The rain was cold, the kind that seeped into your bones and made you feel like you'd never be warm again. I sat slumped against the alley wall, my school uniform clinging to my skin, torn and dirty. My lip was split, my ribs ached, and my pride—what little I had left—was shattered.
It wasn't the first time I'd been jumped. In Lumina City, if you didn't have money, you were nothing. And I was less than nothing. The bullies had taken my wallet, not that there was much in it—just enough to buy Aiko's school lunch for the week. They'd left me with a few kicks to remember them by, like I needed the reminder.
I wiped the blood from my lip with the back of my hand, staring at the rain-soaked pavement. Why does it always have to be like this?
The sound of footsteps cut through the rain, sharp and deliberate. I looked up, squinting through the downpour. A man in a black suit was walking toward me, his face hidden under the brim of a fedora. He stopped a few feet away, his polished shoes gleaming under the flickering light of a streetlamp.
"You look like you've had a rough night," he said, his voice smooth and low, like the purr of an expensive car engine.
I didn't answer. What was there to say? I was just some kid in a dirty uniform, sitting in an alley like a stray dog. But the man reached into his coat and pulled out something small and golden. He tossed it to me, and I caught it instinctively.
"Take it," he said. "It might change your life."
I stared at the object in my hand. It was a coin, old and worn, with strange symbols etched into its surface. Before I could ask what it was or why he'd given it to me, the man turned and walked away, disappearing into the rain as quickly as he'd appeared.
Present Day
The fluorescent lights of the 24/7 convenience store buzzed overhead, casting a harsh glow on the rows of snacks, drinks, and cheap instant meals. I stood behind the counter, staring out the window at the passing cars. Lumina City never slept, but tonight, it felt especially alive—a constant reminder of everything I couldn't have.
I hated this job. The monotony of scanning items, the smell of stale coffee, the way customers barely looked at me as they handed over their money. But I couldn't afford to quit. Not when Mom's medical bills were piling up, and Aiko needed new school supplies.
My family had always struggled, but things had gotten worse after Dad disappeared five years ago. Mom, once vibrant and full of life, had been diagnosed with a chronic illness that left her bedridden most days. The doctors said she needed surgery, but the cost was astronomical—something I could never afford on a convenience store salary.
Aiko, my 12-year-old sister, was the only bright spot in my life. She was smart and kind, always trying to help out despite her age. She'd taken on odd jobs after school, like delivering newspapers and walking dogs, but it was never enough. I hated seeing her work so hard. She deserved to be a kid, not worry about whether we could afford dinner.
"Kaito, stop daydreaming and restock the ramen aisle," my manager barked from the back room, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah, got it," I muttered, grabbing a box of instant noodles from the storage room.
As I knelt to stack the packages on the shelf, my fingers brushed against the golden coin in my pocket. I'd kept it with me ever since that night in the alley, though I still didn't understand what it was or why the man had given it to me. Sometimes, when I was alone, I'd take it out and study the strange symbols, wondering if they meant something. But tonight, as my fingers closed around it, I felt a faint warmth spread through my hand.
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Was it my imagination, or had the coin just… glowed?