The dream began again.
It was morning — bright, peaceful, and warm — the kind of day that once made Akira feel invincible. He could smell the fresh-cut grass, hear laughter echoing from the schoolyard. His soccer ball bounced between his feet as he practiced his shots, the thud of leather against his shoes matching the rhythm of his heartbeat.
He was just a kid then — energetic, confident, and full of life.
The world hadn't broken yet.
"Akira! Breakfast's getting cold!" his mother's voice called from the doorway.
He turned and saw her — Miyuki Kurogane — smiling softly. Her long black hair caught the morning light, and the pendant on her neck shimmered faintly. That pendant… Akira remembered every detail of it, even in his dreams.
"Coming, Mom!" he said, running toward her with his ball tucked under his arm. "You're gonna watch the match today, right?"
"Of course," she said warmly. "When is it again?"
"At ten-thirty! I'm gonna score three goals this time!"
"You always say that," she teased, brushing his hair aside.
Akira hesitated for a moment. "Mom… can I ask something?"
Her hand paused midair. "What is it?"
"It's about Dad. You never tell me who he was."
For just a heartbeat, her smile faltered. Then she looked away and said quietly, "You'll be late for your match, Akira. Better hurry."
He sighed. "Fine. I'll ask later."
He grabbed his bag and headed for the door. "See you, Mom!"
"Bye, Akira! Play fair," she said, her voice soft but proud.
As soon as he was gone, Miyuki's expression broke. Tears welled up in her eyes. She reached for the pendant, clutching it tight, whispering words only she could hear.
Her phone buzzed.
[URGENT NOTICE: Site inspection required at North Construction Grounds.]
She wiped her tears, drew a steady breath, and murmured, "Duty calls."
---
The scene shifted.
The soccer field burst to life — the whistle blew, the crowd roared. Akira was unstoppable. He moved like lightning, every pass perfect, every shot precise. He didn't just play — he read his opponents, predicting every move before it happened.
By the time the final whistle sounded, the score was clear. Akira's team had won.
"Akira! You're a monster!" his teammate laughed.
Akira grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. "Told you — three goals."
He checked his phone. A message from his mother blinked on the screen.
> Inspection might take longer. We may have to cancel our afternoon party.
Akira frowned. The construction site wasn't far from school.
Maybe I can surprise her… celebrate there instead, he thought, and started running.
---
The air at the site was thick with dust and noise. Machines roared, workers shouted, and steel clanged against concrete.
Miyuki was there — clipboard in hand, checking the ground markings near a crane that hoisted huge steel rods.
Then — a sudden screech.
The crane jerked violently. A misfire. The cables snapped.
The heavy rods swayed dangerously in the air.
"Mom!" Akira shouted, his voice drowned out by drilling.
The rods slipped from the chains — falling fast.
In panic, Akira kicked his soccer ball with all his strength. It rolled past his mother's feet and bumped her leg. She looked down — then up — and saw him.
"Akira?" she gasped.
"Mom! Look up!" he yelled.
She turned her gaze skyward — just in time. The steel crashed down, missing her by inches.
Akira sprinted toward her. "Mom! Are you okay?!"
"I'm fine," she said, breathing heavily.
"Let's go home, Mom," he urged.
But she shook her head, smiling faintly. "Don't worry, Akira. Accidents happen sometimes. I'll be careful."
Just then, a crow landed on the fallen steel rods. It cawed sharply — a sound that sliced through the air — before taking off into the fading light.
For a moment, both mother and son stood silently, watching it disappear.
---
By evening, the inspection was over. The sun dipped below the horizon as they drove home — Miyuki at the wheel, Akira sitting behind her, half-dozing.
"You were amazing today," she said softly. "Three goals?"
"Yeah," he said, smiling. "You should've seen me."
"I wish I did," she whispered.
The road ahead stretched long and empty. The hum of the engine filled the quiet.
Then — a shadow flashed across the windshield.
THUD!
A crow slammed against the glass, its body twisting before it fell lifelessly onto the road.
Miyuki flinched, gasping. The car swerved sharply.
"Mom!" Akira shouted.
The tires screeched — metal clashed — the world turned upside down. The car slammed into a divider, spinning to a halt.
Akira hit the ground hard. His vision blurred. His ears rang.
When he looked up, smoke filled the air. The car was wrecked — glass shattered, metal bent — and his mother was still inside.
"Mom!" he screamed, stumbling toward her.
Her leg was pinned under the crushed dashboard. "I'm okay," she gasped, trying to move. "Just… stuck."
Akira ran faster. "Hold on, I'll get you out!"
Then — a blaring horn.
He turned. A truck was barreling toward them, loaded with massive logs.
The chain on the truck snapped — one of the logs broke free — spinning through the air.
"Mom!" he cried.
The log crashed down with thunderous force.
And everything stopped.
Smoke. Silence.
Akira dropped to his knees. The car was destroyed. His mother… wasn't moving.
"Mom…" His voice cracked. "Mom, please…"
There was no reply. Only the faint caw of a crow in the distance.
He screamed, voice breaking apart — "MOM! NO!"
---
Then, from the shadows of the wreck, something began to rise.
A figure — tall, smoky, formless at first — took shape. Its eyes burned red, its presence suffocating. A massive scythe shimmered in its hand.
Akira's breath caught in his throat.
It stepped closer, its voice like a whisper from another world.
> "Those who witness death… shall receive it."
The scythe glowed crimson as it swung toward him—
And Akira jolted awake.
He was back in his bed, drenched in sweat, chest heaving. His heart pounded like a drum inside his chest.
He pressed his hands over his eyes. A strange dark mark glowed faintly on his right hand — the same one he had seen in his dream.
"Why…" he whispered, voice trembling. "Why again…?"
Outside, a crow cried once — and vanished into the night.