The Tale Of Atheron
A Meaningless End
Winter had settled heavily over Japan, wrapping the quiet town in cold winds and pale skies.
The streets were dull and lifeless, the air carrying the faint smell of rust and smoke.
In a small, worn-down town, far from the lights of major cities, life moved slowly… and meaninglessly
The smell of oil never left his hands.
No matter how many times Ren scrubbed them raw under cheap soap, it stayed. It sank into his skin, into his nails, into everything. A reminder that this was his life now.
he tightened the last bolt on the rusted bike in front of him, the metal groaning softly under the pressure.
He didn't rush. There was no reason to
Nothing waiting for him after this.
Shop Owner
"Oi, hurry it up," the shop owner snapped from behind. "Customer's been waiting."
Ren Akiyama
"I know," (doesn't look back)
That title used to mean something.
Now it just sounded like a bad joke.
Two years since he finished college, and this was where he ended up.
A mechanic shop that smelled like burnt oil and dust, working long hours for money that barely lasted the week.
He used to imagine something better.
Something that felt like it was moving forward.
Instead, everything stayed the same.
Same feeling that nothing was ever going to change.
That night, the streets were quieter than usual.
Dim lights stretched along the road, flickering here and there like they were about to give up too.
Ren walked slowly, one hand in his pocket.
His fingers brushed against folded paper.
Not because he believed in luck.
Just because it was the only thing that gave him even a small excuse to hope.
He stopped under a streetlamp.
The light buzzed faintly overhead.
Because most days ended the same way.
Ren Akiyama
(exhaled slowly)
Ren Akiyama
[…Just check it]
Ren Akiyama
(eyes narrowed slightly)
The numbers didn't change.
Every single one matched.
For a moment, everything around him disappeared.
Just the quiet, overwhelming weight of it sinking in.
The ticket stayed in his hand the entire night, his fingers tightening around it every time he thought he might be dreaming.
By morning, he was already outside.
For the first time in years, his chest felt light.
This could change everything.
Something that didn't feel like he was stuck in the same moment forever.
He stepped onto the road without thinking.
A horn exploded through the air.
A truck was coming straight at him.
The vehicle swerved slightly, tires screeching against the asphalt.
The driver inside looked panicked—hands fighting the wheel, eyes wide, something clearly wrong.
The sound of metal grinding echoed for a split second.
Just the realization hitting him all at once—
Ren Akiyama
"…You've got to be kidding me."
His body lifted off the ground like it weighed nothing, the world spinning out of control before slamming into darkness.
The ticket slipped from his hand.
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