The Day

“The next step for humanity has finally been accomplished by MiRA Corporation. The new nano machine, Dream, will change the very structure of society.”

Cicadas can be heard chirping outside a humid midsummer morning alongside the clamor of the television showing the morning news. A boy with messy brown hair wearing a white collared dress shirt and beige pants, hurriedly cooks breakfast; Eggs and rice. Finishing, he wraps up a portion of the food and puts it away in the fridge. In the corner of the room, a fan blasts as it moves from side to side, fluttering streamers attached onto its cage.

The boy takes a seat at a kitchen table and begins to eat his breakfast alone. Looking at the small television on the kitchen counter, the boy watches morning news. A ceremony where several hundred people are attending is showing and in the corner of the program, text scrolls by.

MiRA Corporation has recently begun sales of Dream. Company President, Kono Takamura, soon to speak for the momentous occasion.

Standing on the main podium preparing himself is Kono Takamura, now cleanly shaven and wearing a suit. Alex and other high members of the corporation are sitting behind him, looking on hopefully at their president for his message.

“For years now, my brother, Alex and I have searched to find the next stage of progression for technology.” Kono begins his speech, taking a quick glance at Alex.

“Since we first apprenticed under our local mechanic back at home, me and my brother have been ambitious to push ourselves in creating a better future. We would spend countless hours of our childhoods looking at cars and machinery, filling our minds with the tools we would need for later. Although I did not find much enjoyment in components of the machines we fixed, Alex did, and because of that, we learned to complement each other’s work and skills.” Kono smiles for a moment when recollecting memories of his childhood, then his face turns stern and focused.

“Much like our ancestors however, Alex and I were never satisfied with just what we had; We wanted to make more for ourselves. And thanks to the hard work of all at the MiRA corporation, we were able to do just that. Today we present to you our tools for the days of tomorrow."

Taking a pause to let the crowd settle after their cheers and clapping, Kono then continues on.

“Like the first fires of mankind, we craved for more. We looked to space, but we found it too small to satisfy our ambitions. We looked to the seas and still found it lacking. Yet, when we looked into the palm of our hands…”

Pausing, he looks down at the palm of his hand. Tapping it vigorously with three fingers from his other hand.

“We found it to be the greatest challenge we could ever imagine.” he says, smiling as he looks back up.

“Dream.”

Kono says while now holding up something in his hand pinched between his thumb and index fingers. It is too small to see on camera, but thanks to the sun, for a brief moment the object glints.

“Today, we mark the day that humanity has created the first mass produced nanotechnology which in it, lies the capacity to learn through specialized Deep Learning AI integration. With these functions, new frontiers in all aspects of life and science are now seemingly more possible.”

“The future has never seemed more exciting for my brother and I. But, to say that the MiRA corporation's ambitions are satisfied is far from the truth. Whatever the future holds in store for us, for sure Dream will play a deciding role.” Kono concludes with full confidence in his gaze as the crowd begins to cheer and celebrate.

The boy did not notice, but he was enamored by Kono’s speech. His optimism for the future and confidence in his eyes caused him to take a pause from eating. Abruptly however, the news cuts to the panel of its usual reporters to give their opinions, cutting off Kono’s enthusiastic gaze; Snapping the boy back to reality.

Looking at the time, the boy hurriedly finishes the remainder of his breakfast and turns off the television.  He then stuffs inside his bag several notes about engines and other bits of machinery scattered about the table and puts the bag on his back as he walks towards a hallway connected to the kitchen. He looks at the open door to the right as he is about to leave. In the darkness of the room the boy sees his mother who is still sleeping as well as the various medications in disarray on the table. With care, the boy puts the medication in order and quietly whispers goodbye to his sleeping mother as he leaves her room. In the hallway, he grabs a white open face helmet off of a rack near the entrance of the house and leaves, locking the door behind him.

The trees lightly sway over the road as a gentle breeze passes by. In the distance, seagulls caw as the sound of waves crashing into rocks can be faintly heard. Then, the ascending roar of an engine fades in. Speeding past is the boy, riding a cruiser motorcycle. He is pushing the motorcycle’s limits as he climbs higher and higher up the mountainous road. The cool ocean breeze oscillates his loose collared dress shirt, drying his sweat. With the deep emerald of the mountainous greenery to his right and the sparkling blue of the sea and the town populating its craggy shores on his left; the boy rides. The smell of salty sea breeze, the exhaust of the motorcycle and the damp leaves mix, causing the boy to smile to himself.

Riding fast, the boy rises up the mountainside road, over the coastal housing. Occasionally, he rides past other residents of the island, seeing briefly those who are either busy beginning their days or relaxing, taking in the morning sun under shade.

