Yusuke POV:
Spring 2013, Japan (A few days before Hiroki)…
You know how sometimes things feel familiar yet different for some reason… yeah, that's what happened to me. I just wondered why this guy is such a loser at times. But I get it now. This guy or me, still takes some to get used to this… Well, he just have anxiety, low self esteem, and has a loneliness problem.
With these problems, no wonder this guy is painfully shy and gets bullied constantly. He is shorter than most kids his age, and his strength and stamina is pathetic, I can now see how much he truly wanted friends!
Either way, I am not that guy anymore, considering this is now my body. Therefore I made significant changes and progress towards myself. After nearly two weeks later, I am bit stronger and healthier than ever before in this body. When I came back to school, the bullies tried to mess with me, I simply roasted their asses off, and they turned like a strawberry!
What are they gonna do, I thought, and even when they tried to physically beat me up, I simply didn't run away, I fought as hard as I could, though considering my body then was much weaker and still is weak, I had to be careful. I simply used dodging, hit and runs, and some dirty tricks to win against like 5 guys.
Obviously, they got mad at losing at pipsqueak, but they really couldn't do anything much about it as they either could ratted themselves out, or be mocked by other classmates because they lost to a small, wimpy guy. Sometimes, in cases like this, I felt glad that I am short as I am currently as I have an easier time dodging, and moving around the bigger kids.
Anyways, since the couple weeks or so, of since being reincarnated, I found a lot of things that are the same, but many that are different for me as well.
For one, my parents are somewhat similar to my parents like in my last life, though they are also different due to their nationality, like my dad is now half-Filipino, and my mom is fully Japanese. My dad currently works in the Office as an assistant manager position, while my mom is generally a housewife, but she works part-time as a piano teacher on the weekends usually. My dad is around 36 years old while my mom is around 35. Their names are Jokichi Tanaka and Rie Tanaka née Sasaki.
Another aspect that is different is how this world has some different periods and events changed after like the 1950s, like Japan here is a bit more progressive and they even actually have a two dominant party system instead of a de-facto one party dominance of the LDP in the last life. Also, some figures both here and abroad are either younger, not alive, or don't exist at all. It is also very evident as for most of the 1990s, it was lead and ran by another party called "The Progressive Nationalist Party" for around two full terms. Which never existed in my last life, nor any party that challenged the dominant party at all. Regardless, they made somewhat of an impact, as they managed to reduce of the impact of the bubble economy collapsing in late 1991. They also mitigated the 1997 Asian Financial to a great degree as it reduced the impact of its effects.
That party also helped successfully passed a few laws regarding labour rights and protections, and while also giving a bit more strength to unions, which while it only did a modest-moderate degree of success in the long term, the fact that it manage to pass and actually attempted to reform this issue speaks volume itself. They also did pass a few more things like double surname law, a minor criminal and justice reform, and some stipulation and protections against discrimination of Burakumin class and the lower class, plus they also made some laws about immigrants, but really it ain't much as it is meant to attract only educated and hard-working individuals who willing to immigrate, plus slightly easier visa applications, long-term residency permits, all done in some point system criteria.
Seems like they're like a centre-left party, and after the 1990s, they won in 2008, but loss the election in 2012. Still they maintained a pretty good amount of influence, and has around nearly 45% of the parliamentary seats they held to right now.
Though the origin of this party is a bit murky at best, as supposedly, based on some internet forums I have read about in this world, they may have been partly funded by the largest Yakuza group of this country...
Yeah, that could be a bit of a problem, and that's perhaps why they loss the election last year. Then again, it's probably hearsay really. They're still quite a popular party though regardless. Also, yeah, polygamy is also legal in this country, so too does in South Korea.
Pretty weird to be honest, as it seems it was made to reduce childbirth decline but there is stipulations and regulations been made to prevent abuses and making sure that it won't cause is issues like forced marriages and coercions, also it's not like women aren't prevented on having multiple male partners, that law seems to work both ways. I don't know, like I said, I think it's weird.
Also, the Japanese median age here is around 41.4 for 2013 of this year, which also tells me how the impact of birthrate decline isn't as bad compared to my last life. Whatever is different here, it seems to kind of work...
As I did more research about this Japan, the anime and manga industry seems to be lagging behind somewhat here, so pity really, as it seems that it's not as mainstream internationally here compared to my last life. At least, it still has an international presence and audience but not as much as it should be by now compared to the last life.
But that's only mentioning my country, in South Korea, the landmass is a bit larger for some reason, probably because of the Korean war. They also have a less terrible birthrate here and they have a different female president and a 6 year presidential term, as for their entertainment industry who knows. The USA is a bit better here, Russia is less authoritarian and actually has a decent quality of life but still somewhat corrupt. China is slightly more democratic, but still strict though. Oh and the Philippines is actually kind of functioning better and more prosperously here. Weird, but never thought I'd ever see it but alright then...
