The rain kept pouring.

  It felt as if everything had turned against him.

  Not a single soul appeared.

  He heard voices somewhere in the distance, but they slowly faded away, and with them, his hope that someone would come.

  Rain soaked through his clothes.

  He shivered from the cold, pressing harder against the wound.

  The blood was warm and sticky beneath his fingers.

  Only then did he realize...in the rush, he had left his phone and everything else in the car.

  Slowly, he tried to push himself up.

  I need to get to the car, he thought.

  It’s not far.

  But his body was already growing weak.

  He forced himself to stand, one hand braced against the wall.

  This is the most stupid way to die, he thought.

  He was shivering.

  This damn rain…

  It’s so cold.

  His vision blurred, his body trembling with weakness, but he still took a step forward.

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  The sound of footsteps in the distance awakened a spark of hope inside him.

  This time, they were getting closer, louder with every second.

  Someone is coming…

  That small spark of hope gave him the strength to move again.

  With great effort, he took one step toward the sound.

  The silhouette of a man drew closer.

  He could almost see him through the rain.

  He remained where he was, leaning against the wall, waiting.

  The man came closer.

  A hand reached out, steadying him...and

  Takashi’s weight slowly fell against it.

  Almost collapsing, but strangely relieved…

  “Lean on me” the man said, his eyes falling to the blood slipping through Takashi’s fingers.

  Takashi’s hand trembled as it dropped from the wound.

  He placed it weakly on the man’s shoulder.

  “Can you walk?” the man asked as he lifted him firmly.

  “Hold on to me.”

  Takashi was shivering from the cold, but he leaned heavily against him and tried to move forward at his side.

  Only then did he lift his head to look at the man beside him.

  Blond hair was soaked by the rain, and his eyes were filled with worry.

  It’s him…

  The man from the house.

  His vision was blurred, but he recognized him.

  Why is he helping me? He wondered

  His full weight leaned against the man. It felt as if all his strength had drained away. His legs were too weak to support him, his entire body trembling from the cold and the loss of blood.

  “Hold on just a little longer. We’re almost there” Sota said, trying to keep him awake.

  Takashi stumbled, his body giving in, but Sota caught him, lifting him with all his strength.

  As he grabbed his shirt, a shiny necklace flashed briefly before Takashi’s eyes.

  For a moment, his mind snapped fully awake.

  His eyes widened.

  That’s my father’s necklace.

  He remembered it clearly.

  Why does he have it?

  The necklace…

  The one his mother had bought as a gift for his father...with the small padlock hanging from it.

  He remembered his father’s warm smile that day, the happiness on his face as she gently placed it around his neck.

  “You locked my heart a long time ago” his father had said softly, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

  She smiled softly, a little embarrassed, her cheeks flushing with color.

  Did he know my father…?

  Takashi tried to speak, but no strength remained in his body.

  His vision blurred completely, darkness closing in as he collapsed...still holding onto the beautiful memory of his parents.