transparent screen flickered to life before me once more, the words glaring at me like a spotlight.
[Do you wish to continue playing the game?]
Devastation crashed over me like a tidal wave. Was this the price of losing and coming back? More than anything, I wanted my mom to be happy and healthy. I wanted to be the son she could be proud of. And now, she was gone because of a stupid game?
I felt tears welling up in my eyes, the anguish tearing through me. I looked at the countdown on the screen, a timer ticking down ominously.
[YES or NO]
With tears streaming down my face, I knew what I had to do. This was my second chance. I would do whatever it took to rewrite my destiny.
"Yes!" I cried out, my voice echoing in the empty apartment. I was determined to break free from the cycle of misery that had defined my life. This time, I would not only reclaim my future; I would seize it with both hands.