The Journey's Just Beginning

The faint glow of a television filled the room, but I wasn’t really watching it.

Back then, I was just a kid. A stupid little boy sitting beside his dad, pretending to read a book I could barely understand.

Even now, when I look back on it all, I still remember the words I whispered to myself that night.

“A hero… I never really wanted to be one.”

That was me. Minato. Before everything fell apart.

From the kitchen doorway, my mom peeked out, drying her hands on a dish towel. Her red hair caught the light, fiery even in the dim room.

“Minato? You still sitting there, kiddo?”

On the couch, I was pressed against my dad’s side. The warm weight of him, the soft scent of old paper, the steady rhythm of his breathing, it all felt so safe back then.

Dad tilted his book down and gave me a teasing grin.
“What are you staring at, little man? You’ve got your own book, don’t you? Why not watch TV instead?”

I looked down at my own book, the words swimming, then peeked at his.

“I… I wanna see what you’re reading, Dad.”

My voice now, from years later, cuts through the memory:

“My dream back then… it was simple.”

I remember the childish excitement that bubbled out of me.

“Dad! When I grow up, I’m gonna travel all over the world and read every kind of book there is! I’ll learn all sorts of cool things with you and Mom too!”

Mom stepped into the living room then, wiping her hands on her apron, smiling at me with that curious little smirk she always had.

“And why would you wanna do all that for, huh?”

I grinned so wide it made my cheeks ache.

“So I can help people! If I know all the cool stuff, I can save everyone! And and I wanna go on amazing adventures with you guys!”

Mom and Dad exchanged a look, the kind that said they didn’t even need words. Just love.

“Well then,” Dad chuckled, raising his hand to the center, “guess that’s our family plan. Together, we’ll explore the world.”

Mom placed her hand on top. I quickly stacked my small hand over theirs.

“Mom, Dad… that’s a promise, okay?”

That promise…
That was the last time I ever felt like the world was ours.

The memory shattered.

Rain pounded against the pavement. Red and blue lights flashed across the soaked street.

I was on my knees, pressing my tiny hands against my parents’ lifeless ones. The warmth was gone. My throat tore with a cry that never came out. My tears poured, but no voice escaped me.

They’d protected me. They’d stopped the robber. But by the time help came… it was already too late.

Another memory flickered one I’ve never been able to erase.

I dragged their bodies toward the door, screaming for help. But instead, they pulled me close, clutching me with what little strength they had left.

“Minato…” Mom whispered, her voice barely more than breath. “I’m sorry… for being selfish. But please… live. For us. Explore everything the world has to offer. The world is yours, my sweet child.”

Dad’s bloody hand trembled as he wiped my tears. His smile was weak but warm.

“Listen up, son… You’ve gotta look out for your friends, okay? Don’t skip meals, either. Your old man here used to forget all the time when he got too focused. Take care of yourself. You’re our greatest treasure.”

Their final voices overlapped, the words carved into me forever:

“We love you, Minato.”

From that day… the cycle began.

Wake up.
School.
Home.
Eat.
Sleep.
Repeat.

Nothing more.

Day after day, I went through life like a broken machine.

I ignored my friends. I ignored the world. All I could hear was the echo of my parents’ final words.

Until the day I almost died.

I stepped into the street without thinking, the traffic light glowing green.

My heart whispered: Mom… Dad… I’m tired. Maybe I should just die already.

The blare of a truck’s horn ripped me out of it. My body jolted back, collapsing onto the curb. My lungs seized, air clawing its way in.

“Minato!”

Hands grabbed mine. I blinked up through blurred vision.

“You’re… Kyojiro, right? From my class…” My voice shook. Then I turned to the girl beside him. “And you’re Shinobu…”

They froze, then exchanged relieved smiles.

For the first time in years… I smiled too.

The next day, I stood in class, bowing deeply, my tears dripping onto the floor.

“You guys… I’m so sorry. For everything. All this time, you still stuck by me. You never gave up. I don’t deserve it… but I’m grateful. Truly grateful.”

The class erupted cheers, tears, laughter. For the first time in forever, I wasn’t alone.

The school festival has arrived. Laughter filled the halls, the air sweet with candied apples and fried dough. For once, I felt alive. I worked with my classmates, smiling, laughing, helping.

But… the peace didn’t last.

While cleanup began, I noticed a man lingering near our classroom. His hands fidgeted. His eyes darted. A metallic glint slipped from his coat.

Knife.

“EVERYONE! GET OUT OF THE WAY! HE’S ARMED MOVE!”

Chaos erupted. The man burst into the classroom. Shinobu froze, her hands trembling.

“NO!”

I didn’t think. I charged him, wrapping my arms around his body and driving him toward the window.

Time slowed. My classmates’ faces flashed before me, one by one, eyes wide, voices begging me to stop.

And then my parents’ voices returned.

“Minato… we can see you being an incredible hero someday.”
“Our son will save so many people… make so many friends…”

The younger me and the present me screamed together:

“YEAH! I WILL BE A HERO!”

Glass shattered. We flew through the window.

The knife plunged deep into my stomach, but I didn’t feel it at first. All I felt was relief.

“Haha… I did it. I saved them.”

Then the pain hit. My vision blurred. Blood dripped down my shirt.

My classmates rushed toward me, their cries piercing my fading world.

I smiled one last time.

“Thank you… everyone. Mom… Dad… I’m sorry. I never got to explore the world like you hoped. But… I hope you can forgive me.”

My world went dark.

But death wasn’t the end.

When I opened my eyes, I was no longer on that street.

I was seated on a floor of shimmering light, surrounded by an endless sky. Above me stretched a celestial mural painted across eternity.

And before me… stood a goddess.

Her voice was calm, yet filled with something I couldn’t name.

“Minato… what do you think of exploring another world?”