The room smelled faintly of dust and old wood. A small suitcase sat beside the bed, still half-open, clothes folded neatly as if waiting for a reason to be worn. Arthur stood by the window, staring at the quiet neighborhood outside — the narrow streets, the cherry trees without blossoms, and the soft hum of the evening wind brushing against the glass.
Japan. He'd always dreamed of being here. Watching anime, reading novels, imagining the crowded streets of Tokyo, the glowing lights, the feeling of belonging somewhere new. But the reality was quieter — colder.
This wasn't Tokyo. It was Akarigawa, a small town in Nagano Prefecture. Peaceful, maybe too peaceful. His uncle had arranged the apartment for him — a tiny one-room place with pale walls and a single window — before disappearing back into his busy, wealthy life. No welcome dinner, no family gathering. Just, "The key's under the mat. You'll manage."
Arthur didn't mind. Or maybe he told himself he didn't.
He dropped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. His phone rested on the pillow beside him, the screen dark but full of unspoken memories. And for a moment, the silence pressed down on him, pulling him back — to that night.
The night his parents died.
He remembered the flashing headlights, the rain pounding against the windows, his mother calling out —
"Arthur, we're going out for a bit, okay?"
He had nodded, eyes fixed on the glowing screen of his laptop, halfway through an episode of his favorite anime. "Sure, I'll be here," he'd said casually. That was the last time he heard her voice.
The police said it was instant. No pain, no suffering. But that didn't matter.
For months, the scene replayed in his head — the thought that if he had gone with them, maybe they'd still be alive. Or maybe he'd be dead too. Sometimes, he thought the second option sounded better.
He clenched his fists.
"Why did I stay? Just for some stupid anime?"
His throat tightened, his chest burned. Then, slowly, he lifted his hand and slapped his cheek — once. The sound echoed softly in the quiet room.
"No," he whispered. His voice trembled at first, then steadied. "I'll live the best life possible… so they can be proud of me. At least."
That was the moment it began — not the pain, not the loneliness, but the will to keep walking.
A few days later, he packed what little he had, sold the rest, and booked a one-way ticket to Japan. The country he once dreamed about from a screen was now beneath his feet.
As night settled over Akarigawa, he opened his window, feeling the cool wind brush against his face. The city lights in the distance shimmered like scattered stars. Somewhere deep inside, a small spark flickered — faint, but alive.
Tomorrow, he'd start his new life at Forest Sunlight High School.
Maybe, just maybe… things would be different here.