Several turns and stop lights later, the boy looks at his watch and takes a moment to pull over and drink some of his bottled water at a widening at the road next to a closed auto-repair shop. As he drinks, an older man in a mechanic’s outfit with a name tag saying Benedict Greene comes out of his house and starts to open up the auto-repair shop. Stepping with some pep, Benedict runs his hands through his graying hairs and scratches his beard as he whistles.

“Oh hey there Jonathan. Good morning.” says Benedict.

“Oh, Good morning, Mr. Greene. Didn’t notice you there.” says the boy standing up from his lean on his motorcycle, turning around. After finishing his first sip from his bottle, Jonathan goes for another.

“Didn’t notice me and I'm here, standing in front of my own shop!” Benedict says, chuckling as he approaches Jonathan.

“Well I wouldn’t blame you, this heat is sure to mess with your head.” Benedict says.

He swipes some sweat off of his brow with a rag he pulled from his back pocket, smearing some oil on his forehead in the process.

“Speaking of which, have you seen the news on Dream?” Benedict asks. From his uniform's front pocket, he pulls out a dirty cap and puts it on. Jonathan, meanwhile simply nods in response.

“I thought I would've been dead by the time I saw technology like Dream being made, but here I am. Just thinking about it gives me shivers to see what amazing things the future has in store even after being a mechanic for over forty years. Dream just shouldn’t be possible.” Benedict says smiling.

“But, you know what Jonathan, it just might actually be impossible but those brothers know no limit!” Benedict says, wheezing as he laughs.

“I wouldn’t have believed it if it was anyone other than Kono Takamura, but after seeing him give that speech, I know for sure that Dream will really change the world.” Jonathan says, after finishing his sip from the bottle, looking up to the sky as faint clouds pass.

"But I don't think I’m ready for a future with robots supposedly that smart just yet." He says as he takes another sip from his bottle.

“I see what you mean, but the future holds more surprises than whatever we expect it to.” Benedict says as he begins to scratch his head.

“When I was your age. I remember when my folks talked about the automation being brought to the factories they worked at. It was scary for them to think a robot could have taken their jobs, but look at those machines now, they couldn’t replace the technique of an expert.”

“I guess you are right, but Dream seems different. Doesn’t it worry you at all?”

“Well if I was your age, maybe, but since I don’t have much time left, I guess there's nothing that's going to change my life much." Benedict says with a small heh at the end. Catching himself turning serious, Benedict continues saying.

"Well either way, all of this Dream talk should stay for another time. If I recall, your little break from classes are up and I’m probably holding you.”

“You are right with that sir. I’ll see you later Mr. Greene, hopefully we can get finished on that car today.”

“We’ll see.” Benedict says smiling.

Benedict starts to back up towards the shop and Jonathan remounts the motorcycle. Saying their goodbyes, Jonathan revs the engine and put down the visor on his helmet. Checking to see that the road is clear, he creeps towards the road.

“Wait Jonathan!” Benedict shouts.

“I just remembered, I have a surprise for you after your shift, so be on time!”

“Yes sir. Will do!” Jonathan shouts as he picks up speed, disappearing from Benedict’s sight as he turns a corner on the road.

“Another surprise huh? Mr. Greene sure has been generous with me lately.” Jonathan thought to himself.

The smell of the sea gives way to the earthy, damp smell of morning dew at a forest. Turning the corner on the road after crossing a small bridge spanning over a creek, he arrives to see at a distance the view of the school. Near the peak of the heavily forested mountain, the school stands grandly, displaying its dominance over the surrounding nature. Whether on foot, by car or by bicycle, a steady trickle of students gradually converge to the entrance of the school. Approaching the school’s gates, Jonathan saw a banner hanging over it.

Congratulations to the Takamuras! Thank you for your dedication!

Entering through the gates, Jonathan entered the institute’s grounds. Parking his motorcycle in the roofed bicycle section, Jonathan makes a quick quality check on the intake and other parts of the motorcycle.

“Last time Mr. Greene had a surprise for me, he gave me this motorcycle.” Jonathan thought to himself.

“Think of it as a holiday bonus!” Jonathan recalls Benedict saying with his usual chuckle when he presented the motorcycle to Jonathan. It was rusting and nonfunctional but Jonathan gladly took it from him with great care.

“It was really a hunk of junk, but it provided me with firsthand experience over the winter to understand the mechanics of automobile parts. It took a while, but the hard work really revived her.” Jonathan thinks to himself as he chains up his motorcycle. Hearing the crunch of dirt under a wheel, a bicycle suddenly stops right next to Jonathan

“Hey Jonathan, the bike’s looking good!”

Jonathan looks to his right to find a tall and strong boy, also wearing a similar white collared shirt and beige pants as Jonathan but obtained a rather notable grace to his appearance.

