Small stars in open space, specks of white dust spread throughout a black canvas as a fist pushed off Z’s face. Again and again, it repeated the flashing lights, images, they were quick, painful. The pain was what held, what Z would remember the excruciating pain both physical and mentally. Z dropped to a single knee; his breathing so heavy he couldn’t keep up with his muscle’s demand for oxygen. Sweat mixed in with blood ran from his face. I think I’m done. I want to go home, take a nap in my bed. I’m exhausted, this is exhausting. Z said to himself, relaxing his shoulders resting his arms at his side.
“You have to keep fighting Zay!” A faint voice said trying to reach Z.
Another voice encouraged him. “You got him Z! This guy’s nowhere near your level!”
Z turned his head seeing his friends cheering him on. Z who may have had a slight concussion, who felt like his head was in the clouds, a mist that covered every train of thought got up from his knees putting his hands up to his head. What the fuck am I doing now? I can’t… really…. think.
“You want some more, huh?” Z opponent questioned him. “KEKEKEKKE! CHALALALALA! The rumors were right about you Z, you are one crazy son of a bitch.”
Z smirked just a little bit in response. Maybe he was crazy contrary to his thoughts and beliefs, maybe he liked this. Z threw a jab at his opponent that was dodged and countered with a straight right hand hitting Z harder than he was hit before.
There were those stars again, the open expanse, if only for second Z swore, he saw it. Every time he got hit, he saw it, besides the stars, something beyond it. In the distance it was-
“GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME Z!” the man said, kicking Z in the stomach so hard it forced Z to spit up saliva.
“Jota, kill this guy!” people off in the background yelled rooting for Jota. “Finish him off already!”
Jota shrugged his shoulders, “Sure, why not.” Z was still standing, bent over holding his stomach coughing and on the verge of puking. Jota walked up to Z snatching him by his hair to look him in the eyes before finishing him off. “What a shame you won’t be top dog Z. I’ll tell you what it’s like when I take the throne.” Jota tossed Z. “Finishing move: Snake eyes viper strike!”
Z watched the attack coming in slow motion but couldn’t do anything to get out of its path of destruction. How did I get here? Z thought. When did this all start, I can’t… remember.
6 MONTHS PRIOR
*(Guitars and drums play on a pair of headphones)
This is how I’m spending six AM
Scraping ice off a windshield, freezing
I’m late for work again
Another double shift
I’m gonna pull my weight in this world cause it’s all I have
I’m on to something
I can feel it
It’s like you’re drawing battles lines in your head
For a war that doesn’t exist
And I don’t want to fight in
It’s not worth it
[Chorus]
If you want me to go, then I’ll go
And if you ask me to leave, I can leave
I won’t be afraid of making mistakes if you’re listening
Are you listening? Are you listening!
*Guitar solo*
And if you want me to go, then I’ll go
And if you want me to leave, I can leave
I said I won’t be afraid of making mistakes if you’re listening
Are you listening-
Trees and fields pass in a near instant. There wasn't time to admire the beauty of nature, no not this time. But as time waits for no one the car doesn't either. Z didn’t mind it any, usually he would, but his mind wondered elsewhere on what he thought was more important. He was thinking of his friends back home, what were they up to? How will they act when he comes back? Will they still be his friends? Will he be missed? Only time will tell, but time doesn’t speak.
“Zayden!” Z’s mother Natasha snapped, pulling his headphones off his head. “I’ve been yelling at you to turn your music down.”
“Sorry, Mom.” Z said in a somber like tone. Z looked back towards the window to look at, essentially, nothing.
His mother could pick up on Z’s sadden state. Putting her hand on his shoulder she said. “I know this is hard on you Zayden, it’s hard on everyone. Your sister’s only friend is her teddy bear now.” Z looked over his shoulder seeing his sister in the backseat, sleeping, hugging her stuffed animal. He wasn’t the only one suffering at least, he also wasn’t sure if that was supposed to make him feel any better that his baby sister was going through hardships. “This job I’ve gotten, it’s…well, it's life changing. For the better, ya know. We will have things that we didn’t back in Arizona.”
