Fujimiya Kazuya was sixteen years old and exhausted.
His arms felt heavy from endless gaming, his eyes burned from staring at the screen for too long and the plastic bag in his hand clinked softly as he walked.
An energy drink,
Instant noodles,
A cheap keychain.
"Stay awake," he muttered, lightly slapping his cheeks. "You're still on the road."
He stepped forward.
And didn't look left.
The sound came first—
A horn,
A scream,
And then—
Pain.
Pain swallowed him whole.
His body broke before his thoughts could catch up.
"It hurts."
"Mom... Dad..."
"Please... Look at me..."
Darkness followed.
...
When he opened his eyes again, he was standing.
No pain,
No blood,
No broken bones.
Only a quiet street—
And a plastic bag still hanging from his hand.
"... I was dying.
So why... Am I standing?"