The Wisdom of Destiny: The Complete Story

We were playing tag in her garden, surrounded by the golden hues of the setting sun and the enchanting scent of flowers filling the air.

"Hurry up, Kyotaro!"

"Slow down a little, Hana! I can't keep up with you."

"You're so slow!"

"Finally, I caught you! I win!"

She smiled and said, "Yes, I lost. You're the winner. Congratulations, Kyotaro!"

"And now, the winner gets to ask for anything they want from the loser. So, tell me, Kyotaro, what do you wish for?"

"..."

"....."

"Well then, I have a request."

"What is it?"

"Promise me that we will never be separated."

"What?"

"I love you, Hana, and when we grow up, I will marry you. That's my request."

She remained silent for a moment, a soft smile forming on her lips as if she had been waiting for me to say those words.

Nodding with a wide smile, she said, "Alright, I promise. When we grow up, I will marry you."

"Let's seal it with a pinky promise."

"Alright."

"Now, let's keep playing!"

My life was filled with happiness the moment I met Hana. I was five years old when I first saw her at the playground in the park. That day, I had gone there with my father, and the moment my eyes landed on her, I was mesmerized. She was a radiant girl with fair skin and shimmering pink hair—like a beacon of light that brightened my world.

We played together in the park, laughed, and had so much fun. Before we left, she told me where her house was so we could meet again and play more often. That was when I realized our homes were actually close to each other. From that day on, I spent every moment with her, and each day became a new adventure—one filled with joy and excitement.

But those days didn't last forever...

One evening, as we played in her garden as usual, I noticed something different about her. There was a sadness in her eyes, something she was desperately trying to hide behind a forced smile.

When I asked her what was wrong, she hesitated before finally confessing that her family would be moving to Tokyo the next day due to her parents' job transfer.

I was overwhelmed with sadness and shock, but I didn't dare let it show.

Forcing a smile, I looked at her and said, "There's nothing we can do about it, but we can make today unforgettable. Let's create memories that will last forever."

And so, we played as if nothing was happening—as if this wasn't our last day together.

The next morning arrived too soon. I stood from a distance, watching as she packed her belongings into the moving truck. My heart pounded in my chest, and for a moment, I thought about running to her, stopping her from leaving. But my mind kept telling me otherwise.

There was nothing I could do.

I had no right to interfere in someone else's life.

That was the only thought running through my head.

I kept watching as they got into the car and drove away, slowly disappearing from my sight.

I returned home, trying to act mature—suppressing my emotions, locking them away inside me. There was no point in crying now; it was already over.

Even though we had promised never to be apart… fate had separated us anyway.

What a cruel joke.

After that, I became withdrawn and isolated.

I spent all my time alone in my room, playing video games, watching idol performances, and binge-watching anime. Gradually, I transformed into a full-fledged otaku, completely detached from the outside world. Even at school, I was always alone. While the boys in my class made friends with girls and talked to them as if it were the most natural thing in the world, to me, even saying hello in class felt impossible.

This continued until my third year of high school.

One day, as I opened my locker, I found an anonymous love letter inside.

It simply read:

"I'll be waiting for you on the rooftop."

At first, I thought it must have been placed in the wrong locker, but I had no choice but to accept the invitation.

After school, I hesitantly made my way to the rooftop.

There, waiting for me, was a girl.

I approached her slowly, my heart pounding, unsure of what was about to happen...

I greeted her and asked, "Did you write and send this letter to me?" She nodded in confirmation.

She asked me out? But why? I don't understand the reason. How could someone like me go out with a girl—let alone her? She's not just anyone; she's Shinzo Yumi, the class president and a student council member. The most beautiful girl in the class, with her long, shiny black hair and a perfect figure fit for a top model.

She told me that she had admired me ever since the school festival when I participated in a race against the other students. But I was only invited as an extra to fill the numbers—nothing more.

With an embarrassed expression, she said, "You're an interesting person. You isolate yourself from the rest, as if you're in your own world. I want to see that world. I want to get closer to you and know you better. I love you, Kyotaro."

I stood there, bewildered, my thoughts colliding with one another. I couldn't comprehend what was happening. How could the most popular girl in school—the center of everyone's attention—have feelings for an introverted failure like me?

Thinking about it, I suddenly remembered Hana, my childhood friend, and the promise we made together. Because of that, I lowered my head, assuming a respectful posture of rejection.

"I'm truly happy about your feelings for me, but… I'm really sorry."

I declined her as politely as possible and walked away. Someone like me doesn't deserve to be close to anyone. That was the thought running through my mind at that moment.

