When I woke up in the morning, my mind was still tangled in the dream I had seen. Who was that man? And why had he given me that card? Was it a warning, or something else? As I lost myself in these thoughts, the sunlight filtered through the window, warming my face.

“Good morning, Shinya-kun,” said Inochi, her voice echoing like a melody in my ears. She had already gotten up and prepared breakfast. At that moment, I realized how hungry I was; the empty feeling in my stomach mixed with the fresh morning air, making it feel even stronger.

With a playful smile, I teased, “Did you sleep well while hugging me, Inochi?”

She quickly looked away, her voice tinged with slight embarrassment. “It’s not that I liked sleeping next to you, but you were tired, so I just wanted to make sure you rested well,” she said, blushing slightly.

“Do you know what today is?” she asked.

Of course, I did. Today was February 25th, my mother’s birthday. Just like every year, we would celebrate it at the café. We had planned to close the café early for the occasion. I had even invited Kazuki.

I got dressed and headed toward the living room. As soon as I stepped inside, my mother’s warm voice greeted me.

"Good morning, darling," she said, her bright smile lighting up the room. She kissed me on the cheek.

"Mom! Inochi's here. I'm a grown man now, you don't have to kiss me all the time," I protested, feeling a little embarrassed.

Of course, Inochi didn’t miss the chance to tease me. "Hahaha! A total mama’s boy, Shinya. Are you embarrassed?" she grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief, instantly easing the tension in the room.

I guess I deserved it for teasing her.

After breakfast, we set off for the café. The morning passed in peaceful calm, with only a few families enjoying their time together.

By six in the evening, we closed the café for the celebration. My mother eagerly began hanging decorations, while I arranged the drinks and prepared the cake. With the lights and decorations, the café transformed into a warm and inviting atmosphere—simple yet elegant, just the way my mother liked it.

Soon after, Inochi arrived with her father. They were carrying gifts wrapped in shiny paper. From the size and decorations of the packages, I could tell they were presents. Right after their arrival, Kazuki walked in with a gift box in hand. It seemed like everyone had come for the celebration.

"Welcome, everyone! Thank you so much for coming," my mother said, her face lit up with a bright smile. Her voice was full of enthusiasm, and there was a small spark of happiness in her eyes. To her, the gifts held no material value. What truly mattered was having everyone together and spending time as a family.

"Of course, Megumi-san! We all love you so much," Inochi replied, sharing the same excitement as my mother.

“I canceled a meeting just to be here, Megumi-san,” said Inochi’s father, Haruki, with his usual charming smile. It was obvious he had a soft spot for my mother; he admired her almost reverently.

“I also want to thank Shinya for inviting me,” Kazuki added. I was glad to have invited him; recently, we had built a solid friendship. His presence here completed the meaning of the evening.

While they were chatting, I headed to the fridge to get the cake. I placed it on the table and started carefully arranging the candles. Just as I was doing so, Inochi appeared behind me.

“Shinya-kun, are you preparing the cake? What a good boy,” she said with a sweet teasing tone. Her voice was different today, walking a fine line between sweetness and mischief.

“Yes, yes. Now give me those candles,” I said, trying to keep my composure. But judging from the look on my face, it didn't seem to work out as planned.

“You look so cute when you try to be serious,” Inochi said, handing me the candles. Then, she lightly pinched my cheek. I paused for a moment, feeling my face immediately flush; warmth spread all the way to my ears.

After placing the candles and carefully lighting them, Inochi and I silently carried the cake to my mother. She was still chatting with Haruki and Kazuki. To surprise her, we all shouted together, “Happy Birthday, Megumi!” She was caught off guard; when she looked at us, her eyes were shimmering slightly, and she was struggling to hold back tears. It was rare to see my mother like this—especially since Dad’s death, she rarely cried.

“Thank you all for being here. I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything,” she said, with a few tears running down her cheeks.

“Now, open your presents, Megumi-san!” Inochi urged excitedly. “Please start with mine.”

When my mother opened Inochi’s gift, a delicate, rose-patterned necklace came out of the box. The gift was simple, a thoughtful choice, and it suited my mother’s style perfectly. My mother had never been someone who cared about material things, so she accepted the necklace with heartfelt gratitude and smiled as she placed it around her neck.

“Thank you, Inochi. This is beautiful; I’ll wear it all the time,” she said, her voice warm and sincere. Inochi’s face lit up with happiness.

“Now it’s my turn,” I said, handing her my gift. I had thought long and hard about what to get her. I knew she had needed something practical for a while. It had cost me a bit more than I expected, and I had to borrow money from Inochi’s father for it.

“Shinya?” she said in surprise, her curiosity clear on her face as she opened the package. I gave her a reassuring smile.

