Tensura: The Odyssey

Prologue : A New Beginning

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Satoru Mikami walked through the bustling city streets, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement. He wasn't in any particular rush-life, for him, rarely moved at anything other than a steady, unremarkable pace. And that was fine by him.

Satoru was a man of simple habits, and his life reflected that. At thirty-seven years old, he worked as a general contractor, a job he had settled into after finishing his education. It wasn't glamorous, but it paid the bills. The routine suited him just fine -wake up, go to work, come home, maybe enjoy a drink or two before bed. There wasn't much excitement, but there wasn't much disappointment either.

Who am I, really? he often asked himself. Just an ordinary guy, I suppose. He'd never been one to seek out adventure or aim for lofty goals. He was content. Content, but not particularly happy, and certainly not sad. Just... there.

He wasn't blind to the fact that his life was lacking in certain areas. Thirty-seven years old and still a virgin, he thought with a wry smile. Never had a girlfriend, never really tried to find one, if I'm being honest. I guess I just figured things would fall into place eventually. But they never did. It was a fact that both amused and frustrated him in equal measure.

His thoughts drifted to his junior at work, Tamura. Tamura was everything Satoru wasn't-fifteen years younger, full of energy and optimism, always with a grin on his face. They had become friends almost by accident, drawn together by Tamura's genuine admiration for Satoru, despite their age difference. The kid's got his whole life ahead of him, Satoru mused. He already had an inkling of what today's meeting was about. Probably bringing his girlfriend to meet me. It's just like him, always eager to show off.

As he approached the designated meeting spot, he spotted Tamura standing on the corner, waving energetically. Beside him was a young woman-Sawatari, Satoru assumed. Tamura's girlfriend. Satoru couldn't help but smile as he walked over.

"Satoru-senpai!" Tamura called out, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

Satoru chuckled, waving back. "Hey, Tamura. I see you brought company."

Tamura grinned, clearly proud of himself. "Satoru-senpai, this is Sawatari-san. My girlfriend."

Sawatari bowed politely, a shy smile on her face. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Satoru-san."

Satoru eyed her for a moment before smirking. "Sawatari-san, huh? Messing around with coworkers now, are we?"

Sawatari's face turned beet red, her eyes widening in shock. "N-no! It's not like that at all! I-"

"Hey hey," Satoru backpedaled quickly, noticing her distress. "I'm just teasing. Tamura's a good guy, so I guess I'll let it slide."

Sawatari's embarrassment deepened, her eyes welling up with tears. "That's... not funny, Satoru-san."

Before the situation could escalate further, Tamura quickly stepped in, placing a reassuring hand on Sawatari's shoulder. "Don't worry, Sawatari-san. Satoru-senpai's just messing with you. He doesn't mean anything by it."

Sawatari glanced between the two men, the color slowly returning to her cheeks as she realized they were both joking. "Oh... I see," she mumbled, feeling a little silly for getting so worked up.

Satoru chuckled again, giving Tamura an approving nod. "You picked a good one, Tamura. You've got my blessing."

Tamura beamed at the compliment, his grin only widening. "Thank you, Satoru-senpai. That means a lot."

As they walked together toward the restaurant, Satoru couldn't help but think about Tamura. He's one of those guys you can't help but like. Guileless, free-spirited, and the kind of person who's easy to get along with. You can't hate him even if you tried.