Even though I rejected her request to date, I told her that I would grant her any favor she asked for, as a sign of respect for her feelings and to ensure she wouldn't resent me.

She accepted with a smile, but I knew her heart was broken—because I had been through the same thing before.

When I got home, I immersed myself in my favorite hobbies. While watching performances of famous idol groups, my eyes fell upon a blonde girl. Her dancing, movements, and facial expressions captivated me. I admired everything about her. Day after day, I began watching all her performances—whether on TV or live—and found myself cheering for her.

A strange bond formed between us, accompanied by a deep pain in my chest and an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. It was as if something inside me was pushing me—forcing me—to support her.

I finished my third year of high school and was now on the verge of a new phase in my life. But honestly, I'd had enough of school. I never understood the point of attending in the first place. I never enjoyed it, nor did I find any subject particularly interesting.

Despite my efforts, ranking among the top students throughout my academic years, I never saw the purpose behind it all. My days felt like they were shrouded in darkness. As a result, I quit studying altogether. My room became my entire world, and my hobbies were my only activities.

This continued for about two months until, one day, my parents barged into my room, scolding me for doing absolutely nothing all this time. They forced me to leave my room.

But why?

I was already content with my life. All I wanted was a little peace and quiet.

They told me that my younger sister's boyfriend had proposed to her, and she had accepted. The wedding was in a week.

I have a younger sister named Ai—she's about two years younger than me, meaning she's only sixteen. Did she really agree to get married at this age? She hasn't even finished high school yet. Did she do it just to show off to her friends that she's a married woman now?

Is this really normal?

Did our strict father actually approve of this marriage?

I couldn't understand any of it.

They told me to get ready and wear something appropriate for the wedding. Since my sister had made her decision, there was nothing I could do about it.

So, I bought a decent black suit and tried to improve my usual gloomy appearance to avoid getting scolded in front of everyone.

On the wedding day, my sister looked absolutely stunning—more beautiful than ever before. She had invited all her friends, and all our relatives were there. Everyone was so happy that day.

When the wedding ended, I returned to my beloved room and watched an idol performance.

That blonde girl was dancing and singing again.

I had truly fallen for her.

But this time, I noticed something.

She was forcing her smile while performing on stage.

I understand that most idols do that—they fake their smiles, even when they're not genuinely happy. I don't blame them; after all, their smiles fill the place with positive energy.

It's also a smart strategy to attract fans and boost their popularity.

But she was different.

Her smile wasn't just fake—it was masking a deep sadness inside her heart.

I could feel it.

And for some reason, my body moved on its own, cheering her on.

"Give it your all! This is for you!"

I kept shouting that until the performance ended.

Right now, I'm just a reclusive otaku. But I love what I do, and I find it interesting.

However, I know this won't last forever.

So, I decided to take a step forward—to climb the first rung of adulthood.

I needed to find a job. Maybe then, I'd discover something that truly interests me.

I have extensive knowledge of technology, machines, and equipment. I can repair them, and I can even build my own devices. I taught myself all of this to fill my free time.

It didn't take long before I found a job at a company that manufactures computers.

The work was exhausting, but I found it enjoyable since I had already been building devices in my room.

Within just a month, I was promoted to supervisor.

But as the workload increased, I started feeling bored.

I loved making computers, but I hated the tedious responsibilities that came with my new position.

So, I quit.

And I returned to my room once again.

My father was furious. He scolded me harshly for resigning and ordered me to go back to work.

But this is my life. It's none of their business. I have the right to do what I want.

That's what I thought—but I didn't have the courage to say it.

So, I went back to work.

But this time, I told my managers, "I don't want a promotion. I just want to build devices."

Yes, that's what I truly enjoy.

If I must work, then at the very least, I want to do something I love.

I grew within the company and became so famous that the biggest corporation in the city personally requested me by name to work for them. I already agreed, as I do what I love and enjoy, and my salary will be many times greater than my current one. It's a good opportunity for me to take another step forward.

One day, I was enjoying my favorite hobbies in my beloved room when my mother came in and told me to propose marriage to my cousin. I was surprised at first, "What? Why? Why all of a sudden?" I asked her for the reason, and she replied that she wants to be reassured about my future and that I would be happy with her.

But I'm already satisfied with my current life. Honestly, I don't understand why I would be happier with her. I have a job I enjoy, a good salary, and I indulge in my hobbies. This is the ideal life anyone like me could ask for. Wouldn't my mother be happy with this? I understand that my cousin is a beautiful and lovely girl, and if she agreed to marry me, my mother would be thrilled and would boast to her friends, but I really don't want that. I already have a girl I love and admire greatly, and I've vowed to wait for her.