“We’re in a different country mom.” Z said as if it were to explain everything.
Natasha nodded trying to focus on the road as much as Z. “Be that as it may, Zayden, Japan is a great country to start our new lives.”
“What was the city’s name again?” Z asked his mother.
Natasha answered “Osaka.”
Osaka, Japan the Central District
Natasha opens the trunk to the SUV asking Z, “Grab the bag will ya, hun.”
Z nodded his head grabbing the luggage from the back of the vehicle wheeling it to the front of his new home. Z was almost struck at the structure of the house. It was so much different from the apartment complex he was used to in Arizona. It was nice. There weren’t any shattered beer shards on the ground, broken railings, or any moldy areas outside from what he could tell. Instead, he was met with grace, a sort of elegance he wasn’t accustomed to in America. A pathway that led to a pond that trailed to a Bonsai tree. He could only describe it as, Zen. He was jittery not knowing how to feel or react, whether he hated this or not.
“Zayden!” His mother said getting his attention. She was already at the door carrying his little sister in her arms. “Bring the things inside when you’re ready, okay.”
Natasha had grabbed his sister and her things from inside the car and walked to the door without Z noticing. He was too busy admiring his new home to notice. Z shook his head, getting his head out of the gutter bringing most of the things inside.
Z now inside, Natasha laid his sister Emma on the couch saying, “set them down anywhere, Hun.” Emma tossed over to her side as Natasha laid her down. “So….” Natasha exhaled.
“So what?” Z replied.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Natasha said, glancing over the place, hands grasping her hips impressed. “Better than Bisbee.”
Z replied hesitantly, “It’s, umm… good, for you.”
Natasha shook her head, “For us.” Natasha dragged her hand across her face, she was tired from the drive yawning afterwards. “Look around the place then tell me how you feel. I gotta make a call.”
Natasha went to the back to take the call, Z roamed around the house. The inside layout was different from what he was used to. Shoji door, window, and room dividers made of translucent sheets rarely let light in from what he could tell. The house was flat from the floor to the ceiling, no upstairs, no basement or attic. For how large the house was it felt tight. Going outside to the back where his mother was, the home opened to him more. He pictured in his head a patio, maybe a large open grassy backyard fenced around, instead he was met by a hallway that circles a small open area with a single tree in the middle of the home. In the hallway were plenty of sliding doors. Opening the first room he looked inside. It appeared to be a bedroom, but there weren’t any beds. There was a padding, a sleeping bag, and a flat pillow, if only it were for camping.
Natasha surprised Z, saying “Oh, you found your room.”
Z confusedly said, “My room? Where’s the bed, the closet, it’s practically empty.”
“That is your bed.” She said pointing to the sleeping bag. “You don’t need a closet when you have a dresser and look there’s a desk for your studies.” Z nodded in response walking inside. “Umm, Hun.”
“Yeah, mom?”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Your shoes are still on. It’s tradition, more culture than anything, to take your shoes off at the door.”
Z bobbed his head. “Right.” Z took his shoes off and set them by the sliding door of his room.
“I think I hear your sister.” Natasha smiled. “Make yourself at home. I mean it is now. Natasha slid close the door. Z took a large inhale followed by an exhale settling into his new room. Natasha slid open the door peaking in telling Z, “Oh, about your schooling.”
Z rolled his eyes. He didn't much care for his education in Japan or even interacting with the kids here. “What about it?”
“It starts tomorrow.” She said quickly before dashing off.
“AWE, COME ON!” Z shouted miserably.
Yojimi High School
Z stood behind an unlatch gate. Student poured inside as Z paused observing his surroundings. Students bumped into Z shoulder checking him, forcing him to move in the flow of traffic towards the school. Sakura tree petals coursed the way with the wind. It was beautiful, Z had never seen anything like those cherry tresses’ pink vibrant color. It had a softness to it Z found soothing. The school itself was large, tall, bigger than his school back in Arizona nearly 3 times larger. Z had never seen a school with levels and floors like an office building.
