Part* 1: A New Beginning

A/N: You will see part 1, part 2... in the novel. It doesn't mean the part of the chapter. It kinda means Arc in a manga or anime. Enjoy your reading

My name is Shinya Kage. When I was 12, my father was killed because of his debts. After that, the Yakuza began threatening my mother. I had to drop out of school and start working at the café my father left behind. Together, my mother and I did everything we could to pay off the debt.

Those three years were the hardest of my life. Every week, a member of the Yakuza would come and take most of what we earned. After covering our expenses, we were left with just enough money to keep ourselves fed. But eventually, we managed to pay off the debt entirely.

We had a neighbor, a man who had lost his wife to cancer. The only family he had left was his daughter, Inochi Kibou. Despite being only 11 years old at that time, Inochi often helped my mother out at the café. She was kind, cheerful, and incredibly polite. Her golden hair and cobalt blue eyes made her truly stand out.

I spent most of my free time with Inochi. On nights when her father wasn’t home, she would occasionally stay over at our house. We played games, watched anime, and those moments became treasures—precious and unforgettable for both of us. Inochi had developed a strong passion for cooking and, with my mother’s guidance, she gradually mastered its finer details.

Her father, Haruki, was a teacher who always supported my mother. It was obvious to anyone who looked that Haruki had deep feelings for her.

Both Haruki and my mother wanted me to go back to school, but I was worried about leaving my mother alone at the café. I didn’t want to abandon her, but she was adamant. In the end, I returned to school, though I still rushed to the café after classes to help her.

School life wasn’t easy. Since I spent my afternoons helping my mother, I didn’t have much of a social life. Truthfully, I wasn’t that interested in school to begin with, and my grades showed it. I also didn’t interact much with my classmates. I couldn’t blame them—it wasn’t their fault.

At the start of the term, some classmates invited me to join social events. But every time, I had to turn them down because I needed to help my mother at the café after school.

After rejecting them so many times, my classmates started calling me "Dame Shinya"—"Useless Shinya." But I didn’t care. I just ignored them. Despite my lack of interest in school, a strange incident led to an unexpected friendship.

One day, as I was walking down the school hallway, I heard laughter coming from near the restroom entrance. Curious, I pushed the door open slightly and peeked inside. What I saw was a group of upperclassmen bullying one of my classmates, Kazuki Aoyama.

"Hey, Kazu-kin*! Hand over all your money!"

"I... I really don’t have any money..." Kazuki stammered, his voice trembling. His eyes were wide with fear, and his hands shook slightly.

"Then I guess your lunch will be my fist instead."

*The suffix "-kin" is often used as a diminutive or mocking term in Japanese, similar to calling someone "little Kazuki" or "Kazu-boy" in a condescending way. In this context, the bullies use it to belittle Kazuki and make fun of him.

Just as he raised his fist, I opened the door and stepped inside. “I’ve already told a teacher. They’ll be here any second,” I said. That was enough to stop things from escalating into something worse.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Well, well, well! Look who it is—Dame Shinya,” he sneered. “Whatever, I’m bored. Let’s go, guys.” With that, they all left.

“Thank you, Kage-san. You saved my life. If you hadn’t stepped in, I’d probably have ended up with a black eye,” Kazuki said, his voice filled with relief. I felt bad for him. He looked strong, but he didn’t seem to realize it.

“Aoyama-san, have you ever thought about how strong you really are?” Kazuki was a bit chubby, but he was more muscular than me. I was sure he could have taken them all down if he tried.

“I don’t like fighting,” he replied. In the end, he was a kind-hearted person.

“Even so, there are times when you need to stand up for yourself without hesitation. Otherwise, you might get hurt,” I said.

“As long as no one else gets hurt, I’m fine,” he said. His words stirred a deep sense of pity in me. He didn’t seem to fully understand just how cruel and unforgiving the world could be.

A few days later, Kazuki came to the café after school. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he flipped through a manga. Curious about what he wanted, I walked over to his table and called out to him.

“Welcome, Aoyama-san,” I said with a smile.

“Kage-san?” He looked surprised, his eyebrows slightly raised. I guess it was his first time seeing me at the café.

“Oh! Sorry, I forgot to mention it. This is my mom’s café. I help her out after school,” I explained.

“That’s amazing, Kage-san! You don’t need to apologize for that.” His eyes sparkled, and I felt a sweet sense of pride welling up inside me. “This is my first time here.”

“You’re always welcome, Aoyama-san. Would you like to order something?”

“Yes, could I have a slice of lemon cheesecake and a cup of coffee?” he asked with a smile.

“Of course! I’ll get it right away!” I said, heading to the freezer to grab the cheesecake.

“Mom! Can you make a cup of coffee?” I called out.

“Of course, sweetheart. Just a minute,” she replied.

“Is that one of your friends?” she asked, handing me the coffee.

“Not exactly a friend, but we’re in the same class,” I said, feeling a bit shy.

“She smiled at me and said, ‘You should talk to him a bit. I’ll take care of the café.’”

“But Mom, I want to help you,” I protested.

“Don’t worry, Shinya-kun. There are only a few customers. Your mom can handle things on her own,” she replied, in a tone that left no room for argument.

Reluctantly, I accepted her decision and returned to Kazuki’s table.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting, Aoyama-san. Here’s the cheesecake and a cup of coffee,” I said, placing the order on his table.

“Thank you, Kage-san,” he said, smiling.

“What are you reading?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“I’m reading a story about a man who’s reincarnated as the strongest warrior in the demon lord’s army in another world. The demons hate humans, so the main character hides his true identity,” he explained. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he spoke. It was clear that he was really into this kind of stuff.

“Ah, that sounds interesting. So, it’s an Isekai manga full of fantasy elements,” I said, trying to sound knowledgeable.

Kazuki smiled happily and said, “Yes, exactly.”

The concept of Isekai had always intrigued me. I wondered, when we die, will we be born in another world?

“Kage-san, if you want, I can lend you my manga,” Kazuki said, his face filled with enthusiasm.

“Really? Are you sure about that?” I asked, surprised.

“Yes, just return it when you’re done,” he said, handing me the manga book.

“Thank you, Aoyama-san,” I said with a smile.

“Please, just call me by my name. We’re friends now,” he said warmly and invitingly.

“I’m glad to hear that, Kazuki. You can call me by my name too,” I said.

“Well then, Shinya. Let’s get along well,” he replied.

Throughout my childhood, Inochi had been my only friend. Becoming friends with Kazuki was going to be a new experience for me.

to be continued...