"Mom, I don't want that. I don't want to get married," I actually said it to her face. But she got very angry, scolded me, saying, "Your younger sister got married, and you're still stuck in your room playing children's games. You should be ashamed of yourself." I don't understand why I should be ashamed. What wrong did I do? What's wrong with having a favorite place to spend your private time, even if it's your small room?

She didn't listen to what I said and had already contacted her family, setting a date with them. I didn't dare to say more; there was no use talking now.

The meeting arrived, and I went with my parents. I didn't utter a word as my mother started talking immediately upon our arrival, agreeing with them on the wedding date.

I was powerless, and everything was done without me saying a single word.

The wedding day arrived. My cousin was stunning, but I never had feelings for her. We barely spoke to each other from time to time.

The ceremony began, and everyone was very happy. I thought, "Well, it's alright. Since everyone is happy, there's no problem with it."

I lived with my cousin under the same roof and she became my wife. She was the type who never let her phone out of her hand, woke up late, and constantly ignored me. She wouldn't talk to me or give me any attention.

Since I'm her husband now, shouldn't we at least talk and try to understand each other? But since she's happy, there's no problem with me, that's what I thought.

I went about my usual routine: I went to work, returned to my private home in the evening, took care of my wife, and fulfilled all her requests. This continued for several months, but one day, after returning from work, I found my wife waiting for me, calling me to talk. This was unusual behavior; it was the first time she'd asked to talk to me. What happened to make her change like this?

She asked for a divorce!

...

Why? What's the reason for this happening so suddenly?

She told me she couldn't stand me anymore and that I didn't care about her at all?

"But I fulfilled all your requests and took care of you when you were sick too. Isn't that what a husband does for his wife? What did I do wrong?"

I tried to ask for a reason, but it was the same answer. She didn't give me a real reason.

I agreed because she seemed adamant about the divorce.

We went to the judge to finalize the divorce proceedings. She asked him for the reason and presented some documents. Then tears streamed down her eyes, and she said, "Sir, he doesn't care about me at all; he doesn't even look at me and treats me like his pet and servant. He would come home drunk out of his mind and would constantly beat me with a look of enjoyment. Sir, I can't take it anymore. I want a divorce, and I want compensation."

I stood there, shocked by what I heard. I looked at her and found her looking at me with a wicked and cunning smile.

I looked at the judge and denied her statement, but he didn't believe me due to a lack of evidence to prove my claim.

She claimed my house as compensation for what she had said, and the judge agreed.

I was tricked and my private house was taken, but I didn't feel sad about my house. I was slightly upset, but I felt truly sad because all my efforts were denied.

I returned to my family home and told my family what had happened. My mother stood shocked and began scolding me, denying everything I told her. I became the only villain in this matter.

Why am I the one being scolded, and not her? Why does this always happen to me?

Many questions started swirling in my head. Does this happen because I'm a good person, or what?

I'll return to my room and pursue my hobbies. I won't think about it too much.

After two weeks, I heard from my mother that my cousin was going to marry another man, and they would live in my house.

I couldn't bear what I heard and rushed to the wedding. I watched from afar and found her happy with her new lover.

Goodbye, my ex-wife. I'm happy for you; you found your true happiness. Consider this house a gift from me for your marriage.

I continued my personal life as usual, putting all my sadness behind me. I went to work as usual, and when I returned, I pursued my favorite hobbies. And so my life continued for a while.

I watched my favorite idol group and watched this blonde singer, cheering her on as usual. She was putting in the effort and becoming a star. When she finished her singing and dancing, and the audience started cheering, I also felt a sense of accomplishment. She's the only one who makes me happy.

One day, this group was performing near my house. I was thrilled and went to the show. It was the best day of my life; I saw this girl in person, putting in her effort before me. I made sure to buy tickets in the front rows to watch her closely and cheer her on as much as I could. While cheering her on, our eyes met, and she was very surprised, as if expressions of shock were apparent on her face.

I wondered why she did that. My heart was pounding just from seeing her look at me. What is this feeling, I wonder?

She looked like she was about to cry just from seeing me. I noticed that and raised my cheering stick, waving it in front of her, "Do your best!"

She nodded slightly, happiness evident on her face, and continued singing and dancing. Her performance was better than before. When the show ended, I wanted to meet her, but she disappeared suddenly. I asked the rest of the group about her, but they also didn't know where she went.

I became very anxious, and my body involuntarily ran around until I found her among a group of fans.

I felt a little relieved. As I was approaching them, I noticed someone among them holding a small knife under a signing envelope, asking the girl for an autograph.

I ran as fast as I could. I don't know why, but something inside me was compelling me to move and telling me to protect this girl at all costs.