What a pain, Z thought to himself. I didn’t even really have a day to decompress, ughhh!
Z reminisced to a few hours ago what his mother had told him in the living room back home. “Sorry, to drop this on you suddenly, but Japanese schools are stricter than I thought.” Natasha said to Z pressing her palms together in a prayer position asking Z for forgiveness. “I had arranged for schooling months ago; you’ve actually missed a few days, so you have to be there on time today. I have all the details of your home room and the school here.” Natasha handed a piece of paper to Z cataloging his home room number 2-A, his shoe box number 88, after school activities such as different clubs, ceremonies, events and a description of how to conduct yourself in the classroom for foreign students. She then tossed Z a bag full of textbooks and supplies. Natasha was prepared for this, and Z knew it.
This uniform is as uncomfortable as can be. Z fixed his collar to his uniform in an attempt to make it more breathable. It didn’t help.
“Hey, is that an American?” A student whispered to another walking next to Z.
The other replied, “He sure looks like it.”
Z could overhear the two talking. He looked at the two of them who shied away, speeding up their walking pace to near sprint. Z turned his head to the other side, noticing that even more students were staring directly at him. He glanced behind him and there were more. This is annoying.
Z managed to get inside and found his shoes putting them on, trading them in for the pair he had on. The hallways were a cluster of people. Z ignored everything and everyone went straight to his home room 2-A. Sliding open the door most of the seats were already filled in class, around 26 students occupied the small room. Whispered began to erupt clearly Z was being talked about.
“You must be Mr. Zayden Young, the new American transfer. The Homeroom teacher announced. “And a few days late, but as the Americans say. Better late than never. You speak Japanese?”
Z answered, “Hai.”
“Well get up here and introduce yourself to the class, most of us are here.” The teacher said waving him up to the front of the class. “My name Hachiro Ota, the kanji for 8 and sons. Now look to the class and present yourself.”
Z stood ahead of the class bowing. “My name is Zayden Young. I'm a freshman, I mean first year.” He lifted his head back up and gulped a bundle of saliva that was forming from the nervousness. “Umm, I’m from Bisbee Arizona and there isn’t much else.”
The teacher pointed to a seat by the window of the room. “That will do I guess; you can sit there for now.”
The school's chime went off indicating the start of class. The whispers stopped; students went to their designated seats as roll call began. “Akia Sia.” The home room teacher said.
“Here.”
“Koto anamekami.”
“Here.”
Z slowly became space out looking out the window. He began to think about his hometown of Bisbee Arizona. Connor, his best friend who always had his back, who was there for him when his father died. Z imagined his father grabbing him and his sister tight when he was a young boy. Telling Z that he loved him very much.
“Zayden Young.”
“Here.” Z replied raising his arm still in recollection
“Okay.” The teacher said marking the paper. “Genji Nakano. Genji?” The homeroom teacher looked back up towards the class seeing that Genji’s chair was empty. “No, Genji today again, that delinquent.” Some students tried to contain their laughter, but some spilled out erupting. “Okay, Okay, now students, let's get back on track shall we.”
Zayden glanced at the seat that no one occupied, Genji’s desk. He called him a delinquent; I wonder if that’s what they think of me? Z turned back to the window looking outside. Who cares anymore, Japan is not my home, I’ll make it back to America someday.
The rest of the school day dragged on slowly for Z. His sensei tried calling on him, but he ignored him enough for him to stop. None of his peers talked to him which made it easy to smoothly glide through the day without anxiety or that awkward tension you get when you have nothing to say to anyone. All Z remembers was looking through books, the cherry tree he saw from the window, and chatter of students from behind him.
The chimes went off for the final time ending the school day. Z stretched his arms as if his day was difficult, he was being lazy. Grabbing his things and packing his bag Z was the last one there and first one out. Opening the door to leave the classroom Hachiro-sensei stopped him, “Can you wait after class, Z? I wanted to talk to you.”
