Owning and running a funeral shop wasn't just a job for Grimm- it was a responsibility that was handed to him from the beginning. His role is to act as a gatekeeper between the living and the dead, a representative of Death himself, ensuring that those who pass through his doors receive what they need before moving on to the so-called next life.
Customers visited his shop daily with concerns, special requests, and last wishes. It was a regular occurrence; nothing seemed odd or unique. That's why Grimm barely looked up when the doorbell chimed that day.
Until the murmurs started.
"Is that...?" someone whispered, voice laced with concern. "Alive?"
"Yes?" another replied, though they didn't sound sure. Their eyes flickered toward the young man standing near the wooden coffins, distancing himself from the others.
Grimm set his pen down and straightened. One of his staff approached cautiously.
"Sir, someone...unusual came in."
Grimm sighed and rose from his desk. He had encountered plenty of strange cases before, but when he stepped into the counter, his eyes locked onto the young man, and something deep inside him shifted.
The stranger looked in his mid-twenties, with tousled brown hair and a pair of distinct emerald green eyes. His skin was pale, and his lips were a bit cracked and colorless, apparent signs of someone not in the best health. But it wasn't his frail appearance that intrigued Grimm.
It was the fact that he was here at all.
This shop was hidden from the living. Only the dead-those who had crossed over could find their way inside.
Yet this young man stood there, browsing coffins like any other customer, like it's expected to do when you are in a shop.
A human standing between two worlds.
Grimm had seen people like this who unknowingly straddled life and Death. Most were unaware of their so-called gift, and in time, they usually slipped entirely into one side or the other.
But Grimm's gut told him this one was different. And if Death, the one he's been serving, found out about him, there was no telling what fate awaited the boy.
That's why Grimm finally decided, "Let me handle this..." and approached the young man, keeping his expression neutral.
"I assume you are looking for something?"
The young man turned to him, startled. Then he gazed back at the coffins on display, feeling slightly warm in his cheeks, "I'm here to make preparations."
Grimm studied him momentarily; this young man was unaware of his gift. "I think I can help you with that. We offer different styles, varying price ranges, and..."
"I want a decent coffin," The young man interrupted without thinking, his words sharp and final. He didn't care about style or extravagance. He didn't care if it was oak or pine. "A simple one is fine by me."
Grimm faked his smile. Most people who arranged their funerals had more time- weeks, months, and sometimes years. But this one...
He didn't have long.
"I think we have that here. Please, follow me." Grimm said, leading him past the grand, polished coffins lined in neat rows. Then Grimm gestured to some set of plain wooden caskets. "I think this is the one you are looking for..."
The young man initially seems hesitant before running his hand over the smooth surface. It was simple but sturdy, precisely what he was looking for.
"I like it..." he said.
Then, in a strange, quiet moment, the young man turned to him and asked, "In case no one comes...would you like to attend my funeral?"
Something about the request stirred Grimm in a way he wasn't prepared for. He thought this was a man who had already accepted his Death. But there's more to it that is still hidden in the shadows.
Before he could think better of it, he nodded. "That's okay. I'll be there as you wish."
The young man's expression slightly faltered the moment he heard his answer. Grimm saw how his lips twisted into a bitter smile to cover his disbelief. The young man knows it's just a random request, but he did not expect that the owner, Grimm, would agree to such a peculiar request.
"Don't be ridiculous." he said, "Who are you to make such promises?"
But Grimm's smile didn't falter. He replied.
"Everyone calls me here "Grimm," and if you want, I will be at your service."
And that's how his interest in the young man grew into something he wasn't supposed to engage in. Usually, he would not interfere beyond the shop's coverage and his work. But something about that young guy named "Elio" intrigued him—something he wanted to uncover.
Then, when he reviewed the paperwork later, he noticed a mistake: Elio had written his workplace address instead of his home address.
Grimm decided to go there and investigate.
The moment he stepped into the city streets, the dead noticed him. Spirits trapped between worlds turned their heads as he passed, whispering his name. It was rare for him to transform and mingle with the living, walking around normally. But most of the time, these people walked right by him, unable to see the figure dressed in a black suit.
Except for Elio.
Even in the realm of the living, Elio's eyes found him. That was...interesting.
