The alarm rang.
Jin Haru opened his eyes. It was still dark outside. The clock showed 4:30 AM.
He sat up slowly. His small room was cold. There was no heater. He wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and stood up.
"I need to hurry," he said to himself
Haru went to the kitchen. He boiled water and made instant noodles. That was his breakfast. He added one egg—his only one left.
While eating, he looked at a photo on the wall. It was an old picture of him and his little sister. They were smiling. That was before the accident.
After eating, he changed into clean clothes. They were a little old, but still fine. He put on a jacket, picked up a lunchbox he packed last night, and left his room.
The city was quiet. Haru walked to the hospital.
His little sister was there.
After visiting the hospital, Haru walked fast to his first job.
He worked as a shopee delivery boy.
He carried boxes to shops and houses. The boxes were heavy, but Haru was used to it. He did not complain. He needed the money.
After that, he went to his second job—a convenience store.
He stood behind the counter and said, "Welcome," to every customer. He cleaned the floor, stocked shelves, and helped people find things.
His feet hurt, but he smiled.
At night, he went to his last job.
He cleaned an office building. The halls were big and quiet. He used a mop and a bucket. Sometimes, his hands shook from being tired.
But he did not stop.
"I must earn more," Haru whispered.
He thought of his sister.
She was still in the hospital. She could not wake up.
So, Haru worked.
And worked.
And worked.
Haru finished cleaning at 9 PM. He was tired, but he walked home slowly. The sky was dark, and street lights flickered. His feet were heavy, and his back hurt, but his mind was awake.
As he walked, he passed by a big TV screen in the city square. It showed the news.
A reporter spoke with a serious voice.
"Today, another dungeon appeared near in marbel koronadal city," the reporter said. "Monsters came out. Three people were hurt. But don't worry, Awakened Hunters arrived quickly and stopped the monsters."
The screen changed.
Now, it showed a man in cool armor. He had glowing eyes and held a big sword. People around him cheered.
"This is Hunter Rank A, Daniel Dela Cruz. He killed the dungeon boss alone," the reporter said.
Haru stopped and watched.
More and more people were talking about dungeons and awakened powers. Some could shoot fire. Some could fly. Some had strong bodies like steel.
"Awakened people can enter dungeons. They fight monsters, level up, and get rare items," said another newsman. "Those items are sold for a lot of money."
Haru looked down at his hands.
His hands were small and rough from work. They did not glow. They did not have power.
"I'm just normal," he said.
A group of boys walked past him. They laughed loudly. One of them held up a card.
"Look! I awakened today! C-rank! Fire skill!" he shouted.
The others cheered.
Haru looked away.
He wanted to awaken too. He wanted power. But when he went to the Awakening Center before, nothing happened. He was still just a normal boy.
He kept walking home.
More posters were on the walls. They showed heroes with shining eyes and strong magic. They were famous now. Awakened people were like stars.
At home, Haru turned on his small TV. It showed another dungeon opening in the north. The screen showed fire and smoke.
He turned it off.
He looked at his sister's photo again.
"I don't care about being famous," he said. "I just want to save you."
Outside, the wind blew hard.
Something was changing in the world.
And soon, Haru's life would change too.
It was very late now.
Haru left the small hospital again. He had checked on his sister one more time before going home. She was still sleeping. Machines beeped next to her. A nurse smiled kindly at Haru, but he only nodded.
He was too tired to speak.
The city lights were on. Tall buildings stood like giants. The roads were quiet. Only a few cars drove by. The wind was cold. Haru pulled his jacket close.
His legs felt heavy. His eyes were sleepy. But he walked.
One streetlight blinked above him. A cat ran across the road. Far away, a yellow bus passed with a loud sound.
Haru walked alone.
Other boys his age were probably home, playing games or sleeping in warm beds. Some of them had awakened powers. Some of them had parents.
Haru had none of that.
He had lost everything.
But… not everything.
He still had his sister.
And he still had hope.
"I will not stop," he whispered to himself. "I will work. I will save money. I will find a way to help her."
He looked up at the night sky.
It was full of stars. One star shone brighter than the others. Haru stopped and stared at it for a moment.
"Maybe… one day, I will be strong too," he said softly.
He didn't know that the world was listening.
He didn't know that his life was about to change.
But he kept walking.
Under the city lights, tired and hungry, Haru's heart was still full of fire.
The kind of fire that cannot be broken.