I arrived just in time before the girl took the envelope and fell into the trap.

The boy was about to stab her, but I stood in front of her just in time and received the stab wound in my stomach instead.

Everyone present started screaming loudly, and the criminal escaped amidst the chaos.

I felt intense heat in my stomach, to the point of being speechless from the pain. When I opened my eyes with difficulty, I found the blonde girl holding me, crying and screaming loudly, asking anyone for help, calling for an ambulance.

She was crying and saying, "Wake up, wake up! Don't die, please."

I'm glad you're okay. I finally found something I could do this time. Now there will be meaning to my life.

I lost consciousness, and the last thing I heard was, "Wake u... Kanz..." The voice was garbled, and I couldn't hear what she said.

I woke up in the hospital, and someone was holding my hand. It's the blonde girl I saved. Why is she here?

The girl sensed that I had regained consciousness and woke up. She found me alive in bed and began crying intensely, apologizing, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry that happened to you because of me."

"No, you didn't do anything wrong; the criminal is the reason for that."

She told me that the police investigated the matter and caught the criminal. When they interrogated him, he confessed that someone hired him to kill her. Her ex-husband was the reason for it.

He hired a killer to kill her because she wanted a divorce because she didn't love him, and their love was the result of a business relationship where he was her former manager at a music entertainment company. But she resigned from the company and joined the idol group, and as a result, her ex-husband got angry and did that.

I asked her, "Why did he want to kill you in the first place?" She replied, "My family owed that man a lot of money. After my family and I moved to Tokyo, my parents' business didn't go well, and my father turned to that man to lend us money in exchange for marrying me. My father agreed to that, and when my parents couldn't repay the debt, they committed suicide, leaving me to marry him."

I got very angry when I heard that. I asked myself what my reaction would be if my girlfriend had been subjected to the same situation. And then I decided that I would avenge her against that crazy man.

She begged me, saying, "Don't mess with that man; he's very dangerous," but I didn't listen to her and waited until my treatment was finished and I recovered.

I conducted some investigations in secret and found out where he lives and his exact background. His name is "Shimazaki Arata." He's the CEO of a large arts company in Tokyo and has a huge mansion here in Akihabara. He's currently at his house, waiting for news of the girl's death from the killer.

The mansion is full of robotic guards and equipped with a sophisticated security system. Entering there is like a miracle for ordinary people, but not for me.

Luckily, I learned how machines and security systems work. I infiltrated the mansion and stood before the system control room, hacking the password using my device which I designed specifically for this purpose. I managed to hack the password and opened the room's door.

When I entered, I found a giant electronic device controlling the security systems and the deployed robots.

I planted a deadly virus to reprogram the robots and stop them from working.

Is this the main system really? It's child's play for me, and I've finished destroying it from the inside. The alarm is going off now?

Arata is sitting in his seat, sipping a glass of alcohol, surprised to hear the alarm about an intruder.

"What's happening? How dare someone mess with me? I'll kill this rat immediately."

"He's probably started looking for me, but it's too late now. I've already prepared a welcome befitting him."

When I exited the system room, he was approaching me and saw me, "Hello, Mr. Arata, how are you doing today?"

Anger and tension were evident on his face. "How did you get in here, you rat? Don't you know who I am?"

"Heh heh, I already know who you are, Mr. Shimazaki Arata, and I also know that you're the mastermind behind the murder of the blonde idol girl, don't you?"

He started to get nervous and sweat. Okay, I'll scare him a little. "You must be wondering about your hired killer. I regret to say that I'm the one who apprehended him, and he confessed everything to me. Now, prepare for punishment."

"You won't dare do anything to me, you stupid robots! Kill this rat."

"..."

"..."

"What's happening? Why aren't they listening to me?"

"Hahaha, they're already under my control, Mr. Arata."

He started to tremble and spoke in a frightened tone, "How did you manage to do that?"

"Don't underestimate me; I'm the genius otaku. Now, robots, eliminate him immediately!"

He began screaming loudly, "You won't get away with this! Do you hear me?!"

"Hmph, I don't care what someone about to die has to say."

While I was planting the virus to disable the robots, I thought about sabotaging their control system and programming a simple control system that would allow me to control them.

The robots gathered around him, their eyes turning red, assuming an attack position. They pulled out submachine guns from their hands and opened fire on him.

I succeeded in eliminating him.

When I returned to the girl who was standing with her idol group, I found her running towards me urgently, worried about me.

I told her, "I avenged you against that man." Expressions of shock appeared on her face, as if she couldn't believe what I said.

I left her and went to my house, to my beloved room.

