As the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, casting a golden glow over the bustling city, Kaito Nakamura trudged his way to work. The previous night's dream still clung to his mind like a thick fog, making each step feel like a burden. His thoughts were consumed by the mesmerizing image of those deep, starry eyes that seemed to hold all the mysteries of the universe. The weight of exhaustion pulled at his limbs, dragging him down with every passing minute. Despite the bright and busy surroundings, he couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that lingered from his dream.
The sidewalk was bustling with the energy of busy commuters, their faces blurred by Kaito's sleep-deprived haze. He trudged forward, his mind in a fog until, suddenly, he collided with someone. The impact knocked him back to awareness, and he watched in a daze as his belongings scattered across the rough pavement. The sounds of honking cars and rushing feet filled his ears as he scrambled to gather his things, the weight of exhaustion dragging him down.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Kaito mumbled, kneeling to gather his things.
The stranger, dressed in a faded baseball hat and a loose, white long sleeve sweater, crouched down to assist him. Kaito's gaze fixated on the stranger's hands, mesmerized by the complex patterns and symbols that adorned them. They looked as if they were carved from some ancient language, with deep etchings and precise lines that seemed almost otherworldly in their intricacy.
"Thank you," Kaito said, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Those marks... what are they?"
But as Kaito raised his head to address the man, he was met with an empty space. The stranger had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a faint hint of his presence in the form of lingering cigarette smoke. His mind reeled, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Had he imagined it? But as he glanced around, searching for any sign of the mysterious man, he could find no trace.
As his gaze swept over the ground ahead of him, something glinted in the sunlight and caught his eye. It was a small, coin-sized token, intricately designed with symbols that matched the mysterious markings on the stranger's hands. With curious fingers, Kaito picked it up and held it up to the light, marveling at its smooth, cool surface. The intricate designs seemed to dance and shift under his scrutiny, as if they held some hidden meaning or power. He couldn't help but wonder what significance this token held in the stranger's life.
Perplexed by the unexpected encounter and the enigma of the strange token, Kaito carefully slipped it into his pocket and continued on to his job. The lingering presence of the stranger and the weight of the token left an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, but he pushed it aside as he settled at his desk. As he began to work, his mind kept drifting back to the mysterious figure and the curious object that now seemed to pulse with an unanswered question. The hum of fluorescent lights overhead provided a stark contrast to the bustling thoughts racing through Kaito's mind. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more to this encounter than meets the eye.
Kaito finally settled at his desk, trying to push aside the morning's strange encounter and focus on his work. Yet, his thoughts kept drifting back to the mysterious stranger and the token now tucked safely in his pocket.
"Kaito... Kaito... KAITO!"
The repeated calling of his name finally broke through his reverie. Kaito blinked and looked up to see one of his colleagues, Satoshi, standing in front of him with a peculiar look on his face. Satoshi's eyebrows were raised, and a smirk played on his lips.
"Earth to Kaito!" Satoshi snorted, clearly amused. "You seemed to be in your own little world there. I asked about lunch, but I guess you didn't hear me."
Kaito, flustered and caught off guard, stammered awkwardly, "I-I'm not hungry..."
Satoshi's smirk widened into a teasing grin. "Not you, genius. We're hungry. Now go get us lunch."
Kaito felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. It wasn't the first time Satoshi had made fun of him, and it probably wouldn't be the last. Reluctantly, he nodded and stood up, grabbing his wallet.
As Kaito stood and began walking away, he felt a sudden force against his ankle. Satoshi had tripped him, sending him sprawling to the floor. Laughter erupted from Satoshi, echoing through the office. Scrambling to his feet, Kaito's face burned with humiliation. He hurriedly left the building, his mind replaying the incident and the unfair treatment he often endured. The crowded streets of Tokyo offered little solace, but he tried to focus on the task at hand.
Lost in his own thoughts, Kaito walked aimlessly down the crowded city street, oblivious to the chaos around him. As he stepped off the curb, a loud honk and screeching tires jolted him back to reality. Panic flooded through his veins as he realized he was inches away from being hit by a speeding car.
Before he could react, a strong hand gripped the back of his shirt and jerked him out of harm's way. The force caused him to stumble and fall onto the unforgiving pavement, his heart pounding in his chest.
As he sat on the ground, dazed and shaken, Kaito scanned the bustling street for his savior. But all he saw were curious faces staring back at him with concern and confusion. Gratitude overwhelmed him as he realized just how close he had come to disaster. The stranger who had saved his life was nowhere to be seen, leaving Kaito to wonder if it was just a figment of his imagination or a real-life hero who disappeared into the crowd
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