243… 244… 245…
I exhaled sharply, my chest rising and falling as sweat dripped from my chin onto the floor.
My arms trembled slightly as I pushed myself up one last time.
Silence.
Then—
Footsteps.
Slow. Faint. Getting closer.
Wait… footsteps?
My brows furrowed as I lifted my head slightly.
Could it be… someone from the organization?
"Akira… how long are you going to keep sleeping? Wake up!"
The tension shattered instantly.
"I'm already awake… what's up, my dear assistant?" I said lazily, wiping the sweat off my face.
"Don't call me that! Mom's calling you, idiot! Today's your first day of college—don't be late!"
"Haai, haai… I was just exercising."
As you can see, today is my first day of college.
Ever since I was a kid, I've wanted to become a detective.
Strange, right?
Most people dream of becoming doctors, businessmen, or teachers…
…but I've always been obsessed with criminology.
Well… I'm also a bit of a role player—like a chunibyuu.
My parents are fine with it, even though they wanted me to become an actor like Mom.
Dad owns an entertainment company.
Everything is normal.
A loving family.
Supportive relatives.
Caring friends.
I don't need anything more.
I'm happy.
"Hey Mom, what's for breakfast?"
"Your favorite—tonkatsu."
"Seriously? Thank you!"
I took a bite.
"Mhm… haha, delicious. Mom, you're the best."
"Flatter me later. Your dad's waiting—eat quickly."
"Akira? Come quickly…"
"Coming!"
"Don't forget to bring the new volume of Twisted Arathi-jō!"
"Haai, haai… my little troublemaker sister."
"DON'T CALL ME THAT, YOU DUMMY!"
"Hahaha…"
---
"Akira! You're getting late!"
"Coming!"
---
Inside the car—
The engine hummed softly as we pulled onto the road.
"Didn't you say you had a meeting at 9?"
"I did," Dad replied casually. "But you were so excited, I waited. It's not that important."
I looked at him for a moment.
"…Thanks, Dad."
"What are you saying?" he chuckled. "If I don't take you, who will?"
"MOM—!"
"Akira hidoi!!.."
"Haha! Just kidding."
The road stretched ahead, calm and ordinary.
Too ordinary.
Something felt… off.
"Wait… Dad…"
"What?"
"There's someone in front—brake!"
Everything slowed.
A shadow.
Right in the middle of the road.
The tires screamed—
A horn blared—
Dad's hands tightened on the wheel as he jerked it to the right—
Headlights.
Blinding.
A truck.
Too close.
Too fast.
_____
BOOM.
_____
Ting…
ting…
ting…
A distant, metallic ringing echoed in the void.
My body felt… weightless.
Or maybe—
I couldn't feel it at all.
"Akira... Akira….. akira…"
The voice felt far away.
Fading.
Breaking.
"Dad...…"
Darkness swallowed everything.
Maybe…
I shouldn't have asked him to drop me.
Maybe…
this would've never happened.