In one of Tokyo's hidden casinos, Erison sat before a pachinko machine. A black hoodie covered his head, and a dark mask hid half his face. Only his black eyes were visible, reflecting the flashing lights from the screen.
He kept his head low. He didn't want to be recognized.
The machine's lights in front of him blinked, and the reels began to spin.
"Congratulations! You've won the jackpot—1 million yen!"
A faint smile curved beneath his mask.
The number 777 flashed on the screen, followed by chaotic victory jingles filling the entire hall.
The sound drew the attention of nearby players.
"What? Never seen someone win a jackpot before?" he muttered with a lazy smirk.
His mocking expression was cut short by a familiar ringtone. Erison glanced down at his phone. The name Yuki flashed across his glowing screen.
Immediately, a wide, genuine smile appeared on his face. He quickly stood up, walking away from the crowd.
"Erison, where are you?" Her gentle voice carried a hint of panic.
"I'm still at home!" Erison lied quickly.
"Really?" Relief filled her tone.
"I was worried you already left for the restaurant. Something came up at work so I had to stay overtime... I'll be a bit late." Then she added with a small sigh of relief, "But luckily, I've just finished it."
"That's fine," Erison said softly, his voice calm, trying to ease her guilt.
"I haven't gotten ready yet either."
"Eh... but isn't our dinner at nine? It's already past eight-twenty!" Yuki's voice rose slightly.
"Will they cancel our reservation if we're late?"
"Don't worry. My place isn't far from the restaurant, and your office isn't either, right?" he replied.
"Sorry I can't pick you up... we're heading from opposite directions."
"Ah! It's okay, Erison! I'm just happy you invited me out," Yuki said, cheerful again.
He smiled faintly at her words before the call ended.
Sliding the phone back into his pocket, Erison walked out of the pachinko hall, leaving the flashing lights and metallic sounds behind.
He approached the prize counter. Behind the glass, a middle-aged man sat half-asleep until Erison placed a slip of paper before him.
"Oh! A one million yen jackpot?"
The man's tone instantly brightened. "Congratulations, sir! Is this your first big win?"
Erison only nodded.
"I see..." The man's grin widened.
"We actually have special offers for big winners like you. VIP membership, bonus tokens, or..."
"Not interested," Erison cut him off coldly.
The man's smile faltered. "Alright then. Please note that your prize will be taxed. About five percent."
Erison just nodded again.
The counting machine buzzed behind the counter, sharp and rhythmic. Finally, the man handed him a sleek black envelope.
"One million yen, after tax. Please check."
"No need," Erison replied. "I trust you."
Without another glance, he turned and walked away.
At the casino exit, two security guards in black suits stood watch. Erison lowered his head, pulling the hoodie further.
He passed them calmly, keeping his stride confident.
Once outside, the night air hit his face.
"Hahhh..." he exhaled deeply, feeling the weight lift from his chest.
You might be wondering, why was he so tense after winning?
Afraid of being robbed? Scammed? Or even followed? Unfortunately, it was something far deeper. He was afraid someone might recognize who he really was.
In the gambling world, there was one name whispered like an urban legend.
A man said to possess Absolute Luck.
Cards. Roulette. Slots. Pachinko. It didn't matter the game, he never lost.
Dealers called him 'The Devil in a Hoodie.'
Whenever he sat down, he never had to chase a win. It was as if the money itself came looking for him.
But tonight, under that hoodie, the legend was just a twenty-six-year-old man named Erison.
'Good thing no one recognized me,' he thought.
'If even one of them knew, chaos would've erupted.'
He knew this from experience.
Once they found out who he was, they would flat-out refuse to pay his prize.
***
He walked through the wet streets toward his car.
SPLASH!
A speeding car hit a puddle, soaking him from head to toe.
"...Great," he grumbled, staring at his now-soaked jacket.
Ironic, isn't it? The man with Absolute Luck, drenched in filthy street water.
People think being lucky means life's easy. Endless money, no worries, endless women.
