Alright, so later this year there's going to be a revival of the show, Urusei Yatsura.
Now I actually watched nearly a hundred episodes of this series back in september and october of 2009. I was in the sixth grade and YouTube recommended those videos to me.
I like to think of this project as a way to track how far I've developed creatively over the last thirteen years.
So while I wait for the new series, I might as well take a shot of redeveloping the story myself. Because why not?
So please enjoy the first chapter of my newest story. Please.
A practice game of baseball could be heard near the suburbs in the Japanese town of Nerima.
With a guitar strapped to his back, Ataru Moroboshi took a moment to watch the events of the game unfolding right in front of him. He's not an athletic man, though he knows he could be if he put in a little effort building himself up through exercise.
He made a decision not to do that. Instead, for almost the past two years, he'd been building himself up in another way.
But there's no time to think about the past as he saw the man at the plate effortlessly hit the ball that was pitched to him.
Not even a second later, Ataru noticed that it was hit a little TOO well, as the projectile was coming straight at him.
He quickly dodges the baseball before it hits the ground about two meters behind him. Had he been a second slower, he would have been hit.
"Hey, that's some good reflexes there, buddy!" One of the players called out to him. "Mind throwing that back to us!?"
Ataru looks back at the baseball player, and smiled.
After settling down at his usual spot, Ataru takes a moment to practice strumming his instrument that he's had for nearly a year.
He'd been thinking of replacing it, but as summer is quickly approaching, he doesn't really see a reason to. He had grown attached to his object.
Deciding on one of his favorite songs, he clears his throat and began his street performance. Occasionally, someone would stop to drop a few coins in his open guitar case laid out before him.
Sure, money was nice, but it was more about making his voice heard. That's what's most important to him.
"I'm a bad boy… Cause I don't even miss her,
I'm a bad boy… for breaking her heart.
Now I'm free… Free falling!
Yeah, I'm free… Free falling!"
"Ataru… Ataru-san!"
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Ataru curses in his mind. "Oh no."
A blue haired police officer. One who looks like he's just graduated from whatever academy he's applied for, gives him a smile.
"Come on, buddy. I've told you before that the streets are no place for performers. You got to be indoors. With permission from somebody. Now if I catch you playing out here again, I'm gonna have to write you up. You understand me?"
Ataru says nothing as he began to pack up his guitar. He hates that he has to be told to leave, but there really isn't anything he can do. Spending money at a karaoke bar is an option, just not one he wants to take.
"Am I free to go, officer?" He says in the most polite tone he could muster up.
The officer, who is named, Itsuka, gives Ataru a flat look
"I don't make the rules, Ataru-san. And yes, you're free to go."
He made enough money from that very brief performance to afford a cup of noodles, but nothing else.
This was still enough to satisfy Ataru until dinnertime as he sat down on a public bench that was across the street from the convenience store he purchased it at.
"Itadakimasu."
It truly was a peaceful moment. The warmth of the rising steam. The familiar taste of curry. Not too hot or too cold outside. He couldn't ask for a better day than this.
"Excuse me, sir? May I sit next to you?"
He stops eating for a second and looks at the man speaking to him.
At first, he's taken aback by the peculiar height, or lack thereof, of this man. He would be just as tall as Ataru's waist if he stood up right now.
In addition to this man's height, he also has red skin and is wearing buddhist priest attire. He must be tired after a long day of walking. Ataru gives him a smile.
"Sure, go ahead. I was just leaving anyway."
The two sat together for a brief time before the priest spoke again.
"Good sir… I hope you don't mind me saying this, but I sense something within you."
"Oh." That was all Ataru could say as he began drinking the leftover broth.
"You have many challenges ahead of you, young man." The priest continues. "They're not gonna be like anything you've faced before."
"Yeah well, what am I going to do?" His cup now empty, he looks at the man. "I don't think life is supposed to be easy.
Just take a look at what's been happening since the start of 2020. I'm sure it was a… busy time for you, right?"
"Ah, indeed it was…" The priest nodded in agreement. Ataru could tell he was remembering a few things. "Although it's also true to say that life's been hard before then. But I'm not here to ruin your day. I'll offer you some wisdom… because unlike some people. You're willing to sit down and listen."
"Well I'm… not like other people."
"I can see that." The priest continues. "Now here it is: Before you face any challenges laid out in front of you, it's crucial to have no conflict with yourself beforehand."
"Huh?"
"This is tried and true advice. People don't always make the right choices and often suffer for it. I have about a thousand and one of their stories between my ears… though I don't think you want to sit down and hear one of them."
Ataru stood up from the bench and began walking. The priest was quick to follow.
"Look, I know you're trying to help and all, but I'm fine!" Said Ataru. "Just… what's your name anyway?"
"You really want to know?" Said the priest.
"Wait, hold on." Something up ahead caught Ataru's attention. There are about fifty people gathered right outside his house in the distance.
From the looks of it, more than half of them look to be news reporters. A few cameramen. And about four or five bodyguards standing over everyone.
"Did something happen here? What's going on?"
As soon as one of the people saw him looking at them, he was quick to spread the word. In an instant, they were swarming him like flies asking all kinds of questions.
The most common one that Ataru could decipher: What are your feelings on this?
