Author Introduction:

It's been ten long years (11 but 10 sounds better) since I last felt motivated to write Fan-Fiction. But here we are, the subject of my devotion: Urusei Yatsura. With its resurgence I took a trip down the rabbit hole of nostalgic media. And it reminded me of all the things my weird little teenage heart loved about Manga, Romance, and Slapstick comedy. So I felt compelled to write up my own conclusion to Ataru & Lum's romance, sparked by a simple question that came to me during the Doors chapter: how would he propose?

Some things about the Story:

UY:D is a completed story and Chapters will be posted every Thursday on here and on AO3.

This version of Ataru is based heavily on the manga with only some elements borrowed from the Anime and Movies. I found the manga version of Ataru to be way more palatable than how he's portrayed in the 80s anime. However, because this story is meant to chronicle Ataru's growth over a period of time, his character will change slightly toward the end. Same with Lum.

There are also O.C.s. I'm not sure if people still have conflicting feelings about O.C.s but for this I felt they were necessary vehicles to move the plot along and flesh out other parts of the story. They are by no means center stage characters.

Yes, Ataru can drink socially. During the 80's Japan was loose with their drinking laws. While the drinking age was changed sometime during the decade to 20 the law was not strictly enforced, and restaurants and bars had no problems serving alcohol to people under 20 even without ID - as long as they did not look under 18. Hence why nobody is ever carded and Ataru is able to drink with his coworkers.

Some easter eggs are also planted throughout the story so have fun finding those!

And one last thing. I was born in the late 80's so for me it was easy to write in this sort of setting (although I did stretch things here or there). I think it's important to remember that certain aspects of UY have not aged well. I do my best to avoid those topics, but occasionally something will come up that is definitely time period. Also I am American, so much of my window into Japanese culture is from media or basic research. If I get anything wrong, clearly, I didn't do enough research lol. I did try though.

My writing style might also be a bit old fashioned with a smattering of modern-day slang.

If y'all think you can endure all that and want to find out what it would take for Ataru to propose, via my opinion, jump in and enjoy!

Settings and Characters:

Timeline: After graduating in March of that year at age 17 (he would turn 18 in the next Month of April), Ataru spent the remaining months preparing for entrance exams so he could attend University by fall of that year (at the behest of his mother). Despite going to cram school and more-or-less applying himself, Ataru was not able to pass the Center exams (National Exam) needed for admission and didn't bother with the University level exams. Instead, he chose to enter the work force and began applying for editorial positions to his favorite lad mags (magazines featuring women) that fall. The story picks up at the end of April, some weeks after Ataru's 19th birthday.

Tokyo (Nerima Ward) - Senshoo Town, Tomobiki Town, Rokuyō City*
(*So in America and other countries Nerima is referred to as a city, while in Japan it is referred to as a Special Ward. Senshoo and Tomobiki et. al. are towns, while Rokuyō is larger and primarily industrial, reminiscent of a city as we'd be familiar with. It could also be considered just an Industrial Area but that's really a mouthful lol).
Chūōkōen Park - The main park in Senshoo.
Hashirimawaru (Station) - Railway connecting Rokuyō, Senshoo, Tomobiki, Butsumetsu, Sanrinbō, Shakko, Taian, and Senpu.
Oishī Café - The café where Ataru & his coworkers go on Weekdays.
Wasureppoi - The bar where Ataru & his coworkers drink on Friday.
Sugino Kosan - A very popular arcade (present-day Round 1).

Main Character: Ataru Moroboshi
Supporting Character: Lum
OG Side Characters: Mr. & Mrs. Moroboshi, Ten, Kosuke Shirai, Hokuto, Shinobu Miyake, Inaba, Sakura, Tsubame Ozuno, Ryuunosuke Fujinami, Nagisa Shiowatari
OC Side Characters: Shigeru Yamagata, Tomoko Minami, Naoki Tenjou, Osamu Tachibana, Yōhei Asaba
Background Characters: Reo Kise, Cherry
Characters Mentioned (but not portrayed): Shūtarō Mendō, Ryoko Mendō, Asuka Mizunokōji, Wren

CHAPTER 1: ACCEPTANCE

"Ataru! Phone!" Miss Moroboshi's voice carried up the stairs with the ease of a woman who'd spent a majority of her motherhood taxing her voice. The response was swift – a stampeding of feet overhead, the swish of a sliding door, and more stampeding as Ataru, who over the summer had come to resemble more a man than a teenager, flew down the stairs to answer snatch the phone from her. In a blink he steadied himself, took a breath and steeled his demeanor.

"This is Ataru Moroboshi." Such a professional greeting would seem quite out of character for her son, had she not known how hard he'd been working toward this day.

