Kenji floated in a void; profound stillness seemed to envelop him. Time was irrelevant, and the usual noise of life was absent. Kenji felt a profound sense of peace in this serene sanctuary.
Kenji sank deeper into the abyss. Nothing could intrude upon his serenity except for the persistent ringing of the alarm beside his bed. Slowly, he opened his eyes and sighed.
"It was just a dream again."
Is room was dark, only the big window beside is bed brought a little light in
Kenji stays alone in an old Japanese house that his grandfather left for him; there is a distance between the city and where he stays. A cosy kitchen opens up to a lonely living room. The kitchen has polished wooden cabinets and neatly arranged dishes, blending with the living space. A small, dark wood table sits at the centre of the living room, surrounded by soft floor cushions. Paper lanterns gently illuminate the room, casting a warm, inviting glow. Traditional artwork and shoji screens add a touch of elegance, making the space feel serene and thoughtfully arranged.
Kenji had no savings or any family left; his grandfather was the only family relative he knew, and his mother and father had died at an early age. He had no one but himself in this world.
Kenji got up from bed and dressed properly. He was six feet tall, with a slim, built body and pale skin. He had a dark red eye; his long hair cascaded down his shoulders.
He had the expression of a lifeless person. After looking around for a while, Kenji went straight to the kitchen to grab an old black pot covered with a red cloth. He grabbed a cup with his right arm, and he went directly to the house's exit.
As Kenji stepped outside his house, a stunning view of Tokyo sprawled ahead of him. The city glittered under the sun, with skyscrapers shining brightly and the Tokyo Tower and Skytree piercing the horizon. As dusk descended, the city transformed into a sea of shimmering lights, reflecting off Tokyo Bay and creating a breathtaking, illuminated tapestry.
Kenji went further away from his house veranda to the middle, still looking expressionless. He looked to the left and saw a big white oak tree with healthy, nutrient-filled leaves. Next to it, there was a gravestone with Japanese writing on it.
"Renzo Mochizuki"
Seeing his grandfather's grave, he smiled slightly and walked closer. He opened the old pot, and a robust wine aroma came out. It was an ancient Jinshin Wine that his grandfather always loved to drink in the morning. He poured a little into the cup and then onto the gravestone, poured another cup for himself, and took a drink.
"He would have sent my head flying if he saw me drinking this," Kenji thought to himself.
He let out a smile from his expressionless face.
He smiled even more as he dropped the wine and cup on top of the gravestone, then turned and retraced his steps back to where he had come from.
Kenji started with a Hip Flexor Stretch, kneeling on one knee and pushing his hips forward. After 20-30 seconds, he switched sides.
Kenji did the Butterfly Stretch by sitting with his feet together and knees bent outward. He pressed his knees towards the floor, leaned forward, and held the stretch for 20-30 seconds.
He did more exercises and under the baggy black T-shirt he was in. His body was well-built. He had a few cuts on the back and left rib sides; after different stretches, he went straight to have his bathroom.
While in the bathroom, the cold shower touched his white skin, and his long, black hair, which cascaded smoothly to his shoulders, became wet. His vibrant red eyes, a hallmark of the Mochizuki family, gleamed with intensity.
After taking a bath, he brushed his teeth and went straight outside in black wears. The first week of school after the summer break, but there was no school for Kenji, only work.
Kenji left his home and pedalled on his old bike his grandfather had left him with, heading to work. As the sun set from the west, its warm glow illuminated his pale white skin, casting a soft light across his features. The wind picked up, tousling his long black hair and streaming it back toward the breeze.
Having descended from a mountainside, he soon approached a steep hill. As he sped down, the rush of wind and the momentum from the top gave him a thrilling edge. Surrounded only by trees and grasses, with no houses in sight, Kenji skillfully manoeuvred his bike quickly, harnessing the speed to his advantage.
As he continued his descent, the city gradually appeared.
As Kenji entered the city, a vibrant, bustling scene was displayed to him.
He continued pedalling toward his destination, observing the crowds around him. People strolled along the sidewalks with their partners, pets, and colleagues, each seemingly driven by a purpose and reason to embrace the day and the next.
Kenji glanced at the lively interactions and diverse faces, but couldn't shake the feeling of detachment. While others appeared to have clear motivations and reasons to rise daily, Kenji struggled to find purpose amidst the city's relentless energy.
It was a long journey for Kenji; he worked his way, moving freely and fast around the city. He soon got to his destination. He packed his old bike in a corner as she stayed at the pink shop.
The shop was small and in the middle of two big buildings. On the board that was placed above the shop building was "Cluck & Barrel Fried Haven."
Kanji stared at it for a little while. He sighed deeply and then entered.
An old man stays inside counting Is profit from from the current orders he has been getting.
He looked at kanji, and he became furious.
"You're late, I they are so many orders, get dressed and get ready to depart he said.
Kenji looked at the old man, his face emotionless as if he didn't hear a thing.
"Can't you hear what I just said?" the old man said.
Kenji did reply, he went to the room in the corner, opened the lock, he changed into his workwear.
"Good grief, youth these days are always disrespectful to their seniors," said old man Haruto.
"Mr Haruto, a perverted, greedy old man, interested in money and young girls, is the only one who would give me a job. Of course, he takes advantage of it; every mistake I made or unsatisfied customer, he deducted from the scrap of a salary he pays me." Kenji thought as he looked at the old man.
The old man, Haruto, was distracted; he was busy looking at the passing students, and his expression showed his dark intent.
Kenji paid no attention to him and just left after getting dressed. He grabbed the key to the delivery bike, loaded the package of fried chicken, and took off.
"Hello delivery," Kenji said, the door opened, a Druck bulky guy came out looked at Kenji, he grabbed the package and lamp the door back, kenji hit multiple deliveries, the same treatment, always not caring, like he never exist, some tossed changes on the floor for him to pick while other mock and laughing at him, but Kenji didn't care about all this.
Is thought was deep; he was questioning the meaning of life? His grandfather has always seen things differently.
This was the fourth time Kenji came back to get more packaged fried chicken, working nonstop without a rest, as he scrolled through his broken phone and saw his next destination. He sighed.
Kenji got to his next destination.
Ahead, a grand gate came into view, with its imposing and elegant design. The gate looked brand new and expensive, with a gold rose emblem. This was the biggest school in town, where all the popular kids in down go to. Rose academy