"Huh? Hold on!" Ataru tries to regain his composure. "What are you talking about?"
One of the reporters looked dumbfounded.
"You mean you haven't HEARD!? You happen to be the focus of world attention right now!"
Huh? World attention? Now that sounds interesting. Now if he could only have the reason as to why billions of people are now paying attention to this teenager from Japan.
He then hears a familiar voice. "Ataru!"
He gasps. "Mom!? What's going on!? What's happening!?"
"Get inside! Now!"
He was quick to do as he was told. As he went inside, he heard the priest yell out to him. "Be well, Ataru-san!"
In the entryway, he sees his girlfriend, Shinobu Miyake, run up to him. His father not far behind.
"Shinobu! You're here!"
Shinobu grabs Taro's shoulders. "I heard about it on the news! I was so worried about you, I couldn't stay away!"
Next was his father's turn to speak.
"Hurry kid! I don't know how much longer he wants to keep waiting!"
This confuses Ataru. Somebody's waiting for him?
"Huh? What are you talking about?" He sets his guitar case on the floor. Planning to pick it back up later. Who's waiting for me?"
"He's in your room!" His father shouted at him.
"In… my… room."
He was quick to rush over there, and was even quicker to react to who exactly was waiting for him.
This person… isn't human. Though he does look like one. Ataru's room is pretty spacious, but because of his immense size, he looks like he's taking up about half of it.
Along with his size are noticeable fangs hanging from his mouth and horns on his head.
"Welcome home." The giant said in a polite tone.
Feeling weak in the knees, Ataru fell to the ground.
This only concerns his guest. "Now now. You don't need to feel overwhelmed. I'm just an alien. Nothing to be afraid of."
Trying to catch his breath, Ataru looks up at the ceiling. As of today, the question of whether or not the human race is alone in the universe has finally been answered.
Only… Ataru isn't satisfied with it.
"Ataru Moroboshi…" The alien continues."Your planet has been in our sights for quite some time now… We believe it is in need of… correcting.
That is, unless you can win a duel against one of our own."
Ataru coughs twice. "You gotta be kidding me! Surely there must be someone who's more qualified!"
The alien shook his head. "You… were the randomly selected result of our computer. You're lucky… to be the representative of a planet of eight billion. The same population as Oniboshi. My planet. Surely this must excite you a little."
"Quite the opposite!" Ataru shouts out. "Come on! This is crazy! What is there on Earth that makes it worth invading anyway!? Resources!? Human test subjects!? What!?"
The alien laughs. "Hahaha! The answer to your question is simple. This planet hadn't been invaded. So we're invading!"
Ataru takes another deep breath. He's not done arguing just yet.
"You said you've had your sights set on this planet, yes? Well I'm sure you know by now about the worldwide pandemic that started two years ago. It's STILL here! Now think what would happen if your kind had contact with it. This virus is a very serious thing! Now it has a chance to become interplanetary."
The alien went silent for a few moments before exploding in a fit of laughter. The polar opposite reaction of what Ataru was hoping for.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! OHOHO! Man I can't remember the last time I laughed like that! Heh heh. But in all seriousness, I don't know what you've read or heard about aliens, but I can assure you there's no way a damn virus can kill even a single one of my people.
There are more than a thousand generations worth of advanced medicinal knowledge carried by our highly experienced… healthcare workers… is that what you would call them? Heh heh. Anyway, you do make a good argument though. I'll give you that much credit. Heh."
"Damn it!" Ataru swears in his head. There goes that plan.
Before he could say anything else, he heard footsteps from behind him. He then hears another peculiar voice. This time sounding more feminine.
"Mmm. You've made my father laugh… I'm starting to like you already."
Ataru turns around to see who's speaking to him. Only to get an eyeful.
It's another one of those invaders. Only, it's a female who looks to be Ataru's age. Like the giant alien behind him, she also has green and teal hair with horns.
Her noteworthy attire consists of a cheetah striped fur bikini and matching go go boots. Nothing else. More than half her body is bare for everybody to see.
He must have been staring at her for a good ten seconds before slapping himself in the face.
"Ah, right on time." The alien, who's now confirmed to be the girl's father, spoke. "She will be your opponent."
"I don't want to seem… judgemental about your culture…" Ataru slaps himself in the face again. "And I'm not gonna start now!"
The alien girl doesn't stop smiling. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Ataru Moroboshi.
I… am Lum."
"The rules of the duel are simple." Said Lum's father. "All you have to do is grab her horns in a game of tag within ten days. That's it. You win and we will leave this planet alone and you can all get back to… Well… I'm sure I don't have to say it."
"It sounds so simple." Ataru returns Lum's smile. "I'm sure there's something you're not telling me."
"Only that I'm not easy to catch!" Lum winks at Ataru.
"Oh, I'm sure you're going to try giving me a hard time. Heh. Although, I can't promise you'll be safe from me if I have all of TEN days!"
He then looks over and sees Shinobu standing near the doorframe. She must have heard what he just said.
She doesn't look happy. "What's that look for, Ataru!?"
"Huh? What look?" "The look on your face right now! What's it for!?"
They are then interrupted by another voice. This time, the priest from earlier was let in.
"Moroboshi-san! Your parents told me everything!
Now I know this may be a bad time right now but… 'tis fate!"
