A Second Chance With an Expiration Date

Darkness.

That was all he remembered. A relentless cycle of exhaustion, the numbing monotony of corporate life, the slow erosion of his soul until he became nothing but a hollow shell. He hadn't even realized he was dying when it happened. One moment, he was typing at his desk; the next, everything faded into nothingness.

Yet instead of oblivion, he woke up to something impossible—life.

The first thing he noticed was warmth. A blanket draped over him, the faint scent of freshly cooked rice lingering in the air. His fingers twitched against the thin fabric as his vision adjusted to the dimly lit room. The wallpaper was peeling at the edges, a creaky ceiling fan spun lazily above him, and the wooden floor groaned under the weight of time.

His breath came out shakily. This wasn't his apartment.

"What the…", he muttered, startled by the softness of his own voice. Younger. Lighter.

Then, like a dam breaking, the memories surged in. Memories that weren't his—yet somehow were. A name surfaced, wrapping around his mind like an undeniable truth.

Ishikawa Ren.

Seventeen years old. A struggling high school student. A poor but loving family. And…

His stomach twisted.

A terminal illness. A condition that would steal his life in two years.

His fingers clenched the blanket. The absurdity of it almost made him laugh. Transmigration? A system? And a literal countdown on his existence?

A soft chime echoed in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, host, for activating the Idol System!]

[Current Lifespan: 2 years. Condition deterioration begins in 5 months.] [Beginner Reward: High-Quality Viral Song + One-Time 60,000 Yen Cash Set.]

Ren inhaled slowly. So it's real.

No denial. No screaming at the heavens. He had already lived one life—an empty, meaningless one. Wasting this second chance in denial would be a joke. A bitter chuckle escaped his lips instead.

"An idol system, huh? That's ironic."

His past life had no music. No joy. No dreams. And now, fate expected him to become a star?

His lips curled in a wry smile. At least it's better than dying at a desk.

Just then, the door creaked open.

"Onii-chan, are you awake?"

A small voice. Gentle, hesitant.

He turned toward it, and his breath caught.

A little girl peeked inside, eyes round and brimming with concern. His chest tightened instinctively. Airi. His little sister. Eight years old, hair tied in two messy pigtails, and the biggest fan of the brother she thought she knew.

He swallowed. This is my sister now.

"Yeah," he said, forcing a smile. "Morning, Airi."

Her face lit up with a bright, unguarded grin. She skipped toward him, holding up a plate with a single rice ball.

"Mama made extra today! I saved you one!"

Ren stared at the onigiri in his hands, something foreign and unfamiliar blooming in his chest. Warmth. Family. Things he had never truly known before.

Days passed.

School was… school. Routine. Dull. He had no real friends—except for two absolute menaces who had latched onto him like parasites.

Kenta and Yuto, self-proclaimed 'Lords of Degeneracy,' spent their time spamming their group chat with cursed memes and conspiracy theories about the idol industry.

"Bro, did you know 70% of idols are actually government experiments?" Kenta whispered during class.

Yuto nodded solemnly. "It's true. That's why they never age."

Ren stared at them, deadpan. "...I worry for you two."

Despite himself, he laughed at their nonsense. It was strange. Having people who actually cared.

But beneath the normalcy, the countdown loomed.

At night, when the world was silent, Ren lay awake, staring at the cracked ceiling. Five months. That was all he had before his body started failing him.

The idea of being trapped—unable to move, unable to sing—terrified him more than death itself.

And then, one night, it finally broke him.

The rooftop was silent. The city stretched out below, flickering with endless lights.

Ren gripped his phone, his hands trembling. His breath was uneven, the weight of his fate pressing down on him.

"I don't want to die like this."

His vision blurred. Tears burned at the edges of his eyes. He hadn't cried in years. Not in his past life. Not even when his body collapsed from overwork.

But now, knowing exactly how much time he had left—how powerless he was to stop it—he couldn't hold it back.

Yet, when the storm of emotions passed, he found himself… laughing.

A dry, exhausted laugh.

Because what else could he do?

If the world was going to take everything from him, then he would take everything from it first.

He wasn't going to let himself fade away.

He was going to live.

With a deep breath, Ren pulled up the system menu. The reward screen glowed before him.

A high-quality song designed to go viral. 60,000 yen—just enough to take his first step.

His fingers hovered over the 'Accept Reward' button.

He exhaled sharply.

Then pressed it.

[Ding!]

[Beginner Reward Activated!]

[New song added: "Eclipse" – A hauntingly beautiful track that will shake the hearts of millions.] [60,000 Yen has been deposited into your account.]

Ren exhaled, a slow smirk forming on his lips.

If he had only two years…

Then he was going to make them unforgettable.

And he would start by shaking the world with his voice.