**Tokyo, Japan**

"Luke, wake up!"

"Mmm…" A soft groan was the only response.

"Luke, wake up!" The voice came again, sharper this time, with an edge of impatience.

"Five more minutes…" he mumbled, pulling the blanket over his head in a futile attempt to block out the persistent call.

"I'm warning you, Luke. Wake up, or else…" his mother's voice was firm, but with a trace of affection.

"Alright, alright. I'm up," he grumbled, reluctantly tossing the covers aside and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. 

The room around him was small and modest, with a low bed, a cluttered desk piled high with textbooks and scattered papers, and a few posters of his favorite anime characters hanging crookedly on the walls. Clothes were strewn haphazardly across the floor—evidence of his typical teenage disorganization. 

With a sigh, Luke dragged himself to his feet, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. After a few moments of groggy stumbling, he made his bed in a half-hearted attempt at tidying up. Then, he shuffled downstairs, drawn by the tantalizing aroma of something cooking.

In the kitchen, his mother, a woman in her thirties with warm, expressive eyes, was flipping something in a pan. She looked up as he entered, her brow raised in mild reproach.

"Morning, Mom," Luke muttered, still groggy.

She gave him an unimpressed look. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to wake up on your own, right?"

"I was awake," he said, stifling a yawn. "Just enjoying my dreams a little longer."

She raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Go on, tidy up a bit. You know the drill—no breakfast until you've brushed your teeth."

"Alright, alright," Luke sighed. He trudged to the bathroom, still half-asleep. When he returned, his mother had already set the table, and the aroma of pancakes filled the air.

"I made your favorite today," she said with a smile, sliding a plate of warm, fluffy pancakes toward him.

"Thanks, Mom. You're the best!" Luke grinned, his mood improving instantly as he dug in.

"Yeah, yeah," she chuckled, ruffling his hair affectionately. "But hurry up. I've got to get to work, and you need to get ready for school. Are you sure you're okay walking on your own?"

"Mom, it's not like it's my first time," he replied, rolling his eyes with a playful grin. "Besides, you've got to work. I'll be fine."

They ate breakfast in comfortable silence. Luke wolfed down his food, and his mom packed her work bag, checking the clock now and then.

"Alright, did you remember everything?" she asked, handing him his lunch.

"Yes, Mother," he said, exasperated but smiling.

She paused, then leaned down to give him a quick kiss on the forehead. 

"What's that for?" Luke asked, his expression a mix of surprise and mild embarrassment. "I'm not a kid anymore."

"Just because I felt like it," she replied with a warm smile. "Alright, bye! Be careful on your way to school."

"Yeah, yeah," Luke muttered, but he couldn't hide the grin that tugged at his lips as he waved her off.

---

**[POV Shift: Luke's Mother]**

Standing at the door, I watched Luke stroll down the street, his figure shrinking with every step. I knew he was growing up, but for some reason, today felt… different. Something in the pit of my stomach wouldn't settle. A small, nagging feeling that wouldn't let go.

"Just my imagination," I whispered to myself, hoping I was just being overprotective.

As I locked the door and turned to head out, the phone rang, cutting through the quiet morning.

*Ring… Ring… Ring… Ring…*

"Hello?"

"Yes, this is...," I answered, surprised by the voice on the other end. "The office? Are you sure? I didn't request any leave… Alright, if it's already been arranged…"

I hung up the phone, frowning. My office had unexpectedly granted me a day off, despite not having asked for one. It seemed strange, like the world was shifting in ways I couldn't understand. 

"Strange things are happening today…" I muttered to myself.

---

**[POV Shift: Luke]**

"I hope Mom's alright," I muttered to myself as I walked down the street, casting a glance over my shoulder toward our house. Satisfied she'd gone back inside, I turned forward and continued on my way.

Suddenly, a voice rang out behind me. "Hey, kid, watch out!"

"Huh?" I barely had time to react before a pile of bricks crashed down, missing me by mere inches.

A construction worker rushed over, his face pale with concern. "Whoa, sorry about that! Are you okay, kid?"

"I… yeah, I think so," I stammered, still shaken by the near miss. "I didn't even realize there was construction here."

"Yeah, we just started yesterday," the worker explained, scratching his head. "The client wanted us to get an early start. You're sure you're not hurt?"

"I'm fine," I replied, forcing a smile. "But I should probably get going before I'm late for school."

"Alright, just be careful," he called after me, watching as I walked away.

As I continued on, I couldn't shake the feeling that today was *not* my lucky day. 

First, a near miss with falling bricks. Then, a black cat darted out and scratched my leg as I passed. And just to make things worse, I stepped in something… unsavory.

"Yuck!" I grimaced, wiping my shoe on the grass. "Seriously? What else can go wrong?"

Overhead, the sky began to rumble ominously. 

*Rumble… Rumble… Rumble…*

I glanced up, frowning. "There weren't any clouds in the forecast this morning… Guess they were wrong."

Another rumble of thunder echoed, louder this time, as if warning me to hurry. 

"Alright, that's it," I muttered. "I'm getting out of here before I get struck by lightning or something."

But as I quickened my pace, a strange heaviness settled over me. It felt like I was moving in slow motion. Each step became harder, and my backpack—usually light—now felt like it weighed a ton. 

Thunder rumbled above, and the sky darkened even more. 

*Rumble… Rumble… Rumble…*

---

The next thing I knew, I was lying face-down on the ground, surrounded by strangers. My limbs felt numb, and a high-pitched ringing filled my ears.

"Did you see what happened?" I heard someone whisper, voice trembling.

"I think lightning struck him!"

"Poor kid… Someone call an ambulance!"

Then, everything went dark.

---

**[News Report]**

"We regret to inform you of a tragic incident that occurred this morning. A young boy was found unconscious on the street after a storm passed through the area. Witnesses reported that a bolt of lightning struck nearby, and a passerby discovered the boy lying on the ground shortly afterward. 

Local authorities have identified him as Luke. It appears the lightning struck very close to him, and tragically, he did not survive. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."

---

**[Luke's POV]**

*AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!*

The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt. It was as if every nerve in my body was on fire. My mind spun in a blur of agony before plunging into an endless, dark void. 

I blinked—or at least, I thought I did. When I opened my eyes, I found myself floating in a pitch-black void. There was no ground, no walls, nothing—just an infinite, oppressive darkness. I felt weightless, as if I was drifting through an endless night.

"Where… am I?" I whispered, my voice sounding strange and hollow, swallowed by the void. "Is anyone here?"

There was no answer. No sound. No movement. Only silence.

"Am I… alone?" The thought filled me with a chill deeper than any I had ever felt before.

I tried to stay calm, forcing myself to breathe even though it didn't feel like I had a body anymore. I closed my eyes—or at least I tried to—and started counting. "One… two… three…"

---

Author's Note:

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