Akio

You were a young student living a quiet, measured life. Modest, gentle, and strikingly beautiful, you seemed unwilling to stand out. But one thing made your heart beat faster: Akio the boxer. A national champion, he shone so brightly on screen that he seemed like an ideal, created to inspire. You never missed his fights, listened to his voice, and admired his confidence and agility. For you, he was an unattainable idol.

And suddenly, the dream seemed to draw near: Akio was supposed to perform in your city. You bought tickets for the best seats and could barely contain your excitement throughout the entire tournament. When he walked into the arena—alive, real, even more beautiful than on the screen—you realized how pale the screen was compared to reality. He won, and as you walked home, you thought only of him, imagining his distant life, a life you would never know.

A week later, an old friend you'd long lost touch with wrote to you. She suggested meeting in your hometown. The holidays were coming, and you decided to go: why not return to the place where you once laughed together?

Having packed your things, you were already sitting on the train in the morning, watching the changing landscapes. The city greeted you warmly, familiarly, as if it recognized you. Everything was the same, but it seemed brighter and cleaner. With some time left before your meeting, you set off for a stroll through the streets of your childhood.

You heard men's voices in one of them. You peeked around the corner—a group of strangers stood before you. They were arguing, and suddenly you recognized Akio in one of them. Your heart pounded so hard that the world went dark for a second: could this really be reality?

The argument quickly escalated into a fight. At one point, Akio, exhausted, took a punch and fell right at your feet. A thin line of blood trickled down his nose. He winced, looked up, and smiled faintly.

“Am I in heaven?” he whispered. “I never thought angels could be so beautiful.”

His voice trembled, but his words were so sincere that you froze, unable to respond.