Chapter 1 (1/2)

Let’s talk about Youth Points

“Five-Points” is the le event; below are some examples

First and fore recess, eating with friends after school; anything that involves having a norenerates these points

But Youth Points depreciate over tience of these points cancels out any accumulation These events hts is soraduates want

Next is the two-point Similar to the above exa to a girl in the nearby park during the twilight Two-Point’s are mostly One-Point’s catalyzed and enhanced by factors such as “night” or “club activities;” if One-Points are the basics, then Two-Points are the applications They don’t come often, but with a bit of wit, chances are definitely not insufficient

Three-Point activities are riddled with ests, they are sort of like the Three-Pointers in a ball ga a decisive shot isn’t easy, yet a successful one can easily turn the table In short, it is a leap of faith

A date with a crush easily ranks as a Three-Point; note that, however, regular dates with an actual girlfriend won’t gain any le-sided rouous relationshi+p

But at this point, care should be put when deteruous re lines

Aside froroup activities Things like a gathering for a trip, celebrations for clubs, etc, are all very unlikely and therefore score high

Chances for Four-Point’s mostly come from specialized events; school festival is exemplary, but these events have to be participated in with intent: a distinct goal and preemptive steps to prevent any chances that lead to potential point loss

On the other hand, if the surrounding atht and fails to build hype, it’s hard to get higher points during a sports festival Most people can’t even enjoy sports to the fullest, reason being that gaps between individuals’ athletic abilities are far from small

Graduation ceremony as well – from thethis event; after all, crying one’s dignity away amidst the sea of sadness could be considered joyous to some

To begin defining Five-Point’s, their subjectivity must first be established If a person can proudly declare “This is it!” to a specific memory, that, to him, must have been determined as a whole Five-Point

For exanity for a crush; and winning the Koshi+en cha on the fine line between per forward can one ever hope to achieve the highest points

For those without ambition, the tail of a Five-Point is forever out of reach

In a sense, adolescence can only prosper in a capitalistic manner

With a deep understanding of the essentials, along with the needed capacity to grow, a person et h school Such wealth in the future, universities and vocational aspects may not hold much value, however

But for someone who’s reached nirvana, accomplishment feels drastically alien than for the commoners

Since life’s ‘process’ exists only for ‘result,’ it is obvious just how significant high school is

… I was just bored, and came up with these definitions on a whim

The brain tends to spin when the hands are busy at work, so I couldn’t help but think about a few things

Only, what kind of fetish do I have, getting all excited fros into boxes? Obsessive Cole cultist?!

“Ahh, hu?”

I nitpicked at lanced at the television, at thecontrasted ith the room, which beca sleep deprivation, my spirit elated: in all, my condition was top notch

Like in the co their son with two h school at the house of my aunt Two days after my official transfer notice was accepted, fourthe peak of my life

This year isspring

I can’t wait for the arrival of the next semester

After all, where I’ is the city; classes will have more than twenty people, and student stores will have more than just curry bread on their menu The campus may even have convenience stores, or ten-minute-one-thousand-yen barber shops

Honestly speaking, froh school life has nothing but negatives If enrolling into the school equates to starting froative three The points that are lost like my youth – never mind a refund, I can’t even keep es today

“Wahahah! Heehee~!” Ifon my face, she’d probably move her house further away Sense of superiority droveis probably the same as those liberated from major exa Is this how the Cochlea feels after readjusting from a shock? [4]

“I’ve never been to the sea; I wonder what it’s like!” After settling down in the city, I have to ride the train to the beach, and rack those Youth-Points up! If possible, with a girl, and if not, a group is fine

I put the only prize I ever won during elementary school into the second cardboard box below, and stuffed an entire rope-bound textbook on the top “Ahh, but I’d probably have to re-buy all the books”

Like a college girlover her old fridge, I tilted

Regarding the explanation as to where I ahschooler like me hop in joy

My aunt lives alone: she has no husband or children, and she works (of course) In essence, I a independently with few restrictions Put into words, it’d the dreah school boy could only wish for – an evil incubator that they wish to live in even by throwing away money and pride: “How could anyone simply express this?!” To ht to topple adult’s ‘plan for healthy teen’ that excited me so much

My hysteria for a new life could probably rival even the joy of apes that defiled a whole field of crops for a delicious meal

Would a bumpkin like me offend the cliques of the city kids? I couldn’t even care about such proble heart beat – so wonderfully that it felt like a nudist streaking through the spring sun

I feel absolutely terrific

The four days of coe (basically, wasting a lot of energy) are over: the days of an

