Rekindle The Light

Chapter 1: A Dull Life

other students looked up to him. Girls swooned over him; boys wished to be like him. He was the Student Council president. Everyone seemed to love him, everyone except for himself.

Nagano left the stage, parting from the crowd. As he left the auditorium, he felt the false smile fall off his face.

Nagano caught a glimpse of himself in a nearby mirror on the wall. He wore a cold expression; it was his natural expression, which he hid under a charming smile. His mother always said it did not match his appearance.

Nagano's eyes were bright blue. People always said they were like the ocean, but he thought they looked like icy pits of despair. His sun-kissed blonde hair was neatly styled into a soft, tousled look. It was cut short, framing his face with a slightly longer fringe that fell over his forehead. The hairstyle, a perfect blend of classic and modern, complemented his sharp features and exuded an air of confidence and sophistication. He got it from his father...

He missed his dad.

A sudden knock at the door caused him to jolt slightly. The noise pulled him out of his thoughts, and he turned around. He cleared his throat slightly, his pleasant façade returning.

"Come in, " he said, forcing a charming tone. The door slowly opened, and a graceful figure came into the room.

His smile almost faltered when he saw his mother walk in. Her long black hair fell down her shoulders as she entered the room. She carried herself with elegance and confidence. A confidence that said, 'I'm better than you.'

Her eyes locked onto Nagano. She gave him that damn look again. Like he wasn't good enough, a waste of space.

"I thought I would find you here." She crossed her arms beneath her chest. "I heard your speech."

"You listened to it?" Nagano managed to hide the slight tremble in his voice. "You didn't have to. I know you are busy with work—"

She cut him off. "We're leaving. I thought it may have been worth it, but you wasted my time again."

Nagano gritted his teeth. He had been preparing the speech for weeks. What the hell more could he do?

"You will have to go home without me tonight. I have some more things to attend to before I return." Nagano lied. He had nothing to do, he just could not stand spending another moment with this damn woman right now, yet he forced a smile.

She gave Nagano a scrutinizing look before nodding curtly. "Alright. Be home before dinner." Before he could respond, she left.

Nagano released a breath he had not realized he held. His hands shook slightly. The tension in his muscles dissipated. He slumped over to his chair, staring up at the ceiling when he sat down. His mind was empty. He did not want to go anywhere. He did not want to do anything. To be honest? He felt like breaking down into tears.

***

After what felt like an eternity, Nagano eventually pulled himself together. He forced every muscle to move as he reluctantly pushed himself out of the chair.

Nagano made his way through the nearly empty school halls. The rest of the students had already left.

Not that he wanted to see them anyway.

When Nagano stepped outside, a breeze sent a shiver down his spine. It was getting late, and he noticed the sun had begun setting. It was beautiful, casting a gentle glow over the town. A subtle warmth on his skin. A sharp contrast to his feelings.

If there was a god out there, this was some kind of joke to them.

He walked along the sidewalk, lost in his thoughts, preparing himself for dinner with his mother.

As he stepped onto the road to cross the street, he heard a sharp noise of a car horn; however, it was too late when he looked up.

The impact was unlike anything he had felt before. The crack of his bones pierced the air. He got launched by the car. Time seemed to stop as he felt as if he were flying, but just as quickly, it all came to a stop. He slid across the ground. The pain was excruciating.

No...

No, no, no, no! Not now. I can't die.

He had so much to do. So much to be a part of. So much to prove wrong.

Nagano heard the screeching of tires, the slam of a car door, and rushed footsteps approaching him. His vision started blurring as he noticed a person kneeling beside him.

Nagano could not make out their features, but they seemed worried. Thoughts of his past flickered in his mind—thoughts of his mother, who used to love him, and his father and sister, who were gone.

If Nagano could laugh, he would, but his body did not work correctly.

Death loomed over him. People were right when they said your life flashed before your eyes.

The outside world slowly started to disappear around him. The loud ringing in his ears and the throbbing in his head seemed to stop. Everything became silent. Peaceful...

***

Nagano suddenly opened his eyes. He found himself gasping for air, his heart pounding wildly.