But not for Erison.
His luck only worked in games of chance.
In life—and especially love—he was cursed.
Every woman who'd ever dated him ended up hating him.
Rumors piled up until the "miracle man" became a walking scandal.
But tonight, he thought that curse would finally break.
After twenty-four years of loneliness, he was finally going on a date.
With Yuki. The first woman who looked past his luck and saw him for who he truly was.
He opened his car trunk. Inside were his date clothes: a crisp white shirt, black suit, matching tie, and brand-new shoes.
'If this date fails too, I swear my curse just leveled up,' he thought bitterly.
Staring at his reflection in the car window, Erison changed clothes in a hurry. He knew the risk, someone could walk by, but to him, it was safer than a public restroom.
He didn't know what kind of disaster would strike him if he went inside.
All he knew was that he wasn't going to repeat the 'Taco Hell' incident, where he ended up as the collateral damage of a man's explosive diarrhea.
"Never again..." he sighed, quickly buttoning his shirt.
Once ready, he shut the trunk with a thunk, slipped into the driver's seat, and started the engine.
The screen flickered: "Welcome back, Erison."
He leaned back into the plush leather seat. This Mercedes was the only luxury he truly trusted.
"Alright... if this date goes south, I'm selling you too," He joked to the dashboard.
He drove calmly through the glowing streets of Tokyo.
But of course, the universe refused to let him have a moment of peace.
The second he left the entertainment district, a heavy downpour ambushed his car.
The sound pounded against the car roof like bullets.
'What the hell...? It was clear a minute ago.'
He turned on the wipers, but the rain only grew stronger.
As if the downpour wasn't enough, the city decided to trap him. Traffic came to a dead stop.
"Of course," he groaned. "Fuck. Should've known."
Minutes crawled by. The clock read 8:48 PM.
It turned out the traffic jam was caused by an accident ahead.
A delivery truck had jackknifed across two lanes, blocking everything.
"Tch. You really shouldn't be parking there, buddy," he hissed with a bitter scoff. "Unless you're planning to pay for my date."
Once the road finally cleared, he slammed his foot on the gas.
The wipers failed to cut through the heavy downpour, leaving the world ahead a blurred, gray mess.
Through the haze and heavy rain, Erison didn't notice the upcoming intersection.
Where another truck was trying to cross.
"Damn it!"
He hit the brakes and jerked the steering wheel. But the wet asphalt betrayed him. The tires lost grip.
CRASH!
The car slammed into the truck, flipping over several times before colliding with another vehicle. The sound of metal twisting, glass shattering, and the relentless downpour blended into one chaotic roar.
Inside the overturned car, Erison could barely move. His body was pinned by the crushed frame. Warm blood trickled down his face, blurring his vision into a sea of red.
Outside, people screamed. Desperate voices calling for help. But to him, it all sounded distant.
"Wh... what's happening?" he choked out.
"Did I... hit that truck?"
His vision dimmed.
"Cough! Cough!"
Blood spilled from his mouth.
'Am I... going to die here? Alone? Die as a failure?'
"Yuki..." he whispered. A single word, soaked in regret and longing.
It was the last thing he ever said.
***
The world fell silent. Darkness swallowed everything.
'Is this... heaven? No... it's too dark. And too quiet for hell.'
Out of nowhere, a dim blue light appeared before him.
A rectangular screen floated in the darkness, glowing softly.
[GAMBLE SYSTEM — ACTIVATED]
[Greetings, bearer of Absolute Luck. Your luck defies logic and probability.]
[Do you wish... to be reborn?]
Erison blinked.
'A system...? What... wait. Is this like the novels I read?' His drifting mind snapped back to reality.
[To begin, make your first choice.]
[Spin the symbols to determine your fate.]
[Rules: 3 Hearts → Reincarnation. Joker → Instant death.]
Erison frowned.
[Awaiting your input...]
"Gambling... to decide whether I live or die? What kind of bullshit is this!?"