'Do I even still know how to walk properly?'
The thought made him chuckle softly, given how athletic he once was
No, 'athletic' didn't even begin to cover it. He was a literal monster, the kind people thought was custom-made by God himself.
And he wasn't even bragging—regular check-ups left doctors impressed by how dense and flexible his muscles and bones were, far beyond most people.
They said he possessed "Adam Genes."
The term was created just for him because he carried nearly every positive genes that helped him outperform 99.99% of humans.
Sadly, those god-given talents were wiped out by years of unhealthy living.
Instead of hitting the gym, he binge-watched entire seasons of shows while devouring bags of chips and pizza.
Late-night gaming marathons replaced workouts, and energy drinks became his water.
Now, each step felt like a challenge, as if his body forgot the simple act of moving.
As he walked down the narrow stairwell of his three-story apartment building, he cursed his landlord for putting him on the third floor instead of the first.
'If I were president, I'd make an executive order saying landlords can't put tenants on high floors if they're over a certain weight.'
Just as he reached the gate to the outside, a voice rang out, disturbing his thoughts, which mostly revolved around him imagining himself as an anime character.
"Hello!"
Looking up, he spotted a pretty girl with tan skin and long hair. Her monolid eyes sparkled with curiosity as she walked down the stairs in a cute, almost bouncy way.
And when he said 'bouncy', he was definitely talking about the way she moved. Not her chest. Okay—maybe a little bit of that, too.
She wore a white uniform with a green checkered skirt that she pulled up just enough to show off her long, thick legs, which were covered by black knee-high socks.
Her playful style and confident demeanor surprised him a bit. She looked like someone who belonged to a different world
'A hot gal?'
Her vibrant style and confident stance matched the image he had in mind—like those girls in anime who look like delinquents but turn out to be sweet and pure at heart.
"Do you have any plans today? You rarely go outside," she asked, playfully touching her lips .
"Just... trying to get some fresh air,"
Then it hit him. "Wait, you know me?"
He was pretty sure he didn't know anyone in this apartment.
"Silly, I'm your neighbor," she giggled, her laughter ringing like a pleasant melody in the air. "My name is Takahashi Minako."
'Neighbor?'
This was the first time he saw her. Then again, it was not like he spent much time outdoors.
"Ah, hello, Ms. Takanashi-san. I'm Luck,"
"You got my name wrong! It's Ta..ka..ha..shi, not Takanashi. But don't worry, it's a common mistake."
"Right, sorry about that! Takahashi Minako," he repeated, emphasizing the correct pronunciation this time around.
"No worries!" she giggled, her voice light and casual. "I gotta go now; I still have school."
She walked past him, and as she did, a pleasant fragrance wafted through the air — something lemony and fresh that lingered long after she was gone
'What a nice gal.'
After their brief conversation, he walked down the street, feeling uplifted.
Something about their brief interaction made him feel like going out once in a while wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Who knew? Maybe he would see her again, especially since they were next-door neighbors.
'Neighbors?' a smirk creeping onto his face. 'Why do I feel like this is a plot for some R18 rated anime?'
The images flashed in his mind.
It wasn't the story of a clumsy, socially awkward guy suddenly thrown into a whirlwind of romance and misunderstandings with his cute angel next door.
Well, there was definitely 'thrusting' involved, but not the innocent kind. More like the kind of trope where, after the chapter ends, there was always a ridiculous amount of milk on the floor.
'Whoa, whoa, slow down,' he shook his head to clear the depraved ideas in his mind. 'This is getting a little too… degenerate for my taste.'
'Just keep it cool, man,' he advised himself as he walked. 'Focus on being normal and maybe even friendly. No need to overthink it.'
But now that the idea was there, it was hard to ignore.
'How long do I need to keep walking?' he wondered, shifting his thoughts to other things to distract himself.
He could have rented a taxi or even used an app to call for a car, but he was short on cash.
Money was tight. He blew most of it on video games and junk food.
As he walked along the sidewalk, he felt the sun's light, warming his back.
People were rushing past him, engaged in their conversations, laughter, and lives.
It felt strange, like he was watching a movie where everyone else had the main roles, and he was just the kind of person who gets blurred out in the background.
Of course, he wasn't petty enough to be mad at them.
Whatever they did with their lives, they deserved to enjoy it. People had different ways of having fun, and for him, it was playing games.
Turning onto a quieter street, tall trees lined the path, their branches swaying gently in the breeze.
Rustling leaves created a soothing sound that helped calm his thoughts.
After a while, the entrance of the cemetery came into view.
The tall, wrought-iron gates loomed ahead, like a guardian welcoming him into a place filled with memories and silence that demanded respect.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the gates. The atmosphere changed instantly.
It was different here—peaceful but heavy.
The manicured grass and the neatly arranged tombstones told stories of different lives.
He made his way along the winding path, passing by flowers left at various graves — some fresh, others wilting with time.
As he got closer to his destination, memories of his parents flooded his mind.
Their laughter and smiles still echoed in his mind-the way his mother would cook his favorite meals whenever he won a competition and the moments when his father trained with him despite the busy schedule.
Each step became heavier as he approached the section where they rested.
He knelt down, his heart pounding as he traced his fingers over the engraved names:Liam Marshal and Mitsu Maya
Seeing their names flooded him with emotions. Sadness, regret, and guilt.
Today was supposed to be a day of celebration for him, his birthday, but it was overshadowed by their absence.
"I'm here," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to come. I just... I don't know how to face you."
Tears began to welled up in his eyes, but he blinked them away, determined not to let the sadness take over.
"I'm trying, you know? It's just... things haven't been easy since you... since that day. I've been a mess."
Unfortunately, all his facade shattered, and he could no longer hold it together.
Sobs broke free, shaking his body as he let the flood of emotion flow like a raging river.
"I'm sorry," he choked out, the weight of his failure pressing heavily on his chest.
"I'm sorry for not being the person you wanted me to be. I thought I could handle it, but... I'm just so lost without you."
The walls he built around his heart crumbled.
"I should have done better. I should have been stronger."
"I miss you so much," he cried out, pouring his heart out as he leaned against their tombstone.
He sat there, lost in his grief, not knowing when he would stop crying-maybe in a minute, maybe in an hour.
Time felt meaningless right now.
The world around him faded into a blur, leaving only the pain in his chest and the emptiness where their presence once was.
Without him realizing it, his vision started to fade, and he felt dizzy.
'Am I... having a heart attack?' he wondered, but at that moment, he didn't really care.
Maybe this was for the best.
Deep down, he was waiting for this moment. It was the reason behind every reckless choice, every ignored warning.
And now, his wish was finally coming true.
'This is for the best, Mom and Dad. I'm coming! Please cook me my favorite food,'
In his last moments, illusions danced before his eyes.
A girl in a black kimono with red rose patterns walked closer to him.
'Shit… I know it. I'm probably going to hell.'