Prologue: The Dreamer

Yume Aki Ryuuzaki sat by the window in her small room, watching the steady fall of rain against the glass. Outside, the world seemed distant, wrapped in a soft mist of grey, while inside her space, everything was as it had always been. The walls were lined with anime posters, the shelves filled with collectible figurines, and the desk cluttered with sketchbooks filled with black-and-white drawings. To anyone else, it might have seemed like a room stuck in the past, but to Yume, it was the place where she could escape.

At 20 years old, Yume had long since accepted her place in the world. She was small, standing only 5'2", and often felt invisible. People didn’t notice her much, and she didn’t mind. Her world was quieter, her dreams more vivid. She spent hours immersed in anime, where she could escape into fantastical worlds filled with action, emotions, and heroes who were everything she wasn’t. The characters became her friends, her role models, the escape from a world she often didn’t understand.

For as long as she could remember, Yume had been drawn to the world of cosplay. It had started in 2020 when she first donned the Lowbadjet costume. Her first cosplay was as Tobio Kageyama from Haikyuu!—a character so different from herself. He was confident, loud, and passionate. She was quiet, shy, and unsure of her place in the world. But in that costume, in that moment, Yume could be someone else. Someone stronger, someone who could step out of her shell and into a world where she wasn’t afraid to be seen.

Her love for cosplay, along with her obsession with anime, grew over the years. The characters she dressed as weren’t just imaginary figures—they were a way for her to express parts of herself she couldn’t always find words for. They became a part of her, and with each new costume, each new drawing, Yume felt like she was coming closer to finding the person she truly was. Still, there was one dream she could never shake—Japan.

The country she had only ever seen on TV, in anime, and through the characters she admired. Japan had always felt like the destination of her heart. It was the place where everything she loved came to life, where her favorite anime creators and characters walked the streets, where the culture she adored was alive in every corner. She had spent hours looking up photos of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, dreaming of what it would be like to live there one day.

But it had always seemed like an impossible dream. She wasn’t rich, she didn’t have connections, and she had no idea how to make it happen. Still, there was something inside her, a quiet voice that kept whispering, one day.

Today was different, though. As Yume sat at her desk, scrolling through her phone, she felt an unfamiliar sense of determination. It wasn’t just a dream anymore—it was something she could make real. She had saved money for months, cutting back on little things here and there, doing whatever she could to make the dream a reality. Maybe it wasn’t as impossible as it seemed. Maybe it was just the first step she needed to take.

With a deep breath, Yume opened the flight booking app on her phone. She hesitated, then quickly pressed the button to book a flight to Japan. The dream was no longer just something in her mind. It was happening.

The rain continued to fall outside, but inside, Yume felt like she was stepping into a new chapter of her life. The first chapter of her dream.

The day began like any other for Yume Aki Ryuuzaki. The soft glow of the morning sun filtered through her curtains, casting long shadows on the walls decorated with posters of her favorite anime characters. Her alarm buzzed faintly, but she was already awake, staring at the ceiling. She had barely slept, her mind racing with excitement and anxiety over what she had just done.

The flight was booked.

It wasn’t a dream anymore. She was going to Japan.

Yume swung her legs off the bed, her heart pounding as she thought about the decision she’d made. For years, she had fantasized about this moment but never thought it would actually happen. There was always something holding her back—fear, doubt, or the belief that her dreams were too big for someone like her. But now, it was real, and there was no turning back.

Downstairs, her mother was humming in the kitchen. Yume hesitated at the top of the stairs, unsure how to break the news. Her parents had always supported her passions, but this felt different. It wasn’t just about cosplay or drawing—it was about leaving, stepping out of the comfort of her small world and into something entirely unknown.

As she walked into the kitchen, her mother turned and smiled. “Good morning, Yume. You look tired. Stayed up late drawing again?”

Yume shook her head. “No, I just... I had a lot on my mind.”

Her mother tilted her head. “Is everything okay?”

Yume took a deep breath, her fingers gripping the edge of the counter. “I booked a flight to Japan,” she blurted out.

The room fell silent for a moment. Her mother set down the spoon she was holding and looked at her daughter. “You’re serious?”

