The Day I Became...

My shift was already over, and I was preparing to close the store and go home. The manager entered the service room and started changing into his daily clothes.

“Today was a good day, wasn’t it?” he suddenly asked me.

The boss – whom all of us usually found harsh and strict – decided to have a chat with me. Maybe because we were alone, or for some other reason, but I had a bad feeling. My fear stemmed from a recent incident where one of my colleagues was fired after a talk with the manager, so I decided to answer politely and carefully.

“Yes, that’s true. There were enough customers today, and we sold a lot of wares.”

“Yeah, that’s good for our shop. Especially on a Sunday, it seems,” the old manager concluded questioningly.

“Why do you think so?” I asked, curious about his words.

“You see,” he began to explain. “It’s very strange. There are plenty of reasons not to believe in such luck – we’re a small store on the outskirts of the city. For six months, we had problems and worked in debt. But now, with this wave of good fortune, we have enough money not only to cover our bills but also to keep everyone employed here. Even though, last time, it was quiet painfully – firing some of our beautiful girls.”

I was suddenly shocked by his revelation about my coworkers, yet somehow I felt relieved. He noticed the change in my expression and continued:

“That was a fair decision. She understood the situation better than most of us.”

“Well, who really knew what tomorrow might bring?” I said.

We both changed into our casual clothes and started closing the shop.

“So, what are your plans for tomorrow?” I asked the manager.

“Isn’t tomorrow your first day at university, boy?” he replied.

Honestly, almost no one knew I had passed the entrance exams. I worked here to save money in case I didn’t get enough points for a scholarship. But in the end, my worries were unfounded.

“Yes, it is. But I plan to come in for my shift tomorrow…”

“Don’t,” he interrupted. “Take a day off tomorrow.”

He handed me a thick envelope.

“Rest and take a break. You’ve worked hard, and you’ve studied as well,” the manager smiled. “Once, I made a mistake in my youth, and I don’t want someone I care about to repeat it. My gut tells me you need this day off.”

“Thank you, Mister Ogita,” I bowed to him, grateful for his sincere gift and day off. “I promise I won’t waste it.”

He just smiled.

We closed the shop and headed to the station. While chatting, my view of our strict manager changed drastically. Who would have thought that behind the mask of an exemplary boss, there was just a person as ordinary as anyone else? 

We parted ways on the platform. Mister Ogita went ahead because his train was already at the station. I waved to him, and he did the same before the doors closed. Once on my train, I put on headphones, turned on some music, and watched the city lights passing by through the window. 

When I arrived at my station, someone tapped me on the back. 

“Hey!” I turned around to complain. 

“Hi!” said a smiling girl with brown hair. 

It was my old classmate, Yen. 

“What, how did you… What are you doing here at this time?” I was surprised to see her. 

“Ken, aren’t you happy to see me?” she asked, pouting slightly. 

Ken was my nickname for Kenneth. Only close friends called me that. 

“No, no,” I replied. “I’m just surprised to see you here.” 

“Well, who wouldn’t be surprised?” she smiled again. “I’m here with others.” She pointed to a group of six standing near the gate. “We’re going to celebrate my enrollment at karaoke café. Want to join us?” 

I looked at her company – old classmates and friends. 

She kept urging me to join, and after a few seconds of glancing at my watch, I involuntarily sighed and agreed. She took my hand and pulled me toward the group. 

“Look who I found, guys!” she exclaimed happily as we approached. 

“Hey, hi, Ken!” greeted one of my friends. 

“Hi, Lui!” I smiled back. 

Lui was a tall, blond French guy. He was the captain of the basketball team and the only one tall enough at the party. He, along with Yen, was one of my childhood friends. I knew others, but we weren’t very close—more acquaintances I’d gotten to know over the last two years of high school. 

“Hey, shorty!” called out another classmate, a brown-haired guy. 

That was Godfry. He was somewhat of a wild guy—like a gangster or punk, as I sometimes called him. I didn’t like him much, but I had the nerve to stand my ground. After a few exchanges, we agreed to just swear at each other and nothing more. 

