Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1
Toru Kazama woke up at 5 am. The day progressed as usual. He studied, ate lunch, went home, studied, ate dinner, studied and fell asleep. The next day would rise and he would do all that again. It was a boring routine but he couldn't care less about the routine if he got A+ in everything.
One rainy evening, the group had gathered in a hotel to hang out which he didn't want to do but was forcibly dragged by Shin-chan. He had denied it since he had french classes but what's his opinion worth compared to THE dumbass Shin-chan. So he went alongside because his best friend is an idiot. Not because he enjoys hang outs.
"Hi…Kazama, right? It's been so long since we've had a proper conversation.." a soft voice whispered. AI suotome- his previous crush who is now his biggest inspiration. He remembered his primary school where he'd pretend to know Spanish to impress her but end up being embarrassed by his mistakes. She's even more successful now. And even more Gorgeous.
Kazama nodded politely. "Hi, Ai-chan? How have you been? Your family business has skyrocketed lately." It was true. Their net worth is estimated to be 97.65 billion dollars per person. It's a big family.
"Yeah. Of course, I'm in charge, that's why, " she giggled. And she's confident? How impressive.
"Hey Kazama, shin chan said that you're studying hard, what are you studying for? Do you have ambitions?" She asked, tilting her head with curiosity.
'To make my family proud obviously' he thought. His family were nice and supportive. In return he had to be successful because how else can he show his gratitude?
"Well, I have a lot of ambitions…I can't seem to decide on one.." he chuckled. It's true! I'm so perfect in so many subjects that I could pick out any career ever.
"Yeah, Kazama will be mayor of North Korea and president of Brazil while being the king of the USA." Nene teased. Ai-chan giggled and winked at Nene. "You're funnier now, you know?" She said with genuine fondness.
"Excuse me?!?!"
"EH Nene calm down?"
"Bo"
"Oooh wineee" and the conversation went on as usual.
Kazama sat back. His ambitions?
'I don't need a dream. I don't need ambition. My intelligence will lead me to my path. My parents are there to lead me.'
When he went home, he sat near his mother. "Mom, what do you think I'll be?" He asked.
She smiled proudly. "I think you should be a doctor, dear. You're so good at medicine."
Later he called his dad. "Dad, what should I be?" He asked. "You should be a data scientist."
It's fine. He'll figure it out soon.
A year passed.
"Toru Kazama? You got an 82. What happened?"
"Kazama? You were my best student. How did you drop to the 80's?"
"I had so many hopes and expectations."
"Is that him? I heard he was once a topper. He must have gotten lazy. "
Kazama shut himself inside his room and studied. He studied until his hunger made him faint. He studied until his eyes blurred with tears. He studied until his textbooks were all that he could remember.
Yet, YET he could not stop his average grades. He could not go back to his old self. JUST a few months ago he had been the best of the best and now..what happened? What happened?
'What happened to me?'
"This isn't you, Toru. Please study harder. I know you can do it. "
"my son. He's not currently… well. That is why he's not doing well in his studies..!"
"How is it that Shin-chan got more marks than you? Are you slacking off?!"
Kazama tiredly sat on his mattress. He couldn't figure out what was happening to him. He just wanted a rest. Rest from what? Everything, hopefully.
Some taps on his window forced him back to reality. Oh, this idiot.
"yeh, heyy" shin chan greeted him.
Kazama frowned with confusion. "How do you keep climbing up my windows, I'd never know," he muttered. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious. His apartment was around eleven stories up but when it comes to Shin-chan, logic goes out the window.
Shinchan flopped into Kazama's mattress and stretched. "The texture is so nice," he smirked. 'That's my bed! Don't make it dirty!' he thought.
Kazama sat next to him. His frown deepened as he thought about his current situation. This has to be the first time he felt so stuck. There were no questions, no quizzes he felt stuck with. He felt unable to make a change, unable to live like this. He wondered if he was going crazy. I wouldn't be surprised if one day I woke up in a mental institution.
For a while, they sat in comfortable silence.
"Have you ever thought about moving out?" shin chan suddenly spoke out.
Kazama turned in surprise. "what? You're considering moving out?" That'll be a disaster, whatever country he goes to will probably get burnt down.
