Chapter 4

  My Name Means Rainbow Love

  There was one thing I had been trying very hard not to think about.

  My name.

  I had accepted many strange things about my new life.

  Being a Japanese middle schooler

  Not being able to speak Japanese

  Being called “Captain” after one gym class

  Having students whisper about me in the hallway

  But there was one problem I could no longer ignore.

  My name was ridiculous.

  I found it written on my notebook.

  日道 虹恋

  I stared at the characters.

  Sun.

  Road.

  Rainbow.

  Love.

  Hinomichi Nia.

  Or, if translated properly—

  Sunway Rainbow Love.

  Who names their child Rainbow Love?

  Is this country okay?

  The problem was that everyone else seemed perfectly fine with it.

  During lunch break, I sat quietly at my desk, eating what appeared to be a perfectly organized box of food.

  Rice.

  Meat.

  Vegetables.

  All separated.

  All beautiful.

  Japan was terrifying.

  A group of boys gathered around me.

  One of them grinned.

  “Hey, Captain Rainbow.”

  I looked up.

  He pointed at my name on the desk.

  “Your name is amazing.”

  Another boy laughed.

  “It’s like a romance game protagonist.”

  Someone else added:

  “More like an anime hero.”

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  I tried to respond.

  Failed.

  Then I noticed the girl across from me writing something on her notebook.

  にじにこい

  ２じにこい

  I frowned.

  She pointed at it and smiled.

  I read it.

  Rainbow Love.

  Come at two o’clock.

  …That was not my name.

  That was a meeting invitation.

  The class burst into laughter.

  From that moment on, it was over.

  “Hey, Rainbow Love!”

  “Two o’clock, okay?”

  “Don’t be late!”

  “Captain Rainbow, we’re counting on you!”

  I buried my face in my hands.

  This was not how I imagined my second life.

  I had once been a world-famous athlete.

  Now I was a walking punchline.

  But then something strange happened.

  A girl approached my desk.

  She looked nervous.

  She said something.

  I didn’t understand.

  But she held out a piece of paper.

  I read it.

  You’re really cool.

  Please don’t change.

  My heart skipped.

  Another girl waved at me from across the room.

  She smiled.

  I waved back.

  Her face turned red.

  The boys stared.

  “…Wait.”

  “…Is he popular?”

  “…Since when?”

  I didn’t understand what was happening.

  I just knew one thing.

  Somehow…

  Being named Rainbow Love was not entirely a bad thing.

  Maybe…

  Just maybe…

  This strange name was my second chance.

  From that day on, everyone called me—

  ?? Rainbow Love

  ?? Captain Rainbow

  ?? Main Character

  And my peaceful school life officially ended.