“It’s never too late to change if you put your heart and mind in it. One’s hard work bears an excellent fruit.”

▪ ▪ ▪

It is now February which is the time for the final exams for us fourth years. And at the same time, we accomplish our requirements for our clearances to be signed.

It was quite unfair that my clearance already had the signature of the higher-ups right after they were issued. I protested, but Tenth insisted. His reason for it is because I was considered as a big help in the events that happened when it was October last year. And I ended up just worrying about my subjects to be accomplished.

I expected this to be a “no breathing month” since this school year is only eight months long.

But in just a few months, we’ll be graduating and we’ll also be promoted as senior high school students.

Now, the six of us are just stuck in the back corner of the classroom.

“Man, that was some sudden changes from the National Educ. Dep. So in the next school year, which will be our batch, we will have the opportunity to take two departments we wanted.” Jean explained.

“Sounds like a pain to me, Jean.”

“Well, it will be convenient in my case.” though, he butted Nagi's words.

"At least two departments are just an option.”

“Now that we’re in the topic of senior high school, why don’t we tell two departments that we will take?”

Akira’s suggestion brought up a good point. As friends, we never talked about this kind of things, and I haven’t even brought this up with Rin so all of us pretty much do not know what we will take.

Oh, I know Jean’s choices.

“Hmm… Great thinking, Akira.”

Jean stood up from his chair whilst looking at us sat on circled seats.

“Who wants to go first?”

…

We are all staring at Jean since he’s the one who asked, and he’s quite confident because I am his mentor.

“No choice, I guess…

It’s pretty much obvious this time. I’m going with ‘Business Management’ and ‘Culinary Arts.’”

The next one to cite his choices is Nagi and he was followed by Shiro’s answer.

“I chose ‘Visual Arts’ and ‘Filmmaking.’”

“Mine is ‘Visual Arts’ and ‘Photography.’”

“Then you two… who wants to go first? Gin or Ringo?”

“Rin, janken.”

“Yup.”

“Pon!”

It was decided with us landing both papers.

“Then we’ll just say it at the same time.”

“That’ll be trippy, Gin…”

“My choices are ‘Visual Arts’ and ‘Culinary Arts.’”

“I decided for ‘Visual Arts’ and ‘Culinary Arts.’”

…

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

Surprised with both our replies, we stayed stagnant staring at each other and they gave us a combo of a long stare and a plain face.

“Was that… scripted?” Akira asked bearing his annoyance.

“Nope.”

“Not at all. It’s the first time I’m also hearing his choices.”

Good grief… So the two of us ended up with the clichéd main characters’ approach.

Wait, was it actually clichéd?

“What about Akira?”

“Me… I think this might surprise you all but…

I won’t be continuing studying next school year.”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

“What?”

“Nani?”

“Pancakes.”

“Just as I thought, you would all be surprised. But why pancakes, Shiro?

My real plan is I will live underground in the base after we graduate. It’s not that I will be stopping my studies… When I went with Dad for the first time… second time for him again, I met an Exile that was a former high school and university professor.

I have discussed this with Dad, of course. He agreed to it even though he’s a principal.”

It is definitely a surprising decision coming from Akira. With the way he said that, it is probably his own decision.

“That brings up the question if are you going to be like me or Tenth.”

“In any ways, that is mostly the case.”

“If I put other humans’ perspective, it will be a bad idea and they will add: ‘It’s such a waste! You’re wasting your life even if you have the opportunity for a higher education!’

And that way of humans’ thinking is what makes me peeved.

But in my case, that’s a good decision. I suppose you have already thought that this is not an escape route to this world. It’s actually best for us to interact with people that lived away from the world. Besides, 086 is there now. I don’t know what’s he doing now, though.”

“086?”

“Hehh… So you forgot who’s he, Akira?”

With a pen and a scratch paper on my desk, I wrote: KEN.

“Oh, I remember now. He’s also a ‘child’, right?”

“Class 4A! Afternoon break!”

▪ ▪ ▪

It has been two weeks since that conversation about our plans in the near future. Our final exams happened at the 20th to the 21st. The weekdays ended and it is now Saturday. This time, my shifts are in the morning only every weekend.

It was that time where I kind of screwed up.

“Hmmm… Hmm… Hmmmm…”

And the narration suddenly made its way to me while I am humming on the sidewalks of some busy street. This is Rin suddenly with the narrations.

Thank goodness it’s not yet hot and the reason I am taking a stroll at almost 11am is because my stupid boyfriend forgot his wallet and I bet he still didn’t realize that he forgot it. He went out at 8am earlier.

Now I am here to deliver it to him at the restaurant… and I’m starving now.

With the sound of the chimes as I open the door of the restaurant, I was seen by a waiter that immediately went towards me.

