A New Beginning - Part 1

Another day at the office. That is what I say to myself every day I ride the subway home.

Each passing moment my heart stays in line, for there has been no reason for it to react as it did all those years ago.

Walking up the stairs onto the street, the cold gradually hits as if I were climbing Everest.

I hurry the two blocks from the station to my apartment building; a rundown complex comprising of no more than a dozen tenants.

Performing the same secret knock as I have done each day for the past five years, Kenji unlocks all the bolts and lets me in.

He's not changed since Yamaku at all. Although he's become quite nocturnal, disappearing in the middle of each night and returning before dawn.

Still, he pays his share of the bills and helps keep the place clean to the best of his ability.

Taking refuge on the couch, I sip the bitter coffee he had made and go through the mail.

A perplexing letter had arrived. Computer printed, but on a normal white envelope with no official logos or trademarks.

With my interest piqued, I drop the stack of bills and other correspondence onto the table and open the mysterious envelope; its contents were a single sheet letter reading:

"Dear Hisao,"

"I hope this letter finds you well. It has been a long time since we last spoke. A lot has changed since then."

"While it isn't the norm given the time of year, Yamaku are hosting a reunion for students young and old, and I am looking forward to you joining us."

A reunion huh? Who would want to invite me to that? Other than Kenji, all the girls have moved on with their lives to my knowledge.

The date is next weekend. Midway through the Christmas vacation, just before the new calendar year.

I check for a sender but it simply reads: "An Old Friend."

"P.S. Bring Kenji with you."

How do they know I live with Kenji? Something feels off about this.

The whole letter was typed and printed out, giving the impression the sender didn't want me to know who sent it.

"Kenji, do you know anything about a reunion at Yamaku?"

"No, man. I've not thought or seen anything about that place since I left. Bet the feminists have taken over it by now."

Oh boy here we go. His conspiracy theories have died down lately but every now and again he still brings it up. I best interject before he goes mad.

"Mutou is probably dead, Nurse, Nomiya and any other male staff-"

"Yeah yeah I get that. Anyway, we've received a letter inviting us to a reunion."

"Really? When is it?"

"Next Sunday."

"Bad timing man, bad timing."

Kenji's face lights up in sudden realization.

"That's it! The feminists are going to use New Year as a platform to launch their agenda against all mankind! Oh it's perfect. New Year, new world. They probably want us to witness the start and be the first victims!"

He paces back and forth, staring at the floor. He is either in deep thought or making sure he knows where he's standing.

"We've got to go, dude."

I am surprised with his suggestion. I would expect him to escape while he can.

"Why? Wouldn't you want to barricade everything in preparation for it?"

"No. That's what they are expecting, they won't expect us to actually go. We can take the fight right to them! Naturally you'll be the front man. I'll be lurking in the shadows waiting to strike."

"Wait, why am I going alone?"

"Element of surprise! They'll kill you and let their guard down since you're the only one there. That's when I jump in and nip the feminist agenda in its bud. Saving as many lives as possible."

"But I'll die?"

"We need to make sacrifices for the sake of all mankind dude - You'll become immortal, a martyr! There will be statues and parades in your honour."

"...Right. So, we going or not?"

"Yes! The feminists won't know what hit them!"

The day arrives quicker than expected. Sat waiting at the train station for the Shinkansen to take me to the city.

Kenji will take the train after, following at a distance.

He is at the opposite end of the platform, trying to blend in by reading manga but his constant looking around the station makes his attempts futile.

The Shinkansen arrives and the entire platform becomes vacant with the exception of the bespectacled man reading his comic.

A couple of hours pass and I arrive in the city. I head in and take the bus like I used to all those years ago.

It certainly feels colder here than back home, the geographical location making a quite a difference.

Heading up the hill, snow blankets all the fields for as far as the eye could see. Including the pompous gate coming up in the distance.

Getting off outside and taking a look around, I feel the same sense of trepidation that I had felt when I first arrived here.

As I walk through the empty grounds, memories start returning to the forefront of my thoughts. I can still see all the students moving about, not giving a care in the world for their disabilities.

A weary sigh causes a fog to appear before my face. Why am I back here? Was this just a ruse all along?

I bet Kenji is sitting back at the train station, laughing to himself.

The gates were open, though, someone must be here.

I wander a bit farther from the gate, gazing at the snow covered trees, all hibernating peacefully. The walkways all cleaned of the snow and gritted to prevent any ice.

"HICCHANN!"

Is that who-?

Before I could finish my thought, something jumps on my back and grabs on to me, hugging me from behind.

Or rather, someone.

"Hicchan! You're here too?"

"Oh, hello Misha! Yes I am, did you send the letter?"

Her beaming smile changes to a confused expression.

"No? I received one saying to come here for a reunion today. I've been here for a while now. I started to think it was some kind of prank until you showed up~!

"Oh, so you know who sent it?"