“Oh it's you Lewis. Yeah, things are running much more smoothly after changing out the old suspension with the ones Mr. Greene spared me.”

“That's good to hear after seeing you work so hard on it Jonathan. How are things going?” Lewis asks Jonathan as they both begin to walk inside the institute.

Talking with Lewis about various things, Jonathan mentioned his earlier conversation with Mr. Greene and the news.

“Did you see the speech with Kono? There was something about his speech that really caught my attention.”

“It must have been his confidence.” Lewis says to Jonathan as they walk up the stairs.

"I wish I had some of that confidence.” Lewis says continuing on. “I don’t know why but I am always nervous to come back to school after having such a long break. Say Jonathan, how about after our shift today with the old man we head up the mountain. Maybe we could get a fresh change of pace you know?”

“School just started Lewis, don’t you think it’s a little too early to have a change of pace?”

“Come on, Jonathan.”

Jonathan laughs a little. “I’m just messing with you. Sure, let's go later today, but before that the old man said he has a surprise for me so I’ll see it later.”

“Nice. I wish Mr. Greene would have some surprises for me-.” Lewis says as both him and Jonathan wave, saying good morning to teachers walking to class. Lewis turns to Jonathan.

“Well how about this, after checking out what Mr. Greene has in store for you, we go out to the mountaintop?”

“Sure, sounds like a plan to me.”

“Great! Well I’ll see you later today!” Lewis says as leaves to go to his first class of the day.

“I should get going too. Hopefully I can also get past this day.” Jonathan thinks to himself, sighing as he walks off to his first class of the day as well.

Fresh off a break, Jonathan felt as though his classes felt like they were taking forever, barely making through the motions of the first day of a new school semester. Now finding himself on a break after his fifth class of the day. Sitting on a desk by the window, Jonathan is lazily lying on his head on his hand as he shuts his eyes.

“I thought I might take a little nap but all the talk about Dream and the Takamuras is really keeping me up.” Opening his eyes, Jonathan looks around to see various groups of students huddled together, finally letting loose in the company of friends after the strictness of class.

“It's no surprise though considering how much of a local legend the family is, after all they came from this island.”

Shifting his gaze towards the window next to him, Jonathan looks out and takes in the sunlight coming through. He admires the yellowish green that the trees have at this certain time of year and the clearness of the sky. Looking farther out, he sees glimpses of the town down the mountain and the city on the other side of the coast, blurring from the distance and heat.

Feeling a little more rested, Jonathan stops laying on his hand. He sits up straight and stretches.

“Well I guess I should probably get to work on these sketches.” he thinks to himself as he opens his bag.

Pulling out a notebook with various sketches and notes on automobile parts and a pencil, Jonathan flips through the book and stops at a page with an incomplete sketch of an engine bay for a car.

“Even though it's a pain to map out these parts, I'm grateful to have Mr. Greene’s guidance with these sorts of things.”

For a while Jonathan racks his mind on thinking about how to accurately draw the various missing components in his sketch.

“Hmm… If I remember right, the car in the shop had this shape for the coolant system…” Jonathan thinks while chewing on a pencil, completely absorbed.

While being ignorant of his surroundings, he suddenly felt a poke on his shoulder.

“Hey, hey Jonathan are you there? I’ve been talking to you for a while now!”

Pulled out from his thoughts, Jonathan turns to see a girl with short black hair looking at him slightly annoyed.

“Oh, sorry Sumi. I was really focused on these drawings so I wasn't paying much attention."

"Ever since you have been working last year you’ve been busier.”

“Really? I didn’t notice." Jonathan says as he turns back to his diagrams. After a moment, Sumi clears her throat, getting Jonathan’s attention again.

“Sorry,” he says, now turning his body, committing his attention to her.

“I guess it can’t be helped.” she says, sighing.

“Don’t you think you have something you should be asking me?” Sumi says.

After a moment of confusion, Jonathan suddenly realizes something.

“My bad! How did the semi-finals go?”

“Hmm... thought you would never ask.”

Sumi gaits around Jonathan’s desk with a smirk on her face.

“It was tough and that last girl was a real challenge, but these legs were just too much for her!” she said, laughing villainously cartoonish as she pulled out the chair from the desk in front of Jonathan and put one leg on top. Proudly she looks up with her eyes closed and her arms crossed.

“Wow, that's amazing Sumi! I knew that you would probably win after seeing how you almost made Lewis cry he asked you to give him a kick that one time.”

Sumi laughs and sits on the chair backwards to face Jonathan.

“I don’t know what he was expecting, by that time I was already a two time local champion in kickboxing. Speaking of Lewis, where is he? He would usually be bothering you by now to go eat.”

Jonathan chuckles a little.

“Knowing him he probably got stopped by a teacher for walking too fast over here.” he says.