Morning came, and news of Mr. Shimazaki Arata's death "under mysterious circumstances" became breaking news throughout the city.

I went to work as usual, and when I was returning, I found the girl waiting for me on the road. When she saw me, she started running towards me, very happy, tears of joy in her eyes, and thanked me profusely.

I felt happy to be the reason for someone's happiness and thought to myself, "Finally, I've accomplished something I wanted."

She said she would wait for me tomorrow in the park, "There's something important I need to tell you."

I went to the park at the appointed time and found her waiting there, her eyes hinting at longing. When she saw me, she came towards me smiling and said, "You arrived exactly on time."

Silence fell for a moment, and I was then reliving moments of my childhood in this place, saying involuntarily, "How I miss these days. I hope Hana is safe."

The girl looked at me in shock, then smiled slightly and said, "You remember these moments, then."

She said to me, "What would you do if your old love was in front of you? How would you react?"

I was a little surprised and said, "That's impossible. She traveled to a distant place a long time ago, and she probably started a family and found her happiness."

The girl started crying and said, "No, none of that happened. She suffered greatly in your absence, waiting for you the whole time and yearning to see you."

"How do you know all this?"

She began to speak loudly, saying, "Because I am Shirazeki Hana. I've been waiting for you all this time, Kanzaki Kyotaro."

I was shocked by what I heard and was unable to move.

"Hana? Is this really you? But how?"

"It's me, Kyotaro. I chose this place specifically for this confession because it's a special place for us."

Then she took my hand and said, "Pinky swear, remember?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, "It's really you."

I held her and hugged her tightly, saying, "I've missed you so much, Hana."

"How did you know I was Kyotaro? Did my childhood features show?"

"I recognized you when I saw you at the concert. How could I mistake you, my only childhood friend? But I kept it from you, fearing you might have forgotten me, but my heart is at peace now."

She said happily, "I'm finally back, Kyotaro."

We started talking to each other about everything we'd done since we parted ways until we met again.

When I finished talking, I found her hugging me and saying, "You did your best, Kyotaro."

My eyes began to shed tears involuntarily.

"What? What's happening? Why am I crying?"

Ah, so that's it. I waited so long for someone to acknowledge my efforts and tell me that I did my best.

I rested my head on her chest, and she said to me in a warm voice, "It's okay, Kyotaro. Let your pent-up feelings out. I will receive them all with great joy."

These warm words filled my heart with happiness, and I felt the security and belonging that I had been deprived of my whole life, as if I had been waiting for those words. Then I burst out crying, releasing all the pent-up sadness in my heart.

"I missed you, Kyotaro. We'll never be separated again."

I continued like this for a while until I finally calmed down.

I said to her without hesitation, "Hana (I love you). Please, marry me."

She smiled and said, "I accept. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."

I took her to my house and told my parents that I was going to marry her, but they didn't seem to approve.

My mother said I wouldn't be happy with her and that I deserved better, and she started insulting her.

I interrupted her with boldness and anger, saying loudly, "(I don't care about your opinion anymore. This is my private life, and I will live it my way. I won't allow anyone to object to it again.)"

Silence fell afterward, and no one dared to speak. I took Hana with me, left the house, and went to finalize our wedding ceremony.

I rented a house for us temporarily, to live in until we found a suitable home. I don't have a problem with money; I have more than enough.

All I thought about at that time was that I wanted to stay with my one and only love and never be separated again, so I arranged everything quickly.

The day before our wedding, I asked Hana, "Will you accept living with this loser and gloomy man?" I wanted her to be satisfied staying with me.

She replied with a smiling face, hugging me tightly, and said, "Of course, I agree. I feel like my dream is coming true. I'm very happy to stay with you. That's all I need."

She told me, "(You saved my life and freed me from the chains that bound me all these years. Therefore, you are the winner in the game of fate. Ask for anything you want, Kyotaro.)"

"..."

"..."

"Then I have one request."

"What is it?"

"Please dye your hair back to its beautiful pink color again. I want the Hana, my childhood friend and my one and only love, to look at me again."

"Your requests are orders, my hero."

Our wedding day finally arrived, and Hana appeared with her beautiful pink hair again.

"Welcome back, Hana. I missed you very much."

She looked at me with her beautiful smile and said, "I'm finally back, Kyotaro."

And so, our wedding day dawned with its beautiful arrival, and all my family members attended my wedding. I was truly surprised at first after the harsh words I said, but that's how things should be.

Hana and I started living together, and my beautiful days returned. We already have our child. My first child! I've become a father.

I will protect them both, no matter the cost. And I will pave the way for my child until he grows up and becomes a man, hopefully finding his own happiness.