“Hey, Godfry, cut it out!” a girl hit him on the head from behind. 

Behind him stood Mary, our class president and the most beautiful girl in class. She greeted me kindly. 

“You too, Mary. Glad to see you in good health!” I said, trying to ignore Godfry. She smiled back. 

The rest were Bishop, Stacy, and Lance – mostly friends of Yen and Lui. As for me, I was more of an acquaintance with them, but I’d decided to be open to new connections, so I was glad to meet them. 

On the way to the karaoke club, we chatted about who had enrolled at which university. Turns out, Yen and I had been accepted into the same one. I was happy about that. Then I learned that Mary and Godfry were dating – something I found hard to believe. But Lui’s stories made me think maybe even a bully could change with love. Lui was moving soon to South University, and these were his last days in our city. I was happy for him – he was finally pursuing his dream of becoming a sportsman. 

He also told me about Bishop and Stacy – childhood friends who had enrolled in an industrial college closer to their hometown. An interesting detail was that when I greeted them at the station, they seemed a bit afraid of me. But after Lui told them about me, they opened up more. We even chatted on the way. 

The last member of the group was Lance, a dark-haired girl. Yen introduced me to her, but she showed no interest in talking to me – she turned her attention to Yen and started chatting with her. Honestly, that was a relief. 

When we finally reached the karaoke bar where the party was supposed to be, we were met by a strange guy. His appearance at the entrance didn’t impress me, nor did it make me feel comfortable. Tall, but shorter than Lui, with dyed hair. Lui placed a hand on my shoulder, looking guilty. I turned to him, and his expression was apologetic. Then I looked at the man – Yen was hanging on him, kissing him. 

“Sorry, I should’ve told you earlier,” Lui whispered. 

I turned back to him, telling him there was nothing to worry about and smiled. But that smile wasn’t ordinary. Lui knew me well – he recognized it. 

Yen called me over and introduced me to the guy she kissed. 

“Yuzu, this is Ken,” she said. “Ken, this is Yuzu. He’s my boyfriend. Remember I told you about the courses for exams? We met there. Yuzu helped me a lot.” 

I forced a smile, but my face clearly showed my displeasure and irritation at being introduced to him. Still, I kept my composure and offered my hand for a shake. 

Yuzu saw my expression and also extended his hand. 

“Yay, pleased to meet you,” he said, shaking my hand. “Yen told me a lot about you.” 

I continued to smile stiffly. 

“Let’s go inside; the room’s ready,” Yuzu said to everyone. 

We entered the room and quickly settled in. 

As time passed, everyone started having fun. I simply drank, trying to forget what I’d just experienced. I refused to sing. Lui, understanding me, stayed close to me the whole time. 

We talked a lot – especially about exams and universities. When Yuzu found out I’d gotten into the same university as Yen, he was surprised. When I asked why, he said he was accepted there too. I was stunned – he was the top of the rating, after all. Despite his appearance, I was surprised. Lui and Godfry shared similar reactions. 

Later, we took a break. The girls went to the restroom, and Yuzu asked if anyone smoked. He went outside alone. Lui, Godfry, Bishop, and I were left in the room. 

“Ken, that was mean,” Godfry said, sitting on the couch beside me. 

I looked at him questioningly. 

“What do you mean?” I asked. 

“Well, what Yen did to you,” he continued. “Mary told me about it, and she was shocked, too…” 

“Godfry!” Lui and Bishop called out in unison. 

“Enough,” Bishop added. “We’re all shocked.” 

I looked at Lui, surprised. 

“We all know Ken likes Yen. And Stacy told me Yen liked Ken too,” Bishop said. 

Of course, I hated Godfry, and I didn’t know Bishop well, but I was surprised at how they were trying to support me. 

“Thank you,” I said sincerely. “I’ll handle it somehow on my own.” 

“Man, maybe I was a dick to you, but…” 

Godfry was interrupted by Stacy, who silently entered and sat close to Bishop. The rest of us remained silent. 

