Ahh. This is a familiar scene.

I think I really don't care if it has been exactly a year or not since the last time I found myself shunning away from my sofa and using its bottom just to lean my back as I sit on a cushion while I selfishly situate the electric fan I just took out a few minutes ago to my face.

"I guess you'll find that you won't be able to do these things when you're not living by yourself anymore, huh."

And that is just one of my lazy utterances now that I am finished with my preferred education.

But now it is easier to move at least physically. Nothing can really beat being able to wear light clothes in just almost anywhere. I don't have to use too much energy to take off layers, get out from a stubborn pair of pants, and tie my shoelaces since slippers are pretty much the way to go everywhere for the next three months or so.

The only catch to this convenience is the heat.

It is officially summer, but I am still lazy.

But don't worry. Today is April 5, Sunday, so I am of course not at work unless I am called.

But talking about my stance on not continuing my studies, it is actually something that I feel is very difficult to merely say without a whole and complete confidence. It takes so much will just to say that, and being capable of uttering those words is just as hard as making it true.

Stopping on education with a wholehearted decision is definitely not the same as running away from one's studies. Either I am talking about stopping due to financial constraints, or something on the lines of my case which is highly unlikely. But there is still a difference—the latter can still be resolved with various factors which makes it more appropriate to be called as "discontinuing" while the latter is purely supported by decisiveness and will to say "stop" or "halt" with its very definition.

The rationale of this decision of mine and Jean's is based from what we have done to reach this point. But before pointing it out directly, I shall shift on a less risky and rather ridiculous example.

Let's just say that a person—probably in early and middle adolescence, perhaps second or third year in junior high—had decided to pursue arts. For the example's sake, let's just call him the all-famous A-san, and a male.

A-san, at that age, learned that there is more to art materials and learned about art mediums. At the same time, he began to dabble with digital media like photo manipulation, vector, or videography. After a year of practice, A-san was able to call himself a self-taught artist, although admitted that he is an amateur or a novice.

In my, and hoping that this is also A-san's opinion, YouCube can be a driving force; a push-forward of inspiration. In the past, some of the contents, especially tech, are just to inform, point their camera, test the tech, show its features, tell its pros and cons, and so on. Come year 2020, what has become of it? It has become a showcase of information and creativity. Most tech YouCubers that started way back that has now six, seven, or even eight-digit followers are almost as if they have become a company.

But as a disclaimer, I am not pointing out to popularity, but on what they do.

I am an avid watcher of those tech-related videos by the content creators, personally. I would say that some of the videos three to five years ago can be boring compared to the production today. Looking back on those creator's first days, technology is honestly… potato. But boom.

Those creators began from being just reviewers to now being producers—or even also directors of their own videos. The process has become systematic and somewhat complex but still upholds to the main purpose. Information became a story.

Production has gained more value. You see those creators use almost film level equipment ranging from, camera "beasts", stabilizers, macro, wide and probe lenses, and heck, even a robotic arm that holds a camera with a controller. Those videos became not just as a showcase of information, but also a showcase of skill and creativity that has been accumulated over the years.

What's surprising is that you might find that some of those creators may well be self-educated.

And that is why such a platform is a driving force. Not just that example, but there are people who willingly wants to share their knowledge through crash courses and tutorials without charging a cent from people who wish to learn. Well, they still do earn from that.

That was how A-san learned. But there is still a wall he needed to overcome. He is not the most talented, unlike modern day Da Vinci who could probably draw Mona Lisa with a mouse and half-open eyes. He bought the cheapest graphics tablet he can buy, and got an undeniably entry-level device. But for a beginner, it was the greatest value that his 3000 Laxes can buy.

Then turn the clock by a few, A-san is now in a state where he can accept commissions as a senior high school student. He gained confidence on his works and abilities, and has finally decided to pursue multimedia.

Q: What did A-san do next?

A: As his name had become a bit acknowledged in the creative world, he focused on freelancing and collaboration after graduating high school.

…

Jean and I are climbing a steep mountain. We came to this point because we have strong and concrete reasons. He found his love for cooking after helping him destroy an impregnable wall that was blocking his future. I have observed his hard work and even saw a faster growth than I had. He used his responsibilities as his driving force and as if it wasn't enough, finding his love lit a bigger fire in him.

As for me, I initially had so little interest in cooking as I am almost fixated in arts. And back then, am I really that interested in anything? No. But then I learned of the essentials of life and to live. I however did not practice culinary because it was an ability needed to live. I cooked because it was my greatest way to live; I cooked not to die but to literally survive two years of very risky isolation. I figured that I could just make do with simple food, but that had a very low chance of cheering me up from my depression and being away from my family. Thus, a myriad of flavors that has been registered in my mind is now what I apply and act on not to survive, but to live.