“Welcome, Ma’am. Do you wish to have a table?”

“Yes, please. But can I know where Gin is?”

“Chef Gin? He’s at the kitchen right now.”

“Can you please give this to him? Oh, I’ll take a table now.”

“Water?”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

“I’ll come back to you once I give this to the chef and take your order.”

~ ~ ~

The kitchen door opened and instead of the waiter coming out, it was Gin.

“Rin! Sorry for that. Going to have lunch here?”

“Yep.”

On the background another customer opened and was welcomed by another waiter. I don’t really look at it, though.

“Welcome, Sir.”

“I’ll have a table, please.”

“Let’s see… It’s a little bit crowded so it’s a bit hard for me to see an open table…”

“It’s okay, I can wait.”

…

“Jeez… That’s dumb of you to forget your wallet! And you didn’t even realize that your pocket only had air. I wonder what will you even do without me…”

“Sorry… I won’t forget it again.

Oh, your order?”

“Cajun pasta and fresh strawberry juice.”

“Got it.”

And on the kitchen door, a shout is heard calling Gin out.

“Chef Gin!”

“Yes?”

“The dish for Table 02 is almost done!”

“Finish it for me. I’ll be back with another order.”

“Yes, chef!”

My sight came back to the door of the resto and the waiter is still looking for a table…

But the customer is now creeping on the back of Gin.

“C-Chef…?” the confused customer asked.

“Wha-?!”

Oh, it was Ryuuya-san from our class.

“Kaizo?!”

“You said you were just a waiter here… Care to explain?”

“Sorry for that. But can you please keep the secret that I am a regular and the sous chef here? I might get in trouble if anyone from our class knew this.

Having lunch too?”

“Yeah. Actually, how long is your shift?

Wait, sous chef?!”

“My work today is just until after lunch. Why ask?”

“I just want to talk about my experience in the Anew-

Shoot! Akanami-san?!”

“Domo~” I stood up and bowed lightly, greeting the shocked Ryuuya-san.

~ ~ ~

After all of that, I asked the two of them to wait inside Sean’s office until my shift is over.

“You’re shift is done now, Gin?”

“Yeah, Rin. Just a bit, I’m going to make a call.

Hello? Is it okay to inform someone about the term? Only one person? Thanks. I’ll hang up now.

He said it’s okay for one person to know, Kaizo.”

“Ah, alright.” he left out a sigh of relief.

“But I would suggest you take this somewhere. Do you want to drop by in my house?”

“…

Are you sure?”

~ ~ ~

“Wait… You live by yourself here, Gin?!”

“Yes. It’s dead cheap purchase, though.”

“Depreciation, huh…”

Gin with the mic here!

And there goes Rin going straight to the kitchen, opening the fridge to get a drink for the three of us. I think she’s forgetting that I have a visitor.

“Gin? You just said that you’re living by yourself, right? Did I just see Akanami-san going straight to your house like it’s her home?”

“About that… We’re next door neighbors and she usually hangs out here and play with-

Speaking of… This is Haku, my house companion and DON’T YOU DARE SAY HE’S A PET OR I’LL MAKE YOU SUBTRACT SEVEN FROM ONE THOUSAND AND BELOW.”

“Scary…

So she’s your neighbor too, huh…”

“We’re dating too, Ryuuya-san.” she replied having the conversation heard from the kitchen.

“So Rin is the one bragging now…?”

“What?! You have a-

Akanami-san is your girlfriend, Gin?!”

“Hai, Okyaku-sama.”

“Umm… Is your conversation something I shouldn’t listen to?” she asked as she served the drinks.

“It’s okay, Rin. I got permission to tell one person.”

“So he’s the one you called, Gin?

But is this really okay?”

“Heh. The two of us have seen unbelievables that this might not even surprise Rin anymore. Anyways, let me explain your case to Rin and then I’ll listen to what you have to say.”

~ ~ ~

In the most detailed explanation I can give, I told Rin the case of Kaizo being a subject in an experiment held by Anew. But I am barred to tell her anyone involved there. It means that Ryou and company’s identities are kept in the shadows.

“So… Basically, Ryuuya-san is a NEET?”

“Please don’t say it like that, Akanami-san!”

“It’s pretty much like ReL*FE, right? Will his memories be erased, then?” it had become a logical inference knowing that Rin is also familiar with the concept.

“Here, read the email of an anonymous account (Ryou’s email) that sent me the regulations of me telling someone about this program.”

“…

I get how an injection is better, since it’s a bit unrealistic for a pill to change your appearance just overnight. But for the concept to be made real in our world, this is quite an achieving feat of the company that made this true.”

“Well… Kaizo had a bit of trouble in the first months of his experiment but he later made some very observable events last year.

By the way, I’m also under their observations for some reasons.”