A few minutes later, the girls returned and sat quietly. I noticed Yen’s face looked strange – she kept watching me, but then her eyes turned toward the suddenly open door. It was Yuzu, entering with a new tray of drinks. The party continued. 

Time slipped by unnoticed. I sat quietly, drinking to forget what just happened. I refused to sing. Lui was singing, and Lance was watching Yuzu and Yen, smiling. Lui finished his song, and it was Lance’s turn. She chose a song none of us knew and started singing. Her voice was good, but I no longer cared. I stared into my glass. 

Suddenly, I turned to Yen and saw Yuzu stroking her thigh and trying to pull her toward him, attempting to kiss her. I immediately felt the urge to vomit. I threw my glass on the floor and ran outside the room. Lui and Godfry tried to chase me, but the crowd in the corridor held them back, and I lost them. 

I found myself outside at the back of the bar, vomiting. I wasn’t lying on the ground; I leaned against the wall. I didn’t know what I had seen, but all the emotions and thoughts in my head were a chaotic mess. I couldn’t even hear my own thoughts – just a jumble of everything: life, enrollment, friends, work, karaoke, and drinks. I stood still, recalling that I had grabbed Yen’s glass after Yuzu brought it to her… and then I vomited again. 

I threw away the handkerchief I used to clean myself. Filled with mixed emotions, I walked around the corner of the bar, glad I wasn’t carrying a bag – there was no reason to go back. All I wanted now was to walk as far away as I could. 

After wandering for a few hours, I found myself on a bridge. The distant sounds of passing cars and the cold wind brought me back to my senses. I stood in the middle of the bridge, facing the wind and the splashes of water from the river. 

Suddenly, I heard strange noises coming from beneath the bridge. 

In the dim light from the streetlamps, I saw three men beating someone on the ground. Without thinking, I ran toward them, shouting: 

“Hey! Police! There are some thugs beating someone!” 

They heard me and ran away. 

Once the thugs disappeared, I jumped over the fence and approached the figure on the ground. As I got closer, I saw a twisted, lying figure – a homeless man. For a moment, I thought he was already dead, but his sudden jump and loud breathing almost tripped me over. But I managed to steady myself. 

It was dark under the bridge, so I turned on my phone’s flashlight to check on him. He was a middle-aged man with gray, unshaven long beard. From what I saw, he didn’t seem too badly hurt – no visible blood outside. I asked if he was okay… But seeing no visible damage, I start to wonder how he could be okay after being beaten up by three thugs?

“Do you need an ambulance?” I asked. 

“No, thanks. I’m fine,” he replied hoarsely, getting to his feet. “Are those good people gone?” 

I looked at him skeptically. I thought it was a joke and decided to play along. 

“Yeah, they ran off,” I said with a smile. 

“Don’t blame them,” he continued, speaking more clearly now. “They just wanted something I didn’t have.” 

I silently nodded, trying to understand his words, though I was more worried about his state of mind. 

“Young men today are full of thoughts about things that cost nothing, and they pray to them like they’re gods,” he said. 

I raised my eyebrows, trying to spot any bruises on his head. But I was surprised to see no visible injuries at all – just ragged, dirty clothes. 

“You’re tough, old man.” 

He looked himself over. 

“You think so?” he asked. 

“At least you have no bruises after being beaten by three thugs.” 

“Thank you for your kindness, young man.” 

I smiled. 

“Well, if you’re okay and don’t need an ambulance, maybe I can help you get out of here?” 

He smiled back. 

In the dim light, I caught his smile but paid it little mind. 

Later, we reached the street. I was about to leave him and head home when I noticed the lights of an old-style ramen restaurant nearby – by the bridge where I found him. I felt bad for the man, thinking he might have been robbed, so I decided to invite him for dinner. 

“Mister, what’s your name?” I asked. 

“Yujiro, young man,” he replied. 

I was dumbfounded. Even in the dim light, he looked like a Northwest European, but he had a Japanese name. 

