“Heeyyy! Glasses-kun! How’ve you been?”

“Hey little buddy, care to help us? You see, we are a bit short of money and don’t have enough buy lunch.”

“Care to help us out? How about you donate some of yours?”

“Better yet, how about you buy them for us and bring them here?”

“Hehehe. You better not think of running away. That wouldn’t be smart.”

In a shaded corner behind a building, a group of delinquent boys, huddled around a bespectacled boy. With the stereotypical, well-rehearsed, delinquent lines, the group was snickering, as they harassed the frightened boy.

This was apparently lunch time in this school compound with the classes in recess. The bespectacled boy had unwittingly wandered into the zone of these delinquents who caught their ‘victim’ or ‘piggy-bank’ for the day.

“Ora? Not going to go?”

One of the delinquents, with dyed-blond hair and an earring, pressed the boy.

The ‘unfortunate target’ was shivering as he shook his head. He was clearly scared to point of not being able to speak, let alone walk. But he still responded to not get beat-up.

This situation was normal. The typical bookworms were normally weak, physically. They spend more time with their noses in books rather than doing something outside. The bespectacled kid, fit the stereotypical description of a genuine bookworm.

The unfortunate kid was shivering, and sniveling. Completely paralyzed where he stood. For him, the blond delinquent was equal to a monster. He felt rooted in spot when gazed at directly by the blond delinquent.

Little more than a minutes’ time pass, before the group of delinquents start becoming impatient. One of the delinquents to he side, reached out his hand out to grab the shoulder of glass-kun, to give him a ‘motivational’ push.

Until…

“Igarashi San-ban-tachi. Where, oh where are you?

Come-out, come-out where ever you are!”

A voice of another boy, unexpectedly echoed a distance away from the group. It grabbed all their attention, forcing their attention to direction of the voice, coming from the opposite bend.

It was a simple and unassuming call, but the situation seems to drastically change.

The faces of the delinquents had a huge change.

The previously grinning and even smug faces, had turn puzzled, and then horrified, as a realization of sorts dawned at them.

Any third person that happened to be there, would wonder, why the delinquents would turn so mortified and even slightly pale by a simple voice.

Glasses-kun however, didn’t notice this change.

He had only cowered more as the queasiness inside him grew even more, when he heard a new voice. It was apparently calling out to the delinquents, and gave him the impression of a delinquent friend of the group around him.

In that instant, where these thoughts ran through all their minds, faint sounds of footsteps could be heard.

Just as their thoughts caught up to all of it, all attention and concentration had focused towards the corner bend, opposite where they all stood gathered.

A shadow of a silhouette slowly formed on the concrete grounds. The shadow growing ever longer as the sounds of footsteps came closer and became clearer.

Seeing this, the delinquents couldn’t help but turn even more ashen.

Fear rising in them, they quickly turned and ran away. In the direction of the main building, they fled as if fleeing for their lives.

They tried to run as fast they could, stumbling where their bodies failed to respond. One of them tripped and fell over a flowerbed before quickly getting up and continue running away.

This time, the Glasses-kun noticed. He was gob smacked at the sight of the ‘scary’ delinquents running away. The scene let him puzzled, for just a moment.

His faced quickly darkened. His thoughts ran again.

‘For those delinquents to flee, Is the person showing up even worse’ – he despairingly thought.

And just as he thought so, a hand, suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

“Ugyaa!”

A pitiful scream escapes the boy should turns around, fumbles, and falls down magnificently. A comedic sight to see.

Falling to the ground, glasses-kun grimaced due to the pain he felt, before he gazes up.

His teary eyed and snotty face turned rosier as he noticed the new boy. A silly smile, filled with happiness and relief took over his face as he screamed.

“Yamato!”

He felt at ease as he sees the boy - His savior.

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

After saving Glass-kun and receiving thanks, ‘Yamato’, the boy hero left the area. His direction – towards the main gate.

This boy hero is named, Yamato Shigeru. A 16-year old boy and a third-year senior student. He looked more like a young man, with his tall build.

He brazenly, walks out of Yokohama Midorigaoka High School, where he is a student of. It is barely past midday, so he is clearly playing truant. But he fails to gives such an impression or show any remorse.

He has a clean and exemplary appearance, with his short but styled hair and neatly tucked school uniform with a blazer. With such an appearance, he walks out unconcerned and unobstructed, from the school gates.

He walked out calmly and coolly, and heads straight into the neighborhood across the street.

A few minutes and a short walk later, he reaches a large and spacious compound.

The sign board outside read, Yokohama Country & Athletic Club. It is more commonly called, YC & AC sports complex. It was a fairly famous sports club in the area where both professionals, talents, the rich and fitness addicts came to do various trainings.

Yamato walks inside very normally, as he heads straight for the lockers. And, minutes later, he has moved into the gym facilities.

With the sound of the doorbell, some of those inside notice his entry. However, they quickly continue their activities, unconcerned. The fact that a student exercises inside this sports gym, during class times seemed as if it was normal.

Well, that is because it is. At least, it is for Yamato being present.

YC & AC is one of Yamato’s regular places to hang around. He is member and regular who frequents it almost every day, barely missing 2 days in a row.

Yamato comes here at any irregular time, other than the middle of the night. And the staff and regulars are used to it.

