Selescte Origins

The First Encounter?

(Songs for this chapter: Mister Money Bags, Bernadette.)

Me. I am myself.
As hollow and useless these words are to anyone else, these words hit me like a bullet.

I am me. I am not a monster, I am not poor, I am not worthless,

I am myself. A human being who has wasted so much time trying to figure out who he was, when the answer has been here all along. I am me. There is no perfect descriptive words or labels that suit me, nor anyone else. I am simply myself, and always will be. You can use words to describe me, but those words aren't me, I am.
I hate being me. Being myself is torture, but being anyone else would be wrong, right?
You can't choose who you are or want to be without using your own being to choose. If you really were that person, you wouldn't choose yourself; Because nobody is ever happy with being themselves. There will always be someone you think is better than you. Someone you gaze upon, wishing you were just like them. I have felt this many times before.. I have wished to be the rich man stepping foot into his mansion; I've wished to be my friend, as I admire them.

But I never thought someone would help me become exactly like them.

Skin rough with dirt and cobble, I hadn't bathed in awhile. I lived on the streets, there was nowhere to bathe. The dirt eventually became part of me, sticking onto my skin as if it were always there- as if it was natural.

Drenched in rainwater, I wobbled over to the nearest cover I could find, and managed to squeeze myself against the wall of a cafe as much as I could to get under the small bit of roof above me. It was still pouring; even harder now, it was good I found cover even if a small bit.

Then from the corner of my eye, I saw someone walking towards me. I prepared myself to get yelled at by some cafe worker to scram, but when that didn't happen and instead the man asked me if I was okay, I was stunned.

It's rare to find kind people such as this in yokohama, especially around where I live considering the amount of ability-users.

A voice shook me back into reality. "Hello?" He said, wondering why I was unresponsive.

"Hh-" *I stuttered, my voice sounding more hoarse than I thought it would. "Hi, sir.." I managed to respond. The man before me looked extremely wealthy, not flaunting his wealth- but he did wear expensive materials in clothing, and wore several pieces of jewelry... maybe he is flaunting his wealth, oh well.

"Are you alright?" He asked me, his voice a soft hum. He was bent down towards me, and I figured even if I stood up he'd still need to bend down to look at me.

"Well," I started, then realized my tone sounded like I was biting out the words and switched it. "I.. don't know?" I hesitated to say, because it was an obvious lie.
"You don't seem okay." He commented, before extending his hand out and offering it to me. I took his hand and he lifted me up, then handed me his umbrella!

"Oh no no no!! I'm already wet, you shouldn't have to get drenched in water too! Please, take it back-" He cut me off. "Don't worry, we're only walking into this cafe here. I'll treat you to a cup of tea, you look like you need one."

What? -Oh. He just wanted me to hold his umbrella, -wait what?!? Treat me to a cup of tea?? Is he okay, did he hit his head on the way here? Before I can say anything, he drags me by my hand into the cafe.

"Two cups of tea, please. Oh, and add a rice bowl to that." He orders, and the waitress nods before heading to the back to prepare everything. He seemed a bit annoyed at that for some reason, but didn't mention anything until they sat down.
"How disrespectful.." He muttered, and I came to the realization that this guy is the typical rich asshole, who apparently hit his head and invited me for tea with him.
I decided to speak up. "If I may ask.. What did she even do?" I ask him.

"It isn't about that, it's what she didn't do. I've been here many times and the staff are usually extremely polite, bowing and responding audibly. She must've seen you and decided not to. It's rude."

I sat there shocked for a moment, taking back everything I said about him being a rich asshole.

"Oh.. thanks, but really I'm used to it." I responded, "What is your name? It'd be a little awkward to keep calling you sir afterall-" I joke, to lighten the mood, and it surprisingly works.
"Ah, you can call me Sapphire."
"Sapphire-San then?" I ask while smiling, but he blinks in confusion before looking like he understands.

"Ah, I forgot about Japanese customs! Yes, that is alright. What shall I call you?"

"Oh- my name is Selescte." I responded.

"Selescte-Kun! What a lovely name you have," He said while smiling.

The tea arrives, and we fall into conversation. Learning about each other, where we live, our friends, and where we come from. It's surprisingly not all that shocking when he says he is from Britain, and I simply say I was born here.

"You don't have a place to stay?" He questioned, even though it was more of an observation because he talked again right after. "You could always live in my home. No cost, but you'd have to get used to daily cleanliness and meals."
My mouth gaped for a moment, then I picked it up off the floor once I realized it was rude.

                                                       "Really?"      "Really."        "..Please."