1 Prologue

The year is 2095 and the world is unrecognisable than it was nearly 80 years ago. Technology has advanced to astonishing feats to where now holograms and flying cars are the normality. Some places in the world are more advanced than others and they have become the leading forces in technology. The Union of Technological Development or the UTD for short is responsible for all technology that is being used. They aren't specific countries but rather cities that have gained a form of autonomy from their respected governments.

Currently, there are 5 cities that form this union.

The first one is San Francisco, who is the leader of the union, then comes London, Cairo, Sydney and last but not least Tokyo.

...

I lived in the countryside on the island of Shikoku. The village I grew up in was a peaceful one with beautiful landscapes. Just a few months back, I celebrated my 16th birthday and it was the time to roll up to high school. I had already planned my trip to Tokyo since there were no schools in the village. The night before the trip, I strolled around the place and greeted every person I knew since it was small.

"Hello there Akiro,"

It was the voice of one of my closest neighbours, miss Imato. She was an elderly woman approaching eighty years old but her looks would say otherwise. For a woman of her age, she didn't have any wrinkles or signs of mass ageing. She still had to wear glasses due to her being so old but she still could knock some bandits out if needed.

"Miss Imato, how are you doing?"

I walked towards the rusty gate. I tried to open it but it didn't budge an inch so I just leaned against it.

"I'm doing just fine. The monthly dose of nanobots keeps my health stable to where i can work in the garden without worrying that I might collapse."

She was right. Medicine wasn't as advanced and only vaccines and your personal immune system could protect you against bacteria and viruses before. Now, with the introduction of nanobots, medicine has reached new heights to where life expectancy is over one hundred years.

"That's good to hear miss Imato. Your garden is doing terrific as well," I replied with a smile.

"Thank you Akiro, you are leaving tomorrow for Tokyo,  right?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's going to be a new experience for me, that's for sure"

I scratched the back of my head nervously. I didn't have a clue what to expect but I was excited about the trip.

"I'll be going now, take care," I waved and headed home.

"I wish you all the best," She waved back.

When I returned home, I was met with my father's dissatisfied gaze. He wasn't very fond of me leaving the village behind for my own purpose of studying in the city. He disliked technology to the point where if a city resident decided to visit, they would think this is a museum and not a house. It was mind-blowing to me how we still use things like newspapers when there are articles about it in the form of a hologram. It even looks like a normal newspaper. The furniture is at least fifty years old with the things like sofas that were glued to the floor. Nowadays, the furniture has the element of a switch, like when you say 'lights off', the program will recognize the voice and turn them off automatically.

My father is definitely stuck in the past. His name is Kanno and he is turning forty-five this month. He is going through the infamous midlife crisis, constantly cranky and lazy to the core. In the last month, I haven't seen him leave the house more than three times. He has also gained a few pounds and it was even showing on his body. He stood in front of me with his blue untucked shirt and brown shorts. His messy and somewhat grey hair showing that he doesn't even have the strength to go to the bathroom and comb it.

"So, you're back. Have you changed your mind yet?" He grimed.

"No father, I said what I had to say and I'm going no matter what, " I said firmly while lowering my head.

"Fine, don't come back here if you are disappointed or scared,"

He sighed and sat down in his armchair, lifting one foot and putting it on the other.

In that moment, my mother, whose name is Seta, came out of the kitchen. She wasn't my real mother but my stepmom. My real mother sadly passed away when she gave birth to me and that's why my father is like this. He blamed technology and the doctors in the hospital, who he claimed, didn't do their jobs right. Later, he was given the information that my mother had developed some sort of sickness that was deadly to her and that I was lucky to have survived as it affects the child as well. Since my father wasn't capable of taking care of me, he got married a few months after my mother's death. Do I blame him? I can't really say, under different circumstances maybe I would but since I was in question I can't criticize him.

"Welcome home Akiro, " She hugged me.