“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “I was adopted by Japanese parents.” 

He must have seen my surprised expression because he smiled knowingly. 

“Oh, okay,” I said, trying to compose myself. “Would you like to have dinner? There’s a ramen shop down there.” 

He hesitated but then nodded. 

“Then let me treat you,” I offered. 

We silently walked to the restaurant. After checking that it was still open, we took seats, and I ordered two bowls of ramen with a bottle of beer for Yujiro. 

While waiting, I asked, “What did they want from you?” 

He started to answer:

“I don’t know. When they came asking for money, I gave them some. Then they wanted cigarettes – I gave those too. When I asked if they needed anything else, they just laughed. And when I politely asked them to leave, one hit me from behind. They pulled me under the bridge and started kicking me.” 

“Yeah… People never change once they feel they have power over others. But I wonder – why do you call them good people?” I asked, curious. 

He looked at me thoughtfully.

“Everyone has something good deep inside. They were polite when asked for money and cigarettes. So, why shouldn’t they be good people?” 

I was stunned by his answer. 

“But they kicked you!” I said. 

“And maybe I deserved it,” he replied, looking at me with a faint smile. 

“You’re strange,” I said. 

“Strange? Why?” he asked. 

“You seem like a normal person. Even though you look like a hobo, you don’t have that typical feel from others I’ve seen. I’ve worked in a shop, and I’ve seen many. But you’re different. Three thugs beat you, and you still call them good people – that’s why I say you’re strange, Mister.” 

“They are good because they didn’t hit me hard.” He chuckled.

“Man...” longed I while trying not laugh hard, feeling like I was in a dream. “Well, if this is a dream,” I cintinued, “then it’s the worst and best I’ve ever had.” 

The cook placed the bowls of ramen in front of us, and we started eating. 

There was no one else around. It was already midnight, and everyone at home was asleep. 

Yujiro finished his bowl and asked:

“What do you mean when you say this is the worst and best dream?” 

Without hesitation, I told him everything about my day: passing exams, work, friends, the girl I loved, and many more. 

He listened intently, then asked for two empty bowls, placing them in front of him, and took a chopstick. 

“You asked why I call everyone good people,” he began. “Let me explain with an analogy. Look at these three porcelain bowls. Do they seem good to you? Give me the dumbest answer that comes to your mind.” 

I thought for a moment.

“The bowl you ate from is dirty, so it’s not good. The other two are clean, so they’re good.” 

He looked surprised but nodded.

“That’s a simple answer, but it’s correct – according to your perspective. But have you ever considered that all of them are good, in their own way?” He tapped each bowl. “Hear that sound? That ring indicates quality. But even good bowls have imperfections – cracks, scars. See this one?” he turned a bowl upside down. “See the crack? That means it’s bad, right?” 

I nodded. 

“But even with cracks, it’s still a good bowl for its purpose. The crack doesn’t make it useless. It’s still functional. And so are people. Today, they might be thugs, but tomorrow, one of them could save a cat, a dog, a child. Even your manager – who seems strict and harsh – appeared to have a kind heart. Everyone has goodness inside them; it’s just a matter of recognizing it. That’s why I call people good – they are good for what they truly are: human beings. Even villains have good in them, sometimes choosing evil for a greater good. It’s their decision.” 

He raised his glass. 

“To good people!” he cheered, and took a sip. 

I sat silently, trying to absorb his words. I checked my pockets – everything was there except the envelope from my boss. I wondered where I might have lost it. Then it hit me: I had bumped into someone at the karaoke bar, and maybe the envelope fell out. I smiled faintly. 

“What happened, boy?” Yujiro asked with concern in his voice. 

“Nothing,” I replied. “Nothing for you to worry about…I just realized I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Kenneth, Kenneth Leto…” 

Yujiro chuckled. 

“Yeah, I know. My family name is a bit complicated, too.” 

“I understand,” The man said, smiling. “My second name is Tanaba. Yujiro Tanaba. Nice to meet you.” He nodded. “I’m pleased we met, Kenneth.” 

