DISCLAIMER: I don't own AzuManga Daioh or any of the characters in it. Credit goes to Kiyohiko Azuma, the creator of AzuManga Daioh.
This story takes place in Osaka, Japan. Most of the people in this story will have an Osakan accent, which in the English version of AzuManga Daioh, was translated as a Texas or southern accent.
Chapter 1
"There's somethin' I should tell you." Mom said as we were all seated at the table for dinner. It was beef curry again, because Dad doesn't know how to cook anythin' else. Mom had a big smile on her face, but Dad face remained stern. His face never changed. "Your father's been transferred to another building in his company. It's located in Tokyo, so we're going to be moving there next week. I've already talked to your teachers about it, Ayumu." As soon as I heard this news, I dropped my spoon and it landed right in my dinner. "When did this happen?" I asked. "I was told that I was to be transferred to Tokyo about four days ago. I decided to accept the job." my father replied quietly. "You took the job without even knowin' that we'd be livin' somewhere else?" I said again. However, when I thought about it, I really had no reason to be fightin' against this. The rest of my family lived in Tokyo, I hated my school here, and I didn't have any real friends. There was this one girl I was friends with for a while, Makoto, but she moved to America a few months ago. "Well…" I didn't know how to finish my sentence. I got up and walked to my room, leaving my curry and my parents with confused looks on their faces.
I was in my room only for a little while, just pacin' nervously back and forth. Why was I so upset about leavin' Osaka? I'd be leavin' nothing behind! I went over to my desk and sat on the chair. I picked up a pencil and threw it at the wall in front of me, only to have it bounce back and hit me in the forehead. "Ow!"
I bolted up out of the chair and I went into the livin' room. Guess I won't be livin' here much longer, I thought to myself. Just one week left to spend in Osaka. I sighed as I made my way over to the kotatsu. Would I be leavin' this behind too? I sat down and put my feet underneath the blanket, turned on the heater, and lay down.
I was in the middle of Osaka. How'd I get here? I remember fallin' asleep not too long ago. Am I in a dream? I must be. The clouds are made of yakitori.
I see my neighbor, Mr. Horogoshi, sitting on a bench far off in the distance He's the only person I'll regret leavin' behind. Suddenly, there's a loud clap of thunder. My heart rumbles in my chest; I feel like it's gonna jump out. Rain begins to fall from the clouds of yakitori. Mr. Horogoshi stands up then vanishes quickly. "Aah!" I yell suddenly. I didn't want him to go! His house always smelled of tecchiri and crab, which made me wish that my house could smell like that. My feet begin to move unintentionally, faster and faster. Away from Osaka. Away from the city that smelled of food every day. I keep running, trying to stop. Suddenly I fall, and the ground disappears from under me. I plummet endlessly into nothing, while Osaka only gets further away from me.