Love of lifetime

First

"New Year Eve"

"Happy New Year !!"

People sang in harmony as genuine smiles were plastered on their faces.

How noisy...

The year 2000, that so many feared, and other impatiently awaited was being celebrated tonight, January 1st of 2000 in Tokyo. Lights and people everywhere as expected from this big city for such a day. But all of this meant nothing to him.

How annoying...

Toji clicked his tongue as hand in his pockets he was going forward. Not interacting with anyone, his hood on compared to other people he was not in a good mood.

Everyone seemed to be in his way, he had to make it to the restaurant already but too many drunk people blocked the way, so this time he decided to push his way through.

"Hey! Chill man it's the fucking new year stop pushing people around!" One random old man yelled at him, Toji was quick to react and fired him with his stare. Just with his eyes, he had the man gulping and people around moving to make space, so Toji went on and finally the restaurant was in sight.

"I said I can't, I have to go home...!" it was faint and remote but Toji heard a distinguishable voice, his head automatically turned to where it came from. He was surrounded but because he was tall he managed to spot a young woman in an alley between two stores. Three men were with her.

« Three losers assaulting a woman at night... how pathetic. » he scoffed, deciding to go on. The restaurant was just in front of him, and he had something to do.

"Cmon girl, it's new year, let's have a bit of fun..." one of them laughed.

"We're so lonely !" another added causing the trio to laugh.

"If you want we can take the fun home.." the third one spoke. Curiosity picked Toji's attention, whose eyes slowly turned back to watch the situation. It's not like he was going to help her or what, after all thousands of women were raped every year in Japan and he wasn't a saint nor a hero, he couldn't change anything.

"Don't touch me !" she slapped his hand causing the trio to take a step back under the surprise. "I've just worked for 12 straight hours, I'm tired, I just want to sleep right now and the year is going for another 365 days so you can have fun with other people that consent to it!" she yelled at them before pushing the one that was in front of her to make her way out. Toji's eyes were wide open, he looked at her peacefully walking away like nothing happened leaving the 3 guys flabbergasted. He chuckled moving on, it had to be the first time in years he'd smile on a new year.

AN: how old were you in 2000? I was -5 years old 😭