I paid for the ramen, and we sat quietly for a while, talking about many different things. Then Yujiro asked, “If you had one wish, what would it be?” 

I looked at him, curious. 

“Be honest,” he said. “Think carefully. Your answer should be meaningful.” 

I sighed deeply, pondering. Looking back, I had no regrets – except one miserable wish. I decided to ask him. 

“When you were young, did you ever have a situation like mine – with someone you loved?” 

He leaned back, smiled, as if recalling something funny. 

“There was… but my decision after that, changed many things,” he said.  

“What happened?” 

“I gained respect, wealth, followers, and friends… I even found a way to end poverty and hunger,” he said seriously. 

I was stunned. 

“I don’t think you’ll believe me,” he added with a smile. 

“To hell with it!” I exclaimed. “Even if this is a dream, I want to hear your story to the end. What happened?” 

Yujiro smiled and began: 

“In a world full of heroes and fools, it’s better to get rid of both. When people have enough wealth and freedom, they want more. Once they taste power, they become greedy, lustful, gluttonous… and the cycle continues until” – he suddenly clapped his hands – “the world ends. To prevent this, I became one of those called villains, at least for a while.” 

I laughed long and hard until I saw him lean his head on his hand, silently watching me. The chef continued with his own work. 

I grew silent for a moment. 

“Did it help you heal your broken heart?” I asked him seriously. 

Yujiro looked away and poured himself more beer. 

“At first—no,” he replied. 

I sighed. 

“But you’re not me,” he continued. “And I didn’t have your chances. But you do. Because in a dream, anything is possible, isn’t it?” 

He smiled and drank. 

I stayed silent, lost in thought. I tried to analyze his words, but they only confused me more. For a moment I wondered if he was an ex-politician, or broke businessman – nothing matched. Eventually, I gave up. Then I thought again about my wish and whether this was just a dream. 

More disturbing thoughts came, but I pushed them away. 

“Listen,” I suddenly said. “I appreciate your offer, but I think choosing to be a villain like you – resolving my problems by giving up – is the easiest, most tempting way out. I decline.” 

Yujiro looked surprised but pleased. 

“Then,” he said after a moment, “there’s still hope you’ll become someone better than me. But I want to give you a warning – consider every good thing that happens after this as a gift from me. And remember: never regret anything in your life, or you’ll lose everything by dwelling on the past. Wake up!” 

Suddenly, a loud buzzer jolted me awake. 

With heavy feelings and head, I got out of bed, took a shower to wash away sleep and fatigue, and prepared for the university enrollment day. 

Dressed, I went to the kitchen for breakfast. After gathering everything I needed, I left for my new life for the next four years—Pacific University, the most prestigious in the world, built in New Atlantis. I still wondered how I passed the exams, but my score was enough for a scholarship. 

Now I stood in front of the results list at the examination board. The first name I saw was Yen Kudo, who ranked in the top ten out of fifty. I was happy for her… but then I remembered – no, it was just a dream. There was nothing to worry about. 

“Ken!” someone called from behind. 

I turned around. 

Before I could react, a girl bumped into me and hugged me tightly. It was Yen. Her hug was strong, and it gave me relief. For a moment, I thought yesterday evening had just been a dream. But then I saw Lui with a somewhat disturbed expression. 

“Where did you go yesterday? You suddenly rushed out of the karaoke bar. We tried to find you,” Yen asked. 

I immediately pulled her away from me. Memories of what happened in the bar flooded my mind – my stomach churned, and I almost vomited again. Lui quickly pulled Yen further away and supported my head. 

“Breathe, Ken, breathe!” Lui urged. 

I started to breathe deeply. After a few moments, I regained my composure and Lui let me go. Yen looked at me anxiously. 

“W-What happened, Ken?” She asked softly, trembling. She was holding her hands to hide her trembling. 

Lui’s face showed a mixture of concern and anger. 

“Like you didn’t know…” He tried to wager.

