Imagine This: you get born and instantly get assigned a role. a pre-determined identity that you have to follow no matter what. your parents say that it's very very important that you maintain said identity and you will get harshly punished if you don't. you try your best to do so, but mess up a few times. you can't help it, it's just how you are. you get scolded for that. one day, after messing up too much, not living up to the expectations of said identity, your parents decide that they had enough. they send you away to a place that will help you with following that role. that will help you drill it into your head, so you wouldn't even think about trying to act different. they won't let you come back until you're exactly what they want you to be. as you learn, you start having doubts. the conditions you're in and everything around you is unpleasant and harsh and violent. you don't like it at all, but it influences you. it doesn't feel like yourself to live and behave like that, but you do now. you soon realize that you're not even allowed to have a "self" in the first place. you're mad at this. you're a mess. you resent your parents. but you don't have much of a choice. you continue learning, because you don't have much else to do. you learn and learn until you're allowed to come back. but you're hesitant. the harsh environment changed you. perhaps it would be better to stay and die here than face your parents again. but, reluctantly, you come back. a different person. closer to that ideal role, but not quite there yet. you're getting there, though. it takes you some time to shake off the "harshness", but you eventually do, along with the frustrations you had. you clean yourself up. you cut your hair and change how you dress. you need to behave and look presentable. exactly the way you're supposed to be like. you got there. you're perfect. you stay like this for some time, seemingly content. but, some people look at you and say that you're too rigid. too stern on yourself. you don't really get it at first, but that awakens the doubts you had in the past. you're afraid to revisit them. isn't it a bit too late to think about something like this? you're too far into this role. you worked so hard to be this. you're what people wanted you to be. do you like it? you're not completely sure. you try to push these thoughts to the back of your head, but they keep coming back. you think about it more and more. did you even want to be like this in the first place? probably not. but what else can you be? you were born to be like this. you can't change it. you're not allowed. but the thought of it bothers you. the thought of being someone else sounds way too tempting. you can't help but think, "what if, just what if, i was born someone different?" . your name is Yuzuru Fushimi