Shit! Z wanted to leave, maybe wander around the district or just go home and watch TV. After every student left, which took roughly around 20 minutes, Z finally asked, “So what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Well, I believe you’re an exceptional student.” Hachiro-sensei started putting down the paper he was sorting through to look Z eye to eye. “I looked at your file, and you're brilliant. You speak fluent Japanese coming from America.”
“And?” Z asked confusedly.
“You took Spanish and ASL.” Hachiro said in disbelief, “Meaning you either took classes wherever they teach Japanese in Arizona, or you taught yourself or maybe even the latter. You excelled in every class and today you didn’t even speak a word. I cut you some slack because I can tell some things up.” Z didn’t answer or make eye contact. Hachiro moved down to Z’s level and took a look at him. “This school was built for people like you, intelligent students with great potential. I want to see that potential, okay?”
Z nodded his head, “Okay.”
Hachiro-sensei patted Z's shoulder. “I’m going to call on you tomorrow like I did today, I expect a response. Now go home, do whatever the kids do nowadays.” Z went for the door and was stopped once more. “Oh, Zayden one more thing.”
“Yeah?”
Hachiro’s tone changed and he became serious. “Stay away from those high school gangs, you hear?”
Z smiled and chuckled for a moment, but nothing was funny to Hachiro. “Are you… are you serious? Gangs in high school”
“Very,” Hachiro replied. “Whatever ‘gangs’ you had in Arizona, Japan is different, although they’re kids, they take it seriously. Groups tight nip like family.”
Z brushed it off saying, “I will look out for those gangs of yours,” Leaving the classroom Z giggled thinking about these “gangs.” There were a few groups of bad apples back in Arizona that would be considered gangs to some, but Z never thought anything of them only stupid teens doing stupid things. Z thought about this and walked getting turned within the hallways. Where am I?! Z turned around to head to the front of the school until he heard something beyond the back doors. It sounded like a scuffle, heavy breathing and a ton of moments. Z's suspicion that a fight was occurring was confirmed when he heard someone yell out for help. Z rushed out the doors spotting what was going on. 3 other students wearing the same uniform as Z surrounded a helpless young man on the ground. Z must have startled the hoodlums because they turned and stared at Z with bad intentions. Oh, fuck why did I rush out the doors like that? I should have slowly approached it!
“What the fuck do you want?” The biggest of the three asked Z
“I… heard something and- “Z cleared his throat, completely nervous. “Someone said help I was checking up on things.” Z shook his head thinking that wasn’t a good response. “Yeah, so everything seems good so… I’m gonna go now.” Z looked at the young man down on the ground beaten up and bloodied, glasses broken and maybe even his nose.”
“Alright, well carry along then.” He replied while they went back to kicking the grounded person.
Z watched for a moment holding his tongue. He watched as hopelessly as the one getting pummeled and beaten was until he could no longer observe, he felt like he needed to do something. “Wait!” Z yelled out. “Umm... what’s this man’s crime, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“What the hell are you talking about?” The bully responded to Z. “Get out of here or join him.”
“I don’t want to- “The bullies kicked the man in the stomach another time, preventing Z from saying what he wanted. Z squinted to that hit pulling himself back with that last attack they gave the kid. That looked like that hurt! Z would have to choose his words wisely. “I will leave, okay, I’m leaving, maybe I could take him.” Z pointed at the man on the ground who lit up with excitement.
The grounded individual replied, “Yes, please!”
“Are you fucking serious? “Another one of the three bullies said, baffled at Z retort.
“Wait, I know this punk.” Mentioned one in the group. “Aren’t you that new foreign exchange from America?”
“No?” Z started almost sarcastically trying to hide the fact.