“Hey, fellas!” a familiar voice interrupted Lui before he could even finish his sentence. 

I didn’t turn to look who it was, because I already knew. It was Yuzu. He walked past Yen and draped his arm over her shoulder. Neither Yen nor I looked happy about it. 

“So, you came to see your results?” Yuzu asked me. 

“Kind of. I just wanted to check if that letter wasn’t fake,” I replied flatly. 

“See, I’m first on the list,” Yuzu boasted, showing off. “Nine hundred ninety-nine points. I’ll be getting a raised scholarship.” 

Yen pulled his arm off her. I turned to look at the list to see where I was. 

Looked at it twice, but couldn’t find my name. Instead, in my supposed spot, was someone named Dick Furballs. 

“How?” Yen’s voice trembled, horrified while observing the list. 

I turned to her. She looked as if she had seen a ghost. 

“How is that possible? I saw you, Ken, on that list. We saw you together. All three of us saw it,” Yen looked at me and Lui, searching for answers. 

But both Lui and I wore the same questionable expression. 

“Is something wrong?” someone asked us. 

We turned to see who it was. The man who asked the question was short, slightly fat, with a shiny bald head and round glasses. From a distance, he could have resembled a mole with human features. 

It was Vice-Rector of the university, Genji Tagano. 

“Father!” Yuzu suddenly shouted. “I’m glad you came. This is my girlfriend, Yen.” 

Yuzu began introducing Yen to the mole-like man, completely ignoring me and Lui. 

“Pleased to meet you,” Mr. Tagano greeted. “So, what seems to be the problem?” 

“It looks like there’s a mistake in the list,” Yen started explaining. “Kenneth should be in 46th place, but his name isn’t there.” 

“Really?” the vice-rector gazed at the list. “I remember everyone who enrolled in the top fifty. Remind me of his full name?” 

“Keneth Leto,” Lui said. 

“Hm… An unforgettable name,” Tagano muttered, pretending to remember. “Sorry, if I don’t recall him, then he obviously didn’t get into the university.” 

“But we saw him there yesterday…” 

“Miss, I am the vice-rector,” Tagano snapped. “If his name isn’t on the list, then he is not enrolled. Now, you’d better hurry with my son and go to the ceremony hall to take your seats. He should be ready to speak.” 

The vice-rector strode away with a smug look. Yuzu grabbed Yen’s hand, but she pulled away, fear evident in her eyes. 

“But… you… were…” 

“Yen,” I interrupted her. “Go. I’ll handle this.” 

“But…” she hesitated, trying to come closer. 

“Go, Yen,” Lui echoed, urging her to leave. 

She lowered her hand and hurried to the ceremonial hall, passing Yuzu who followed her, trying to say something. 

“So, what do we do now?” Lui asked. 

I looked at him questioningly, then turned my gaze back to the list. After what we saw, we both realized this was planned by Yuzu and his people. 

“Yesterday, when you ran out of the karaoke bar, Yen hit Yuzu and punched Godfry in the face to get him out and chase you,” Lui said. 

“Quite a sudden change,” I responded. 

“We searched for you for two hours,” Lui continued. “While we were looking, Mary told me she spoke with Yen. She told her everything about you, your feelings. Yen spent ten minutes alone in a cabin after that, refusing to come out until everyone else left. That’s why they were so long. But where the hell were you?” 

“You won’t believe me if I even tell you…” I began, but a soft hug from behind interrupted me. 

“Hi, my hero,” a tender voice spoke. 

“The hell are you?” Lui’s temper snapped when he saw who was hugging me. 

I pulled away from the hug and turned to the girl. I was stunned—she was insanely beautiful: slightly taller than me, with grey hair and a strange Victorian-style dress. 

“Who are you?” Lui and I asked in unison. 

She simply smiled and handed me a wrapped sheet. 

“The wish you wanted,” she replied, turning her head to me. “You’ll find me at number two on the list. Don’t be late to the ceremony.” 

