Greatest of All Time Season 2 – Chapter 1:
The rain poured endlessly from the dark sky.
A small boy sat alone beside two graves, his clothes soaked and covered in mud. His trembling hands held a bouquet of white lilies.
His name was Arashio.
He was only twelve years old.
Slowly, he placed the flowers before the gravestones.
"Mom..."
"Dad..."
"I'm sorry..."
"I couldn't protect you."
Tears mixed with the rain as silence filled the lonely cemetery.
Ever since his parents had died in a mysterious accident, Arashio had lived completely alone. No relatives wanted to take care of him. No one visited him.
Every birthday...
Every holiday...
Every night...
He ate alone.
He cried alone.
He smiled alone.
The world had forgotten him.
The next morning...
Arashio walked to school carrying an old, torn backpack. His uniform was faded, and his shoes had holes in them.
The moment he entered the classroom...
Laughter echoed everywhere.
"Look! The orphan is here!"
"He probably hasn't eaten today."
"What a loser."
A paper ball struck his head.
Then another.
Someone kicked his chair away, causing him to fall onto the floor.
The entire classroom burst into laughter.
Arashio slowly stood up without saying a single word.
He had become used to it.
Pain no longer surprised him.
Lunch break...
Every student sat together with their friends.
Only Arashio sat alone beneath a tree.
Inside his lunch box...
There was nothing except plain rice.
He quietly picked up his spoon.
Suddenly—
A shadow covered him.
A boy with messy blue hair stood there, smiling.
"Mind if I sit here?"
Arashio looked up.
"...Who are you?"
"My name's James."
Without waiting for permission, James sat beside him.
He opened his own lunch box.
It was full of delicious food.
James split it into two equal portions.
"Here."
Arashio shook his head.
"I don't need pity."
James smiled.
"It's not pity."
"It's friendship."
For the first time in months...
Someone smiled at Arashio.
Slowly...
Arashio accepted the food.
It was the warmest meal he had eaten since losing his parents.
From that day forward...
James never left Arashio alone.
Whenever someone bullied him...
James stood in front.
Whenever Arashio stayed silent...
James spoke for him.
Whenever Arashio lost hope...
James dragged him back to his feet.
"Stop acting so weak," James would always say.
"If the world knocks you down..."
"Punch it back."
Unlike Arashio's quiet personality...
James was loud, fearless, and sometimes even reckless.
But behind that rough attitude...
He cared more than anyone else.
Little by little...
Arashio began smiling again.
One afternoon after school...
James grabbed Arashio's wrist.
"Come on."
"I want you to meet someone."
They ran through the streets until they reached a small park.
A girl with long silver hair sat quietly on a swing, feeding birds.
She looked up and smiled warmly.
"Hello."
"My name is Siya."
Arashio froze.
Her smile felt strangely comforting.
James laughed.
"See? I told you she's nice."
Siya stood up and offered her hand.
"It's nice to meet you, Arashio."
For a moment...
He hesitated.
Then he gently shook her hand.
"...Nice to meet you too."
A soft breeze carried pink flower petals across the park.
Without realizing it...
Arashio smiled.
"Oi!"
A cheerful voice interrupted them.
A blond-haired boy climbed over the park fence and landed beside them.
"Sorry I'm late!"
"My name's Saku!"
He threw an arm around James' shoulder.
"So this is the famous lonely guy?"
Arashio frowned.
"I'm not lonely."
James and Saku looked at each other.
Then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"You actually talked!"
Arashio crossed his arms.
"...You two are annoying."
"Exactly!"
Saku grinned.
"That's why we'll be best friends!"
James pointed toward the sunset.
"From today..."
"The four of us stay together."
"No matter what happens."
Siya smiled softly.
"I promise."
Saku raised his fist.
"Friends forever!"
James did the same.
Arashio looked at the three of them.
For the first time since losing his parents...
His empty heart felt warm again.
Slowly...
He raised his fist as well.
"...Friends forever."
The four fists touched beneath the golden evening sky.
None of them knew...
That this simple promise would one day decide the fate of the entire Omniverse.
And none of them knew...
That one day...