NOA's Narrations #3 - The Childhood Romance of Naoyuki Ito

Hey guys. Noah here.

I really hope you've been enjoying the new stories so far, but now we want to take a quick detour and do some Shenmue related stories instead.

Shenmue has always been a personal favorite game of mine, but one aspect of the game that had always truely facinated me was based around the lives of the NPC's within that game world and the many countless stories there were to tell.

I always found it facinating how every single character within Shenmue had their own lives, adventures and dramas to tell, that were all completely independant from the games main plot and only admired by the most dedicated fans of the series.

Today I want to share with you one of those stories, it's about a love triangle and a teenage romance that's not very well known amongst Shenmue fans, even though it was happening almost in parallel to the main story.

This is the childhood romance of Naoyuki Ito

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Naoyuki Ito stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his hair and straightening his shirt. Today was the day he would finally confess his feelings to Mayumi Mishima, his childhood friend and the girl he had been in love with for as long as he could remember. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, before grabbing his backpack and heading out the door.

As Naoyuki walked through the streets of Yokosuka, Japan, he couldn't help but think about Ryo Hazuki, his best friend who also happened to be the object of Mayumi's affection. Ryo was a local legend - an expert martial artist who seemed to excel at everything he did. Naoyuki had always admired Ryo and looked up to him, but couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy whenever he saw him with Mayumi.

Naoyuki's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of laughter coming from up ahead. He turned the corner and saw Ryo leaning against a lamppost, surrounded by a group of admiring classmates. Mayumi stood beside him, her eyes sparkling as she laughed at something Ryo had said.

"Hey Naoyuki!" Ryo called out when he spotted his friend approaching. "You're just in time! I was about to show everyone my latest move."

Naoyuki forced a smile and nodded as Ryo demonstrated a series of impressive kicks and punches. The crowd erupted into applause, while Mayumi watched with stars in her eyes.

"That was amazing, Ryo!" she exclaimed. "You're so cool!"

Naoyuki's heart sank as he watched Mayumi fawn over Ryo once again. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed like he could never measure up to his best friend.

After saying goodbye to Ryo and Mayumi, Naoyuki continued on his way to school. As he walked through the hallways, he couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness. He was tired of always being in Ryo's shadow, and he was determined to do something that would make Mayumi notice him.

That afternoon, Naoyuki went to the local motorcycle dealership. He had been saving up his allowance for months, and now he finally had enough money to buy the bike of his dreams. The salesperson showed him a sleek black motorcycle, and Naoyuki knew it was perfect.

As he rode his new motorcycle through the streets of Yokosuka, Naoyuki couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. He imagined Mayumi's face lighting up with surprise and admiration when she saw him on his bike. Maybe this would finally be the thing that would win her over.

Naoyuki parked his motorcycle outside Mayumi's house and nervously rang the doorbell. She opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw him standing there with the bike.

"Naoyuki... is that your motorcycle?" she asked, her voice filled with awe.

"Yeah," Naoyuki replied shyly. "I wanted to show you... I mean, I thought maybe we could go for a ride together."

Mayumi smiled and nodded eagerly. "I'd love to!"

As they rode through the streets of Yokosuka, Naoyuki couldn't help but feel like he was on top of the world. The wind blew through his hair as Mayumi clung onto him tightly, laughing with joy.

"You're amazing, Naoyuki!" she exclaimed. "I never knew you could be so cool!"

Naoyuki felt a rush of happiness at Mayumi's words. It seemed like all his efforts had finally paid off - he had won her over at last.

But as time went on, Naoyuki began to realize that despite their shared moments on the motorcycle, Mayumi's heart still belonged to Ryo. She would often talk about him, gushing over his latest martial arts accomplishments or recounting the funny things he had said. No matter how hard Naoyuki tried, he couldn't seem to compete with Ryo in Mayumi's eyes.

One day, as Naoyuki and Mayumi were sitting on a hill overlooking the city, she turned to him with a wistful expression.

"Naoyuki, can I tell you something?" she asked softly.

"Of course," Naoyuki replied, his heart pounding in his chest.

"I've always treasured our friendship," Mayumi began. "You're such a sweet and sensitive person, and I feel like I can be myself when I'm with you. But... my heart has always belonged to someone else."

Naoyuki felt a lump forming in his throat as he listened to Mayumi's words. He had known deep down that this was how she felt, but it still hurt to hear it out loud.

"I know how much you care about me, and I wish I could return those feelings," Mayumi continued. "But Ryo... he's always been the one for me. I hope you understand."

Naoyuki nodded slowly, trying to hide the disappointment that was bubbling up inside him.

"Yeah... I understand," he said quietly.

As they sat in silence, watching the sun set over the city, Naoyuki couldn't help but feel a mix of sadness and acceptance. He had tried so hard to win Mayumi's affection, but in the end, it wasn't meant to be.

But as time went on, Naoyuki realized that his feelings for Mayumi had started to change. He still cared about her deeply, but it was no longer the all-consuming love that had once consumed him. He began to appreciate their friendship for what it was - a bond that was built on trust, understanding, and shared memories.

And as for Ryo... Naoyuki couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of admiration for his best friend. He may not have been able to win Mayumi's heart, but Ryo had always been there for him, supporting him and pushing him to be the best version of himself. Naoyuki realized that their friendship was something he should never take for granted.

As the years went by, Naoyuki and Mayumi remained close friends. They would often look back on their time together in Yokosuka with fondness, remembering the motorcycle rides and the sunsets on the hill. And although Naoyuki's feelings for Mayumi had faded over time, he would always cherish the sweet, sensitive boy he had once been - a boy who had learned that sometimes, even when you try your hardest, love doesn't always go according to plan.