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It was the day before my 30th birthday. Just a normal work day. Until I turned 30 I never would’ve thought my life would change so much. Not even as much as it did when I turned 12 and suffered through middle school. If you told me I could be capable of “magic” I would’ve awkwardly chuckled and walked away from you.
Day — Today I’m 29 years and 364 days old. Got to work on my rickety bike. And of course right when I sat down I messed something up. Only 1 degree off and I set papers flying all over, either my coworkers spared their looks for my pride or they didn’t notice. Either way, I stacked them hurriedly. The hours pass by as I input data into the database, look over reports, and do normal salesman tasks. Around 11, Urabe needs my help- again.
“Yo! Serizawa~” Urabe grabs my shoulder as he talks to me.
“Yes?” “I heard you never dated anyone before. That true?” He asks with a neutral expression. “Is there a reason why you’re suddenly asking me?” I respond by trying to return to my work. “So it’s true?” He starts shaking my shoulder annoyingly.
‘Maybe if I respond truthfully he’ll back off.’
I sigh, “Yes, that’s true Urabe-san.” “Eh? You’re a virgin?” “You’re too loud!” I exclaim trying not to bring more attention to myself than I already have today. “Woah, seriously?” He says in distraught “I see..” “This is sexual harassment Urabe-san.. Do you mind leaving me alone?” I say. “Then, how old are you?” He ignores me. “I’ll turn 30 tomorrow.” I answer quietly. “Hm really? Oi Fujisaki-san, his birthday’s tomorrow.” He points at me as Fujisaki-san walks past our desks
“Oh really? Happy birthday Serizawa-san” Fujisaki congratulates me with a small bow. “Ah, thank you” I bow back in my chair. Urabe lets out a pleasant expression and then grabs me by the shoulder once Fujisaki is out of earshot.
“What do you think of someone like Fujisaki-chan?” He questions me.
“What I think..” ‘I’m baffled. What is there to think? Just that she’s a woman and I’m a man?’
“From my research, she doesn’t have a boyfriend yknow.”
“I see.” I turn back to my work as Urabe continues.
“Should I be your wingman?” “You don’t have to do that!” I hope to draw at least one boundary today. “You should have a greater sense of urgency! Don’t you know what happens to men once they turn 30? They become a magic user.”He exclaims, using jazz hands to exemplify his point. “Magic? Really?” I think for a second. “Isn’t that just a. myth?” He finally lets me continue my wor-
“Hm, probably but if it is the truth that would be interesting no?” He says with a cheeky grin on his face. “I understand Urabe-san.. Please let me get back to work if you can’t get back to your own.” He pouts and moves back to his desk.
I let out a sigh. ‘It’s not like I want to be a virgin. I fell in love with others before after all, they just. Never loved me back. Urabe-san is probably right about Fujisaki being a nice girl, but that’s all. I’m sure she’d be a nice friend but that’s if she could put up with my social awkwardness. I’ll definitely won’t make a move on her, that’d be disrespectful if the 1 in a million chance existed where she’d liked me. She’d probably just politely reject me anyway. It’d bring so much awkwardness- maybe she’d even move to a different department. No, if I bothered her I should move. Or maybe she’d report me for sexual harassmen-’
The possibilities of what could go wrong pass through my mind as do the hours.
“Reigen-san you like wine right?” One of my coworkers asked. “Then should we go for dinner one of these days?” Asked another. “Should I ask the boss to hold a company dinner?” He asked. “Can’t just the three of us go?” The first one asked again.
‘Reigen Arataka. The top salesman in our company, in our department. He was the top achiever for the past 5 years. Everyone loves him, the boss, the girls, probably the stray cats on the street brush against his legs. He’s the ideal man, I wish I could be someone like him- brimming with confidence. In high school, what did he do.. Swimming? Baseball? Maybe running, he was a top athlete in something. Apart from being men and joining the company around the same time- we share nothing.’
“Nice work.” He says to me as he walks by. ‘Nice work? What did I do?’ “Oh, thank you.” His smile is blinding, does he use teeth strips or something.. Oh no I was staring.’ “Sorry, um-” I sit back down before I embarrass myself further. The girls go back to walking and talking with him. ‘If I could have just one of Reigen-san’s talents.. No, I’m asking for an arm and a leg here.’ As I start biking home and stopping at an onigiri and bento stand and continue this line of thought. ‘If I could find out.. That someone loves me. For me, from the bottom of their heart. Or at least wanted to be my friend..’ I exchange yen for a bento. ‘Yeah right.’ I think. I’m in a hopeful mood today I suppose.