He wanted to ask the girl in the kimono about who she was and what she meant by his grandfather.
But the pressure in his chest intensified, each beat of his heart sending waves of discomfort coursing through him. It became harder to breathe, and his thoughts started to fade.
She leaned closer, her expression shifting from playful to concerned, the fan lowering slightly as she studied him.
"Luck, you need to breathe. The pain… it's too much, isn't it?"
He nodded weakly, feeling the world tilt around him.
" I… I can't feel my body," he gasped.
Her eyes softened, and she placed her delicate hand on his shoulder.
"Rest now, you endured enough,"
When her soft voice reached him, he felt his vision plunge into darkness.
There was no sound, no sensation—just that crushing weight on his chest that refused to ease, even in what felt like his final moments.
'Am I dying?'
He had always heard stories about people seeing their life flash before their eyes in these final moments.
But none of that came.
There was no peaceful revelation, no grand epiphany about life. Just this overwhelming sense of not knowing. Maybe this was the most terrifying part of it all.
'I'm coming to join you, Mom… Dad…'
Those where his last thoughts.
.
.
.
Luck's eyes slowly open, and the world came back into focus.
The pain in his chest had dulled to a faint throb, but he was still a bit disoriented as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.
Looking behind him, he noticed he was still leaning against his parents' tombstone, just like before.
'What happened?' he muttered to himself, rubbing his forehead.
'Was it all a dream?'
His fingers traced the engraved names on the tombstone again—feeling as real and solid as ever.
Everything looked exactly as it had before he blacked out.
The sun hung overhead, its warmth spilling over the grass, while the leaves rustled softly in the breeze, creating a calming soundtrack for his thoughts.
But something felt off. His heart still raced as he recalled the vision of the beautiful girl in the black kimono.
The way she had spoken to him—calm, almost serene—felt too vivid, too real. It didn't have that hazy, distant quality dreams usually carry.
No, it had been sharp, clear, like she was really there.
'Did I really meet someone? Or was that just my mind playing tricks?'
He tried to stand up slowly, his legs shaky under the strain of his own weight.
"Let me borrow this for a bit, Dad," he groaned, gripping the edge of the tombstone to steady himself.
"Thanks, Dad," he chuckled, finally managing to stand up straight.
His grip loosened on the tombstone, and he gave it a light pat, as if his father could feel the gesture.
'Maybe this is a sign that I should turn my life around?'
Experiencing that near-death moment, even if it was just a dream, hit him hard.
The vividness of it—the pain crushing his chest, the fear of the unknown—made him realize just how far he'd let his unhealthy lifestyle drag him down.
'Maybe it's time to swap the junk foods for something healthier,' he chuckled to himself, almost hearing his mom's voice reminding him to take care of himself.
As Luck stood there, lost in thought, something caught his eye.
A faint shimmer that glimmered in the sunlight. He turned his head slowly, squinting at the ground beside his parents' grave.
There, lying in the grass, was something small. Something shiny.
His heart skipped a beat as he stepped closer, kneeling down to get a better look.
It wasn't just one thing—there was a key, it was sleek and modern, made of shiny black metal with smooth, angular edges.
A small tag was attached to it, and on the tag was a simple number: 0820, printed in bold white letters.
Next to the key, tucked beneath it, was a small envelope.
Curiosity got the best of him, and without wasting time, he quickly tore it open.
Inside was something he hadn't expected—a check for 150,000 Yen, roughly 1,000 USD.
He blinked, staring at the piece of paper in disbelief.
'What's this for?' Who left it here?' he muttered, his heart pounding.
It wasn't a fortune, but for someone closed to being homeless, it was a lifeline
'Oh, there's another piece of paper,'
He pulled it out, expecting to find another check, but instead, it was a letter.
- - - - - - -
Dear Luck,
If you're reading this, then it means you're alive. Unfortunately, my time is limited, so I can only give you this letter.
Just like I mentioned, your grandfather left you something. In this letter is its location. Find it, and you will uncover the rest of your inheritance.
I expect a lot from you.
— Ai"
- - - - - - -
'Ai? Is this the name of the girl in the black kimono? '