Hope

“What? Don’t tell me…” Her expression once again transformed into one of surprise, “You don’t have a place to go.”

“Unfortunately,” I replied, tilting my head with a nervous smile, fully aware of the gravity of my situation.

Well, I suppose that was an intentionally crafted scenario initiated by me, but it landed me in a dire predicament—a substantial one at that. Of course, it wasn’t entirely orchestrated with villainous intent, but it did possess a hint of authenticity, perhaps as a twist of fate.

“How have you managed to survive until now?” she inquired, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and hopelessness.

I found myself faced with a question that I had been contemplating since my unexpected turn of events.

“You’re the very first person I’ve opened up to about this, so I implore you to listen intently,” I began, striving to provide a reasonable explanation for my circumstances. “It all unfolded this morning. I awakened to find myself situated within an unfamiliar alley in the heart of Osaka. After seeking assistance from the locals, I eventually stumbled upon a nearby convenience store, where I secured a position to sustain myself. It was during the course of my duties there that our paths fortuitously crossed.”

Although, to be entirely honest, my shift had concluded by the time our encounter took place.

“Wow… that sounds like a plot straight out of a third-rate story. But well, alright, you can stay for the night… we’ll figure out the next steps after that. Lucky me,” she sighed once more.

“I genuinely appreciate your kindness and willingness to lend a helping hand,” I expressed sincerely, my gratitude evident in my voice.

“Before going live, we’ll need to refine your tone… you’re bound to face a lot of criticism for it.”

“Whatever seems viable, I’m striving to learn the grammatical nuances of this city.” I assured her, my determination shining through.

“Exactly. Or perhaps we can use this unique tone of yours for something.”

“Regardless, they will all have something to anticipate.”

“That settles it, I suppose,” she said as we strolled towards her home, engaging in a brief conversation along the way.

“Once I give you a signal, dash up the stairs to my room as swiftly as possible,” she instructed as she entered her house, while I waited outside.

Her house appeared rather aged, lacking any extravagant features. It seemed somewhat lackluster from the exterior, an ordinary dwelling. Nevertheless, I couldn’t care less about such insignificant thoughts, as it was an absolute privilege for me.

The door was shut, yet I could faintly hear murmurs from within. Though not distinctly audible, the conversation didn’t sound cheerful. Shortly after, she opened the door and silently motioned for me to ascend.

“I owe her an immeasurable debt,” I whispered under my breath as I stealthily made my way to her room, my footsteps hushed, betraying a sense of gratitude and awe for the unexpected kindness bestowed upon me.

As I approached the door, anticipation surged within me. With trembling hands, I attempted to rotate the knob, only to discover that it was firmly locked.

“It’s locked, lol,” Yuna’s voice broke the silence, a wry smirk dancing upon her lips, “There’s too much invested in that room to leave it unsecured.” as she opened the door with a key.

The room exuded an entirely different aura from the rest of the house. It was bathed in bright, clean light, with meticulous organization evident in every corner. Intricate figurines adorned the shelves, while captivating wall decors emanated a vibrant energy.

“W-Wow, this is truly breathtaking,” I uttered, my voice filled with awe and admiration. I could sense the unwavering dedication and passionate spirit that had gone into curating this space.

“Heh, that’s the result of five years of relentless work and countless hours of overtime and double part-time jobs,” she replied, a mix of pride and exhaustion evident in her voice.

Curiosity got the better of me as my gaze fell upon the elaborate set-up on a nearby table. “What’s that?” I inquired, pointing towards the intricate equipment.

“That’s the thing we will be working on. It’s my YouChube Channel Setup. Pretty, isn’t it?” she proclaimed, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

In that very moment, it dawned on me just how deeply committed she was to this pursuit, and the immense investment she had made, both financially and emotionally.

“If your main motivation is solely to earn money, why would you pour five years of hard work into this endeavor? Haven’t you experienced setbacks or failures?” I voiced my surprise, unable to contain my curiosity.

“It’s not just about the money. As you can see, the financial conditions of my house are not favorable, but that’s not the core issue. I have spent my entire childhood here with my family, creating countless cherished memories. This place was my reality, my anchor. However, as time passed, everything gradually drifted apart, leaving me feeling as though I am trapped in a distressing nightmare, longing for the moment when I can finally awaken.” She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing, “That’s why YouChube became a lifeline, connecting me to that cherished reality. Although I don’t boast a large following, those individuals are beacons of hope in my life. They allow me to envision a future where everything returns to normalcy, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.”

“Hmm…” I murmured, realization washing over me. I had been too quick to judge, too oblivious to the complexities of her life. How could I have overlooked the depth of her struggles? It was now abundantly clear that her existence was far from ordinary, something I should have recognized long before. No sane person would try to kill themselves in the middle of the night.

“Hah, I just went on and on, didn’t I?” she chuckled softly, brushing away a tear that lingered on the edge of her eye. Although she didn’t break into sobs, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, a testament to the emotions she held within.

“Alright!” I suddenly rose to my feet, striding purposefully toward her. Taken aback, she instinctively retreated until her back met the wall.

“W-What on earth? You startled me,” she exclaimed, her gaze meeting mine.

" Let’s start right away. I will look to it that you become someone who is capable of doing anything and everything, in return, take care of me. This time, you won’t be alone and neither will I be.”

“Too close.” She said as I brought my face close to her subconsciously.

“I will become your hope.” As I said those words, a sudden jolt of shock coursed through my mind and everything turned black.

I could hear different voices but couldn’t discern anything neither could I see anything.

“You will be our hope. You will be my hope. You will be…” I could hear faint sound of a female among all the noise…“I will always love you…” which soon faded away.

“Step aside, you fool!” Yuna’s forceful push snapped me back to reality.

“What were you trying to do?” she demanded, her voice laced with concern.

What had just transpired? Who were those voices? Why did I feel such profound emotions? Why did my heart ache? And…

“Why are you crying?” Yuna’s voice cut through the haze, her gaze fixed on my tear-streaked face.