A Step Toward Her

As they say, time changes everything—and it was true for us as well.
It was just a promise made as children, but I never thought it would turn into our tangled reality.

But right now,

I was going to try deadlifting two hundred kilograms.

In a quiet gym glimmering under warm lights, posters covered the walls, and soft music played in the background.

With one hand, I picked up a sixty-kilogram plate.

Who’s strong? I’m strong!

My hands were trembling slightly because of what had happened two months ago. When I was trying to lift two hundred kilograms, I almost passed out. Uhh… I'm gonna die.

Still, I sat down, and slid them onto the bar.

Just for ten seconds, I was determined to hold this bar in the air no matter what because of my pride and that teenage ego. I had a feeling that those ten seconds would be the longest I would ever experience.

Even longer than the ten seconds when I wet the bed ten years ago and Mom scolded me like my life depended on it.

I tapped my palms again and again against my muscular thighs, preparing to lift the bar. You’re ready, right? Mahito?

My hands tightened around the bar with my reddened calluses hurting. I stared at the window in front of me.

It was two o'clock in the morning.

This time, I inhaled—and lifted it.

I gritted my teeth.

Just ten seconds more, and I'll drop it!

I’m gonna die.

“Just two seconds more…” I muttered.

Why was I even lifting something as heavy as a motorbike? Because I believed in an online video that stated that you’re not a real man if you drop the bar before ten seconds, and the text was stated in a haiku form. Seriously, a haiku form. And… I got crushed beneath my bike once.

I breathed steadily—trying to place the bar down gently—and suddenly. I felt a sharp pang of pain in my spine and I flinched.

“It hurts!” I shouted, dropping the bar onto the ground. I lurched towards the sofa, but before I knew it. The gym grew distant from me and it seemed like I was experiencing a black out. Dropped on the floor, I passed out.

—

I blinked my eyes gradually, the background music still gave a quiet ambience.

I lifted myself up just to shut my eyes again due to the gym’s glimmering lights. I tried stretching and my back gave me a signal. “It hurts!” I muttered. My phone was on the sofa. I picked it up. It was 4 o’clock in the morning.

“Seriously, it has been two hours?”

“It’s late, I should go to sleep now.”

As I turned around, I saw the bar tilted, just left there and I knew that—I had won.

Even if I’d lost the war.

I ran a hand through my hair, smirked. Before even taking five steps toward the charging port, the pungent smell of sweat filled my nostrils. I stopped and hesitated.

“Maybe I'll just get a shower before going to—” My phone rang. I felt cold shivers down my spine due to the awkward ringtone that echoed in the entire gym. It was set on an older woman’s voice whispering an ASMR and repeating, "Come here, let’s cuddle.”

I’ll change it later.

The phone call. It was from my dad.

“Dad—Why’s he calling me this late?”

“What is it, father?”

“Father, can you hear me?”

A door opened and closed, muffled voices of women stopped and silence remained.

“F-father?”

“Yes! Can you hear me now?”

What was he doing anyway?

“What happened, father?”

“You don’t call me often.”

After his company became the biggest conglomerate in Japan. Our father-son bond slowly grew far from each other. He wasn’t even calling me for months. Well, knowing that he’s busy. I can't raise an argument but at least he can call me once in a week or two, and when he calls me, it’s at strange times like this.

“Nothing, I just wanted to check on my son and give good news!”

“Good news?”

“Is this really the time for it?” I muttered.

It’s 4 o’clock in the morning, you old man!

“Well, don’t be so angry. I just wanted to check on my little child Ryoma.”

I clenched my fist.

In a few months, he’d even forgotten my real name that my mom gave me, and I think he’s even forgetting my mom over time.

“Are you drunk right now?”

“Mahito! My name is Mahito. Did you even start to forget that?”

“And why are you even forgetting mom, didn’t you say that she meant the whole world to you?!”

“What are you even doing?”

My grip tightened.

“C-cheating on mom?”

“That will never happen, Mahito,” he said to me in a voice that seemed like he spat every ml of alcohol he drank.

My eyes softened.

It’s no use.

“Yes, I wanted to give you some good news!”

“What good news?”

“Father, are you still there or have you passed out?”

My father cleared his throat.

“Yes, can you hear me now?”

“Ye–”

Before waiting for a reply, he continued.

“I wanted to tell you that…”

I knew that it wouldn’t be something worth mentioning. It would be like he’s going to get married to some new woman. But, listening to him won’t hurt me. Well… He’s my father.

“You’ve gotten into Tokyo Metropolitan Izumi High School where Yuna will spend her next three years.” His voice came crystal clear through his microphone.

