Better Luck Next Time

The doors creaked open slowly, as though they bore the weight of the world. Each second stretched into eternity for Isamu, his heart pounding in his chest. His palms grew clammy, and a chill ran down his spine as he waited to see who was inside. Finally, the gap widened enough for a face to emerge from the shadows.

Isamu's eyes widened in disbelief as he whispered, "Mr. Kazuki…" The words were barely audible, yet they carried a surge of emotion he couldn't contain.

An overwhelming urge to sprint toward the man overtook him, but Isamu halted mid-step, his feet glued to the ground.

'What am I doing?' he thought, heart racing. 'Do I want to hug him? No, I shouldn't. I'll just… I'll just tell him how happy I am to see him.'

Summoning his composure, he managed a smile and called out, "Hey, Mr. Kazuki."