Chapter Two: Moving On
Chapter Two: Moving On
The first three months were really hard for me, but it was bearable because Nakatsu stayed with me, but he couldn't stay with me forever. He stayed a week, and then he had to go back to Japan.
After he left, I went back home, thinking that being close to my friends and family would help ease the pain that I felt. But at home I realized that it held memories with Sano. He had been to my house many times, last summer and during break when I attended Osaka.
It hurt to think about Osaka, I had so many memories there, with people other than Sano, but it was hard picturing Osaka without him, so I put my years at Osaka in the very back of my mind, never thinking about it.
Julia, I loved her, as soon as I got off the plane from New York, she held me in her arms and let me cry all my anguish, and stayed with me at my worst moments.
I finished my senior year of high school in L.A. with Julia.
(Four Years Later)
I tossed my true blue had into the sky, so high it came one with the perfect sky. Today Julia and I were graduating from UCLA.
I felt free; I was opening a new chapter of my life. And with this chapter I was determined to forget about the past and move on.
I ran to meet Julia; she embraced me in a tight hug. I could see that she was bursting with excitement.
"MIZUKI!" I heard someone call, I tuned to see Nakatsu, but without his signature bright yellow hair.
I let out a little scream of joy and ran to give him a hug. Although I didn't keep contact with anyone from my Osaka days, Nakatsu was someone I talked to, emails, and texted almost everyday.
Julia smiled at the sight of Nakatsu, "So monkey, where's all that yellow hair you were so proud of?" she asked, as soon as the usual greetings were over with.
"The coach made me get a hair cut" He said, putting his hand through his now short hair.
Julia ran her hand through his hair, "I think I like this style better." She said, smiled and turned looking for her parents.
I stared at the both of them, they reminded me of Ron and Hermione from the Harry Potter series, they were obviously crazy for each other, they were just hiding their feelings. I smiled, I imagined my two best friends getting married, and having kids. It was a nice thought.
I looked at the now empty walls, of my room in the apartment Julia and I had shared since sophomore year at UCLA. It looked to bare without all the posters and pictures. I smiled; I remember all the wild parties and all nighters studying for finals that happened that came with going to college. These memories were going to be treasured.
I heard a knock at the door. "Come in." I said, picking up a picture that fell out of one of my old textbooks.
It was Julia and Nakatsu. They looked nervous.
I gave them a odd look, wondering what they were up to.
"Mizuki, I knew Nakatsu was going to be here today." Julia said avoiding my eye.
"Oh really?" I said casually, I was actually thinking they were planning on eloping in Las Vegas or something, why was it a big deal that she knew Nakatsu was coming. It didn't matter to her.
"We planned a surprise for you." Julia said slowly, as if choosing her words carefully.
"A surprise," I said, one eyebrow raised.
"Yes…" Julia started.
Nakatsu cut her off. "We have three tickets to Japan, and one of them belongs to you." Nakatsu said, cutting to the chase.
"Oh…" I said. I didn't know what to say. What were they thinking, I wasn't going to Japan and they knew it. "Why?" I asked.
"You say you're over it, but I see your hurting everyday. I see that your smile doesn't reach your heart. There is still a part of you no matter how small that hasn't fully recovered. I can't see you like that anymore. It hurts me." Julia said, bursting into tears.
I stared at my hands. I was still holding the picture I had picked up. I could see that the picture had creases from being folded and folded again. It had been crumpled and flattened out. I flipped to see the picture even though I knew what was on the other side. It was a picture of me and Sano, after his first high jump match in the United States, about five years ago. He had won first place that day and broke his personal record. We had looked so happy, so in love, my heart ached. I could feel the tears threatening to come out. But I would let them, I held them in.
"Avoiding Japan and your friends isn't going to help you feel any better. We all miss you. Kayashima asks about you and Nakao is being a drama queen and fuming mad that you don't call or visit. I know you don't want to remember. But what about your friends from Osaka, do they not matter to you anymore? Have your forgotten all the good memories you've had with them. Sano wasn't the only good thing about Osaka." Nakatsu said.
I burst into tears at the sound of his name. "Don't say his name, I said in between tears."
"Forget him! Remember your true friends. Remember Noe, Sekime, and Nanba? Your friends, although it's been five years, they haven't forgotten you. Have you forgotten them?" Nakatsu nearly yelled.
I cried, my heart was hurting like it always did when I thought of 'him'. But I knew Nakatsu was right. I was avoiding my friends, because they were related to Sano. But it was unfair to them, and it was unfair to me. Sano wasn't going to run my life anymore. I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand. I took a deep breath.
"Your right," I said. "Let's go to Japan."
My plane landed in Narita Airport two days later. I took in the polluted air of Tokyo. It felt good to be back.
We grabbed a taxi and headed to our new apartment, about an hour away from the airport. But since it was Tokyo it took us two hours.
Nakatsu and Julia took care of all the details, since last year. Nakatsu had found me and Julia a nice, clean, and cheap two bedroom apartment in Tokyo, which was a miracle. It was convenient since it was near his apartment that he shared with two players from his soccer team.
He had even found me a job. He didn't need to find Julia one, because Julia had a gift for languages. She already spoke five, English, Japanese, French, Spanish, and Chinese, and she had gotten a very good job at Sony as a translator.
I had always loved animals, and I was going to work at vet's office, since my father was a vet it was an easy job that paid well. Then once fall came, I planed enrolling at Tokyo University to become a vet like my father.
I was going live in Japan, for about five years. Or until I finished school or Julia was offered a job in the states.
Nervous as I was. I was excited and proud of myself. I had conquered my fear. I had come to Japan. I could've seen Sano at any moment. I knew the meeting was inevitable.
But I stood bravely in my new room, staring out the window, staring at all the ant like people below. One of them could've been Sano. I felt like throwing up, I was so nervous and scared. But I took in a deep breath; I was going to be brave. I smiled.
A new chapter of my life had really begun.
I'm really happy with the feedback i got from this story! ) Thanks to everyone for reading! I hope you like this chapter! Tell me what you like/ dislike about it!
Until Next Time!
