私は…だった

　I'm a 16-year-old high school student with good grades.

　I am good looking, a guy who enjoys the attention from girls others my age don't receive.

　Okay...

　Perhaps that is a little misleading.

　I 『was』a 16-year-old high school student with good grades.

　I 『was』good looking, and a guy who enjoyed the attention from girls others my age didn't seem to get.

　I enjoyed a pleasant and fulfilling life, good relationships with those around me, and a promising future at a prestigious university in Tokyo.

　And to round it all up, I lived happily ever- No, I died.

　After a long night of studying, I woke up feeling refreshed. I always made sure to get enough sleep. With a bit of scolding by my father, I reluctantly agreed to our morning routine.

　You see, my father was in the JMSDF before I was born. While he didn't do anything 'cool' like Special Forces Group, he was an outstanding soldier.

　So he insisted he teach me the martial arts he learned during his service.

　That day was an important day for me at school - I had to make a speech at the assembly. So lucky me, Dad allowed the training to be lighter that day.

　I thanked him profusely and promptly dressed myself elegantly for school. A private school at that, so I had a pretty cool uniform.

　Quickly taking the breakfast prepared for me by my mother, I left my family's house with a satchel slung over my shoulder.

　The sunlight felt delightful that morning.

「How could anything at all spoil today?」

　I walked and walked.

　Down those peaceful suburbs that I've committed to my memory.

　Unlike other students, I enjoy my commute to school.

　I'm in walking distance and I know I am going somewhere where I am liked.

　Others fear the ridicule they are sure to get at school—the pestering by teachers who just don't seem to understand them.

　But for me, I have none of that. I live a life I love so dearly, I don't know if I could live one better.

　However, I do hear things like 「If you don't know hatred, you can never know love.」 or something like that.

　Hah! What nonsense is that?

　I know what I love because it makes me feel good.

　But I can sorta understand... As I do in fact enjoy so much. And everything seems to work out well.

　...I suppose I cannot help but desire more of an adventure in life. Some turmoil, some fight! You know?

　Ah... it started to rain.

　Well no trouble, it's summer anyway so the rain feels nice. Just my uniform will get wet and that will be a nuisance during the day.

　Sapping through the fabric. Drop... drop... slowly equalizing with my body temperature, little dark patches starting to bunch up across my shoulders.

　I sound like a pretty great guy, don't I?

　Well, I suppose I am.

　Born into a wealthy and respected family - I essentially had a good life promised from birth.

　That led to some arrogance I couldn't hold down. A few people received unjust rudeness from me, mostly classmates. I think back and curse myself for the things I said.

　Which is why when I turned 15 I pledged to be a truly upstanding student.

　I'd stay behind longer and clean. I'd help teachers mark work if they ever let me. I even tried to make amends with some of those I'd essentially bullied by helping with their studies.

　Yes, there was a time I truly became a good person who tried the best I could in everything. From the mundane to the grandeur.