Chapter I - The Beginning
Ah, if the world had known this would happen, I wouldn't have lived like this.
Throughout my life, I always held back, choosing logic instead of living life to the fullest. I had to
leave that behind because of it... If I had the wisdom I have now back then, if I were young
again, I wouldn't have just left it behind like that.
I am Hyoku Alfreddo, born and raised in Akita, Japan. My family and I made a sudden move to
Aomori during high school. There, I created a nice routine; I would wake up early and read for
half an hour before breakfast. Since we were a middle-income family, after having a sufficient
breakfast, I would go to school, and after school, I would go to the gym. Afterward, I would do
my homework and review the subjects we covered that day. I would help my mother prepare
dinner after completing my chores. After dinner, I would meditate for half an hour before going to
bed.
My days went by in such a structured, disciplined manner. Fun? Pleasure? Free time? Meeting
with friends? These were things that did not exist in my life, and I didn't mind because I had a
goal in life: to have a good profession and bring prosperity to my family.
However, when I moved to university, this family structure fell apart. My parents divorced
amicably, in a single session.
When they divorced, my mother moved to my grandfather's house in Funabashi. My father
moved to Kashiwa, where my university was.
When my father arrived, I left the dormitory and began living with him. He opened a meatball
restaurant, and after school, I would go and help him.
In the first few months, I continued this routine, but when the exam period came, I asked for
permission to go to the library to study. After finishing my exams, I resumed helping him at the
restaurant.
It was a hot Saturday, and I had been helping my father all day in the restaurant. Normally,
there wasn't much work on weekends because people were busy enjoying themselves, but on
weekdays, they would come because they had responsibilities like work or school.
This day, however, there was hardly any work, and we were sitting outside because of the heat.
Hyuga (Father): "It's a really hot day, isn't it?"
Alfreddo: "Yes, it really is. Don't even ask."
Hyuga: "Hey Alfreddo."
Alfreddo: "Yes, dad?"
He put his hand on my shoulder. He always did that when he was going to ask something
serious.Hyuga: "You always come and help me, but I'm worried that you're not living your own life. Ever
since your mother and I divorced, you've been supporting me more. Although this makes me
happy, I feel sorry for you because I couldn't give you a proper childhood."
Alfreddo: "Don't say that, dad. I can't think of a better life. I was sad when you and mom
divorced, but if you couldn't get along, I couldn't stop it."
Hyuga: "Is that so?"
Alfreddo: "Yes, dad…"
After a brief silence, my father turned his head towards me and spoke quietly.
Hyuga: "I wasn't a bad father, was I?"
Alfreddo: "You were one of the best I've seen…"
That day, in the conversation we had, I assured my father that I had a social circle. Based on the
promise I made to him that day, I would join the university clubs I liked and show my father that I
had made some friends.
But there was one problem: I didn't know how to make friends...
So, I waited until the club recruitment period to learn how to make friends.
When I searched online, I found tons of ironic videos, but since I was naive, I didn't realize they
were ironic at first.
When I tried the tactics in those ironic videos, people would avoid me, and that's when I
realized the videos were made for humor.
When I asked my father, he smiled and said, "Of course, friendships are formed with mutual
respect and understanding."
Mutual understanding? I figured I had to speak more fluently for that, so I practiced a few jokes.
As days passed, I began speaking more fluently, and when I tried it in front of the mirror, I
realized I had overcome my nervousness.
My university is one of the best in Japan, with a large campus and cutting-edge education.
There are many cafes on campus, but that wasn't what I needed. What I needed were the two
libraries close to the department I studied at—one was new, the other was old, but since the old
one was more spacious, it was better for studying.
When my classes finished, I would go to the library to read my personal development book.
Thank God, the air conditioners were working in the library. I found an empty spot, but I didn't sit
down immediately. First, I went to the library staff to return the book I had borrowed and handed
it over. Since the place where I sat was near the personal development section, I grabbed a
book that I estimated would be interesting and started reading.It was a 70-page book, so I was close to finishing it quickly.
While I was reading, someone passed in front of me and left a book on my desk.
?? "I think this would be more useful if you read it."
Her voice was sweet, and without looking at me, she continued walking. I didn't look at her
either; I just remembered how sweet her voice was.
After finishing my book, I looked at the book she left. It had 'How to Make Friends?' written on
the cover. What a coincidence! Was she aware of this? If we met again, I would ask her.
That day came. The university club days would continue from June 2nd to 4th. Just to be safe, I
went to the event area on the first day, and it was extremely crowded. Here was the place where
I would reap the rewards of the effort I had put in for weeks, and time would prove that.
Looking around, there were many clubs: anime and manga, cave exploration, diving, skydiving,
and so on.