Yume nodded. “I’ve been saving up, and I think... I think it’s time. I want to go, even if it’s just for a little while. I need to see it for myself.”

Her mother’s expression softened. “You’ve always dreamed of this,” she said quietly. “I’m proud of you for taking the first step. But are you sure you’re ready? Traveling alone is a big responsibility.”

“I know,” Yume replied, her voice steadier than she felt. “But I have to do this. I’ve waited long enough.”

Her mother smiled and reached out to squeeze her hand. “Then go. Chase your dream, Yume. We’ll be here when you need us.”

The rest of the day passed in a blur of preparation. Yume began packing, pulling out her favorite black-and-white outfits and carefully folding the costume she planned to wear at a convention in Tokyo. As she worked, her excitement grew, but so did her nerves.

That night, as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling once again, Yume whispered to herself, “This is it. This is the start of everything.”

And for the first time in her life, she felt ready to step into the unknown.

The next few days flew by in a whirlwind of preparations. Yume found herself waking up early, unable to contain the excitement that bubbled inside her. There was so much to do—researching the best places to visit, checking her flight details over and over, and packing her bags with all the things she would need for her trip to Japan. She had never traveled alone before, and the reality of what she was about to do was starting to sink in.

Her room, once a sanctuary filled with anime posters, figurines, and sketchbooks, was now an organized chaos of clothes, travel guides, and Japanese phrasebooks. She was determined to make the most of her time in Japan, even if it meant stepping out of her comfort zone. But there were still a thousand things to figure out.

Yume had always been quiet and introverted, and the idea of traveling halfway across the world alone made her heart race with anxiety. What if she got lost? What if she couldn’t understand the language? What if she didn’t fit in?

But then she remembered why she was doing this. She wasn’t just going to see the places she’d always dreamed about on screen. She was going to experience the life she had always admired from afar—the life of her favorite anime characters, the culture that had shaped them. This was her chance to step into that world and see it with her own eyes.

Her first stop in Japan would be Tokyo, the city that had always fascinated her. She had seen it countless times in anime, where the bustling streets were filled with life, neon lights, and endless possibilities. Yume dreamed of walking through Shibuya Crossing, visiting Akihabara, and seeing the towering skyscrapers that seemed to stretch forever into the sky.

But even more than the tourist spots, Yume couldn’t wait to visit the quiet, hidden places—the small cafes, the quiet parks, and the anime shops tucked away on side streets. She imagined herself lost in the crowd, yet completely at peace with the world around her.

As the days passed, Yume spent hours practicing her basic Japanese, repeating simple phrases over and over in front of the mirror. She wasn’t fluent, not by any means, but she was determined to at least be able to greet people and ask for directions if she needed to. She had always been fascinated by the language, the way it sounded so fluid and beautiful, and now she had the chance to try it for herself.

Her friends and family were supportive, though they could see her anxiety building. Her best friend, Nao, came over one afternoon to help calm her nerves.

“I can’t believe you’re really doing this,” Nao said, sitting on Yume’s bed and flipping through one of her sketchbooks. “You’ve always talked about going to Japan, but now it’s real. I’m so proud of you.”

Yume smiled but felt a wave of uncertainty wash over her. “I don’t know if I’m ready. It’s a lot to take in. What if I mess up?”

Nao gave her a reassuring look. “You’re going to be fine. You’ve always wanted this. You’ve been preparing for it. You’re going to make amazing memories, and no matter what happens, it’s going to be worth it.”

Her words were comforting, but a part of Yume still felt unsure. The fear of the unknown was strong, but so was her desire to make this dream a reality.

With only a few days left before her departure, Yume knew there was no turning back. Japan awaited her, and despite the nerves that filled her chest, a part of her couldn’t wait to see the world she had always dreamed of.

She stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the Lowbadjet cosplay she planned to wear to one of the anime conventions in Tokyo. It felt like the right way to step into this new chapter of her life—surrounded by the characters she loved, embracing the culture that had always inspired her.

She took a deep breath, smiled, and whispered to herself, “This is my dream, and I’m going to live it.”