Earth
October 31, 2025 — 6:00 PM
Rainy Evening
A young man named Roshan, twenty-five years old, stood at a crowded bus stop after another exhausting day at work.
His face was filled with frustration as he stared at the road, waiting for the bus to arrive.
"Guess the bus is late again..." he muttered.
"Should've left work earlier. One extra hour without overtime pay... Now I'm probably going to miss the movie too. Chainsaw Man starts at seven."
Finally, the bus arrived.
A small smile appeared on his tired face.
"Finally... Hope I can at least get a decent seat."
He pushed through the crowd and managed to grab a window seat.
"Perfect. If this bus moves fast enough, I can get home in time, watch the movie... and maybe even catch the latest One Piece episode afterward."
Dark rain clouds slowly gathered across the evening sky.
Roshan looked outside the window and sighed.
"Looks like it's going to rain again... Ugh, when is this rainy season going to end?"
His phone suddenly buzzed.
Rocky: "You coming or what? Movie starts in an hour. Don't be late!"
Bijay: "I told you to take the day off, bro. You never listen."
Roshan smiled and replied.
Roshan: "Already on the bus. I'll be there soon."
Another notification appeared.
Little Brother: "Big bro! I got first place in today's race! But it wasn't the same without you... When are you coming home? I miss you!"
Roshan's smile softened.
Roshan: "I'll be home soon. Take care of yourself, okay?"
He slipped his phone back into his pocket as raindrops slowly began hitting the bus window.
---
A while later, the bus came to a stop.
Roshan stepped outside.
The cool drizzle landed on his face.
"Better hurry before it starts pouring... I don't want to get sick again."
He jogged through the narrow streets...
Then suddenly stopped.
Five men wearing strange clothes had surrounded three terrified girls.
Roshan knew he couldn't possibly fight all of them alone.
Even so...
He gathered his courage and stepped forward.
"Hey!" Roshan shouted.
"Don't you guys have any shame? Harassing girls in the middle of the rain?"
The men briefly glanced at him...
...before completely ignoring him and turning their attention back toward the girls.
Roshan frowned.
"Hey... Don't ignore me."
He walked up to one of them, grabbed his shoulder, and pulled him back.
"I said, leave those girls alone!"
The man still refused to acknowledge him.
Roshan's irritation finally boiled over.
He yanked the man's shoulder harder.
"I'm talking to you!"
The man slowly turned around.
Without saying a word—
BAM!
A massive punch slammed straight into Roshan's face.
He crashed onto the wet ground as blood streamed from his nose.
The girls screamed in terror.
Roshan held his bleeding nose.
"Damn... He's strong..."
The man grabbed Roshan by the hair and pulled him back onto his feet.
"Next time..."
"Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong."
Roshan gritted his teeth.
"What you're doing... is wrong."
The man's fist buried itself into Roshan's stomach.
The impact sent him flying backward.
"Get lost."
Roshan struggled...
Then forced himself back onto his feet.
"...Not yet."
The man in the red shirt frowned.
"You really don't learn, do you?"
He signaled two of his men.
They charged.
Roshan dodged the first attack before driving a punch into one man's jaw.
He spun around and struck the second one with another clean hit, knocking both of them to the ground.
Months of training at the gym hadn't gone to waste after all.
The leader rushed toward him.
Roshan ducked beneath the attack and drove his fist straight into the man's stomach.
The man coughed up blood.
"Looks like going to the gym actually paid off..." Roshan thought.
But before he could react—
A powerful kick struck him from behind.
He crashed onto the ground.
Then...
All five men surrounded him.
No matter how hard he fought, numbers alone were enough to overwhelm him.
Punches...
Kicks...
They rained down mercilessly.
Roshan's strength slowly faded.
Two men grabbed his arms.
The third pulled out a knife.
Then—
STAB!
The blade pierced deep into Roshan's stomach.
His eyes widened in unbearable pain.
"What the hell did you do?!" the leader shouted.
"B-Boss... I... I stabbed him by accident!"
"Forget it!"
"Run! Everyone, RUN!"
The group fled into the rain.
Roshan collapsed onto the cold road.
Blood poured endlessly from his wound.
The three girls stood frozen in fear.
His thoughts became blurry.
It hurts...
Why...?
I'm such an idiot.
If I had just walked away... I'd be perfectly fine right now...
The rain suddenly became heavier.
Blood mixed with rainwater as it slowly flowed across the street.
His vision grew darker.
I can't... see anymore...
Why does my stomach feel so hot...?
I just wanted to go home...
See my little brother...
Mom... Dad...
Eat Mom's cooking one more time...
One of the girls desperately called the police.
Roshan couldn't hear her anymore.
At least... they're safe...
That's enough...
His senses slowly disappeared.
Guess this is it...
In movies... heroes always survive.
Guess... I'm not one of them.
If my little brother were here... he'd probably scold me before I even got myself into something this stupid...
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Then...
His eyes slowly closed.
Forever.
Everything became silent.
There was no pain.
No sound.
No light.
Only endless darkness.
...So this is death.
It's peaceful.
No pain.
No suffering.
Just silence.
Maybe... this is the peace everyone spends their entire life searching for.
I never imagined I'd die like this.
I wonder...
Will I go to heaven...?
Or hell...?
Suddenly—
An unbearable pressure crushed his entire existence.
...Wait.
What's happening?
Why does everything feel so heavy?
I... I can't move...
Tree-like roots suddenly emerged from the darkness.
They wrapped tightly around his soul.
One by one...
They tightened their grip.
Then began dragging him downward.
Roshan panicked.
Something's pulling me!
No...!
Stop!!
His eyes suddenly flew open.
He looked around in confusion.
Everything felt unfamiliar.
He slowly stared at the ceiling above him.
Where am I...?
Is this... a hospital?
No...
Hospitals don't have ceilings like this.
Why can't I move...?
My hands...
They're so small...
Then...
The horrifying truth struck him.
His breathing stopped.
"...No..."
"This... can't be..."
Barely above a whisper, he muttered—
"I've been... reborn."