My stepmom was ten years younger than my father. She still looked like she was in her twenties and I can't lie, I didn't even know she was my stepmom until I was about twelve. I still treated her like my real mother since she took care of me even though I wasn't her child. Most stepmothers would abandon or reject the child that isn't their own but I got lucky. She is nice and always cheerful. She has always supported me by buying me new toys when I needed new ones. Even when I got a scolding from my father, she would come and pamper me, telling me that everything will be alright. I don't understand how she puts up with him when he is in a drunken state or just on a tantrum but I guess she has something special.

Her semi-long black hair was tied in two places with special headbands that were given by her mother on her wedding day. Her face was clean for the most part with only bags that were forming due to lack of sleep she has been experiencing the last few days. Primarily because my sister was sick. It was just a regular flu with a high fever but it still worried her even though she could call a doctor and get it treated quickly. She probably had to avoid that otherwise, my father would have been breathing down her neck because she brought tech into his home and paid him with his own money. She wore a white cloth over her T-shirt as a nice smell was coming from the kitchen. She also had black pants which she recently bought from the local sewing shop.

"What's for dinner? " I pulled away and looked at her as my stomach growled.

"I made you something special since you are leaving tomorrow." She replied, seeing my hungry expression.

She turned around and went to set up the table and I helped. I was hungry and every minute that passed I got even hungrier. When the table was set my lazy ass father got up and sat at the table first, leaving his unfinished beer on the table.

"Rizawa! Dinner time!" My mother shouted and after a few seconds, a peeking head could be spotted.

"Coming..." She said quietly as she stepped out of her room and sat at the table.

Rizawa was my stepsister. She turned 14 a few months ago and she was a quiet one. She never really did anything that was considered crazy like when I was little. Usually, she is in her own corner playing with her dolls and drawing pictures. She is an exceptional talent when it comes to drawing. One day, she was sitting up against the garden tree and decided to draw me in the garden playing with a kite, even though I didn't have one. She only had some sort of crayons and what she drew was impressive, to say the least. She managed to draw me in chibi form and the garden with the background detail. We pinged her masterpiece on the fridge and my mother was so proud of her while my father didn't take much notice.

"Hey sis, how are you?" I asked, trying to make a conversation.

"I'm good, just hungry." She calmly responded.

She had my father's brown eyes but my stepmother's hair colour but due to some genetics, she had a white hairline. It was cute since it looked like a lightning bolt that formed with her hair.

"You and me both, " I chucked and patted her.

Soon enough, my mother came back with a casserole.

"Here is your favourite meal," She announced.

It was, indeed, my favourite. Rice with special sauce and a bit of meat with some salad on the side made up my favourite dish.

"Thank you, mother!" I happily exclaimed as I drooled a little. I was so focused on the food that I didn't even notice. She loaded my plate and gave it to me. I had to patiently wait for everyone to ger their plate and start eating before I could dig in. The food looked and smelled so good but I didn't want to anger my father with bad manners. Once my mother finished giving out plates of food, she sat down.

"Alright everyone," she put her hands together. "Pray to the gods for giving us the opportunity to make a good meal," She prayed for all of us at the table.

"Let's eat," She finished her prayer and gave us permission to dig in.

I ate slowly, trying to enjoy every bite as this might be my last good meal in a while. Knowing my mother's cooking, I knew that it would be good but for some reason, it was even more delicious. I couldn't tell if it was the sauce, which comes from the rich places of south India, or the meat but it made every bite even more valuable. After finishing, I went to wipe my mouth with my sleeve but a loud grunt from my father stopped me. My eyes met his as he watched my next step carefully. I lowered my hand and took a napkin. He nodded delightedly. My mother took my plate and the rest of the dishes to the kitchen with Rizawa's help.

I went to my room and started packing. I pulled out my luggage which was actually my father's old suitcase. It was pretty torn up to where the fabric was showing but it was the best thing I had. I opened the wardrobe and took all the good clothes I had and put them in the suitcase. I also had a backpack and I placed some valuable things in there like family photos, trophies etc.

While packing, someone knocked on my door even though it was open. I glanced over and Rizawa stood there.

"What's up?" I asked her while continuing to pack my stuff.

"U-um, would you mind coming to my room after you are done packing?"

"Sure, what for?" I straightened up and looked at her.

"I want to give you a gift before you go," She responded somewhat nervously as it was her nature even around her family.