Then at one time, I asked a very overdue question to my employer who is Hiroomi Katsuto that I should have clearly asked almost three years ago.

"Say Hiro… is the reason why you made me your sous chef just because you're looking for one?"

"Hahaha. Why are you suddenly asking me after all this time?"

"Lately, I felt dissatisfied with that reasoning, you see. Is there really no other reason?"

"I was astonished, amazed, impressed and whatever, Gin. I knew that you just started cooking when you entered the Void, but you produced a quality dish that a rookie professional chef can do right in front of me. I thought, I can't just let him be a mere home cook.

I chose you because you have already proven yourself. Be proud that I am the first one to acknowledge the fruits of your struggles in surviving."

"Ahahahaha… I'm touched. Now I got an answer I'm fine with.

So with that out of the way, you already know that I'm pretty much just a working man at this point so most of my time now goes here in Giotto's. Can I at least ask for a change of schedule?"

"Hmm? Let's hear it."

"I guess I'll be here on the day until five, then I'll come back to help clean once we close."

"Dude, you sure have a lot of time in your hands. But since you're in the same boat as Jean, he actually asked that before you."

"Is that so. Well, I don't know if he's going to focus solely on work, but TAC still exists although we're graduates just so you know."

"Oh? So it's not school-based?"

"We've talked about this when all we do is slack off last month, but we're actually planning to continue it and probably make it as a real organization if we actually can.

But then again, I know that it has a low possibility at this point since they will be very busy in college."

"You know, Gin… I really feel that I need to tell you this. You're an extraordinary bunch to be able to open commissions, get a place in a convention, open a temporary branch of Giotto's, and even have a famous manga author to top it all off. Are you really high school students a week ago?"

"What can I say? I guess this is the results of Tenth's system, and we might actually have surpassed his humble expectations."

"I can agree on that.

Anyway, I was really surprised when Tenth just revealed himself as an Exile…"

"That makes him the third Exile in history to reveal itself in public. You're the first, remember that."

"So instead of unmasking, we wear masks to show our identity?"

"Ahahaha. We're being loud, aren't we?"

"Ahhh…

Anyway, have your heard anything from Chef Yuzu?"

"What do you mean? She's here right now."

"No, not that. She's still an employee of Anew, right? What is she going to do with this overlap?"

"Technically, you're her boss right now, so you should be the one asking her. I also didn't hear much from Kaizo and Mitsumi-san. They didn't seem to be planning on flying back to Kyoto any time soon."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"Hm, I see. I would like to have her in the team for a bit longer, really."

"That's for her to decide, I guess. Her work in Anew is really all over the place.

Oh, time for my lunch. I'm going for smashed burgers. Want one?"

"That's great. I'll pay you back later."

…

And apart from our important decisions that are based on our developed skills, the emotional aspect of working was also not neglected in the slightest. We wouldn't be working in this restaurant if we don't find what we do fun.

On the other hand, stepping beyond the line we went to is nothing to shrug about, at least in my opinion. Not every profession can be obtained through this rather haphazard way, especially if that one occupation involves heavy specialization. Even if chefs or artists managed to learn on their own and make it as their profession, engineers and doctors did not come from those ways.

But at the end of it all, this is the life that we chose.

▪ ▪ ▪

I am (and probably Nagi) still agonizing in this heat. Granted, it is objectively not as hot as the summer of 2019, but can we seriously distinguish a difference? All I know at this point is that when it is hot, that's pretty much it and I can't really care enough on the temperature as long as I am drinking lots of water.

So yes, I have had my work schedule sorted out once again, and I have now regained my entire weekend to my own. I am needless to say saying goodbye to that lovely Wednesday as a day off since I'm pretty much going to be home before dinner for the many years that is to come in the unknown duration of my work in the restaurant.

Today is a certain, normal, hot, Saturday which I am having Rin teach me more of her master ways of painting. I have opened my window on its widest and the door to my veranda is letting in ample refreshing wind already, but apples, it's just too hot. At this point, we don't even know if it is the water or our sweat that is keeping the paper wet.

On that note, I picked up an unconscious thought.

"I guess I should turn on the AC… I don't want these sweaty arms…"

Rin strongly raised her head and looked at me as I stood up.

"I suddenly got an idea, Potato!"

I showed an interest with an interrogative grunt and commanded the air conditioner to make a beep.

"How about we visit Yuuga tomorrow?"

"Ohhh…

It's Sunday tomorrow, though."

"He's working solo right now, isn't he? I already know that Mina won't be a great assistant for him."

"Oh, that's a good point. I wonder who's in charge for lunch between them tomorrow."

"You are a shameless potato."

"Let's go out in the morning then head to Kagetora's house then. They invited me for dinner."

"You know where he lives?"