Following a few mistakes Ataru learned to answer with some level of dignity, because rarely these days was he fielding calls from girls he'd plucked off the quiet streets of Tomobiki. And that was because one year ago he and his peers, through some miracle of fate, had concluded their high school graduation and were now facing down the path of adulthood. Two roads lay before them: continued education or job hunting. Ataru, for all his faults and failings, did try the first route. He studied and at his mother's urging, even attending cram schools. Yet failure after failure proved his days as a student were limited to mandatory education, with anything further lying depressingly out of reach. One option was left, one that seemed favorable once he'd given it a good think. Working.

Now as contradictory as that might seem for such a lackadaisical fellow Ataru was resilient and crafty. He'd found something more suitable to his tastes - a gem among the rubble. And as luck would have it, this was the call he'd been anticipating for three days. Holding her breath Ataru's mom watched their conversation unfold. Then, after a few customary words, a smile erupted on his face and his eyes shined.

"Yes! Absolutely! I'll be there! Thank you, goodbye." Trembling now, he placed the receiver delicately into its cradle, waiting until he was sure the call had ended and there was no hope of being heard. Then Ataru drew in a breath and taxed the extent of his vocal cords with a boisterous cheer. Of the small crowd that gathered around him Lum and his mother took up with celebratory cries of congratulations. They knew without being told that he'd been accepted and would begin a new chapter of his life. Miss Moroboshi felt relieved honestly. The fears of having to support her lackluster son into adulthood were finally lifted and she could dare to hope he'd make something of himself. Lum was simply ecstatic because he was ecstatic, the reason mattered very little.

"I don't get the fuss. Who gets excited over work?" Ten rolled his eyes and floated back upstairs to join Kotatsu-Kitty and escape such foolish merriment. He truly didn't understand why anyone would celebrate having to work. Humans were a mystery.

"Finally my wallet will breathe a little easier." Miss Moroboshi sighed wistfully. Her husband peeked around his paper with one brow cocked, wondering whose wallet she was talking about exactly. Not that he wasn't relieved, just unconvinced. He'd need to see Ataru's level of commitment before releasing any doubts. Just getting a job was the easy part. Being able to keep it was the truest test.

"Darling I'm so proud of you!" Despite her faith Lum harbored some silent reservations. School seemed hard enough for her hapless husband, so picturing him at a full-time job was...difficult. Nevertheless, she wasn't shocked he'd sailed through the interview and won his potential employer's favor. Who wouldn't be charmed by her Darling?

Shamelessly Ataru basked under their praise, chest puffed, and head tossed back triumphantly.

"You should be! You're looking at the future Chief Editor," Not that this was his position, but it sounded better than junior editor or editor in training or whatever meager job title they'd saddle him with until his greatness was revealed, "of Chick-Star Monthly!"

Ever since he was old enough to know about nudie mags Chick-Star had been one of his go-to favorites. He'd drooled over many a page in his youth. Now, as if destined by fate, he was going to have a hand in bringing that joy to millions of boys and men just like him. And, not to mention, he'd be privy to some behind-the-scenes footage no doubt. A twisted look came over his face before an intrusive thought brushed it away. He looked pointedly at Lum, half suspicious and half curious.

"Y'know I'm surprised you're okay with this." Was she actually okay with him working for such a company? Or had it not really sunk in? Did she not realize he'd be essentially surrounded by beautiful women? Sure, most of them would be 2D, but there were bound to be moments when they worked with real models. Did she just not know or was she finally loosening that iron grip of hers?

"Why?" she asked cheerily, head cocked innocently to the side. "It's just pictures, it's not like they're real." What did she have to be jealous of? 2D women were no threat to her.

"Uh..." Ataru stared a moment, as if he'd say something, but decided against it. Let her have that one if it made things easier for him. "Right!"

"In celebration of your new position we'll have Sukiyaki tonight!" Miss Moroboshi hummed, still riding the high of her son getting a job and furthering his independence. The day she cut her apron strings was finally upon them. This was a celebration for him as much as it was for her too.

"Yes!" Ataru cheered, grabbing Lums hands to give her a mid-air spin. "Today is the day my luck finally changes!" His eyes blazed with visions of a bright new future, one crafted by his own hand and not influenced by the whims of his mother or the limitations of high school. He had a plan, a damn good plan. One he'd been designing since his job hunt began. With this new turn of events, he was one step closer to executing phase one. Well, phase 1.2. Tonight he'd dine on Sukiyaki, he'd make merry with his parents, Lum, Ten, and the cat. He'd enjoy his last carefree day as a post-grad nobody.

Tomorrow the real work began.