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Chapter 15: A Trip to Kyoto – Part I
Finally, it's August 9th, I'll see Mishima again today. I've missed her, talking with her, going to club together, riding on the train, well, I've missed everything.
We sent each other a few letters over break, one of the ones she sent had a picture of her taken by her uncle on a dock, she's waving and smiling while her hair blows in the breeze. I put it in a frame, but have kept it hidden in my desk because I don't want any questions or remarks from my parents. I do often look at it though when I miss her, looking at it always makes me smile.
A couple of weeks ago, I painted a picture of a bird perched on a branch of a tree outside my window and sent it to her. She said she liked it, I hope that she did…
Breaking from my thoughts, I look over at my suitcase, wondering if I remembered everything. I realize I forgot to pack my sketchbook and pencils and do so immediately to make sure that I don't forget them.
I look up and notice that my mother is there in the hallway.
"Ayato, we should get going, we don't want to be late."
"I'm coming." I close up my suitcase and head out with my mother to the car.
We arrive at the train station, and as we walk to the ticket counter, my mother asks, "Ayato, did you remember everything? You know we don't have time to go back home."
"Yes, Mom, I didn't forget anything." I give her an exasperated look that she doesn't seem to appreciate. How embarrassing to have her hovering over me like this, I hope that Mishima doesn't see this. At the ticket counter, I check in for the train. I look at my watch and note that it's almost time to go.
"Ok, Mom, I'll see you soon, thanks for dropping me off."
"All right then, good bye Ayato, and be sure to call me when you arrive."
"Yep, good bye."
I watch as she walks away, when she seems to be gone, I look for Mishima. I find her, but she's talking with some girls I don't recognize. We didn't have to wear our uniforms on the trip, which was a nice surprise, so she's wearing khaki capri pants, a sky blue button up blouse with a matching scarf tied around her neck, sandals that match her pants, and she has her hair in a pony tail. She notices me and I walk over to her.
"Kamina-kun, so good to see you again." She smiles and grabs my hands, and, for a second, I feel like we're the only ones in the world. Unfortunately, this quickly ends as she lets go of my hands and motions towards the girls she had been talking with.
"Kamina-kun, I want you to meet my friends, Tsuchiya Yukino and Narita Arimi."
"Yukino, Arimi, this is Kamina Ayato."
We all bow and say hello.
Narita inspects me from head-to-toe, making me feel a little uncomfortable. She then looks smartly at Mishima and says, "Haruka, is…"
"Shh, Arimi!" Mishima looks angrily at Narita, who proceeds to laugh like this is the funniest thing she has ever heard.
I wonder what that was all about…
"Mishima…"
"Haruka, Arimi, we're all sitting together, right?" Tsuchiya asks Mishima and Narita.
"Kamina-kun, is there anyone you're sitting with?" Mishima asks me with a worried expression.
"Well, I was going to sit with my friend Soujirou." I was actually hoping to sit next to Mishima, but that obviously isn't going to happen.
"Oh, ok, no, no problem then, right?" She says, but her face seems somewhat downcast.
"Yeah, sure." I respond, smiling. Her face brightens, and I watch as Tsuchiya and Narita latch onto Mishima, and walk away. As they walk, I notice that Narita is saying things I can't hear but that seem to fluster Mishima. Sighing, I turn around and start looking for Soujirou. I notice him in a group of guys and walk over and wave as he notices me.
"Soujirou, should we get on the train now?"
"Sure, Aya."
As we file in to board the train, I notice that Mishima and her friends are moving to another car from the one I am, this will definitely make things more difficult. What excuse am I going to have to use to talk to her, 'Oh, I was just on my way to the restroom, so I thought I'd say hi', I certainly can't use that excuse! As I sit in my seat, I tap the armrest trying to think of what to say, but sigh as I realize I can't think of any reason that doesn't seem at least somewhat suspicious, especially since Narita and Tsuchiya will be there. So, I decide to sit back and enjoy the scenery in the mean time.
We arrive in Kyoto, and the train gets divided up in a way that Mishima and I are in different groups, but she'll be with Narita and Tsuchiya, ah, just my luck. Soujirou, I, and a couple other of my guy friends will be sharing a room at the hotel, so we set off to board our group's bus to head for the hotel. I see Mishima boarding her bus, and we wave, she looks like she's having a lot of fun…without me.
The teachers chaperoning the trip told us that since it's late in the day, we won't be doing any sightseeing. So, after putting our suitcases in our room, Soujirou and I wander out into the hallway. The hotel is a Western style one, so I figure that there's a pool somewhere around. If there is, maybe I'll go swimming sometime. We head to the lobby, and when we arrive, I suddenly stop, Mishima!
"Aya, is something wrong?" Soujirou asks.
"Ah, well, you see…" I respond.
He looks where I am looking and grins.
"Go ahead, Aya, I'll look for the pool and tell you about it later, ok?"
"Thanks, Soujirou. I'll see you later then?" We wave as he walks away, and I approach Mishima, who, surprisingly, is not with Narita or Tsuchiya. She is reading a book and does not notice me as I approach.
I come in close to her and say, "Hello, Mishima," with a smile.
She looks up surprised and smiles, "Hello, Kamina-kun!" She puts down her book and stands.
"How was the trip for you, Mishima?"
"Ah, it was fine, though I'm
glad that it wasn't very long. How about you, Kamina-kun?"
"It was fine for me, as well, Mishima."
"What time is your group eating dinner tonight, Mishima?"
"Ah, 5 pm. How about yours, Kamina-kun?"
"I guess my group's in a different shift than yours, too bad."
"I see, that is too bad. Well, maybe our groups will eat at the same time tomorrow."
"Yes, that would be nice."
"Haruka! Haruka!" I hear someone calling out for Mishima. I look in the direction of the voice I heard, and notice Narita running towards Mishima, and Tsuchiya following at a more leisurely pace.
Narita grabs Mishima's hands and says, "Haruka, it's time for our group to eat dinner."
Mishima looks surprised and says, "Really? Oh, ok."
Mishima looks back at me and says, "I'm sorry, Kamina-kun, I have to get going."
"No problem, Mishima, have a nice dinner."
"Thank you."
I notice Narita looking at me as she says, "Well, then, Kamina-kun, we'll be taking Haruka now. See ya!"
"Good bye, Kamina-kun."
"Good bye, Mishima."
I watch as Mishima walks away with Narita and Tsuchiya, wondering what will happen tomorrow.
Next ChapterA Trip to Kyoto: Part II