"That's not what I asked." he looked into Kazama's eyes and for a moment it felt as if Shin-chan was capable of being serious.
Kazama's mind felt blank. For a minute his mind was silent. He glanced at his best friend's face, unable to answer.
"I wanna go and get a beautiful girlfriend!! ooh ooh," Shin-chan sang in a silly tune. Of course. Shin-chan? Serious? Not happening. His poor future wife.
Kazama flopped on the bed next to Shin-chan. It was such a simple question, did he or did he not want to move? Even a little baby could answer it. As he thought about it, his mind went back to the conversation with Ai.
"What are your ambitions?"
He sighed and listened to the tune of his best friend. Shin-chan..is so happy. And optimistic. And so careless..reckless. Yet his life is amazing, how can he do that?
"Do you have ambitions?" the words came out of his mouth before he realised. He turned towards his best friend and stared with curiosity.
Shin-chan paused. "My ambition… is to live. And I'll get a beautiful partner and have a great life," he answered and went back to his tunes.
I wonder what that feels like.
He soon closed his eyes due to exhaustion. When he woke up, he was covered by a blanket and his books had been sorted out. Oh mom must have come home. Huh, did Shin-chan leave? I guess his mom called for him.
A week has passed since that conversation. Neither of them brought up the discussion, but it was the only thing Kazama could think of. The idea of moving out, starting a new life, a new him..he doesn't need to exceed his expectations if nobody knew who he was. What a wonderful thing it could be..but there's a difference between could, would and will.
Move out?
Have you considered moving out?
Shut up. No. Shut up. It doesn't matter.
He went to tuition feeling exhausted. He didn't want to do this. It's not like he could change his grades anymore. He had tried. So much. What can be done now? He's nothing but a shadow of his past self. Everyone except him has figured their lives out. Even Shin-chan. What he thought was his life had betrayed him, what else was there for him?
When he entered, he saw a familiar face.
"Hello, Kazama! I knew you would be here. " Ai-chan greeted him with delight. He tried not to show his confusion. "Ah, hello. Did you need me?"
"I had information to pass- there's a scholarship program you can avail to get into London. You seem like the perfect candidate since you are quite great in English. I hope this information is helpful to you." she winked. "oh also tell Shin-chan I said hi."
"Mom, I recognize my errors in studying and I've been thinking… " Kazama paused to see his mom's reaction. She looked horrified.
"YOU ARE GONNA DROP OUT??? "
"what NO MOM! Hear me out!! "
Kazams took a deep breath. "I think I'm gonna study abroad. In London. With a scholarship. My scores seem enough for the requirements." Barely. They only approved me because I have records of other skills. But you don't need to know that.
Kazama's mom blinked in surprise. "oh… Oh, that's great, son! You are just like your father. I'll inform your grandparents, they'll be SO happy." she rushed to her phone.
He had done it. He can have a fresh start. New place, new friends, new teachers, new expectations. There were no remains of his past now. He was a new person with a new life. With new ambitions. No one to tell him what to do. A new life with… New people!
Or so he thought.
"what? YOU'RE COMING TOO?? "
"Of course! Who else can help you with English and getting popular? Plus I did tell you that I want a girlfriend abroad!" Shin-chan hugged Kazama and pulled him into a dance.Ugh. Some things never change. Idiot. Always stay like this. Never change, Shinnosuke.
While the Kazama household had written a come back soon letter and prepared a year's worth of products, The Nohara family partied in excitement. Himawari wished that Shin-chan got stuck in an earthquake while travelling. Misae and Hiroshi congratulated Kazama for taking a wonderful decision and wished him good luck in taking care of his son. Fair. Shin-chan comes with a warning sign.
Nene held a celebratory party as well. All of their friends were invited. They all congratulated the duo. "You two are destined if there is one." Bo had said. Yeah right. If it does then destiny and I have a beef. he thought.
Kazama and Shin-chan got on the plane. After some Shin-chan shenanigans, he finally fell asleep. As Kazama looked at his long-time best friend, he felt the weight of his decisions and changes. It was going to be okay. As long as he has himself and his stupidly optimistic best friend, he will be alright.
A new world. To live, here I come! Kazama thought.