Alarm Rings
7:30
Brrinng
"Arrgghh…"
It's already time.
My name is Akira Tsutugi, but my close friends call me "Aki" for short. I'm a twenty-year-old college student attending school on a scholarship in the United States. I live alone, and trust me when I say this—it's not as great as it seems.
Good or bad, that's all about to change today because I'm going back to my homeland, Japan.
I feel elated about it, but you wouldn't be able to tell from the look on my face.
Growing up in America has made me think less of the people around me. Don't get me wrong—America is a good place, but the people are, well… strange.
Because of how I view Americans, I'm proud to say that I have a very small circle of friends. Just two, in fact: John and Jane. They're the only real friends I've made.
I swept my gaze around my room and stopped at the alarm clock beside me. It was 7:30, and my flight was scheduled for 9:00.
I struggled to sit up, feeling some soft cracks in my back followed by a sharp pain—an aftereffect of gaming late into the night.
After showering, brushing my teeth, and having breakfast, it was 8:00 on the dot.
I proceeded to organize my clothes, store my books in my drawer, and rearrange my PC. I took one last look around the room to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything.
Satisfied, I put on my hoodie and covered myself. Then, I put on my sunglasses—something I usually do to avoid unnecessary eye contact with strangers.
With my backpack on the bed and my suitcase beside me, I grabbed the suitcase, locked my apartment door, and headed straight to the airport.
I arrived at the airport at exactly 8:30. Just 30 minutes left.
I decided to make one last call before boarding the flight, and of course, it was to John.
Ring, ring…
"Hey, Aki! I was about to call you. I was wondering if you'd forgotten your flight," John said over the phone, loud and energetic as always.
"How could I forget my flight home?" I replied, chuckling.
"Seriously though, knowing you for as long as I have, I wouldn't be surprised if you did…"
He's right. I am quite forgetful. Speaking of which, I think I left my backpack on my bed. Well, there's no going back now.
"…anyway, safe journey! And don't forget to get me those Japanese rice snacks you've been yapping about."
"Of course! I'll definitely do that. Hey, can I talk to your sister?"
"Huh? You mean Jane? She's right here beside me. But don't go getting all lovey-dovey with her, or I'll blow your head off!"
"Alright, alright, I get it," I said, laughing awkwardly while waiting for Jane.
"Hi, Aki," said a voice like that of a goddess. No—what being could be higher than a goddess? I don't think there is one. But on this day, and for days before, I had acknowledged one—Jane, the living embodiment of beauty, on par with celestial bodies. The heavenly being I lost my virginity to.
Huff...
"Hey, how're you doing?" My voice faltered.
"I'm good, I'm good," Jane, the goddess of beauty, replied.
"That's good to hear."
Damn! I'm out of words.
"Remember your promise, Aki," she said.
"Huh? What promise?" I was pretty sure I hadn't made any promise to Jane. The only promise I could recall was about the rice, and that was to John.
"The kimono! Have you forgotten already!?" Jane grumbled lightly.
"Ohh, right."
"Don't tell me you've forgotten…"
"No, no, of course not!"
Yup. I had no memory of that.
"Hmph! You better bring me a kimono when you return."
Jane's voice softened a bit, but there was still a hint of annoyance.
"I'll definitely do that."
"Hmm… safe journey, Aki."
"Thanks."
"I love you," she said, her words brightening my day. I almost wished I wasn't leaving, but it was too late to turn back now.
"I love you too, Jane."
"Hey, hey, hey! What did I tell you?!" John interjected in his usual loud, playful way.
"Sorry about that, hahaha."
"Don't bother being sorry. Just bring me my bento box. Safe journey, bro."
"Thanks, bro."
The line disconnected.
"Osu! Time to go," I exclaimed after hearing the announcer's voice over the public address system. I followed the queue and boarded the plane. It didn't take long before we took off.
Several minutes into the flight, we experienced some turbulence. I wasn't shaken, as that was common when traveling from America to Japan.
However, the turbulence didn't stop; it only grew worse. Due to the headset I was wearing, I couldn't grasp what was happening outside. I saw a pair of gas masks drop in front of me, along with the growing panic among the passengers. The flight attendants were trying to calm everyone down.
I decided to remove my headset, and the noise around me was overwhelming. I looked outside through the porthole, and what I saw left me baffled.
The clear blue sky from just a few moments ago had transformed into a massive storm. In that instant, a lightning strike hit the engine right where I was sitting.
What surprised me was that, despite everything happening before my eyes, I remained strangely calm. Even though I knew I was going to die, I felt an odd sense of peace.
I put on my gas mask and closed my eyes, waiting for death's inevitable call. The only thing on my mind was the image of a beautiful, red-haired, slender figure—Jane, my goddess.
My only regret was never keeping my promise.
At least I didn't die a virgin.
(￣ー￣)
"Aww, he finally opened his eyes!"
"He's so cute!"
"Urrggghh, I feel like squeezing him in my hands!"
Those were the words I heard. Surprisingly, I understood them. It was a language I hadn't heard during my time in America—it was Japanese.
I struggled to open my eyes. The first person I saw wasn't my mother, but a serious-looking man, who seemed like he could kill a harmless baby such as myself without hesitation.
"At least he wasn't a failure," the man said before leaving.
That left me with one pressing question I needed answered immediately:
"WHERE THE FUCK AM I?"