Chapter 2: Kyoto (Evening of Monday, April 2, 2018)
She sprung herself awake. Jerking her head around, quickly taking in where she was.
The sound of the tracks filled her ears. She was back on the train to Kyoto, with only 15 minutes remaining before the train arrived. She looked down and saw that she was back in her normal clothing, with her light blue jeans, white shirt, and a light green urban jacket. Flipping open her sack and case, she put on her sunglasses and put away her pillow, neatly tucking it away. Staring back out into the city, she found that the train was already in the neighborhood. Putting a finger on her chin, she pondered what just happened.
"Who was that man with the long nose…. I think his name was Igor…. And that man next to him, he looked like he was just a servant, but he had something just as mysterious as Igor."
She chuckled a bit. Brushing off her blanket, she stood up to get some feeling back into her numb legs. Murmuring to herself,
"It was probably just another bizarre dream. I doubt I'll see them again. Though… It felt so real. Like I was actually there this time. Unlike when I tried to before..."
"We are nearing our destination, all passengers please gather your belongings, our staff will assist you in unloading your luggage. Thank you." The conductor of the train said over the loudspeaker. She looked up and saw her luggage on the top bunk. Since there was no one next to her, she had the seat all to herself. Sitting back down patiently, she put in her headphones to listen to some music before she was interrupted by a text message.
She tapped on the message and saw it was from Mayuri.
"Hey! I'm already here waiting. I'll be the one with the big sign and balloons! I can't wait to see you again Yume!" The text message was sent a few minutes ago. She smiled and replied back to her.
"I'm almost there. About 10 more minutes before they let us out." She quickly replied so she could go back to listening to her music and looking out into the city. Tapping her fingers rhythmically, she followed the beats of the song. She was a lover of Jazz, Oldies and sometimes some of the modern trash. An old soul, that was what she was called numerous times whenever her friends came over to hang out with. She played the piano once during a school recital, some thought she was some transfer student because she played like an expert.
As she let her music play, she pulled out the picture she and Mayuri took before leaving for Kyoto. Smiling, she began to recount her relationship with her best friend.
"Mayuri was always like a sister to me. We were inseparable when we were younger and even as we grew up. We met as most children do, when our parents took us out to the park and coincidentally, we were enrolled in the same school. Mayuri was always more active than me, she was a cheerleader growing up, got along with everyone and everyone wanted to know her as much as I did. I was more of a silent girl, I mean I sleep more than most people ever do anyway. But I always supported her during her cheerleading performances and watched out for her. During our 2nd year of high school, Mayuri had to move to Kyoto due to her parent's work requiring them to move. I'm glad to at least finish High School with her, it wouldn't be the same without her." Yumeko recounted. As she played with the picture a little bit, she could hear the loudspeaker once more, even with her music trying to drain out the noise.
"We have arrived in Downtown Kyoto. Please wait until the signal lights turn on and doors open. Be sure to have your luggage ready, we will have the crew available to help. We thank you for riding Tokyo Expressways, we hope to travel with you again." She quickly got up and grabbed her things and rushed towards the door. She was the first one there, she didn't like having to deal with her being crushed by the large crowd. As soon as the doors hissed open, she took a quick pace and went up the escalator. The terminal was crowded, it was the major connecting terminal between Tokyo and Kyoto, so it was no wonder why it was busy. She looked around for her best friend, Mayuri. She was probably the easiest person to see, as she flailed her arms in the air and yelling out her name.
"YUMEKO! YUMEKO Kanashii!" She yelled out, scaring away people from her. Yumeko blushed a little and was filled with joy to see her childhood best friend again. They quickly locked eyes and ran up to each other with a tight embrace. The pair wrapped their arms around each other tightly and held each other for a little before they let go. Mayuri put her hands on her best friend's shoulders and was giddy with joy.
"I've missed you so much Yume! It's been too long since we've seen each other face to face!" She said with some tears in her eyes. Yumeko quickly wiped them away and hugged her best friend again.
"I've missed you so much too Mayuri. You've gotten a lot taller. You've also changed a lot more than when I last saw you."
"Heh, well I guess I hit my growth spurt a lot later than most people huh? I mean, I'm about to surpass you in height too!" She said putting her hand on her head and gliding it towards Yumeko's to see the comparison between the two. She smiled again and looked down and grabbed Yumeko's luggage.
"Come on, your aunt is here waiting for us! We can talk all day when we get back to where you'll be staying." She smiled and the two walked together to the car. They pushed past the crowd of people, making sure they could arrive in their ride in time so that they can start going into each other's life story. That's just how Mayuri was, with her dearest friend.
Her cousin stood at the trunk of the car and smiled as the two of them arrived out of the terminal. She gave a big warm welcome and gave Yumeko a hug as she took her bags from her.
"Welcome to Kyoto! You remember who I am right?" She asked curiously. Yumeko smiled and quickly replied.
"Of course Aunt Aika, it's been so long since I've last seen you." She looked around the car and tried to see if her niece and nephew were in there as well. Aika saw her curiosity and indulged her.
"Oh don't worry, Junko and Hayato are at home preparing dinner. They're eager to see their Aunt Yumeko!" She smiled lovingly. Yumeko chuckled nervously as she rarely liked being called with a title like Aunt.
