I dragged my feet across the college campus, trying not to look too obvious as I clutched my books against my chest. The spring air smelled like cherry blossoms mixed with exhaust fumes—a strange scent for a day that felt anything but fresh. Around me, groups of students laughed and chatted, their lives moving forward without a care. I wished I could feel the same.
Every step I took was cautious. I kept glancing over my shoulder, heart pounding, expecting the usual. The usual sneers. The usual punches to my self-esteem.
"Hey, Takeda!" a voice called out, sharp and mocking.
My stomach twisted. There they were—Kazuki and Ryo—big, loud, and full of hate. They made their way toward me, sneering like predators closing in on weak prey. The crowd seemed to part just for them, and I wished I could disappear.
"What's up, loser?" Kazuki jabbed a finger into my shoulder, hard enough to make me stumble. "Still lugging around those dumb books? What, you planning to bury yourself in schoolwork forever while the rest of us live?"
Ryo laughed, a cruel sound that made my skin crawl. "You're such a joke, man. No one even notices you."
I didn't say anything. I kept my eyes on the cracked pavement, willing the ground to swallow me whole. Fighting back only made it worse. I'd learned that lesson the hard way.
"Why don't you just vanish?" Kazuki said, voice low and menacing. "Nobody wants you here."
My fists clenched so tight my nails dug into my palms. I swallowed hard, blinking back the sting of tears. I hated feeling weak. I hated feeling invisible.
Then, suddenly, a voice cut through the noise.
"Hey, leave him alone."
It was soft, but firm. I looked up, and there she was—a woman standing a few feet away. Maybe in her early thirties, dressed simply, but with eyes that held a kind of quiet strength I hadn't seen in a long time.
Kazuki sneered at her. "And who the hell are you? His knight in shining armor?"
She didn't back down. "Someone who doesn't like bullies."
Ryo snorted. "Get lost, lady."
But she took a step forward, her gaze steady. "Everyone deserves respect. Including him."
I saw the flicker of uncertainty in their eyes. After a tense moment, Kazuki spat and turned away. Ryo followed.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, my heart pounding so loud I thought it might burst.
The woman looked at me and smiled—a small, sad smile.
"You okay?"
I nodded, voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you."
She reached into her bag and pulled out a crumpled five-dollar bill. "I don't have much, but... please take this."
I stared at her, shocked. "I can't—"
"Please," she said gently. "Use it for something good."
I took the bill, hands shaking. I looked at her face one more time—warm, tired, hopeful. Then she turned and disappeared into the crowd.
I stood there, clutching the five dollars like it was the most precious thing in the world.
---
That night, I sat alone in my tiny dorm room. The single bulb overhead flickered, casting uneven shadows on the cracked walls. My desk was cluttered with textbooks, notebooks, and a small alarm clock blinking 10:37.
I stared at the five-dollar bill on the desk. It wasn't much—barely enough for instant noodles—but it felt like a lifeline.
My phone buzzed. A message from Kazuki: *"Got any money yet, loser? Ha."*
I didn't reply.
Instead, I reached for a lottery ticket I'd bought on a whim a week ago. Cheap, maybe foolish, but a tiny spark of hope anyway. I'd never won before. Probably never would.
But tonight felt different.
I grabbed a coin and started scratching off the silver coating.
At first, nothing. No match, no prize.
Then, slowly, the numbers aligned.
"10,000,000 yen," I whispered, voice shaking.
My breath caught. Was this real?
I rubbed my eyes, checked again.
It was real.
Ten million yen. More money than I'd ever dreamed of.
The room seemed to spin. Was this a dream?
I pinched myself—the pain sharp and real.
Hope, bright and fragile, bloomed inside me.
Maybe this was the start of something new.
---
The next morning, I found the woman waiting by the college gate.
She smiled when she saw me.
"I wanted to see you again," she said softly. "And... thank you for taking the money."
I hesitated, then reached into my wallet. My hands trembled as I pulled out a thick envelope.
"I want to give you something," I said quietly. "One million yen. For helping me."
Her eyes widened.
"No," she said gently. "I didn't do it for money."
"But you gave me your last five dollars," I said, voice cracking.
She smiled, soft but steady. "Sometimes all we can do is offer a little kindness. Now it's your turn to decide what you'll do with your life."
I nodded, feeling the weight of her words settle deep inside me.
---
In the days that followed, rumors spread like wildfire.
"Haruki won the lottery."
"Ten million yen!"
Kazuki and Ryo heard too.
They approached me again, this time with fake smiles and awkward greetings.
"Hey, Haruki. Congrats," Kazuki said, voice dripping with false warmth. "We should hang out sometime."
I looked at them coldly. "No thanks."
They tried again with cheap gifts and empty apologies.
I stood my ground.
My life was changing, but not because of money.
Because I was learning to stand up for myself.
---
That night, I lay awake, the lottery ticket framed on my desk.
I thought about the woman, her kindness, and the strange twist of fate.
The shadows were still there, heavy and dark.
But now, a small light burned inside me.
And for the first time in a long time, I dared to dream.