An ordinary office worker went about doing what an office worker was supposed to do. Waking up in the morning, squeezing into the crowded train, working in front of a computer all day, getting scolded by his boss for not meeting targets, suddenly having his workload increase, being punished with overtime, and not even getting paid for it.
When he wanted to go home, it wasn't uncommon for him to be met with silence, unable to catch the train because it had already left. The station bench had also, more than once, been a witness to the harsh life of this office worker.
This was the daily life of a man named Takahashi Yuki.
Today wasn't much different. The only difference from usual was that he could go home earlier. Perhaps this was the man's lucky day.
When he stepped out of the office, the clock was already showing 9 PM. Still enough time to catch the train home.
Before heading to the station, Yuki stopped by a convenience store. He intended to cook at home, as for almost a month now, he had been eating instant food. He was worried about his health.
Stepping into the store, Yuki was warmly greeted by the cashier. A small thing, perhaps, but it made Yuki happy.
The girl said with a sweet smile on her face, "Welcome! Oh, it's rare for you to come at this hour. Are you going to buy instant noodles again, Yuki?"
"No, today's different. I want to cook something healthy, just for today. Do you have any suggestions, Nanami?" Yuki replied with a smile on his face.
The girl in the light blue uniform in front of Yuki was named Aoyama Nanami. She was quite lovely and had been working at this convenience store for four years now.
She had the black hair typical of Japanese women and brown eyes. The back of her hair was tied into a ponytail, making it easier for her to move freely. For the front, she had curtain bangs that radiated her beauty and elegance.
Yes, this beautiful girl was the woman Yuki liked. It wasn't an exaggeration to say Nanami was one of the reasons Yuki still had the will to work.
The convenience store where Nanami worked was fairly close to Yuki's workplace. So, every day Yuki would stop by this store, whether to buy food or simply to chat with Nanami. This made them interact often, and over time, Yuki's feelings grew. For Yuki, just seeing Nanami's face was enough to restore his will to live.
Nanami had a good and friendly personality. She was a good listener and often helped Yuki. Yuki would often spend his breaks talking to her. Their conversations ranged from light topics like daily life to heavier ones like work or family issues.
Always welcomed and given a smile when he came in, it was no surprise that Yuki, who worked at a black company, would fall in love with this beautiful girl.
It had been three years since Yuki realized his feelings for Nanami, yet he still hadn't confessed. His reason was the classic one: he was afraid their relationship would fall apart if he confessed. That was the one thing Yuki most wanted to avoid.
The other reason was his current job. Suppose Nanami accepted his love and they married—then with his current job, he would only make Nanami suffer. He didn't want that; he wanted the girl he loved to be happy.
With his current work, Yuki was almost always doing overtime. The time they could spend together would be minimal. Nanami would be lonely at home, and this would surely make her suffer. In the end, Nanami would resent Yuki, and Yuki would lose his will to live.
Humans love each other through interaction and the time they spend together. No matter how strong someone's love is, if they're left alone, that feeling will erode over time.
Those two reasons were enough for him to be aware of his position.
Therefore, Yuki intended to first get a better job, then confess his feelings to Nanami. That way, he believed they could be happy.
Yuki's feelings for Nanami were real and strong. But his fear of losing her was just as strong.
"Healthy food, huh? Hmm, I'm not too sure… But how about salad? That's the most common choice if you want to eat something healthy!"
"Salad, huh…" Yuki gave a faint smile.
"Not quite. My life's already bland. If I eat something like that, I feel like I'll die. Haha," Yuki let out a small laugh.
"In that case, you want something tasty but still healthy…?" Nanami thought for a moment.
"How about Tamago Kake Gohan? It's really tasty and healthy! Plus, it's quick to make."
"Tamago Kake Gohan, huh…? Great idea, Nanami. It's been a while since I had it."
A sense of nostalgia filled Yuki upon hearing the name of that dish.
He immediately went to find the ingredients he needed.
Tamago Kake Gohan was a simple dish. It was rice drizzled with fresh egg, then mixed. The main ingredients needed were rice, egg, and soy sauce. You could add other seasonings and vegetables to make it tastier.
After getting his ingredients, he also bought some drinks. He then went to the counter to pay. There, Nanami scanned each of the items Yuki bought. After paying, he was ready to go home.
"You're leaving already? Why don't we chat a little longer?" Nanami asked, sounding a little hopeful.
"Sorry, for today I just want to rest. Besides, the last train's schedule is coming up…"
Yuki reached into the plastic bag in his left hand and pulled out a drink.
He tossed the drink lightly to Nanami and said, "This is my apology. I'm really happy I got to talk to you. I hope we can meet again tomorrow. See you, Nanami."
"Oh, thank you! Let's talk more tomorrow! Have a good rest, Yuki!" Nanami replied cheerfully.
"Though I might be a little lonely tonight, hehe," Nanami added.
Hearing this, Yuki smiled and blushed slightly. He then walked out and headed for the station.
When he arrived, Yuki stood near the safety line. Even though it was late at night, there were still many people waiting for the train. One thing they all had in common was the tired look on their faces after overtime.
The night atmosphere should have been quiet, with people waiting for the train to arrive. But for some reason, tonight was different.
"Hey, don't run!" shouted a man.
From a distance came the sound of commotion, but Yuki didn't seem to care. He kept looking forward.
Were some drunkards causing trouble again?
That was what Yuki thought. Such disturbances were usually caused by drunks, so many people tended to ignore them.
The train would arrive in just a moment.
He would go home, eat, rest, and sleep. Tomorrow, he would work like a slave again and see the girl he liked—Nanami.
That was what he was supposed to do.
But now, a large figure was before him. It wasn't fast, but this figure still managed to take his life. The commotion he had ignored earlier turned out to be the cause of his death.
Voices of panic echoed. Some screamed hysterically, while others immediately called for security.
One thing was certain—something had happened.
What had actually happened?
That was Yuki's honest thought as he saw his life being taken by the train.
A thief had accidentally bumped into Yuki in the middle of his escape, causing Yuki to fall onto the tracks and get hit by the train. The thief managed to get away because everyone's attention had shifted to Yuki's body, struck by the train.
It was a tragic end for someone named Takahashi Yuki.