I could mention few more things different from my timeline, but that would take way too long. I then thought about my parents now as I still am sitting down at my desk pondering.
Currently right now, my mom is on maternity leave, as she is a few months pregnant, I was surprised when I found out, and wanting another kid now. My dad is still at work, probably not coming home until like way after 8pm or so. My dad is often busy after all, but he's a good dad as he often tries his best. Still, I now wonder didn't Yusuke reached out for him for help, that I don't know but that's in the past now.
*Stretches Body*
"Man, that felt good, how long have I have been sitting at this desk?"
I then got out of my chair, and took a gander around my bedroom. I made some adjustments to this room since coming here, it ain't much but it's something at least…
"I hope I get a younger sister as my sibling…" pondering about my mom's pregnancy. As I thought about having a sibling suddenly.
*Yawns…*
Man, I am bit tired, what time is it now… I then looked at the clock, it's around 3pm now. Well, I guess I am going to get some exercise. I then went out of my room and went downstairs. As I went downstairs, my mom is currently doing some yoga exercises, while watching some kind of yoga exercise instruction.
I for one, just went to the kitchen to grab a snack before I went out for a jog around the neighborhood.
Mom: You going somewhere, Yusuke? My mom briefly stop her yoga session to chat.
"Just for a jog, nothing much, I'm exercising after all." I explained.
Mom: Oh, that's good then, see you later, Yusuke. And watch out for other pedestrians. My mom then went back to her yoga routine.
I grabbed a granola bar and a small water bottle and went off outside…
3rd Person POV:
Yusuke then went on about in jogging, going all around across his neighborhood, which is a typical Japanese neighborhood located in a typical Japanese town. Yusuke lives in a typical two storey Japanese home. This place has an atmosphere of both old and modern yet it complimented each other well. He takes around the sights of the local shops, eating spots, and a few convenient stores while he jogs. Normally, he would probably goe in a convenient store to grab something to eat or drink, but he has something with him, so he moves along.
He passed by a dog park, where some people with dogs goes to. He doesn't own a dog. Yusuke then went through a pathway through a forest, taking around the sceneries, and letting the fresh air breeze through him. Sometimes he says hi to other joggers jogging by, other times he just moves along as he focused of taking in the scenery around him.
By this point, it's close to evening, as the sun is about to set. He takes a stop at nearby park to rest, he then sat down at a park bench and ponders to himself.
(End of 3rd Person POV…)
Yusuke's POV:
As I sat down at this bench, I thought to myself…
I love my life right now, it has some problems as any other, but I am glad I am sooo alive right now. I then thought about school too. Man, I made some changes, from the bullies now leaving me alone, I now managed to actually get more friends, and even enjoy having an actual social life for one, well for this body really. I still have to get a wrap around now that I am him now. I even feel like I inherited some traits from this body, like being more precocious and being more sensitive in some cases, but nothing to really cause any issues for me.
As I continue to sit, watching the sun setting, I thought about Kaya too. I don't know how to exactly deal with her but I know that she's still a good person now, and I don't want to give any negative thoughts about her as she's still innocent here. I mean, she's a cute girl, and I know she'll grow up into an attractive girl by the time high school comes around. Either way, she's my friend and I still maintained a great relationship with her, I think we're closer than before as great friends even. I can understand why the original Yusuke fell for her, she's genuinely a sweet and kind girl, especially to all those around her. It's quite a pity how she's been lead into and been corrupted much later…
Well, I hope I can prevent her from going through that path of self sabotage and destruction for herself. But who knows, I can only do so much without being too intrusive or creeping her out…
*Sighs*
"Dang, what a gong show it will be if I let that happen, but I don't know when or if it happens."
I got up and walked back home, man, it will take a while to get back, but no worries my mom won't be too worried right?
.
.
.
(An hour and a half later…)
I finally arrived home. I opened the door, and my mom wasn't exactly too pleased…
She maybe be smiling and looking calm on the outside, but something tells me that it's anything but that, especially her eyes says something different.
Mom: Yusuke, do you know what time it is?! She says it in an eerily calm manner.
"Yeah… about that." I said it sheepishly as I bent my head down while I entered through the door.
Ohhhh, I'm gonna be in quite a lecture tonight as I'm getting my ass reemed…
.
..
…
(Around roughly 30 minutes of lecture from mom later…)
Yeah, I learned my lesson from this. Granted I already knew about this but it's not like it's still annoying. I get it, I know my mom cares and all that, but why it had to be 30 minutes straight of her drowning on about this…
Regardless, she hugged it out and we're all fine, as we both set up our dinner. I would ideally want my dad to be here with us, but he's out there doing overtime working hard, and looking out for his subordinates too. For he's the kinda guy who cares about their well being too.
I also do hope that he does well enough to get promoted eventually, as that would help us out more. But also, perhaps ease off the stress and have a more manageable schedule by then.
As we both sat down at our dinner, we stated our gratitude to the food, and eat.