The group stopped beating on the man to approach Z. Z backed up patting his hand in the air to calm them down. “No, I didn’t mean it.” Z took steps back, but as they approached, he saw how eager they were. They began to approach Z faster and before they could get to him Z ran away, sprinting in the other direction. “It doesn’t have to be like this!” Z ran around the entire campus running out of breath not able to keep up. Why are they so athletic? Z thought. After some time, Z stopped to take a breath. “Okay let’s take a break.” Z took deep inhales. “You guys are way too hostile for no reason!”
“You’re the one who decided to be the hero.” The big one said.
Z replied, “Holy crap, you three sucks. Me a hero? I just thought how pathetic you fucks were, so I-” Z got punched in the face forcing him to fall back into the dirt. Z spit up blood touching his lip seeing the blood on his hand afterwards. “Shit.” Z was kicked and punched by the three like the person before. He wasn’t trying to get involved. He wasn’t trying to stop them in some ways. He just wanted to know why. look where that got him. After several minutes they must have gotten tired because they abruptly left. Z faded in and out of pain and consciousness. Z saw two silhouette’s approach him before he passed out in pain.
“You think he’s going to wake up, Kawaki?” A voice echoed in Z's head sometime after. Z opened his eyes slightly.
“He’s not dead?” Kawaki said. “I can see him breathing, feel his pulse, Shota.”
Shota put placed his fingers on Z's neck to feel his pulse. Z smacked Shota’s hand slowly getting in an upward position saying, “Stop touching me.” Z held his aching rubs.
“They did a number on, ya.” Kawaki said.
Z shook his head side to side, “No, duh.” Z got up patting himself off preparing to walk away.
“You gonna be alright?” Kawaki said worriedly.
Z got a good look at the two with his eyes now cleared. Kawaki and Shota were students attending Yojimifuki he could tell from the uniforms they were wearing. Kawaki was a large set fella, bigger than the biggest man in the group that beat Z down. Bushy eyebrows, balding head although he was only in high school, and he wore a smile on his face no matter the situation. Shota, the individual Z saved was a small, seemingly helpless person. Small, petite, nerdish, wore glasses, the spikey hair is what set him apart.
Z looked back at the two saying, “Thanks.” Z moved onwards.
“Wait?!” Shota said, bowing his head. “Thank you, Sir.”
Sir? Z thought. “Yeah… sure.”
“Let me get you back.” Shota said once more getting Z's attention as he was leaving.
Z looked confused by what Shota said, repeating the words. “Getting me back?”
“It’s a gang thing.” Kawaki said, putting his hands in his pocket. “You helped him. He wants to give back and help you.”
Z scratched his head not knowing how to respond. I don’t have time for this. “Well, I appreciate it, but I want to go home now and that’s all I want to do.”
Shota pulled an envelope out of his pocket. “Take this as a small token of my appreciation, please!” Shota truly wanted to help Z. to give back for what he had done, gratitude was all this was, true respect for saving him or at least attempting to. Out of curiosity and sympathy Z took the envelope from Shota. Z was hesitant thinking he was being played looking at the two with an eyebrow raised the entire time.
Z opened the envelope looking at the contents pulling out 100,000 yen. “Is this real?” Z said in disbelief.
“As real as Yen gets,” said Kawaki. “Thank you, I wasn’t there on time, but you were.”
Z felt the sincerity within those words, they meant it so he couldn’t take the cash. Z put the money back inside, handing it to Shota. “Lift your head up, stop bowing. I'm not your messiah. Take your money, I don't want your pity.” Shota stood up staring eye to eye with Z grabbing the envelope back per. Z’s request. “I helped you because I thought you were someone else, that's all. If you want to give back to me, never talk to me again. Either of you. Today never happened.” Z said walking away once again this time for good.
Shota tried to reach out to get Z’s attention once again but was stopped by Kawaki holding Shota back by his shoulder. “Respect the man’s wishes, young Shota. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing him soon.” Shota looked up at his senior who smiled like he always did. “Then and only then will we pay him back the right way.”
Shota excitedly exclaimed. “He would be a good addition to the gang wouldn’t he be Kawaki-san.”
Kawaki bobbed his head observing Z walking away. “Maybe.”