The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a dull glow over the gray office space. Rows of desks, each identical to the next, were cluttered with paperwork, coffee cups, and half-eaten snacks. The air smelled of instant ramen and cheap cologne, a scent that clung to Rin Shin’s suit as he packed up for the night.

  As he placed his laptop in his worn-out bag, he heard laughter from across the room.

  “Bro, Jeju Island is going to be amazing!” one of his coworkers, Min-Jae, grinned, slapping another on the back. “Sun, beach, and drinks all day. We’re finally getting a break from this hellhole.”

  “Yeah, and no team leader breathing down our necks,” another added, chuckling. “It’ll be great.”

  Rin’s hands stilled. His gaze flickered toward the group of five, all gathered in a circle, excitement practically radiating from them.

  A vacation with friends…

  Going on adventures, eating together, sharing memories—

  That must be nice.

  He had worked at JH Electronics for six years, yet not once had he been invited to a company trip, a dinner, or even a casual drink after work. He was just… there.

  They weren’t bad people. They weren’t cruel. They simply didn’t notice him.

  I guess I don’t matter enough to be invited.

  A dry chuckle almost escaped his lips.

  But that wasn’t surprising, was it?

  He had no friends.

  His family barely spoke to him.

  Women never gave him a second glance.

  With his average looks, average salary, and average life, why would they?

  For as long as he could remember, he had been alone.

  The only time he ever felt something—anything—was when he read fantasy stories.

  Worlds where friendship, love, and adventure awaited. Where even the weakest could rise and become something greater. Where a lonely, forgotten man could finally be important.

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  He loved those stories.

  But stories weren’t reality.

  With a quiet sigh, Rin slung his bag over his shoulder and left the office, unnoticed by everyone.

  The streets of Suwon were bustling despite the late hour. Bright neon signs flickered across the pavement, casting distorted reflections on the puddles from a recent rain.

  As Rin walked past a coffee shop, he saw a couple sitting by the window, laughing as they shared a slice of cake. The girl leaned forward, tapping the boy’s nose playfully, her eyes shining with affection.

  Further down the street, another couple walked hand in hand, whispering to each other. The woman giggled, resting her head against the man’s shoulder as they strolled past Rin without even noticing him.

  His steps slowed.

  “I’ve never even held a girl’s hand…” he murmured, stuffing his hands in his coat pocket.

  His lips twisted into a half-smile.

  “…Except for my mom’s, when I was a kid.”

  The weight in his chest grew heavier.

  I want that too.

  Not just to be loved… but to love.

  To have someone waiting at home.

  To talk about nonsense over dinner.

  To watch his kids run around the house, laughing as they played.

  That was all he ever wanted.

  Not wealth. Not fame. Just a simple, happy life.

  His childhood dream had been small—to own a little business and have a family.

  Yet even that… was too much for him.

  A nameless nobody like me doesn’t deserve that, huh?

  The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth as he continued walking, disappearing into the city’s cold night.

  The alley was silent except for the faint hum of a streetlamp flickering above.

  Rin had been passing by when he heard it.

  A scream.

  His body reacted before his mind caught up, feet moving toward the sound.

  At the end of the dimly lit alley, a young woman stood cornered against a brick wall. Her shoulders trembled, fear frozen on her face.

  Two men stood in front of her.

  One held a knife.

  Rin’s breath hitched.

  He should walk away.

  It wasn’t his fight.

  But then the girl’s terrified gaze met his.

  A stranger.

  A nobody.

  Yet, in that moment, she looked at him as if he were her only hope.

  And for the first time in his life—

  He wanted to matter.

  “Hey!” His voice was rough but steady. “Let her go.”

  The taller man turned, sneering. “The hell do you want, old man?”

  Rin clenched his fists. “I said, let her go.”

  The shorter one, more muscular, chuckled. “And what if we don’t?”

  He knew he was weak.

  He knew he would lose.

  But he had already stepped forward.

  He had already chosen.

  So, he charged.

  His fist barely connected before a cold, sharp pain buried itself deep into his stomach.

  His body froze. His breath hitched.

  The knife was pulled out, and blood—his blood—spilled onto the pavement.

  His knees buckled. The world tilted.

  He was falling.

  The girl—She was running.

  Not even a second’s hesitation.

  Not even a glance back.

  Rin lay there, watching her disappear into the night.

  His lips curled into a weak smile.

  “She’s safe now…”

  His voice was barely a whisper.

  But in his mind, another thought echoed.

  Am I really that unimportant?

  Even at the very end…

  No one looked back for him.

  Just like always.

  His vision blurred. The world around him dimmed.

  And as the last breath left his body—Rin wished for just one thing.

  “If I had another chance… I don’t want to be ignored anymore.”

  Then, everything faded to black.