“Eh? Surely you didn't take that drug too?

“I guess I’m a special subject since I did not. What was the reason of that again, Kaizo?”

“The truth is… the company is suspecting his week long leave of absence and how he drastically changed after that. Even though I was a fellow subject, I was asked if I can recommend Gin to become one too.”

“Rin, he’s formerly an excellent company employee in Japan. That’s why he talks professionally.”

“Oh… that’s cool.”

“Can you please stop talking about every little thing?

…

I guess I’ll talk now.”

“Oh, yeah…”

“As you may have observed, I’m doing my best to change myself. I also started to regain my communication and social skills by simply talking to others. And sometimes, I even used the reports we do in school as practice.

Regardless of my progress, I am still being haunted by thoughts from the past that is always making me discouraged. I still can remember the time when I was hospitalized because of extreme overwork.

What’s holding me back right now is the thought of enjoying my work may lead to something bad again.”

“Heh. An old man like you getting the cold feet now with only less than a month remaining in your program?”

“Oi, shut up.”

“Ehh… how old was he again?”

“I AM 25. Goodness… even Akanami-san is teasing me.”

“Sorry about that.

But I think it’s only natural to worry about those things while it’s about to end now. I know for the fact that things may not go smoothly but knowing that there is a way to overcome it makes me relieved. We just need to find what that way is.

Just last month, Gin and I broke up for the reason to see if we really can keep our relationship up. For just a week, my state of well-being was tested. I’ve been deeply attached to Gin for a few months now and when the thought came of us separating is terrifying.

But we decided to separate for our own good. It is unfair for Gin to only bear the pain he experienced in the past. But I have at least learned what Gin felt for a very long time now. I considered this my role being the one beside Gin—the one that shares and takes the pain and sadness we experience.

And because of that test of our faith, I can now say that I’m ready to support him and I feel happier after everything that happened.”

“Gin…?”

All of what Rin said was indeed true. But it was hard for Kaizo to swallow. He thought that they have the same pain, but now he is starting to realize that what he had experienced was perhaps nothing compared to Gin's.

“It is as she said. I have stockpiled a lot of pain from the many years of my life. To tell you the truth, I was an emotionless child in the past. I strived to change and experienced the most eventful two years of my life where I almost committed suicide. Yes, that was the time I told you I stabbed myself.

Little did I know that there are people that truly cared for me even though we are living in a world full of lies. I actually thought that they will distance themselves to me because of how I am, but I ended up finding someone that will embrace me when I cry. I am glad that it was Rin.

What you have done for this year is not a waste at all. You still had the resolve to change, and it was the reason why you are still here as a high school student.

I do get why you are in fear. If you finished this program, you will return to Japan and return as an adult. Assuming that you have found a job, and you were struck with your trauma again. We both know that Anew’s mission is for people to change for the good.

This experience will teach you to stand tall again without the worry of your past trauma. It’s okay to get cold feet. It’s just a part of you once again returning.

You’ve worked hard for this change and I know that your shadowed future will be once again lit up by the radiant sun. They have faith in you because that’s what they wish you to be.

Also, don’t fear failure. It is just a step forward to your success. But you made the right choice of crossing the overpass instead of crossing the highway. It’s instinct for us to find what is safe where we won’t be in danger anytime soon.”

“Hahaha… Look at me being lectured by students…”

“Yeah, you’re pitiful.”

“Don’t add more salt to the wound!”

He stood up from the couch and bowed in front of us.

“Thank you very much. With your example in mind, I will try my best to do what is best for me. I will also do what I can for you not to waste your hope on me.”

“Hold your head high, Kaizo.

April is the season of spring in the North. I shall visit you there if I can. I want to see you as a new leaf growing from the branches of a tree that once again sprouted after the cold winter.”

“We wish you for the best, Ryuuya-san.”

“I won’t let the two of you down. I promise. I want to rise up again and conquer this unfair world with all my might. I am going to remove all my shackles and I will not waver or give up.”

“Now, that’s the spirit.”

With that resolve, I trust that he will be someone with a strong point of view in life. He faced the hardships and then seemingly he gave up. But I will never see him in front of us if he truly gave up.

He was given an opportunity to change and he took grasp of it. I really wish to see him with a radiant smile on his face as he move forward.

Continue to strive harder, Kaizo.

“Oh, I wonder what’s airing right now.

Can I turn the TV on, Gin?”

“Sure.”

“I think this is the first time I have heard of that.”

“After hearing this news, a historian immediately contacted us claiming that he knows about that. We will have a live interview later tonight.”

“Oh, for those of you that just tuned in. Earlier today, the people in Sector 337 in Cotona found a dead body at the riverside. And the victim was identified as…

An ‘Exile.’”

Five steps remaining.