It was an afternoon after school almost three years ago, I was sitting in the dining room of my house with my eyes pointed to the transparent visor I was holding in my hands which I used a few minutes ago to connect to the school APA. At that time, I was a junior high school student.

—Hey Minoru, Is something wrong…? You look quite depressed.

These were the words of my aunt, my mother's older sister who was sitting in front of me. She was used to visiting our family once or twice a month, however, what struck me the most was that my aunt did it without using her APA which was quite rare for me. Her name was Azuma Hikaru. At that time, she was thirty years old, although she didn't look that age at all. She had orange hair just like me, with two long pigtails in front and back that curved at the tip.

—Come on, you should change that face! Aren't you happy that your aunt came to see you? You have to smile! Smile! Just like me!

Showing a huge smile my aunt told me as she stroked my hair back and forth to the point of messing it up, so I tried to explain to her how I felt.

—It's just, that lately every day has become quite monotonous and boring for me....

—What do you mean?

—Well, a couple of weeks ago I got to thinking and I realized that the only people I can engage in a decent conversation with are my parents here at home and occasionally with you aunt, I don’t have anyone else. In school as we are all occupying our APA, it is very difficult for me to find an occasion to exchange words with one of my classmates.

Hearing this, my aunt crossed her arms and answered me.

—I can get an idea of how you feel right now, not having someone your own age to talk to must be pretty frustrating for you... It also brings back some memories of the time when I was a university student. I think I also completely failed to make any friends.

—¿Friends?

I wondered with surprise when I heard that word coming out of my aunt mouth. I remember that at some point in my life my parents had explained its meaning to me, however, over the years I had completely forgotten its meaning.

My aunt continued talking.

—It's true, the word friend is not used very much here in Japan nowadays. Because of the situation of the people in this country, over the years it has gradually lost its meaning. Well, I don't remember the last time I used that word either....

Then to my surprise, she suddenly put her arm on the table leaning in my direction, then with the index finger of her right hand raised she began to explain her meaning to me to refresh my memory.

—Listen Minoru, a friend is someone you hang out with regularly. It's a person with you share the same interests, hobbies and live endless fun times together. I think it may be a little difficult for you to understand since you have never met someone you can call a friend.

—So, Aunt Hikaru. Have you ever met anyone you could call a friend?

That question left my aunt speechless for a few seconds.

—The truth is... I was lucky enough to meet people I could call friends. Unfortunately, I stopped talking to them a long time ago.

—Why!? What is the reason you stopped talking to your friends?

—When I was almost your age, I applied for a scholarship to study abroad. I spent three long years attending classes at a school outside of Japan. When I finally completed my stay and returned, the passing years caused me to lose contact with all the friends I had made... After all, we each made our own separate lives.

After a second silence from my aunt, another smile came to her face. Then she continued.

—Despite all that, I don't regret making the decision to spend the last three years of my school life in a school outside Japan. In the end I was able to make a lot of good memories with all of them. It was a once in a lifetime experience for me, that's the way I felt about it.

Seeing my aunt happy face as she said those words, I couldn't resist asking her.

—Was it really so amazing to attend that school?

My aunt eyes lit up, then she leaned both elbows on the table while holding her face with her hands on her cheeks and looking at me with enthusiasm.

—Do you want me to tell you how my student life was during those three years in that school?

When I saw my aunt face, my heart began to beat very fast and at the same time a small shiver ran through my whole body; and without even thinking about it for a second, I answered her with all my strength.

—Yes, please!