Huh? It felt like the floor beneath my feet crumbled and turned into a field of flowers. Clouds drifted along the strange lights that streaked across the sky.

My long-desired wish was finally fulfilled…

The adrenaline rush was so quick that I felt like I could even lift two-hundred and ten kilograms.

–

“Are you s-serious?!” I shouted.

“Yes, due to your popularity in volleyball and your high marks.”

“You have passed the entrance exams.”

“Mahito?”

“Father, give me a minute.”

Clicked on the mute button. I smiled, staring at my palm as my fingers slowly curled in.

Now I can see her…

It’s been five years…

My cheeks warmed faintly as I raised my arm with my clenched fist.

While humming gently, I went to pick up the phone.

“Father, can you hear me?”

My father answered when I almost tapped on the end call button.

“Can you hear me now?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm?” he murmured as if puzzled.

“Are you not happy?”

“N-no, I'm definitely happy!”

“I see…” His voice came through the microphone as if the phone was being rubbed against something soft.

This old guy!

“Now, I’m going to cut the ca-”

“Wait!” I said as a thought struck in my mind.

“What about my new school uniform?”

“Oh, school uniform?”

“Yes.”

“What’s the name of the school, though?”

This old good for nothing!

“It’s Tokyo Metropolitan Izumi High School!” I muttered, clenching my fist in slight anger,

“I understand, then I'll have someone deliver the uniform.”

“Make sure you get it.”

“Okay.”

“And listen.”

“What?”

“Father still…”

“Father?”

“N-nothing!”

“Okay…? Then, I'm going to cut the call.“

“Okay,” my father said.

“Come visit me someday,” I said.

“Good night.”

The call ended.

“Now, it’s time to take a shower.”

After showering, I changed into my casual clothing.

Only a few minutes had passed. I left the gym and entered the underground parking lot.

I headed toward my 400cc bike, parked under the dim, empty garage lights. I slid the key in, and revved the engine.

A loud sound echoed underground—I accelerated and left the parking lot.

…

I reached my home building. It was a massive building consisting of fifty floors. My apartment was on the forty-ninth floor. I entered the building.

I slid the keycard in, slipped my shoes and socks off and set them aside.

My apartment wasn’t anything special. It was a 4LDK, painted in white with cozy warm lights in the ceiling.

From the kitchen drawer, I grabbed a mug, made myself a cup of black coffee, and drank it while watching the city beneath the moonlit sky.

The sun was still on the dark side.
Well, technically, it was me who was on the dark side of the planet.

In my bedroom. The lights were still on, just as I’d left them when I went to fight my inner demons.

In an instant, I pulled my blanket, revealing my cat-themed bedsheet, and slid under it. I closed my eyes as I slowly breathed.

…

I just drank coffee, how am I supposed to sleep now?

I placed my palms over my eyes, slowly exhaled to force myself to sleep.

Eventually, I fell asleep.

…

It was pitch black.

My eyes itched as I blinked.

My phone was on the side shelf’s top, I tried to find it and something dropped onto the floor. I sighed and inadvertently clicked on some button, and the curtains opened.

The sun rays streamed in my eyes.

I flinched and narrowed my gaze, widened my fingers to block the sun’s rays. After adjusting, I threw my blanket around the bed. I stretched a little as soon as I stood up and picked up the phone that was on the ground.

It was still 6:50 AM.

Only one hour?

Now, I should make a cup of coffee for myself and go for cy-

The bell rang.

Seriously, this early?

I opened the entrance door slightly and asked while peeking.

A man in a black suit stood there, holding a box wrapped neatly in red cloth.

“Who are you?”

“Good morning, Ito-sama. Ito-sama ordered me to bring this box to your home.”

Huh? Ito-sama… and Ito-sama?

What’s this? Bullying?

Sweat dampened my face.

“I-i see. Do you mind if I ask a question?”

“Yes, feel free to ask a question, Ito-sama.” He nodded slightly.

Pick something like “young master” or something!

“How did you bypass… the security gate?”

He averted his eyes.

Man, say something. I’m in an awkward position here!

He looked at me again.

“Good morning, Ito-sama.”

Seriously?

“Ito-sama ordered me to bring this box—”

“You don’t have to repeat yourself.”

He handed the box to me.

“Thank you.”

Something clicked in me.

Oh. That’s right.

I should ask him.

“When will the school open?”

Today is the fourteenth of April.

The school will open on the seventeenth of April. Well, somehow I’ll manage.

“Ito-sama told me that the school will be opening today.”

Eh?

…

“Seriously?!”

That meant the entrance ceremony was today—Yours Truly had to move faster now.