Chapter 1
Chapter 1: A Stranger in the City
Osaki never imagined that life could change so quickly.
Just a few months ago, he was living a peaceful life with his wife and young son. They were not rich, but they were happy. Every evening, they would sit together, share stories, and dream about a better future.
Then everything changed.
Financial problems began to pile up. Bills remained unpaid, food became expensive, and arguments slowly replaced laughter inside their home.
Osaki tried everything he could, but no matter how hard he worked, it was never enough.
One night, after seeing his wife secretly crying while putting their son to sleep, he made the hardest decision of his life.
He would leave home.
He would go to another city and earn enough money to give his family the life they deserved.
The next morning, he said goodbye to his wife and son and boarded a bus to a city he had never seen before.
Little did he know that this journey would change his life forever.
The city was far larger than he had expected.
Tall buildings surrounded him. Thousands of strangers walked past him every day, each busy with their own lives.
For weeks, Osaki searched for work.
He visited shops, restaurants, warehouses, and offices, but nobody was hiring.
His savings disappeared quickly.
Soon, he could no longer afford a room.
Every night, he slept on a cold sidewalk with only a small bag of clothes beside him.
Still, he refused to give up.
One afternoon, while wandering through the city looking for work, he noticed a medium-sized mart on a busy street.
A sign outside read:
“Staff Required.”
Without wasting a second, Osaki walked inside.
Behind the counter stood a beautiful woman in her late twenties.
She was confident, elegant, and clearly the owner of the business.
Her name was Anna.
“What can I do for you?” she asked.
“I’m looking for a job,” Osaki replied.
Anna studied him carefully.
Most people would have ignored a tired-looking stranger.
But there was something different about him.
Something honest.
After a short conversation, she decided to hire him.
“You can start tomorrow.”
For the first time in weeks, Osaki smiled.
“Thank you. You won’t regret it.”
The following days passed quickly.
Osaki worked harder than anyone else in the store.
He arrived early.
He stayed late.
He treated customers with respect.
Within days, sales began improving.
Customers returned more often.
The mart felt more organized.
Everything seemed better.
Anna noticed it immediately.
She had owned the mart for years, but she had never seen such a positive change happen so quickly.
One evening, after closing time, she quietly reviewed the business accounts.
Her eyes widened.
The profits had increased significantly.
A thought crossed her mind.
“Was my previous employee stealing from me?”
She didn’t know the answer.
But one thing was certain.
Hiring Osaki had been the best decision she had made in a long time.
A few days later, Anna left the mart after work.
As she drove home, she noticed a familiar figure sitting alone near the roadside.
She slowed down.
Her eyes widened.
It was Osaki.
He was sitting on a bench with a small bag beside him.
No home.
No family.
No place to go.
The sight disturbed her more than she expected.
She drove away, but the image stayed in her mind all night.
The next morning, she walked up to him.
“Osaki, where do you live?” she asked.
For a moment, he remained silent.
Then he smiled weakly.
“I don’t.”
Anna frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been sleeping outside since I arrived in the city. I wanted to save enough money before renting a room.”
For the first time, Anna saw the reality behind his smile.
The man who worked harder than anyone else had nowhere to sleep.
Without thinking further, she made a decision.
“I have a spare room at my house.”
Osaki looked shocked.
“What?”
“You can stay there.”
“No, Madam. I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“People will talk. You’re a respected woman.”
Anna folded her arms.
“I don’t care what people say.”
“But—”
“That’s not a request, Osaki.”
She smiled.
“It’s an order.”
For the first time in many weeks, Osaki felt something he hadn’t felt for a long time.
Relief.
That evening, after closing the mart, Osaki moved into Anna’s house.
The room was small but comfortable.
To him, it felt like a palace.
After arranging his few belongings, he lay down on the bed.
Within minutes, he was asleep.
Meanwhile, Anna stood outside the room.
For a moment, she quietly watched him sleeping.
A strange feeling settled inside her heart.
She couldn’t explain it.
She barely knew him.
Yet somehow, he felt different from every man she had ever met.
Looking at the sleeping stranger, she whispered softly to herself:
“Who are you, Osaki?”
And why do I feel like meeting you is about to change everything?
To Be Continued...
