Noboro no Hoshi

by Alden Bunag

Volume 1- The Talented Ones

Introduction

What's it's like? To have no one but your family? To have no one else care about you, or even really know you exist? To know you have something that others would appreciate, but not be able to show them? I know what it's like, because the answers to all these questions are what my life is.

Chapter 1- The Unknown Boy

My name is Sora Imaishi Enokido. I'm an eleven-year-old sixth grader at Mushiatsu Elementary School. I'm the poorest kid in school, but none of the kids really know that because to them, I'm really nobody. You see, my family is, what you would say, cursed with non-existence, so it's really hard for both of them to get a decent job. Luckily someone was kind enough to give my dad a job, although it's not a good one. However, my parents really needed the money so he accepted.

They've been saving as much money as they could for years just so they can keep me in school, and I happy to know that because it gives me a good view of how much they care for me. Nevertheless, I also know that someday I'm going to have to help out soon with the money raising, because I also have a little brother. His name is Yota and he's only five years old. He should be in school by now but my parents can’t afford it, so they home school him.

I've always wondered why my family name holds such hatred from other people. What was it that my parents, or ancestors, did that gave them such a bad name? I've tried asking them before but they'd either yell at me for asking or change the subject, so I decided to quit bothering.

Ever since I was four, my parents discovered that I was very special, that I had two talents that began to show as I grew. They discovered one of my talents because the only thing we have for entertainment really is a radio. My parents couldn't afford a TV, and they started hearing me singing to many of the Japanese and some of the English songs. They were very impressed seeing is how they didn't have a musical background. What more is that they told me that sometimes, I would listen to the radio and illustrate some of the characters or scenery of what I was listening to.

It was quite overwhelming for them, so they sent tried their best to send me to school, thinking that over there, my abilities would grow faster and easier than they would at home. They couldn't have been more wrong. My skills have increased for the past six years, but not as much as they expected. It was because at school, the teachers had never acknowledged me. When they first heard my full name, they would immediately scowl at me and never talk, call, or even look at me again. If the teacher didn't like me, what more with the students? They were just as bad, it's like I was invisible or not even there. They didn't even pick on me. At least that would be some kind of acknowledgement, but they didn't do that either.

When I was little, I've always wished that I could use my talents to make others happy, but now, I wish that people would acknowledge me and respect my family name. So here I am in the sixth grade, with absolutely no friends, no respect from teachers, and no way of letting anybody no who I am and what I could do.

Today's date is November 12, 2006, and we just started our second quarter. It's been good so far since I managed to get good grades. Even though the teachers don't like me doesn't give them any right to fail me, in fact, I think one reason why I'm getting good grades is so I wouldn't fail and have to repeat that grade. It works, although I'm not proud of it.

It's sad for me, because I'm a very social person. I can get very miserable if I can't talk to anyone. So everyday and every time I see someone who's new, or might seem be friendly, I try greeting them, but the reaction is always the same, either they don't even respond or they look then look away. Even though this always happens, I still keep on trying, hoping that one of them would respond and talk to me. Although, it bugs me how the new students already don't like me before even meeting me or anyone else.

My life sucks. All I ask is for at least one friend. One person who could support me, help me out when I'm in need, stick up for me when I have no one else, and mainly, someone who'll respect me. But I know that it won't happen, but sometimes it's nice to hope. School ends today and I'm stuck with quite a bit of homework.

"Hello Sora! How was school today?" Kazuhiro, my father, asks me always wanting to hear something different than,

"Horrible. I hate it." I answer every single time and meaning it.

"Why do you hate school? You should be grateful that your mother and I do this extra hard work just so you could get an education." He begins lecturing me.

"I know dad but it's kind of hard to learn when no one's even noticing you, not even the teachers!" I answer back.

"I know it's tough, but you have to still try. We're not doing this for us, it's for your own good. We want you to have a bright future." I'm told once again.

Being the obedient, sometimes, child that I am, I give in like I always. "Okay dad. I'll continue trying hard." But I then remember him saying that they want me to have a bright future, that's when I finally ask a question that should get them to confess their reason why our family's name is so bad.

"But one thing dad, if I can't even have a normal life in school because of our family name, how would that change when I get older?" I see how he tenses up and begins to worry.

"You know dad. How am I supposed to have a bright future, when everyone who knows me treats me like I'm no one? I don't think that'll change in the near future." He then gulps and I nearly smirk, seeing is how my approach it working. "You have to tell me why no one respects this family. I'm eleven and I'll understand. I could probably even try and restore this family to what it once was, whatever that was." I explain to him.

My reasoning skills seem to be working as he opens his mouth for an answer. "Hishashi! Could you come here for a moment? We have a problem." He calls out to my mom. I silently curse as he calls the one who has nearly the same reasoning skills as me. My mother comes slowly walking in with little Yota in her arms.

"What is it dear? I'm trying to let Yota rest." She asks my father, not noticing his discomfort of the situation.

"Our son, Sora, wants us to tell him the thing." My father tells her, using 'the thing' as a cover up for what there big secret is.

"Well why don't you give him the same response you always give him." She answers directly at him, almost like if she was saying "Duh!" in the beginning.

"But this time's different." He desperately tries to defend himself, pathetic.

"How so?" She puts one hand on her hip, not a good sign for dad.

"He asks how he could have a bright future, like I told him, if people don't respect him or any of us." He then answers, hoping for a good response. That's when I notice that she turns to me.

"Sora sweetie," She calls me, ugh I hate being called that. "Do you really want to know why we have it so hard. Why our family lost all its respect from others?" I silently nod at her. "I don't know, you're still so young and I don't want to upset you." She tries and talks me out of it, which in turns usually never works.

"Mom, I'm eleven, and I'm about to enter middle school. I don't want to end up like this seven years from now, but that's the only path I'm seeing because you're keeping whatever it is a secret from me." I, in return, answer.

"We can't tell you. I'm so very sorry, but I promise that we'll tell you soon." My mother tells me, hoping that I would take it lightly, like I always do, but this time I'm going to make it different.

"Why? It shouldn't be because I'm too young or probably wouldn't understand! You just don't get it! I can't live a normal life until I know where exactly I came from! If this secret of yours is so horrible then why can't you do anything to stop it or make it better? I told dad that I would try and make it better, but I have to know how!" I nearly yell, wanting what I say to get through to them.

"We want to tell you, we really do soon." I give them a look showing them I'm not satisfied. "I know that you must be going through a lot, so I'll give you one word of advice to help this family restore its name." I then lean forward a little to show that I'm paying attention. "Let the world know who you are. Let your name be one that's known to many. I feel that that's how you could save this family." She tells me.

That's it? Well, it kind of sounds reasonable. By that way, I'm the only one with these talents in the family. My brother could be one too, but we'll find out soon. So all I have to do is let myself be known, not by the outcast that I am at the moment because of my family, but as what my parents want me to be, who I truly am.

"Okay, I'll try." Starting tomorrow, I'm going to start being the kind of person I always wanted others to see me for, a person who's kind, friendly, very sociable, who loves singing and drawing.