Arthur looked at his face in the bathroom mirror. He was haggard; he had only written three songs and already felt exhausted, as if he had just run a marathon.
"Damn…" he muttered, and a sharp blow cracked the mirror.
The noise made Yumi rush toward the bathroom.
"What happened, Arthur?"
"It's nothing, Mom… I just feel too much pressure. If everything I'm doing doesn't work… I don't know if I'm cut out for this."
Yumi hugged him, patting his back gently.
"Don't pressure yourself so much. That's why your father and I are here. If something doesn't work out, we'll try again. You're not alone."
Arthur stayed silent for a few seconds, then nodded.
"You're right, Mom… I'm not alone."
Looking at his fist, he noticed it was bleeding.
"I didn't even realize…"
"Come, I have a first aid kit right here," Yumi said, worried.
As she bandaged his wound, Arthur felt a warmth that reassured him. In the midst of all the pressure, his mother was his safe haven.
"By the way, Mom, I managed to create three songs. I need you to find singers."
He led her to his room and handed her a sheet with lyrics and notes written on it.
Yumi took it, surprised.
"Let me see, son."
1. Ruby no Yubiwa
"A melancholic ballad about a lost love. The voice should be soft, almost a whisper, with a calm rhythm and jazz/city pop arrangements. It's like looking back and remembering what will never return."
2. Akai Sweet Pea
"A youthful, romantic song about the tenderness of first love. Light and optimistic melody, like spring. I imagine a delicate female voice that makes you smile just by listening."
3. Wine Red no Kokoro
"An elegant, adult theme. It speaks of intense feelings, like red wine: deep, strong, and with a touch of bitterness. Perfect for a melodic rock band."
"It's interesting, but don't you think you're being a little too specific?" Yumi commented with a faint smile.
Arthur looked at her calmly.
"I have to be. I won't be the one choosing the singers, but at least my uncle will have a guide to find them."
"That's true…" Yumi nodded. "You'd better get some sleep. You have classes tomorrow."
Arthur sighed as he watched his mother leave the room.
"Better get some rest…"
He settled into bed and closed his eyes.
---
Tuesday, April 8, 1980
Arthur woke up early. Looking at the calendar, he thought:
So many things in so few days… but it's better to move fast. If I want to build an entertainment company with solid foundations, I can't waste time.
He got dressed, packed his bag, and washed his face. Then he said goodbye to Yumi and headed to school.
As he walked, everything felt strange: no cell phone, no music in his ears. The silence of the trip made him think too much.
Turning down a commercial street, something in a shop window caught his attention. It was a small electronics store. On a counter, a device shone with a sign:
"Nintendo Game & Watch – New release."
A boy was trying it out, pressing the tiny buttons as the screen flickered.
"Look, I can play anywhere!" he exclaimed, laughing.
Arthur watched, fascinated. Portable… games that fit in a pocket. To him, that small machine was a sign of the future. Between music, film, and now video games, the world of entertainment opened up like a vast map to explore.
He adjusted the straps of his backpack and resumed his way to school.
At school, he saw Emiko step out of a car.
"You're late," she remarked.
Arthur smiled.
"I came walking, not like you, Miss Emiko."
"My mother doesn't want me walking alone," she explained. "But actually, I was already waiting when I said goodbye to you two."
Arthur was surprised.
"Where's Takashi?"
Emiko shrugged.
"I don't know. I only knew he was president of the literature club. I didn't even talk to him… until yesterday."
As they chatted, Daichi appeared.
"Hey, I just saw you two. Who are you waiting for?"
"We're just talking," Arthur said casually.
Daichi smiled.
"I heard you joined the literature club. Good club, but I thought you were more the type for something else."
Arthur just smiled.
"I love the literature club. I can organize my thoughts, and I feel comfortable there."
Takashi approached and handed Arthur a notebook.
"This is what I've been writing. Tell me what you think, and we'll talk about it in the club."
He said goodbye and headed to his classroom. Emiko looked at the notebook curiously.
"What's that, Arthur?"
"I don't know, but I'll read it at lunch," Arthur replied.
Daichi watched with interest.
"Why would Takashi give you something like that?"
"Who knows…" said Arthur. "Maybe we're already good friends… or maybe it was because we talked about Hamlet. It's such an interesting play."
When they reached the classroom, everyone took their seats, and the teacher began the lesson.
---
At lunch, Arthur was reading Takashi's notebook; it was a story very similar to The Little Prince but with intriguing twists. Suddenly, a voice startled him.
"What are you doing, foreigner?" —Mika, holding her lunchbox, stared at him coldly.
"Hi, Mika… I'm reading a story Takashi gave me. Want to read it?"
Mika rolled her eyes.
"If you insist."
Before Arthur could hand her the notebook, she snatched it from his hands.
"Well, you didn't have to be so intimidating…" Arthur said, a little uncomfortable.
Mika smiled charmingly, just as Emiko walked up.
"What's going on, Arthur? Is Mika intimidating you?"
"That's not true," Mika replied calmly. "It was Arthur who intimidated me, saying I couldn't read something from Takashi because it was only for his friends."
Arthur stayed silent, and Mika burst into loud laughter. Emiko stared at her, astonished.
"You really keep surprising me, Mika."
At that moment Daichi appeared with his lunchbox.
"What are you guys doing?"
Arthur noticed the grilled fish in Daichi's plate.
"Hey, Daichi, trade your fish for my chicken?"
"I'd rather go half and half," Daichi replied.
Both cut their portions and exchanged them. Just as Arthur was settling his lunch contentedly, Emiko, with a mischievous smile, reached out her chopsticks and without permission took Arthur's piece of chicken, placing it in her own tray.
"That was my chicken!" Arthur exclaimed, surprised.
"You know, Arthur," Emiko said playfully, "you should help a lady. The chicken helps me enjoy my meal more."
Arthur sighed in resignation and lowered his gaze with an ironic smile.
At that moment, Takashi arrived with his bag.
"Hi guys… Arthur, where's the notebook?"
Arthur pointed at Mika, still absorbed in reading. Takashi raised an eyebrow, stepped forward, and snatched the notebook from her.
"Hey! I was reading that," Mika protested.
"That was for Arthur," Takashi said firmly. "He was supposed to give me feedback to improve my story."
Mika looked at him defiantly.
"I have ideas too. And I didn't like your ending… how can someone give everything and still lose what matters most?"
Arthur stepped in gently:
"We can't always have a happy ending, Mika."
She shot him a mocking smile.
"And what do you know, foreigner?"
Takashi looked at her seriously, and Mika, noticing his expression, shifted her tone to playful:
"What's wrong? Already in love with me, Takashi?"
He turned his gaze to the sky.
"I can't love someone who expects everything to be perfect, Mika."
With that, he stood up and walked away from the group.
Emiko called after him lightly:
"Well then, goodbye!"
Daichi watched thoughtfully, while Arthur felt the tension floating between Mika and Takashi.
Mika stared at Takashi's back as he walked away, then stood up angrily.
"You all bore me."
Emiko followed her with her eyes and sighed.
"People don't have manners anymore, don't you think, Arthur?"
"Let them be, Emiko…" Arthur replied.
Daichi added in a curious tone:
"There must be something going on between them."
Emiko glanced alternately at Takashi's back and Mika's.
"You'd be more surprised than you think."