"Wahaha~! No. It wasn't handwritten, so I couldn't tell. It was posted from the town below, though, so it must be from someone local."

"Understandable. So where's Shizune?"

Misha's face suddenly becomes sullen and empty.

"I don't know, I've haven't heard from Shicchan for a couple of years now."

"Oh. I'm sorry, last I knew you two were really close."

"We were, but even the tightest crafting can come apart."

I give her a hug to console her. I didn't expect that.

Within seconds my ears pick up the unmistakable 'tack, tack, tack' of a walking cane.

Lilly has arrived with Akira. Alongside them is a little boy who can't be no more than 4 - gleefully running around, but always defaulting to their side.

Last I knew, both Lilly and Akira had both moved to Scotland with their parents so why are they here?

"Hello Lilly, Akira."

"My, my. Is that you Hisao?"

"Hey Hisao, Misha! Didn't know you two got together!"

Both me and Misha stand back in shock at Akira's suggestion, trying to explain that we both just met up here at the same time, making it sound like a jumbled mess."

"Ha ha. I'm joking! Got you both, though."

"Yeah, thanks Akira. How are you, Lilly?"

"I am well, thank you, Hisao, how have you been?"

"Just keeping moving. Work every day and sleep all night, at least my heart hasn't given me any trouble."

"Oh. Well that's good to hear about your heart."

"Thank you, who's this little one?"

"This is Yoshiro. My nephew."

Nephew? So he's Akira's son? Instinctively I turn to Akira. Who already knows what I'm going to ask

"Yeah, he's my little rascal."

She laughs while ruffling his blonde hair; he seems obsessed with Misha's wide beaming grin and her trademark pink drills that she's grown back. She has already noticed and started pulling faces at him, making him giggle. Which in turn, makes Akira notice as well.

"You like what Misha's doing? You want to go play with her?"

He gives a big nod, his eyes still fixated on Misha's aforementioned expressions.

"Okay, you alright to have a run round with him Misha?"

"Hahaha~! Fine with me. I'll tire him out! Come on Yoshiro!"

They both go running around the park and play in the distant snow.

"Heh, I think he'll tire her out first. Me and Lilly don't stand a chance against him."

I'm not surprised, we were all like that at that age.

"So what brings you two here? Last I heard you moved back to Scotland?"

Both of their expressions collapse, as if my suggestion brought up bad memories.

"We both moved back a year ago, Hisao. The company Akira and our parents worked for... well-"

Lilly seems really uncomfortable explaining. I start feeling guilty for asking, but Akira butts in before the awkwardsness gets worse.

"It all collapsed. Our parents blame it on the 'Brexit' vote ruining everything, but I don't think so."

"Oh?"

"I think father had been lying about the accounts for the past few years. I managed to get some evidence but nothing conclusive. Being a lawyer only gets you so far."

Akira heaves a sigh as she finishes her sentence. I can tell recounting this experience is making her uneasy.

"Then with 'Brexit' being the perfect scapegoat, it all crumbled."

"I'm so sorry to hear that. I never would have guessed."

Both of them smile.

"It's not like it's the end of the world though. Since we retained our Japanese passports, coming back was easy. I've already got a new job with a different firm and me and my fiancé are doing well as you saw with Yoshiro."

Lilly cringes at Akira's joke about her relationship, but in her usual calm, collective manner.

"Well congratulations. Lilly, how have you been?"

"I have been doing well thank you, Hisao. I'm working as a teacher at an elementary school now."

"Well that's great to hear! Did you do the same in Scotland?"

"Yes. But over there it's called primary school instead of elementary school."

"I didn't know that. I guess you learn something new every day. I bet the kids were more rowdy there than here."

Lilly giggles to herself for a few seconds.

"No, silly. At their age they are all full of energy, but they are considerate of me and my limitations. Their parents are a bit hard to understand sometimes, the Scottish accent can be really thick depending on where you are."

"That's really good. Glad to hear they respected you Lilly. How about your work while you were there, Akira?

"It was the same there as it is here. Except I don't need to deal with the accent now though. Speaking of, if you want a laugh, Hisao, get a Glaswegian to say 'burglar alarm' although make sure they won't try and beat you up for asking."

"Speaking from experience Akira?"

"They wish, I'd have them on the floor."

We all burst out laughing, nothing has changed between the two of them. Akira gaining her composure first, like she had made that joke hundreds of times before.

"So you sent that letter, Hisao?"

"No. Don't tell me you got one as well?"

"Yep."

She rummages in her blazer pocket to find it.

"Here."

It reads exactly the same as mine with the obvious exception of the name, address and P.S.

"You have any idea who sent it Hisao? I got one in braille as well."

"No idea, Lilly."

Before we could converse further, Akira notices a silhouette wandering aimlessly through the gates.

Part 2: https://pastebin.com/9eNCCZxX