My name is Haruki, and although many might envy my life, the reality is that I have never considered it perfect. I am the grandson of one of Japan's most influential businessmen, which has allowed me to lead a comfortable life without too many material worries. From a young age, I grew up surrounded by luxury, with access to what anyone would want: elite education, designer clothes and an apartment in one of the best areas of Tokyo. However, none of that has filled the emptiness I feel. I have always been a lonely, introverted boy, someone who prefers the quiet of books to the hustle and bustle of socializing. I don't have friends, nor do I seek them out; most people only approach me because of my last name and my money, so over time I learned to keep a certain distance.
My family is another complicated issue. I have two cousins with whom, let's say... I don't get along at all. But the truth is, I don't mind. I barely see them a couple of times a year at family gatherings where everyone pretends to be close while hiding their true intentions.
I live alone in an apartment in uptown Tokyo, a place that offers me the tranquility I value so much. From my balcony, I have a breathtaking view of the city, where neon lights flicker like fireflies trapped in concrete. I usually spend my afternoons reading light novels while enjoying a cup of green tea, smelling the scent of jasmine carried by the wind from the nearby gardens. Everything in my life is orderly, peaceful, predictable... and that makes me feel safe.
My grandfather, the man I respect most in this world, is the reason I am here. Despite not sharing the same blood, he adopted me and made me part of his family, giving me a home and a purpose. It is for him that I strive in my studies; I want to live up to him and one day make him proud.
I thought my life was stable, with no drastic changes or shocks. But fate had other plans.
It all started one ordinary afternoon.
As usual, I was on the balcony of my apartment, immersed in reading a light novel called The God of Calamity. My grandfather had given it to me as a child, buying it for 200,000 yen just because he liked its medieval aesthetic cover. At the time, I thought it was crazy to spend that much money on a book, but eventually I realized that, to him, that amount meant nothing.
Just as the story was approaching a crucial point, my phone vibrated.
It was my aunt.
—Haruki..." Her voice sounded shaky. "You have to come to the hospital. It's your grandfather... he's very ill.
My mind went blank.
The book slipped from my hands and fell to the floor.
The air around me seemed to become heavy, as if the world itself wanted to stop.
—What did you... say?
I didn't know it at the time, but my life was about to change forever.