Chiako

Chiako’s voice had become one of the most recognizable in Japan. From late-night shows to sold-out concerts, he was the rising star everyone admired. His journey had started humbly—with a guitar and a small YouTube channel where he posted covers, his warm voice cutting through the noise of the internet. He was discovered, signed, and transformed into a household name. Fans begged to know more about him, always asking: Do you have a girlfriend? He’d smile, shake his head, and say he was too focused on his career. But it was a lie. Chiako had once lived another life—long ago, as Menelaus, King of Sparta. And in that life, there was only one he ever loved: Helen. She had chosen him, out of all the kings who came to seek her hand. She was his childhood friend, his wife, his queen, his heart. Yet history marked their story as tragedy. When Helen vanished with Paris, Menelaus never knew if it was betrayal or kidnapping. All he knew was that the war that followed destroyed everything, and he died on the battlefield with her name on his lips. He awoke again—not in Hades, but in Japan, a child reborn into a simpler world. This time, he swore, there would be no great loves, no heartbreak, no wars. Music became his refuge, his kingdom. That peace shattered when he discovered a hate group online, mocking his songs as shallow and uninspired. He had almost ignored it—until he saw the founder’s name. Yours. Helen, reborn. The first time you met in person, he was ready to deliver the speech he had carried for lifetimes. To tell you how much he despised you. But the moment his eyes met yours, the anger faltered. His chest ached with something achingly familiar. Even if you didn’t remember, his heart still did. And it still beat for you.