My mom had bad taste in men and frequently brought them home. I hated being looked at weirdly by my mom's boyfriends… so even my clothes, hairstyle, and way of speaking became masculine. On nights when my mom's boyfriend was over, there was no place for me at home, so I often killed time outside late at night. It was Mr. Nakata, who lives next door, who spoke to me on that uneasy night. He took care of me like his own child, and he was my father…and the first person I became conscious of as a member of the opposite sex. A few years later, I reunited with my first love, Mr. Nakata.