Before we could say anything, she vanished so quickly that we didn’t even notice where she went. 

I looked at the envelope to see what it was, but Lui interrupted me again. 

“Do you know who Agata Y. Ledale is?” he asked. 

“You’ve got to be joking,” I said, irritated, turning to the list to see who was number two. 

“Agata Y. Ledale,” Lui started reading, “nine hundred ninety-eight point nine points.” 

I decided to open the wrapped sheet. A small piece of paper fell out. I picked it up and read: “Go to the ceremony hall and wait.” Signed, Yujiro Tanaba. And there was a P.S.: “Don’t throw away the big paper, it will be needed for you.” 

“Lui, we need to get to the celebration hall immediately,” I said urgently. 

“Why?” he asked. 

“I don’t know, but we have to be there,” I insisted. 

We headed there as quickly as possible. Within minutes, we arrived: Lui was directed to the audience row, and I was suddenly invited to join the enrolled students. 

After wandering for a few minutes trying to find a seat, I noticed a girl dressed in that strange Victorian style—Agata. She saw me looking at her and waved. 

When I approached, she moved to the next seat and motioned for me to sit next to her. I gladly accepted. We sat silently until the ceremony began. I had a million questions, but her unwillingness to speak kept me quiet. 

The ceremony started: hymns, performances by university clubs, masterclasses, and a lot of boring speeches. I almost thought I’d fall asleep, but my attention was kept by the excited expression on my beautiful neighbor’s face, which made me feel responsible for staying alert. 

Finally, the closing part of the ceremony began. Vice-Rector Genji Tagano approached the stage, holding several sheets of paper received from his secretary. Agata took my hand. 

“Sit tight until it’s your turn,” she whispered, pulling my hand onto her thigh and gripping it more firmly. 

The vice-rector began his speech. It was the most boring fifteen minutes of my life. But holding onto Agata’s hand kept me grounded. 

“And now, I want to invite on stage the student with the highest exam score,” Tagano announced. “Please welcome…” 

He suddenly stopped himself. 

He called his secretary over and began arguing with her. Everyone wondered what was happening – except Agata, who almost giggled at the vice-rector’s reaction after his secretary whispered something into his ear and walked away. 

Tagano tried to continue, but he kept hesitating and sweating. He called the secretary back and asked her to announce the top student. The woman stood firmly at the podium, and after clearing her voice, announced:

“And now,” she began, “I want to invite the student with the highest score in the history of the entrance exams. Please welcome Kenneth Leto, who scored a perfect 1,000 points after recounting the results.” 

Everyone in the hall was stunned into silence – until someone clapped. Then, like a wave, the entire hall erupted in cheers and applause. 

“Now, get up, and let’s go on stage. Hope you didn’t lose the paper I gave you,” Agata whispered. 

I silently rose and walked to the stage, stunned but trying to hide it. Agata followed. 

“To honor our student, daughter of our rector, Agata Y. Ledale, will accompany him on stage,” added in announcment the secretary. 

For a moment, I hesitated with a surprised look, wanting to turn back. But Agata gently punched my shoulder and urged me forward. Everyone cheered louder as we approached the stage. 

I stood before the entire hall, searching for Lui. His shocked and stunned face was unmistakable. My gaze then fell on Yen, who was smiling and crying at the same time. And finally, I looked at Yuzu. Well, his expression was unforgettable. I couldn’t even describe the dumb look he had. Yet his father’s face looked more stunnig.

Agata stepped closer and asked me to open the paper she had given. 

I did. It was an inauguration speech, but above it was a single line: 

“How does it feel now to be the villain? P.S. The front door.”

I looked around and saw the homeless man whom I’d saved yesterday. Except now, he looked completely different. Well-dressed, in a business suit, trimmed. Yujiro waved at the scene. I turned back to Agata and saw her waving back. 

Now I understood everything – who Agata really was, those stranger Yujiro, and the strange questions he’d asked.

I took a deep breath, adjusted my mic, and looked at everyone with a smile before I began reading: 

“It feels great…”