Lost Childhood, New Future

Yui packed her things into an old travel bag. Her mother was once again at some bar, drowning herself in alcohol. Her father? Probably in some shady café, trying to pay off his debts. Yes, her parents were far from the ideal anyone would wish for.

She recalled her elementary school days—weekends when her classmates excitedly shared stories of trips with their families. She, on the other hand, would always just sit quietly, nodding occasionally and smiling so as not to stand out. After all, she had nothing to tell. Her parents never had time for her. Never.

By the time she was five, she had already learned how to cook simple meals because there was no one else to take care of her. She remembered how she had met Ayane—the new student from Germany who didn’t speak a word of Japanese. Yui had always loved reading, and some books in her collection were in German. She found the language fascinating, gradually learned it, and used this knowledge to talk to Ayane. Back then, it was just a way to make a friend. Today, she knew it had been the best decision of her life.

While Ayane was always popular among boys, Yui deliberately stayed in the background. Not because she was unattractive—quite the opposite. But she was afraid. Afraid that someone might see through her façade and discover her family situation. Afraid of being bullied. Afraid of being hurt even more than she already was. But fortunately, that never happened.

Yui zipped up her bag, grabbed her phone, and called Ayane.
"Hey, I’m ready. Can I stay at your place until we leave? I want to avoid my parents as much as possible."

There was a moment of silence on the other end before Ayane’s warm voice answered, "Of course. I understand. Everything will get better soon, Yui. I promise."

A soft smile appeared on Yui’s lips. "Thank you, Ayane. I’ll be right over. See you soon."

Before leaving the apartment, she placed a farewell letter on the kitchen table. Her parents probably wouldn’t even read it. But she didn’t care.

Then, she closed the door behind her.

With every step she took through the streets of Osaka, her heart grew lighter. For the first time, she felt... free. For the first time, she noticed things she had never paid attention to before—the chirping of birds, the gentle breeze against her skin, the warm evening sun painting the rooftops golden. It was as if the world had suddenly come to life. And she knew, this wasn’t a dream.

This was the moment her new life began.

Three Days Later

"YUIIIII, THE TRAIN IS HERE!" Ayane’s excited voice snapped Yui out of her thoughts.

They stood on the platform as the bullet train to Tokyo rolled in. This was it. Yui stared at the massive doors as they slowly slid open, people stepping in and out. Her heart pounded faster. So this was it—the final farewell to her old life.

"Yui, come on!" Ayane urged, tugging at her arm.

"Y-yeah! I’m coming!" she mumbled, following her friend.

As soon as they found their seats, Yui sank into her chair and took a deep breath. The train started moving. Osaka slowly faded into the distance. She was really on her way to Tokyo—a city full of new possibilities, far away from the pain that had always followed her.

But then... there it was again. That voice.

"Damn, what is this?"
"Why do I feel this? I don’t understand any of this anymore…"

Yui’s eyes widened. Her body froze. That voice again—the voice of an unfamiliar boy.

"Who... who is talking?!"

Her hands started trembling. Her chest felt tight.

"What’s going on...?" she whispered, her vision blurring.

Her heart raced. Was this her mind playing tricks on her? Did this have something to do with her past? Were these memories she had suppressed? No matter how hard she tried to make sense of it—this voice didn’t belong to her.

And she had no idea what it meant.

When Yui and Ayane finally arrived at their apartment, Ayane was bursting with energy. The moment she closed the door behind her, she jumped around excitedly, eager to set up their new home.

"This is going to be amazing! Our own little place!" she cheered, pulling out boxes filled with decorations.

Yui, however, felt exhausted. The journey, the overwhelming new impressions, and, above all, that mysterious voice in her head weighed heavily on her. She collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow.

"What was that…?" she murmured, while Ayane hummed happily in the background. Normally, Yui would have let herself be swept up by her friend’s good mood, but today was different. She wanted to think about it, but her exhaustion wouldn’t allow it.

A loud vibration jolted her from her restless sleep. Blinking, she reached for her phone—Ayane was calling her.

"YUI! ARE YOU AWAKE?!"

Yui winced and held the phone slightly away from her ear. "Yeah, yeah, Ayane, I’m awake now…" she answered with a small laugh.

"Oh, sorry for waking you! I’m already in town, shopping for dinner. Could you maybe grab some plates and cups? That way, we won’t have to go out twice."

Yui rubbed her eyes and sat up. "Sure, no problem."

"Thanks, you’re the best! I’m making something super delicious tonight!" With that, Ayane hung up.

Yui got up and stretched. Her stomach growled softly, so she decided to make herself something to eat. She opened the fridge to put together a quick meal with whatever was left. But to her surprise, there was a neatly packed bento box waiting for her. A small note was stuck to the lid:

"Everything will be better now. Yours, Ayane."

For a moment, Yui just stared at the carefully prepared meal. Then, she smiled softly. She picked up the note, held it for a second, then gently placed it back on the kitchen table.

"Yeah… everything will be better now."

As she ate, she felt a weight lifting from her shoulders. She swore to herself that she would leave the past behind—all the memories that had haunted her for so long. They would have no place in her new life.

After getting ready, Yui put on a light jacket and left the apartment. Stepping onto the bustling streets of Tokyo, she was immediately overwhelmed by the city’s energy. Neon lights, rushing cars, conversations from all directions—Tokyo felt alive. A place full of new opportunities.

With a determined gaze, she set off to buy the dishes. The stores were packed, but Yui didn’t let it bother her. She carefully picked out some simple yet elegant plates and cups, making sure to store them safely in her bag.

On her way back, she passed a small café. The door was open, and from inside, she could hear the cheerful laughter of a group of teenagers.

She glanced inside—two girls and two boys sat at a table, engaged in a lively conversation. One of the boys laughed loudly, while the girl next to him shyly looked away. It was a typical scene among friends, something that felt so distant from Yui’s own life.

She shook her head and turned away. No looking back. Only forward.

With that thought, she continued on her way.