"I'll be there in 10 minutes," I smiled cheerfully.

She nodded and smiled back faintly before leaving. After I was done packing, I took a deep breath.

"All done!" I exclaimed and stretched, my back hurting a little.

I walked to her room and knocked.

"Come in," she said and I opened the door.

She was sitting on her bed with a notebook, pen and drawing paper next to her. She was holding her teddy that only had one eye and it was missing an ear. I bought her that teddy on her 6th birthday. The surprise and smile that she showed me that day, filled my heart with joy. She had taken good care of it for the most part. A few years ago, my mother offered to buy her a new teddy since the one I bought was old and falling apart but she refused. She said 'My brother bought me this and no other toy could replace it.'

"Sit there on that stool." She pointed.

"What is this about?" I sat on the stool, waiting for her to answer.

"I said I wanted to give you a gift. Now, stay still." She took the notebook and drawing paper and put it in her lap before making an artistic sign by closing one eye and focusing on what she wants to picture.

"Make your hands more natural. Put them on your lap." She asked sticking her tongue out and tapped the pencil with it to start drawing. I did as she told me and put my hands on my lap.

I tried not to move much but it was extremely difficult. I had an itch every few minutes. I don't know why but my body just wanted to make it as difficult for her as possible. I clenched my teeth as a few sweat drops went down my face. Eventually, she finished and stood up.

"I'm done," she announced.

I sighed and scratched myself a little in relief. She turned the notebook around and revealed my portrait.

It wasn't perfect as there were a few lines that were a little off but it still looked good. She detailed my hair and my face well and I admired her style of drawing.

"Your artistic skills are getting better by the day, " I smiled as I took the portrait to get a closer look.

"Yeah, I am still practising but is it really good or are you just saying it because I am your sister?" she played with her fingers nervously.

"No, I really like it but you know what would make this even better?" I booped her nose to get her attention.

"What?"

"A piece of art like this doesn't go without a signature. Why don't you sign it for me?"

"You want my signature? Okay!"

She happily asserted.

She sat back down quickly and wrote her signature on the bottom right of the paper. She gave it back to me with a smile. Her signature consisted of a big R as it was the first letter of her name and after some scribbles with the dot over the 'i' was shaped like a heart. I nodded to her and gave her a small pat.

"Thank you for this. I'll be sure to put it on my wall as soon as I get there."

She hugged me unexpectedly. I was a bit shocked but I hugged back.

"I am going to miss you." A tear went down her face as her voice trembled a bit.

"Look, I am not gonna be gone forever. I will come visit you every summer as soon as it starts, I'll come back." I brushed her hair as I spoke.

"I am gonna have to wait a year for that. Will you at least come on my birthday?" She looked up at me with teary eyes. I couldn't say no so I tried to reassure her.

"I will don't worry, that will be marked on my calendar for sure."

I wasn't entirely sure if I was going to be able to come but I needed to say that to keep her happy.

"I wish you luck brother. I hope the city is as you imagined it to be."  She pulled away and looked down when she said that a little saddened.

"I hope so too," I pulled her chin up so I can look at her innocent face.

"I'll write letters every week to tell you how I am doing. I got to go now. It's late and I will have to get up early tomorrow." I brushed her cheek before waving and leaving her room.

I went to my room and laid in my bed. I couldn't sleep. Anxiety was building up as I took another look around my room. The bed that I was laying on, was placed where the only window was in my room. A wardrobe was near the door and the carpet was right under it. A study desk was next to the wardrobe with a few posters above it, showcasing my dream of going to Tokyo. One of the posters said: 'For the good of humanity and the world, Tokyo is where dreams become reality.' I was so gassed when I got that poster from a travelling merchant. I spent my lunch money on it and my father wasn't pleased when he found out. He gave me a good spanking that day and I was forbidden to have more than five Zel, which is the currency of the world right now. Five Zel doesn't get you much. A decent sandwich costs three Zel, a soup costs four and beverages such as juice and some carbonated drinks cost five. So in reality, I screwed myself over but I didn't regret it. I turned to the side and closed my eyes, anticipating the morning. Even though I was nervous, I was also very eager to see one of the most developed cities in the world.