Goodbye, Don Glees! 2022

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over an idyllic landscape filled with the essence of childhood memories, two inseparable friends, Toto and Roma Kamogawa, devised a plan that would set the stage for their future adventures—the Don Glees club. Their bond was unbreakable, a reflection of the deep ties they cultivated while exploring their surroundings. Fast-forward to the present: Toto, now 15, boldly decides to leave his quiet rural home and journey into the bustling heart of Tokyo to attend high school.

A year passed, bringing with it a tapestry of experiences that transformed Toto. Upon his return, he found Roma lost in a sea of longing for the elusive Tivoli Urayasu, who had ventured far to the emerald hills of Ireland. Spurred on by Toto’s encouragement, Roma found the courage to reconnect with Tivoli through long-distance conversations, which ignited a spark of action from him.

In the meantime, Toto encountered a new face in the Don Glees club—Drop Sakuma, a charismatic individual with an uncanny knack for manipulation. His latest scheme prompted Roma to invest in a cutting-edge drone, intended for capturing footage of a spectacular fireworks show in a remote field. However, the night of the event unfolded differently than planned; their pyrotechnic efforts fizzled, leaving them stranded with a stockpile of unlit fireworks and the loss of their valued drone.

Just then, nature conspired against them as a devastating wildfire tore through the nearby mountains, sparking rumors that the Don Glees were to blame due to the police discovering their extinguished fireworks. Fueled by the need to clear their names, Toto, Roma, and Drop united to retrieve the drone, for its footage could exonerate them from the ignoble gossip threatening to consume their reputations.

Their journey led them to a remote mountainous area, challenging them with the rugged terrain. Under the pretense of a spontaneous expedition, they cleverly deceived not only the authorities but also nature itself, which seemed determined to obstruct their way. As dusk enveloped them, they set up a makeshift campsite beside a tranquil waterfall. In this serene setting, Drop shared his philosophy, emphasizing the importance of possessing a personal “treasure”—something uniquely valuable to each individual. He reminisced about a trip to Iceland, where he serendipitously discovered a working telephone booth beside a stunning waterfall, illuminated in golden hues. His stories, however, were tinged with melancholy as he hinted at a recent hospitalization and posed the profound question: What would you regret the most if the world ended tomorrow?

Amid this reflective ambiance, Toto wrestled with rising anxiety over his studies, scolding his friends for their carefree demeanor while clutching his textbook in preparation for an imminent exam. In a moment of vulnerability, he shared his doubts about following in his father’s footsteps as a medical professional. It was during this intimate discussion that he unveiled the origins of their club’s enigmatic name, “Don’t Glee,” highlighting their shared experiences as outcasts who seldom smiled or mingled with others. As night fell, Toto symbolically tossed his textbook into the campfire, surrendering to the captivating allure of their adventure. Meanwhile, Roma recognized that the photograph of a sun-drenched field featuring a ladybug, captured with his father’s cherished camera, represented his own “treasure.”

The next day, the duo stumbled upon the abandoned drone and returned to their makeshift camp, only to find that the memory of the catastrophic fire had begun to dissipate like smoke. However, the weight of their loss struck hard several days later with the unexpected passing of Drop. Consumed by grief, Roma and Toto destroyed the Don Glees clubhouse in a fit of despair, trailing devastation in their wake.

In the aftermath, among the remnants of the wreckage, they discovered two bottles of Coca-Cola intricately marked with a map of Iceland. This revelation ignited a renewed sense of purpose as they realized Drop had charted a path to a transformative location—the telephone booth that would forever alter their lives.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Toto and Roma set out on this arduous journey across the majestic landscapes of Iceland, driven by an insatiable desire to uncover the secrets behind Drop’s last adventure. After days of navigating a rugged terrain, they finally encountered what appeared to be the fabled golden waterfall Drop had spoken of.

As they approached the magnificent waterfall, their gaze fell upon a nearby telephone booth, miraculously still operational. Toto’s inquisitiveness led him to examine the phone number, suddenly realizing it was the same one he had mistakenly dialed while trying to reach Tivoli.

With these revelations, they connected the dots of Drop’s adventure, understanding that he must have answered the call while they were inadvertently reaching out to Tivoli, prompting him to embark on his own last expedition. Additionally, they unearthed a heartfelt note from Drop, in which he described his true treasure—friends who would accompany him on his final journey.

This poignant discovery became a powerful testament to the bond that they shared, leaving Toto and Roma with a profound appreciation for their friendship and an unwavering sense of purpose.