When she opened the box, she found a massage device designed especially for her back, legs, and feet. Knowing the pain she experienced after long days at work, I knew this gift would be a real remedy for her.

“Shinya, how did you manage to get this?” she asked, both surprised and touched.

“I got a little help,” I confessed, winking at Haruki.

“Thank you, darling,” she said, hugging me and planting a small kiss on my forehead. I felt a little embarrassed, but I didn’t want to spoil the moment.

Kazuki smiled and said, “Megumi-san, now would you open my gift?”

“Of course, Kazuki,” my mother replied excitedly, carefully unwrapping the package. When a delicate music box came out, we were all surprised.

Kazuki encouraged her, “Please, open the lid.”

As soon as my mother lifted the lid, a soft and nostalgic melody filled the room. The music was like a slow waltz, carrying echoes of deep sorrow and feelings from the past. Each note hung in the air, reviving long-buried memories. We didn’t just listen to it; we almost felt it—simple yet profound, a melody that brought the past into the present.

“Thank you, Kazuki,” my mother said, her voice slightly stuttering, her surprise at the unexpected depth of the gift clear in her eyes. She was almost enchanted by the melody.

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“I guess it’s my turn now,” Inochi’s father said, unable to hide his excitement. He handed my mother a box wrapped in his arms. She carefully opened it to reveal another box adorned with a rose motif.

I had expected another rose-themed accessory, but I was wrong. Inside was a real, black rose.

“This... is this real?” my mother whispered. She had always dreamed of owning a real black rose, and now her wish had come true.

“A friend of mine from Turkey came to visit; I asked them to find a black rose. Turns out, it’s a rare, endemic plant that only grows in their homeland. It was hard to find, but he managed to bring one,” Inochi’s father explained.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” my mother said, her voice trembling with gratitude. She gently placed the black rose into a vase, carefully arranging it to keep it fresh. The beauty of the flower brought a deep sense of happiness to her face.

Just then, a sudden shout pierced the air: “Megumi-san!” The unexpected call made us all jump in surprise. Haruki had shouted my mother’s name.

“I know how hard everything has been for you since Chihiro passed away,” he continued, his voice heavy with emotion.

You might be wondering, Chihiro was my father. I hadn’t mentioned him before because he was a bad man. Sometimes he would show violence towards my mother and me; his addiction to alcohol and gambling led him to get into debt with the Yakuza, which ultimately led to his death. I didn’t mourn him; on the contrary, I was angry with him for leaving his debts for my mother to deal with.

“When you got into trouble with the Yakuza, I did everything I could to help you. I couldn’t let you live like that,” Haruki said, his voice firm and sincere. He was right. When we had fallen into a deep pit of debt, he had helped us pay it off without expecting anything in return, except a promise that we would repay it one day.

And then something unexpected happened.

"Then, please marry me." Haruki pulled out a small box from his pocket, revealing a ring that sparkled in the light. The room filled with astonishment. I knew how much Haruki valued my mother, but I never expected him to propose in front of everyone tonight.

"I love you, and I see Shinya as my own son," Haruki continued. This was definitely true. Haruki had been more of a father to me than my real father ever was; he had always been by my side, offering guidance, support, and a warmth I had never felt before.

"Ha-Haruki?" My mother was caught off guard, her hand covering her mouth as tears of joy welled up in her eyes. Her surprise was evident on her face, but it was the kind of surprise filled with beauty and love.

"Yes," she whispered, almost as if letting out a breath she had been holding. Haruki gently placed the ring on her finger, and they embraced tightly. Though they didn't kiss— it would have been a bit inappropriate in front of everyone— the moment felt complete nonetheless.

The room was filled with joy, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a deep sense of happiness. It was as though a burden had lifted from my shoulders, and the warmth of their happiness warmed me from within. I wished for this moment to last forever.

At that very instant, the image of the Hanged Man tarot card flashed in my mind.

Before I could make sense of what was happening, the café door swung open violently. A man, his face obscured by a mask and his hoodie pulled low, stormed in, dressed in dark clothes. His eyes were locked with fury on my mother.

"How could you do this to me? You will pay for this!" he screamed, his voice shaking with hatred. We were all frozen in shock, trying to comprehend the situation.

Then, with eyes blazing with anger and malice, he drew a knife from his jacket. With a swift motion, he lunged at my mother, the knife aimed directly at her. My mother, paralyzed by shock, stood frozen, unable to move. She wouldn't be able to escape in time.

Without thinking, I threw myself between them, and then everything happened in an instant.

The knife plunged into the upper part of my stomach. The sharp, unbearable surge of pain hit me like a violent explosion. It felt as though my insides were being torn apart. A gasp escaped my lips, and my body collapsed onto the cold floor. The knife had gone deep.

