Greetings! Is everyone ready for fall? 🍂 I think this is the last week it'll be warm where I live. I'm so excited about sweaters and boots!
I've had this particular original character (OC) for over a decade. He's got quite a history to share. This post is where I'll keep his backstory up to date.
Shinji, Kagawa
28 y/o
Male
Office manager/ Music artist
When Kagawa was born, life for his family was sweet. His father’s budding office career began to take off, and his mother could look after him full-time. It was a joyous time. His parents were still very much in love. But their picture-perfect life would crumble over the years. When Kagawa entered primary school, cracks started to show in the marriage. Small disagreements turned into massive arguments. At first, his father would leave for a night. Over time ‘business dealings’ would drag his father away for months. His mother held a brave face for as long as she could. By the beginning of his adolescent years, Kagawa was placed in a boarding school to be better looked after.
Despite his family troubles, Kagawa kept on par with his studies. He dabbled in music, especially guitar. Being a rich kid made him popular and he fit in well. He went through the same drama as any teen; including his first love. He chased helplessly after the emotionally unavailable classmate, Inoue. Their exchanges were never exactly planned. However, each interaction drew them closer. It took time, but Kagawa got the young man to open up. In the end, though, the romance was short-lived. Young love is messy. Someone else got in the way. In one fleeting moment, trust was destroyed. Inoue rightfully left. Kagawa was brokenhearted by his own doing. His emotion poured into his music. In year three of school, Kagawa was already skilled in playing guitar. He began writing and recording songs. From then on, his mainstream career blossomed.
Kagawa graduated with two completed albums and three hit songs. He rebelled against his father and declined further education. This added more strain to their relationship, and Kagawa eventually cut all ties. He chose to settle in an apartment far away from his family home in the countryside. Focus went to his music. Networking went well and he landed numerous collaborations. After a couple of years, Kagawa found himself a well-paid prominent artist. He enjoyed a finer life. A fast car, the latest fashion, and penthouse views were all his. The accomplishment was sweeter knowing he’d asked for nothing from his father. From Kagawa’s perspective, the man demonstrated horrendous parenting skills. He could recall a handful of times his father said he loved him. He never supported his passions. However, there were always expectations of Kagawa. Expectations he did not want to meet. So a successful career having done it his way felt satisfying.
In contrast, Kagawa’s relationship with his mother improved over the years. Kagawa always felt a sense of angst when she visited in the past; especially if his father made a rare appearance. He’d always wondered how their loving marriage resulted in such turmoil. His mother never shared the root of her displeasure. Instead, she apologized, on many occasions, for being a failure of a mother in his childhood and adolescence. The drama between her and his father consumed her. It came to fearing for her safety. After getting Kagawa off to boarding school she swiftly packed all the belongings she could and left Tokyo. The only people to know where she relocated to were her parents. It remained this way until Kagawa graduated from school. With her son being an adult, she left the country to pursue more career opportunities. Only then did she reach out to Kagawa. She wanted not to make excuses but simply explain. Kagawa accepted this and began rebuilding their connection.
Shortly after, Kagawa met Akira, a popular figure skater. The two began an intense relationship. There were many gifts and trips. Their liaison continued for a couple of years. Akira eventually moved in with Kagawa. The couple gained much popularity and expanded both of their careers. Again, though, it was not to be. Akira and Kagawa’s old flame, Inoue, were acquainted. Their chance encounter altered the course of Kagawa’s relationship with Akira. The skater chose to end their romance. Learning of Kagawa’s previous betrayal and growing family altercations was too much to handle. Akira promptly moved out. Their breakup trended for a couple of weeks. Once again Kagawa was alone. He started to drink a little bit more and stayed up too late. His career stayed steady, but the ‘new artist’ popularity wore off. Kagawa stayed to himself for almost a year and a half. Appearances were only made of grocery outings and studio sessions. He decided solitude was the best idea for the time being. And for a little while, things felt okay.
By now, Kagawa’s father, Ichiro, saw his son as a mediocre artist. His recent relationship disgusted him. He decided it was time to straighten him out. So, Ichiro began to dig, finding all the information he could. Once satisfied, he confronted his son. He showed up unexpectedly one night, catching his son, Shinji, off guard. Ichiro laid out what would be expected of him from now on. In return, Ichiro would not harass or harm anyone close to Shinji; including his mother. In the years since he’d not seen his father, he’d become more of a brute. Shinji was shocked enough to see the man at his door, let alone be blackmailed with violence. Instead of his years of defiance, Shinji decided to give in. He let his guard down and Ichiro took advantage. His father had the upper hand on him… for now at least. So Kagawa became his father’s lackey in his transportation business. His days were spent in an office building, at a desk, behind a computer. Musically, he’d gone quiet. Ichiro seemed satisfied and the silence between them began again. After months of work, however, Kagawa began to understand the truth about this business. The transportation of produce and meats was a simple front for the illegal occurrences behind closed doors.
While Kagawa began to unravel this mystery, his father decided to butt back into his life. Ichirio arranged a marriage for his son, claiming it was time he created a ‘proper family’. With the dealings between the parents taken care of, Kagawa and Sasaki were engaged. Their first meeting was less than ideal. Kagawa found her cold and closed off. His attitude wasn’t much better. They remained cordial with each other, but courtship looked far from sight. Kagawa had no interest in falling in love again. Sasaki’s cynical and pessimistic outlook made that simple. Kagawa quietly continued down the rabbit hole he’d recently discovered. From his observation, he knew his father secured more money than recorded. Trucks come and go unscheduled. Some employees came and went at odd hours. A lot of small things that didn’t add up. He kept as low a profile as possible, continuing his normal duties while snooping around. Though not thrilled at the idea of a wife, he thought it best to at least attempt to get along. However, this opened an all-new enigma. Minor tasks, like picking her up from her skating practices, had revealed the abuse Sasaki suffered at the hands of her mother. And the same feelings of disgust he had for his father began to brew.
Believing he could make a difference in Sasaki’s life, Kagawa partakes in earning her trust while walking the dangerous tightrope of his father’s secrets.
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