Hi! I'm Ryan!

Am I having a hard life? Yeah, you could say that.

I've spent two days on the bullet train already. Just two more days left 'till my destination. Just great. This train has all you need: Soft velvet seats, a two beds in each compartment, a snack bar up front, and of course the whole train, except the observation deck, has to be air-conditioned. I hate this train.

Lia, my little sister that's two years younger than me, was napping on my lap, sucking her thumb as if it were the best-tasting thing since chocolate. Honestly, I don't think her 'cuteness' is artificial. She's just naturally…cute. Her hair was tight back into her pony tail and her legs would shift around every minute or so, as if trying to find the comfiest position. In other words, my sister is the best one ever.

I stared at the scenery outside my window. Giant, snow-capped mountains. Lush, green meadows. A field of flowers which must have been really aromatic. Landscape after landscape flashed, like PowerPoint slides, except in slow motion.

-Two Days Later-

"Welcome to Ishinaba Town. Passengers whom are transiting to the Garana line, please alight at the next stop. Thank you." A robotic woman's voice announced. Lia and I grabbed our luggage and rolled it to the exit.

A man voice yelled from the right of the train station exit. "Hey! Over here! Hey!" A normal man in his forties dashed up to us and said, "I've been expecting you two! Ryan and Lia, right? Yeah, your mom's my elder sister. I hope you get used to this town. This must be pretty shocking to you two. So little to see in this town, but so much to explore." Are you kidding? I love this place! I thought.

"Anyways," he continued, "I hope you get used to the both of us, too."

"Wait, there's someone else?" I asked curiously.

"Oh, yeah. Meet Kishi. My daughter. Come out, Kishi!" A little girl, couldn't be older than 6, peeked out from behind my uncle's leg. "He….Hello…" She mumbled nervously. "Hi!" Lia crouched down, and spread her arms, inviting the little child to embrace her. Kishi immediately ran into her arms and smiled. Then, after letting go of Lia, Kishi ran up to me and planted a kiss on my cheek. My uncle chuckled.

We took his car to his house. Not a very fancy house, but I could tell it was really old. I stood on a sloping road. Typical Japanese house. When we stepped inside the house, I wasn't expecting any electrical device in there, much less a fridge. The PS3 and the TV definitely looked out of place. I spotted a mat rolled out smack in the middle of the sitting room, and a coffee table, big enough for four to dine. "Sweet place!" I told my uncle.

"Sorry we don't have much to offer. I know you kids have many electrical things in your house back in the city." My uncle told us, with a very sad face.

"Are you kidding? I love this house!" Lia and I said in harmony.