"Hear this, he actually lives on a huge house in Queen Street."

"Whaaat. That's too painful a coincidence," she uttered blankly.

*Insert Batm*n transition sound effect*

What is great and better than last year's summer is that I am not waking up all sweaty because of the heat so early in the morning. In actuality, I still find myself wrapped on my blanket in the first time I open my eyes. But because it's summer, I have banned Haku from sleeping on my stomach as living beings generate heat.

Some already know that I am a person that has a tendency to get weird dreams whether it's something my mind fabricated or one that is connected to reality. I can distinguish if I am dreaming or in my cognitive realm, so I can definitely say that I was in a dream where I was inside the Room of Reality, and I heard the familiar sound of when the slamming sound of the door echoes on the entire room. It was an abrupt, but a very nostalgic dream that I am having for a few days now.

But with the pointless sharing out of the way, the two of us found ourselves in front of Yuki Amagami-sensei's apartment. Moments after a ring on his doorbell, he opened.

"You guys said early… but I didn't know this early."

"Ahahaha. Well, we're here to apply as your assistant."

"Man… You two will really be a huge help."

Yuki Amagami's stuff has "calmed down a bit" for a few months, as expected when an author's most recent work ends. But even if his pen name didn't float around much here and in the North, the volumes are still selling, and so he still had a source of income from when he is taking a break.

Since Flower of the Unknown ended in August last year, he was not drawing but planning his next work that he hoped to be serialized. Of course, it was sensible enough that a mangaka in his high school days is to take a breather especially when work training began, which really did eat a lot of his time that was supposed to be for writing.

But Sans Corik discovered his identity one way or another and "used" Amagami-sensei in a sense to promote Stylo Studios. In exchange, he was able to finish his narratives and began with his one-shot while at WT. He surprised his fans with an end of the year one-shot which eventually got a serialization in February with the help of his editor.

Still, he refused to make a weekly serialization as he will definitely worry not only his parents but also his next-door neighbor who just happened to be his significant other. Thus, he is now releasing his manga biweekly, or every two weeks.

Unsurprisingly, it gained popularity quickly in the North, but even with all that, I still haven't read the chapters let alone know what its title is.

"I know this sounds rude, but can I ask what the title is?"

"I knew you'd say that. The name is 'A 150-Year Tale of Love.'

Read the first five chapters before you help me out. I don't want you to get spoiled."

I've skimmed the synopsis and the premise, and it gave a rather unique impression based from its setting. The setting is in Japan in modern times. 150 years mean that the beginning of Meiji era had some connection to it.

With that being said, I took a nice and long read on the five chapters, and found the story easy to understand. Of course, it was a romance.

Shinonome Taiyou and Kagurazaka Mayumi are second year high school students that are heirs of their respective clans. Note that it is in 21st century, but the twist is that in this world, industrial development was slower than in the real world. The year was 2020, but it looked like it was at the time when we were born. One thing I found hilariously stupid in a good way is that they use smartphones but social media is extremely unpopular.

And then to some of the meat of the story—clans in the current day and age are comparable now to normal families, and no other sophistication. So clans and a few ordinary people have an abnormal trait of being able to use various abilities. It is more relatable to B*ngo Stray Dogs than Boku no He*o Academia in that context.

But not only industrial developments are slow but also classical ones. See this, the concept of yokai was introduced back in the aforementioned era. And its origin came after the first generation of ability users surfaced, which means that the stories and legends of yokai actually began from humans' aptitudes in this world.

"Nice, I've never read a story like this. So what's up with Taiyou and Mayumi; are they linked with the first generation?"

"Yeah, somehow. But look here, the first generation Shinonome and Kagurazaka's love didn't happen because they both died from an illness that no ability user can heal. Then the two clan heirs are pursuing their own fluffs here.

Of course, two very distant generations, same clans, and same love story. What does this mean?"

"Fate?" Rin answered with another question.

"Oh, no. Coincidence."

Okay, so let me butt in for a sec. I don't think this story has anything to do with Taiyou-sen, or Ms. Sora Kagurazaka. Heck, I don't think that he even knew them at all.

But he's seriously referencing Nagi and Shiro right now…?

"Question, sensei."

"Yes?"

"Will there be situations where the two will be affected by a coincidence in their development?"

"Yeah, but not in the endgame. I'm trying to think up of ideas that are hard to predict."

"That's a good point."

"Was this the character design style you were experimenting with a few months ago, Yuuga?"

"That's right. It will look off if I used the same style I used in Flower of the Unknown. This is more similar to the fantasy manga I did.

Anyway, did you bring a laptop, Gin?"

"Yes sir."

"Okay, good. I'll give you the brush presets I use when inking and the screentones I use."

"Are you sure your manga won't look inconsistent with mixed styles?"

