The Sakura-machi wind had shifted. Cherry blossoms swirled across the streets, carrying the scent of spring, but inside the Kurotsuki household, another kind of storm was brewing.
Ten-year-old Kurotsuki Tenkai sat cross-legged at his desk, ThinkPad T23 humming like a miniature reactor. Screens displayed lines of code, 3D models, and a digital whiteboard filled with sketches of websites, apps, and economic projections.
Aion: "Tenkai, neural optimization complete. Predictive modeling for market trends updated. Recommended first step: formal company creation."
Tenkai's eyes swirled with a faint galaxy glow. "Perfect. Kurotsuki Industries will be born… under Dad's name, for now. We'll transfer ownership when I'm legally eligible."
...
Masaru and Akane were called into the room. Masaru carried a stack of documents while Akane raised an eyebrow.
"Son… you're starting a company?" Masaru asked, trying to sound casual. "You're… ten."
Tenkai's grin was unshakable. "Correct. Ten. But my analysis says the optimal age to start is 'before the world expects it.'"
Akane pinched the bridge of her nose. "Before the world expects it… what?"
Masaru tried to interject. "I mean, if you have a business plan—"
"Business plan? Check. Projected revenue? Check. Digital infrastructure? Already online." Tenkai gestured at the monitors. "I've also created three separate platforms for different functions."
Akane froze. "Platforms? For… what exactly?"
Tenkai tapped a key, and the screens shifted.
"First, Viora—a video-hosting platform. It's like YouTube but optimized for early internet speeds. Videos will stream with minimal buffering and high compression efficiency."
Masaru's mouth fell open. "Streaming… video… efficiently?"
Tenkai continued. "Second, EchoLink—a hybrid forum and social network. Combines upvote/downvote mechanics, micro-posting, and image sharing. Think early Reddit meets Twitter and Instagram. Community engagement optimized via sentiment analysis."
Akane blinked. " Insta-what? Sentiment… analysis?"
Tenkai tilted his head. "AI-assisted predictions. Your comments, Mom, are noted as motivational support."
Masaru waved a hand weakly. "I'm… proud."
"And third," Tenkai added, "NeuraNet. A predictive search engine with smarter ranking algorithms. Uses early machine learning concepts. Local businesses get better visibility. Long-term SEO dominance is guaranteed."
Akane groaned. "I leave for five minutes at the salon, and suddenly you've invented the internet?"
Tenkai smiled innocently. "No, Mom. Just optimizing it."
...
By 2006, Masaru had retired from his vice-principal duties, and Akane temporarily closed her salon. Both became full-time backers of Tenkai's operations.
Masaru carried printer paper while Akane prepared bentos for long coding sessions. "I feel like a startup parent," Masaru joked. "Do we get stock options?"
Akane elbowed him. "Stock options are for adults. You get parenting credit."
Aion: "Tenkai, revenue from Viora initial launch: ¥3.4 million. EchoLink beta: ¥1.8 million. NeuraNet user adoption: 12,000 unique visitors per day."
Tenkai leaned back. "Not bad for a pre-teen. Keep scaling."
Masaru shook his head. "I can't believe our ten-year-old son is… richer than me."
Akane muttered, "And smarter. And probably faster. And… cursed, apparently."
Tenkai's galaxy eyes twitched faintly. "Curses… just a hobby for now, Mom. Priorities: code, empire, influence."
...
From 2005–2008, Tenkai's days became a whirlwind:
Viora hosted small video creators and local schools, complete with early "short-form clips" for viral content.
EchoLink allowed students and small businesses to create micro-communities, earning ad revenue and feedback for improvement.
NeuraNet integrated AI-assisted SEO for local vendors, even letting small sushi shops and cafes rise to the top of search queries.
Aion: "Simulating global traffic increase: adoption curve suggests viral spread within five years if current growth sustained."Tenkai: "Good. Keep monitoring."
Masaru sometimes peeked over his son's shoulder. "Is it legal for a ten-year-old to run multiple online companies?"
Akane rolled her eyes. "If it's illegal, the internet hasn't caught up yet."
Tenkai: "Dad, can you help me pitch to the local city government for minor funding? They'll appreciate the tech support for civic websites."Masaru: "Uh… yes, of course. Totally normal."
...
Despite his world-changing tech, Tenkai didn't ignore his physical form. Following programs purchased from the Abyss Ledger, he practiced:
Running sprints and agility drills.
Push-ups, squats, and yoga for flexibility and energy circulation.
Martial arts forms focusing on precision and flow rather than raw power.
Aion: "Nutrition absorption optimized. Caloric intake now translates directly to energy potential for body and curse manipulation."Tenkai: "Good. Full efficiency. No wasted calories."
Even in training, he imagined himself running through virtual cities, managing servers, and debugging code mid-kick. His multitasking skills blurred the lines between body, mind, and digital reality.
...
2006 also brought subtle glimpses of the larger world.
Aion: "Cursed energy activity detected: notable anomalies in Shinjuku and Kyoto. Analysis: high-level combat is occurring."
Aion: "Analysis: Jujutsu-related incidents detected. Notable energy fluctuations near Shinjuku. Reference: Gojo Satoru versus Toji Zen'in."
Tenkai leaned back. "Interesting. Looks like a show of strength. Make note. Our paths will cross eventually."
Aion confirmed with probability modeling. "Likelihood of first contact: 3–5 years."
Tenkai's grin widened. "Excellent. Let's continue quietly for now."
...
Despite the empire-building, Tenkai never forgot the joy of creation:
Mini-games taught early programming principles to local students.
Small websites brought fame and happiness to business owners.
Chatbots and translation tools delighted tourists visiting Sakura-machi.
Aion: "Your portfolio now includes 41 completed projects, generating ¥6.8 million cumulative revenue."Tenkai: "Perfect. Time to reinvest in the Abyss Ledger and new innovations."
Akane sometimes peeked into his room. "Tenkai, dinner's ready!"
Tenkai waved a hand. "Just a few more lines of code, Mom. I'm revolutionizing the internet."
Akane shook her head, muttering, "And he still eats vegetables… sometimes."
Masaru whispered, "I can't keep up. My ten-year-old is richer, smarter, and faster than me."
Tenkai (thinking): "Let the world discover the future… on my terms."