Since I didn't watch any anime, I couldn't join that club, so I looked at other clubs. But
whenever I tried to talk to someone, someone would cut me off or walk ahead.
After giving up on these clubs, I was sitting on the stairs, feeling completely exhausted. The
sunlight was shining on me from behind, and my shadow was falling in front of me.
While I was sitting there, not knowing what to do, a shadow appeared beside me and began
speaking.
??: "If you can't decide on a club, how about joining the anime and manga club?"
Without turning around, I answered.
Alfreddo: "But I've never watched anime. How can I join?"
??: "Actually, it doesn't matter much, but how about starting with Yaruto?"
Alfreddo: "Then can I make friends?"
??: "Who knows…"
Again, the same voice, the same person who had helped me before.
She was the one who suggested the anime, and I began watching it. I finished it in one day.
While it was good, it didn't have much of a plot. It was set in a world of ninjas, and there was an
outcast child whose goal was to become the best ninja in the village and eventually become its
leader.
After a while, though, I started to think that it was a bit shallow, and I did some quick research
online and started watching a masterpiece called 85. I finished it on the same day.
On the second club day, I gathered my courage and joined the anime club.
They added me to a messaging group, and in the group, they announced a welcome meeting
for a week later.
One week later...I arrived at the location they shared, and a nice conference building stood before me. I entered
and went to the 'Yahua Conference Room.'
People slowly began to arrive, and at the scheduled time, they started giving us information.
Rei: "Hello, everyone, I am Rei, the assistant president of the anime department."
She talked about various things and gave information about the events we would be doing.
Although it was a meet-and-greet, I hadn't met anyone yet, so I decided to try again at the next
event.
The next event would be in two weeks, so I tried to watch as many anime as I could before
then, and I ended up finishing 4 more anime.
The next event was an anime movie screening of Your Name.
Since it was in the same room as before, I had no trouble finding it, but this time, I thought I
should make some progress. So, I was going to ask the first person who passed by the door,
"Can we be friends?"
I waited... and waited. Eventually, a shadow appeared in the sunlight, and I kept repeating the
sentence I had memorized in my head...
"Hey, if you want anime recommendations, you have to be my friend first!"
The shadow grew larger, and when it was finally in front of me, I spoke.
Alfreddo: "Hey! If you want anime recommendations, you have to be my friend first!"
I said this out loud, and soon afterward, I felt embarrassed.
The person in front of me hid a fake smile with a finger on their lips.
??: "I'm happy you joined, and of course, I'll be your friend."
At that moment, I was in shock because the person who had told me to join the anime club and
had recommended the 'How to Make Friends' book was standing right in front of me.
Alfreddo: "You're that person."
Maria: "Yes, it's me. My name is Maria."
Alfreddo: "I'm Alfreddo."
Maria: "Nice to meet you, Alfreddo. Did you watch the anime I recommended?"
Alfreddo: "I did, but after watching other anime, I thought the one you recommended didn't have
much of a story."
Maria: "Ah, actually, you're right. I just think it's good for beginners to start with popular series,
otherwise, 85 is way better than the one I recommended."
Alfreddo: "Wait a minute, have you watched 85?"
She looked at me curiously.Maria: "Yes, what about it?"
Alfreddo: "It's my favorite anime."
That was how I met Maria. After that, I got her number, and we started talking every day. We
would go out, hang out, and watch movie series together. We started doing everything together.
Our personalities were so compatible that if it weren't for her beauty, I would have fallen in love
with her personality and character.
One autumn evening, we took our relationship to the next level. We were now lovers, and in the
future, we would be husband and wife.
During our last year of university, something happened that separated us. My father passed
away from a heart attack. After the funeral, I fell into a deep depression and blamed myself for
his death because I had been so focused on Maria that I neglected my studies and didn't notice
my father's deteriorating health.
My depression turned into a fixation on money and status. I became obsessed with becoming
rich.
Years later, I learned that Maria married another man, and later, I discovered that this man had
killed her. Back then, I didn't care much about it because I was still obsessed with my goals, but
now, as I face death, I realize how much I miss Maria, my father, my mother, and my youth.
There's an old saying: "Regret is useless in the end."
As my life slowly slipped away, everything began to blur. The lights dimmed, and I heard a
voice.
"Do you want another chance?"
When I regained consciousness and opened my eyes, two women were standing in front of me.
Soon after, a man appeared.
"Did it come out healthy?"
"Yes, sir."
The person who asked the question was dressed in a royal style, wearing a cloak, not military
attire.
The woman handed me over to the man who had appeared. He looked at me seriously and
then started speaking.
"Well, it was born once. I will raise it, but don't think you'll gain anything from it."
Who was the person who gave me this chance?
And where was I now?