Elio worked at a nightclub, one that flashed in Grimm's memory. Years ago, a club was burned into ashes in that very spot. Customers, staff, and performers died in that incident, and some of them who remained bound to the place didn't know that they were dead. And yet, here was Elio, working among them. He can see them, but he's completely unaware that they are dead. He spoke to and even touched them, treating them like they were just another part of the crowd. But it seems like Elio cannot distinguish between dead and not.
Grimm's curiosity grew as he watched Elio from where he was standing. Something inside him stirred up.
This man was living in both worlds.
But did he truly not realize it?
When Grimm finally approached, their conversation was casual at first. Elio spoke to him like a regular customer, not someone who was supposed to exist outside of Death.
And then Grimm saw it.
Elio had something in him. A force drew him nearer to Death. Not just the deteriorating physique, not just his disease. It goes beyond his boundaries...
There's more to it.
-----
Elio returned to the store a few days later. Grimm anticipated he would inquire further about the funeral plans or look through several coffins again.
But instead—
"Boss, he's asking if you're dating someone."
Astonished, Grimm blinked. However, he kept himself hidden. Elio tried to explain himself as he gave him a terrified expression. "N--no! Wait! That's not what I meant!"
Grimm tilted his head. He studied Elio's reaction for a moment. Then, out of nowhere, he said, "Do you want to go out with me?"
He also didn't mean to ask him for a date. He wasn't also the type of guy to indulge himself in such things. But for some reason, he wanted to entertain the idea of dating, and it did not bother him if Elio was a guy. He said it simply because he wanted to. He always has this certainty in his actions, as if this was something that he had already decided long before he ever spoke the words.
And he doesn't know if that's a good or bad thing.
However, he did not anticipate that dating wasn't as simple as he thought. Days before their date, he became anxious and planned everything to finish his job on time so he could prepare. He rarely leaves the shop, so he relies on some books about dating, but it isn't enough. He even needed someone to tell him if it was okay to bring flowers on his first date or if it was not.
It turns out he's trying his best to impress a guy he barely knew.
------
His date with Elio was simple: watching a movie and a dinner.
But being out in public with a living person was foreign to him. And, as expected, the dead noticed.
They stared. Whispered.
From Elio's perspective, it was like..."People are looking at us."
But in Grimm's perspective, "Do I tell him or not?"
No. Not yet.
"Are they staring at me, or am I just imagining things?" Elio muttered under his breath, leaning slightly toward Grimm.
Grimm didn't even glance around. "They are. But it's not you they are looking at; it's me."
That much was true but wasn't exactly reassuring on Elio's part.
"Huh?"
Grimm stopped walking. He faced Elio and brushed off the strands of hair covering the younger man's face using his hands.
He muttered, "People aren't used to seeing me out in the open, so it's me, not you." He bent his head slightly towards Elio, close to his ears, and said, "Don't worry about them, okay?"
However, that was not a complete explanation.
Strangely, the remainder of the night went by. Even though Elio was playful, Grimm sensed the weight of something that they had not said. When he believed no one was watching, he noticed Elio's hands shaking. He saw the fatigue behind Elio's eyes, the times when his strength wavered.
Elio had a limited amount of time.
And Grimm, who had spent an eternity surrounded by Death, felt something he hadn't in years.
They stood outside the diner when their date ended, silence stretching between them. Grimm wanted to tell Elio everything about the shop, the dead, and why he could see what no one else could.
But when he looked at Elio, his tired but content face, and how he looked at him like a person, not just Death's servant, he hesitated.
Not yet.
Then Elio's voice broke the silence.
"...Yeah?"
Then, finally, after a long pause, Grimm said, "Thank you."
Elio frowned. "For what?"
Grimm's lips curved slightly upward. "For tonight."
Elio compelled himself to smile, nudging Grimm's shoulder playfully. "Hey, I appreciate the day, and you paid for almost everything. I'm kind of ashamed, but...thank you."
Grimm laughed softly at the joke. "It does not bother me to pay for our date. After all, I was the one who asked you to go out."
"So, would you consider asking me again?"
Grimm smiled as if he was considering asking Elio again for a date.
"Sure...."
He had escorted countless souls beyond the veil. He had watched thousands pass on, never once feeling anything.
But tonight, he felt something.
And for the first time in centuries...
Death hesitated.