The sound of blood rushing in my ears drowned out everything else, and as the pain spread throughout my body, my vision blurred. This wasn't just physical pain—it felt as though my soul was being torn apart. Warm blood began to seep from my clothes, staining the ground beneath me.

"Shinya!" My mother's voice echoed through the fog of pain. Her scream was unlike anything I'd ever heard before; it was desperate, full of fear. That sound clawed at my chest, as if it was the only thing that could pull me back from the edge of an abyss.

I managed to lift my head and saw her pale face, her eyes filled with tears. I wanted to tell her I was okay, to reassure her, but the words wouldn't come. My lips were dry, and I struggled to breathe.

The man who had stabbed me stood frozen, as if he hadn't expected this outcome. His hand holding the knife was trembling; the weight of what he'd done seemed to suddenly hit him.

And then, in that moment, Kazuki moved. With a brutality I had never seen before, he grabbed the man. His fists rained down on him, each blow harder than the last. Seeing Kazuki like this was terrifying—someone who had always been calm and kind was now unleashing his fury with primal strength. Kazuki didn't want to stop. But Haruki, with great difficulty, managed to pull him off.

Kazuki hurting someone... As my mind struggled to grasp the events unfolding, my thoughts became hazy. I knew he was strong, but this... this was something else.

I guess people really can change under certain circumstances...

"Call an ambulance!" My mother shouted, her voice filled with panic. She pressed her hands against my wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Her voice trembled with fear and helplessness. As she looked at me, her tears blurred her vision. "Shinya, you're going to be okay. Just... just take a deep breath," she pleaded, her voice fragile, cracked with sorrow.

The pain was unbearable, but compared to the agony in my mother's eyes, it was nothing. I could feel her hands trembling, the blood seeping through her fingers. For a mother to see her child like this... it must have been unbearable.

"Shinya, you idiot! Why did you do this?" Inochi's voice echoed through the chaos; her sobs made her words harder to speak. She knelt by my side, her face covered in tears, her expression full of anguish. "Don't die, okay? Please... because I love you!" she screamed, the weight of her confession breaking through her voice.

What a time to confess, I thought weakly, trying to smile despite the pain. The world around me was a blur, as if I were being dragged between reality and some distant dream.

"Shinya." A familiar voice called my name. I turned, and there he was—the mysterious man in the robe from my dream, suddenly standing before me.

"Do you understand the meaning of your card now?" he asked, his voice calm and filled with curiosity, as if he expected an answer.

I struggled to find the words. I had sacrificed myself to protect my mother. That must be the meaning of the card.

"Yes," I muttered, trying to speak as blood filled my mouth. My mother and Inochi turned their eyes toward me, trying to understand who I was talking to. Their expressions were full of confusion.

"Shinya, who are you talking to?" my mother asked, her voice trembling.

"Can't you see him?" I asked in surprise. My words only made their tears flow more.

"They can't see me, Shinya," the mysterious man said. With a subtle movement, he took out a card and lifted it into the air. It was the Death tarot card. "I only appear to those I choose," he said in a cold voice.

"So... I’m going to die here," I said, the words escaping from my mouth loudly; I was stunned.

"Shinya, stop talking like that!" my mother shouted, desperation marking her face. "The ambulance is on its way!"

"No, Shinya," the mysterious man said softly. "Death represents a new beginning. Your journey is just beginning. I will be watching over you in this new journey."

A new journey? How could I start a new journey when I was about to die?

"You expect a lot from a dead man," I whispered bitterly, struggling to keep my eyes open. My voice was barely audible, as though it was coming from the depths of my soul.

"Don't worry, Shinya. Every end is a new beginning, and every beginning has an end," the mysterious man said.

I nearly wanted to laugh at his philosophical musings. Really? Was this the time for existential thoughts?

My vision began to blur. Memories from my past—my mother, Inochi, everything—faded into a mist before my eyes. As everything began to darken, I heard the voice of the mysterious man again. In a low, commanding tone, he began singing a divine melody.

"I, who hold sway over life and death, O light! Hear my voice, take this soul and make it a hero, this is my will," he said. His voice echoed in the room with a cold, almost otherworldly authority. The Death card in his hand began to glow with an eerie tremor.

"Renati (reborn)," he said, his voice sharp, as though sealing a destiny. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the glowing card toward my body.

My vision blurred further, my consciousness slipping farther away; the pain turned into a dull, distant throb. My mother’s and Inochi’s screams echoed in my ears, as if they were shouting from the other side of a thick wall. Their voices grew fainter, and I could barely make out their horrified cries.

The card hovered in the air for a brief moment before transforming into a black rose, just before it touched my chest. As soon as it made contact, everything went dark. There was no sound, no sensation—only an overwhelming emptiness, as if I had fallen into a void where time and space no longer existed.

to be continued...