Their impression of him, is quite favorable, where he is quiet most of the time, and only disturbs when he needs some instruction for his exercise or the machine.

His presence is more normal than his absence.

Used to his presence, the staff regular prepare things for him in advance. Today too, one of the staff brings him a bottle of water while he exercises on one of the treadmills.

Yamato spends over an hour and half at the gym, before he moves to the shower for a quick wash. He then heads to the outdoor pool for a few rounds of swimming.

Though he carries nothing with him, items are prepared for him at every turn and counter.

All of this is pre-prepared for him, not just because he is a regular. No, he has a connection to the club.

One of his uncles, is a member of the club’s board. While it is typical to have the snobbish relative make trouble, Yamato has proven to be more of a loyally dedicated person, who comes only to use the space, and cause little to no trouble. His attitude when at the club is greatly appreciated by the staff. Especially when he offers to help around the club on holidays or when he is free. He not much amicable or social, but he is serious and concentrates on performing any task thoroughly.

After several more hours, and more rounds across the facilities, Yamato has moved on to internet café zone at the complex. This is a regular stop for him during each visit. He takes time to go through the internet.

At some point in the day, everyone needs to use technology for some purpose. And for Yamato, it is normally in the evening, when visitor counts go down and the club starts winding up. He sits near a computer has he logins to surf the web.

After but a little while, an Oldman enters the zone as well. He walks towards and arrives at the side of Yamato’s desk. He watches Yamato warmly as he stops but a short distance away.

“You really like coming here, don’t you?”

The Oldman, spoke warmly. His caring gaze was most obvious from his looks.

Yamato gazes back at him, not with his mostly aloof look, but with slightly mild and more warm eyes.

Yamato recognized the Oldman. This was one of only a few people that he felt close to. And the person in question, he was a relative uncle of his.

“Is it bothering you?”

Yamato lightly asked.

“Hahaha. Certainly not. I appreciate your preference for the club.

It’s just, with skipping your classes so often, is that all right?”

“That is inconsequential. No one will care as long as no trouble is made.”

“Is that so? Very well.

Try not to stay too long. I’m only here to collect something, and happened to chance upon you sitting inside.

I am leaving then.”

Uncommittedly, Yamato waves off his caring uncle, who sees this and walks away, as he slightly shook his head wryly. This interaction was normal for Yamato and his uncle, as both had a slight smile on their lips.

Just before stepping out of the room, the Oldman stops again as he turns around one more time.

“Will you be joining this year?”

This question, brings Yamato to a stop.

An awkward silence comes to the room. Ever slightly, one can see that Yamato’s eyes go cloudy and he grits his teeth frustrated. This lasting only a couple of breaths of time, Yamato turns to his uncle then shakes his head.

“I won’t say anything else unnecessary.

If you need anything, do tell me.”

Chuckling wryly, the Oldman turns and walks out. He could see the dejection in Yamato’s expression, and chose to quickly retreat from the room. Inside, he berated himself for creating that moment of awkwardness.

Whatever the main cause was, it seems to have drained Yamato of his mood. After blanking off for a good while, Yamato decides to close off the computer before walking out of the room himself.

It was already late evening and almost turning night by the time he came out. Taking a look at his watch, it was already past 5 in the evening.

Sighing, he decides to walk down the road, not in his uniform but causal clothes. One of several spares he keeps at the club.

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

After half an hour of walking, Yamato reaches a woodland space with the sky turning dark.

Lamps barely light up the path and the suburban surroundings. A cold night breeze blew past him; however, he has no reaction to it.

Right now, he is only pre-occupied at looking up. At the sparely lit night sky and bright, full moon.

Time seems frozen at this moment, with any sound or movement around. Yamato stood still, standing as he watched the skies up above. A melancholic look fills his eyes, as his face slightly scrunches. The look in his eyes, were difficult to describe. Pain? Anxiety? Grievance? Scowl? – none of these words seemed to bring a proper description.

After half an hour of sky gazing, Yamato drops his head as he sighs. His neck hurting from having turned stiff from his unnatural posture.

With squinted eyes continued to have conflicted thoughts, he again started to walk. Next destination, home.

Well… that was what he intended.

In that very instance that he turned, the sound of a water droplet echoed resoundingly, and he paused in placed almost instantly.

At this moment, a feeling unprecedented unease washed over Yamato. He could not move his arms or his legs as if they we stuck in a concrete cast. The only part he could move was his head.

He raised his head up slowly. And, as he did, he noticed that around him, the lights had started to dim. It continued, until all the lights around him went dark. This caused him to grow wary, his unease growing ever more.

And to his continued shock, in the night sky above, the moon had grown larger than before, as the darkness of the night started to melt down and mend around him. He was encaged by the night until a dark buddle took form. And then, like a bubble, burst into nothingness.

Though a lot to describe, all of this took place in less than a single breath of time.

And in that instance, Yamato Shigeru, vanishes from that place.

At the spot where he last stood, a mobile phone and a slim wallet lay scattered on the ground.

Here, Yamato left his last traces.

Lost into obscurity. It would be sometime before people notice his disappearance and his mementos. With none being the wiser to his being.

At the spot where he last stood, a mobile phone and a slim wallet lay scattered on the ground.

Here, Yamato left his last traces.

Lost into obscurity. It would be sometime before people notice his disappearance and his mementos. With none being the wiser to his being.