"Well, come on in! I know you just got down sitting down on a train for a few hours, but please bear with me for just a little while longer." She said as she put her bags in the trunk, and Mayuri opened her door for her. They sat down and drove off to her new living space for the year. Aika broke the ice and started to speak up.
"So, are you excited to be attending your last year in high school here?" She asked as she adjusted her rearview mirror. Yumeko smiled and replied
"It depends. I had some good friends in Shibuya…" She said scratching her chin. She suddenly nudged her arm against Mayuri and said
"But I think I'll enjoy myself here, as long as this girl's by my side." Mayuri smiled back and nodded at her.
"I made sure we had the same homeroom teacher. I'll introduce you to the school, don't worry, I think you'll like it better than our old academy. It's a lot less strict and the people are friendly!"
"Well you make friends everywhere you go Mayuri. That's like an inherent trait you have." She said teasing her. She did a playful scoff and nudged back at her. Yumeko laid her head back on the rest, but a thought had popped in her mind.
"Aunt Aika, how do you know Mayuri anyways? I don't think you two ever met when we were in Shibuya." She asked as she looked at the both of them. Aika responded quickly.
"Ah, good question. Well, your Dad called me and told me that Mayuri was living here in Kyoto too. Apparently, your dad and her's kept in contact after they moved, so to make your transition here easier, he gave me her contact information and we talked a little bit. I told her that I would be housing you for your final year of high school, and she utterly-" Mayuri quickly interrupted.
"I utterly did an entire flip in my room with joy. I almost hit my ceiling fan too!" She said jokingly. "At first I didn't know what to think. We talked only over messages, and video chatting. When I got the message you were coming here, I knew I had to make your final year great!"
Yumeko smiled and they talked all the way back to Aika's apartment. As they arrived, she took a good look around her new surroundings. It was located in the heart of downtown Kyoto. It was a two-story apartment that looked more modern. The surrounding apartments followed the same theme as well. The first floor was mainly a place to eat and relax together, while the second floor was more for sleeping and being alone. As soon as they entered the house, she smelled the aroma of freshly cooked rice and meat.
"We're home!" Aika said out loud as they took off their shoes. The sudden pitter and patter of tiny footsteps came from the second floor and thus appeared, Junko and Hayato.
"Welcome home!" Junko said cheerfully. She looked up and saw her Aunt Yumeko.
"Hi Auntie!" She said with a giddy look. Before Yumeko could react, she felt her hug her legs. Yumeko was caught off guard but was pleasantly surprised that her niece was so joyful and happy to see her. Even though she barely even remembered her. Yumeko patted her head and smiled back.
"Hey there Junko." She bent down and looked at her niece, at her face level. She brushed her little braid on her hair and played with it a bit. "You've grown a lot since the last time I saw you. You're still just as adorable as ever." She said letting go of her braid and gave her a light hug.
"R-really? But I'm not as pretty as you Auntie!" Pouting a bit. Yumeko smiled as she scratched the back of her head a bit.
"I mean, I'm not THAT pretty." Yumeko said to herself. She patted her head and just smiled at her. Mayuri was already putting Yumeko's bags up in her room as she tapped Yumeko on the shoulder lightly, giving her a nod. Yumeko looked around and she didn't see Hayato anywhere, her nephew. Looking back down she asked her niece.
"Junko chan, where is your brother?" She asked kindly. Junko's face went sullen for a bit but pointed up toward the second floor of the house.
"He's up there. Hayato ran upstairs after he helped me cook…" She says as she hangs her head a bit. Suddenly, Aika went upstairs to bring Hayato down as well to welcome Yumeko. As she was trying to bring Hayato down, Yumeko and Junko went into the kitchen, living room hybrid. Their house was nice and quaint, neatly organized as well. She expected it to be a bit messier since Aika does have two children and no one else to help her watch her kids. Junko held Yumeko's hand and lead her to her seat as she ran around in the kitchen to get her food ready.
Mayuri also came down just in time to join her best friend.
"Did you cook something for me as well Junko Chan?" Mayuri smiled at her. Junko gave her a warm smile back and nodded.
"Mhmm! I and Hayato made enough for everybody!" She said as she was getting the food in a bowl. The kitchen smelled of the aroma of ramen, and not the cheap kind either. It had a sense of love and care. Which surprised Yumeko, she had barely seen her niece before, and the way she treats her, it feels a little too close for someone to be.
"Then again…" Thinking to herself, "She is still just a kid, she might see me as like an older sister. I wouldn't have expected her to be lonely though, she does have a brother. But… Something seems off between them. Apparently, Hayato went straight to his room after he helped cook, and Aika's been up there for a long time…" Yumeko seemed lost in thought again. Mayuri looked over at her friend. She laughed and patted her back, trying to see how she reacted.
"Are you spacing out again Yume?" She said concerned. Yumeko looked back at her and just smiled.
"No, I'm okay! Thanks, Mayuri." As they ate dinner together, Yumeko started to feel closer and closer to her older cousin and niece. The evening continued to drag on until Mayuri realized it was getting late. Aika offered to take her back home for the night.
"N-no thanks. I appreciate the offer, but I did bring my bag and uniform with me, and I was wondering if I could spend the night?" Mayuri asked sheepishly. Aika thought about it for a moment and nodded her head.
"Go ahead, you can sleep in Yumeko's room. I'll have Junko find you the futon!" And with that, the two friends are reunited, and ready to face their final year of high school, together.