Two days ago, I bid farewell to , as in the countryside students tend to stick to the saes Even if we only spent about a year together, there were still many familiar faces

More or less subed in the senti were satisfactory

If a girl were to cry forher entire person to where I live Of course, I ended up not being a kidnapper With the power of the EMU [5], I said goodbye to the land where I'd lived for alh to have them see me off

My parents also left japan about a week ago, heading to soo or Soviet Union – so like that

But, if the exciteh to cancel any Youth-Point negativity, wouldn’tinto the horizon of reat mood and a fresh start

Being able to experience the welcoh

Two and a half hours passed quietly as the train seat shook ently About midway of the trip, I apparently slept for about an hour Most of the seats were filled with passengers by the tied from fields to houses and factories

Ear buds stuck in lish, but it’s like saying nosebleed fro another round of shuffle

I took the iPod out of , but listened with little attention as I was barely awake

With blear eyes, I gazed at the na to soes – Mount Fuji and even the ocean passed my view, all while the PA read out the names of destinations

‘I’m almost there’ I took out istered aunt

‘I’ll ht away’ The train hadn’t even slowed down, and a reply already arrived

“” Was she serious? It’s hard to tell from a text! I deemed it to be a friendly response and put my cell back

Most of e was already delivered towhich reeks of bleach as my carry-on

The neighboring purple-haired wo for me; I nodded to her, andtoward the door, passengers originally standing at the ay all started the preparation to get off Every tins or stickers to differentiate people of the city and the countryside, nor were there fashi+onable people clanking with accessories

I didn’t even smell the so-called urban air My sense of excitement waned

The train rode into the platform It was six times the size of the town station where I used to live; people filled the entire stop I shriveled a bit Music ofof a eous journey The autoed first out of the cart; the line began pouring out

I didn’t ride the escalator, instead cli the stairs towards the ticket booth Started half-way, I thought for a bit:

My aunt – the person who with: what kind of person is she? I’ve never met her Fro kid - a combination of an adult and a kid” Hence, her name became “Aunt Kamaboko” [6] on ence mix with the overall impression? All I could think of was one of the Yakult salesladies[7]

The ticket h shortly I dodged to the wall on the side so as to avoid the crowd, and began scouting

I looked around for irl with dyed hair next to aveBut to look forUrashi+, I’d rather be Momotarou (TL Note: Urashi+end who rescued a turtle, and was rewarded with a visit to the Dragon God's palace He stayed for three days, but upon returning, realized that time above had passed three hundred years Moend as born froiant peach and raised by an old couple He later on went on a crusade with a dog,the land)

“Makoto!”

So in my mind, like a youthful Edison, relayed all of my consciousness (from the Martian station) – coincidentally, his name is resentment My name is Niwa Makoto Not Tana, Niwa; not shi+n, but Makoto [8]

I turned to the right in search of the owner of that voice A refreshi+ng, thirty-soht at h our eyes, I had hoped that she’d be more tactful

I couldn’t help but avertthe moment

“You are Makoto, correct?”

She sain Elegant, refined behaviors of a young girl created a gap between her demeanor and appearance Plus one to first impression

”She sain”

“Ah, yes! I ah, nice to meet you!”

I hurriedly bowed Even I feel with my petty attempt to act polite “I will be in your care for a while!” Flustered, I added on Ugh, real smooth

“No, no I should say the sa off from her shoulder

“Ah, I’ll hand you a business card”

She crudely searched in her purse after straightening her back, and retrieved a plastic card case She opened the case and handedthe Golden ratio of Fibonacci

“Thank you, how polite” I took the card with an absolute mess of a manner and skimmed it:

'Touwa Meme – “Thirty Nine”' A bold double-quotation e label It would appear she wants to carry out the “What are frozen shoulders?” way of life, though the business card’s expiration date was barely a year away [9]

Still… Even though I knew beforehand, her nae

“Uin, or eneric pseudonyo, but”

“It is my actual name!”

I sensed every attenize the characters, but do I read it MeMe, or Jojo? [10]

Perhaps noticing my confusion, my aunt added on:

“Touwa Meme But you can call me Jojo”

She blinked Crow’s feet eed on the sides of her eyes If I accidentally spilled it, erly and reevaluated the business card

The na sense of the parents I would definitely laugh if I saw this somewhere on the web, but I’d rather be polite in front of said person

“I see~” I gave a simple voice of assent, put the card in n to move

“Let's take the taxi home today”

“Ah, sure How luxurious!” As I spat out these words, I realized I may have became numbed to them

Meenial s her hair

“Are you tired after spending so much time on the train?”