"You're seriously asking that now? You guys made 'Hana' almost indistinguishable, you know?"

"If that is what sensei says."

"Alright, you can start with your pages without me. I am on meal duty today."

"Haaai. I look forward to lunch."

"You are a shameless potato."

▪ ▪ ▪

With that, I have another source of income.

It's starting to become ordinary for me that I am acquainted to one of the greatest doctors of the country who just so happened to be suspended from his line of work. That is actually a very big deal, especially when you saw the shocked face of Yuuga and Minase as I explain that I am invited for dinner to the house of the person who defeated the virus that killed thousands in just a few months. But even I still don't know how that happened apart from that is an emergency that the world took its immediate attention.

And probably for the very first time, I am not doing reflections while sitting just over the exact place where I met my beginning.

"We can't have the hosts waiting for us. Shall we go, Rin?"

"Mhm."

But before that, this is Queen Street and we are sure to pass by a certain complex house on the way to the Kagetora household. Surprisingly, there are still people living there, and so we rang its doorbell.

The first sight was seeing Kaizo who opened the door.

The only purpose that we came to this place is just to say hi and check if they are still here. Yuzuri-san had showed herself in her real mien in the restaurant, but no one really cared. To us in the main branch, she is the beauty and grace of our restaurant. But seeing that Mitsumi-san is also in her true appearance now, that could just mean that their work as an observer in this term is now over.

Ordinary eyes won't be able to see it immediately but I saw it crystal clear. He is wearing a fluffing engagement ring.

"Alright, then. We have an appointment to attend to, so we'll be on our way. I'm expecting that I'll be there, Kaizo."

"Hahaha, sure."

…

"P-Potato… That was an engagement ring… right?"

"So you saw it too, huh?"

"You've been ogling on it…"

"Hahh…"

~ ~ ~

"Good evening, sensei."

"Why are you even calling me that…"

"Well, you're calling me 027."

I lowered Rin's head as her neck was about to break from looking upwards at how huge this house is. They immediately invited us to the dining table as we saw a maid helping… uhh… Rishou-san's wife.

While we are waiting with him, we saw a girl coming down from the stairs and shyly approached the dining room.

"Ah, she's my daughter. Her name is Anya."

"Right, I met her abruptly when I first visited."

"N-Nice to meet you…"

"Likewise."

Confirming that it was fine to talk about the recent news about him, I started as we have a great dinner.

"I wasn't really expecting to hear your name in the news back in January. How did it come about?"

"Long story short, President Aquos personally requested my assistance so I immediately came to aid. Maris provided me a sample for me to probe and studied how I can kill the virus and placed it on a cure that is now mass-produced after it got approved.

Actually, the president has been insisting me to come back to work, but I don't think a year of suspension is enough for me to atone. But don't worry, I'll come back soon."

"That is good to hear. But apart from your book, I suggest that you think about how you can save more than hundreds or thousands of lives in contrast to that one hundred lost ones.

And Rishou-san, I am already overjoyed that Rin is with me right now."

"I will remember your words."

"It really has been a while. I have realized more of my being as a human, and I discovered that being kind is a difficult thing for me. In all honestly, I am extremely thankful to you for saving my life almost two years ago, but a part of me is not very accepting of that.

I am very sorry that you had to hear that Anya, Mrs. Kagetora."

"N-No… we understand your sentiments."

In their eyes, I am only just one of his many patients that changed my impression of him after the Medical Children Program is exposed to the public. But with Mrs. Kagetora's display of empathy, her words are still true.

The dinner concluded without much that happened after the stern conversation. As it was getting late, Rin and I took our leave after an expression of gratitude.

…

Perhaps, it is very expected that once night comes, almost every street becomes quiet and peaceful, if not the same as their home street. Gin and Rin enjoyed such a little thing of hearing their own and only footsteps as they walk towards home.

But suddenly, Gin's already subtle smile disappeared as apart from the footsteps, he began hearing extremely painful screams. She immediately looked at Rin to check if she was also hearing it, which is not the case.

He felt a very similar painful sensation as the scream echoes without a halt. Gin attempted to visualize that sorrowful feeling, and ended up seeing the white box—the Void as the scream became clearer and louder…

Until he discovered whose voice that was.

Not even two seconds have passed, and Rin found herself in front of her house while Gin was putting her down from his arm. She did not see Gin's countenance as he quickly turned opposite of him.

"I'll be back soon, Rin."

Those are the only words that he said, and disappeared with a flicker.

"Gh-GAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH…!!!!! AAAAAAAAHHHHHH…!!!! HRAAAAAAAAHHHHH…!!!!!!!"

I hear voices. A lot of them.

I hear only one scream. A frightening… and an excruciating one.

"Why is this happening…

KEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNN…!!!!!!!!"