Returning his attention back towards his diagrams, Jonathan starts chewing his pencil again. For a while Sumi watches him as he sketches.

“So what are you drawing that's taking so much of your attention?”

“Oh, well for my job my boss tells me to sketch the engine bay of a car,”

Sensing some confusion, he looks at Sumi.

“You know the stuff under the front of a car.”

She nods. He turns back to his drawings.

“And he wants me to improve my visual imagination by drawing the parts proportionally.”

“Cool, is it working?”

“I think. I don’t really know. I feel like I’m still drawing the same as before I started.”

“Hey Jonathan and Sumi I’m finally here, let’s go eat outside.” Lewis said huffing as he approached the both of them.

“I was stopped by Mrs. Ponti for running in the halls again.”

“You still look tired, did you still run after she told you to stop?” Sumi asked.

“Yeah.” Lewis said innocently as he rubbed off a sweat accruing on his forehead with his sleeve.

“Usual Lewis.” Jonathan tells Sumi, they both snicker.

Confused Lewis looks at both of them.

“What's so funny?”

“It's nothing.” Sumi says.

“Well then what are we waiting for, let's go.” Lewis says.

Standing up from his desk, Jonathan puts away his notebook into his bag.

“I see you were working on Mr. Greene’s sketches. Maybe you can give me some pointers on this one? I’m having trouble remembering some parts.”

Jonathan agrees as he wears his bag on his shoulder. Also now standing, Sumi starts to walk ahead of them. On her bag hangs a pair of kickboxing gloves.

“What’s the hold up, I’m hungry.” she says.

Hurrying up, Jonathan and Lewis leave the classroom with Sumi.

Sitting on a small concrete ledge outside, Jonathan, Lewis and Sumi sit huddled up. A gentle breeze blows, shaking the trees in the thick forest just on the other side of the wired fence in front of the three of them. The distant sound of other students also enjoying their free period fills the air.

“Man it sure is hot.” Lewis exclaims while sucking dry the last of his juice box, compressing it in his hand. He tosses the box into a nearby trash can, making it in gracefully.

“Nice shot, maybe you should have played basketball or something.” Sumi says with a mouth full of sandwich.

“Good one. You know I'm not a fan of sports.”

Sumi chuckles a little.

“Yeah yeah, I know.” she says.

“So, anything specific you want to ask me about?” Jonathan interjects.

“Oh yeah, can I take a look at your notebook so I can see what parts I’m missing and I’ll show you mine if you want?”

“Sure.”

Pulling out his notebook again from his backpack he gives it to Lewis who looks over it.

“Wow, yours is so detailed compared to mine! Okay, just let me make some rough sketches here and I’ll hand it over.”

Doing some fast sketching, Lewis then returns to Jonathan both of their notebooks.

Jonathan looks over Lewis' drawings and expresses visual confusion in his face.

"What is this?” Jonathan thought to himself trying to decipher Lewis' rough sketch.

Looking harder, Jonathan guesses that he is missing a couple of parts that Lewis had sketched and adds it in.

Peeking over, Sumi looks at both notebooks on Jonathan’s lap.

“Lewis you really have to work on these sketches, they look like chicken scratches.”

“Hey! I will have you know that drawing is not my strong suit.”

Lewis pouts a little as he roughly takes a bite from an apple.

“Even though me and Jonathan started doing this at the same time, his sketches have really improved a lot.” he says while chewing.

“Oh really?” Sumi says sarcastically.

“Yeah, Jonathan used to be as bad as me.” Lewis says, not catching on.

“Interesting.”

“Do you have anything to do after school Sumi? Jonathan and I were planning on going to the mountain peak later today if you wanted to come.” Lewis said, finishing his apple.

“Sadly I have to cover for my parent’s shop today. It sounds like fun though.”

Looking back at Jonathan adding the finishing touches to his sketches, Lewis and Sumi watch him as he closes the notebook.

“Well, if you get the chance and you want to come, let us know. We’ll probably be busy working until sunset so you have some time. Also here you go Lewis.” Jonathan says holding out Lewis’s notebook to him.

“Thanks. And yeah, tell us if you change your mind!” Lewis says.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

The bell marking the end of the free period rang and so the three wolfed down the remainder of their lunch.

Finishing, Sumi was the first to stand up.

“Alright, I’ll see you later!” she says, running off back into the school.

Also starting to move, Lewis follows after her.

“Later Jonathan.” Lewis says, now with a full mouth of bread.

Jonathan, also with his mouth stuffed, tries to say goodbye but only an incomprehensible mumble escapes his mouth. He chokes a little from the dryness of his sandwich.

“Don’t force yourself, I get what you are trying to say.” Lewis says laughing as he also runs off. Watching, Jonathan swallows down his sandwich with the help of the last of his water. Now with renewed focus he goes back to class.