5:06 am
"You don't have to do this, it could turn out to be a waste of time and money", he said with his bothered voice but it didn't bother me.
"Just think of it as a favor—for ditching me at movies last night", I said and tossed a coin inside the saisen-bako. Even in this raging storm, I still heard the coin land.
I bowed and clapped twice and began with my prayer.
...Okami, Guide us through what's ahead...
...Especially my friend here and his friend as well...
I bowed one last time and opened my eyes. I smiled and turned around to find Brian still standing in a distance with our umbrellas. He seemed eager to leave as soon as possible. Regarding the storm around us, I would've too if we weren't in a shrine right now.
"Brian?", I addressed him while taking my umbrella from his hands. He nodded and I continued,
"Don't you find it strange?".
"w-what do you mean? shrines being open in this storm?", he replied and we walked out the main hall.
"No, I meant this shrine. Don't you think it's unusual how it is located in a red-light district?", I asked him and he replied exactly the way I thought he would.
"Not quite", he turned around to face the last torii gate.
"I don't...", his words paused for a second.
"...I don't have much faith over the guys up there that people preach to every day but it gives them hope for a better tomorrow, and in a place like the red-light district itself—having a hope is what everyone needs at one point or another".
With that, we made our way to the train station where I will finally get to meet one of the few people he always talks about.
Back at the movies last night, he left me on the note that this friend was in some kind of trouble.
I wonder if the situation was too severe, severe enough for him to just leave without a second thought.
Few minutes of charging through the rain and we were already there.
The station was less crowded than what I had in mind but it still turned out to be troublesome for Brian.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU ARE AT THE STATION?! THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HERE!", he lashed out in his phone.
It was the first time I heard him being loud with someone, somehow it felt natural of him.
He must be close with these friends.
I thought and he led the way.
We went from one platform to another a couple of times and he got on his phone again,
"WHAT? what are you doing in the Fukutoshin station?".
I leaned closer and caught a few words from the other side of the call,
"You said you were there just now!".
"Yes! and I said we were there! not that we were gonna depart from there!? get your mexican ass here ASAP!", with that he cut off his phone and saw me leaning forward. I straightened up and he said a few words to me.
"Sorry about him, he just...had a rough night. He'll be here in a minute", and in a minute, something else had other plans.
"Attention please."
"Due to high reports of strong winds,
all trains are to be delayed until 7:00 am.
We apologise for the inconvenience"
∅———————————————∅
6:46 am
[She is wht?], Mateo typed on his phone and tapped send.
He stood behind a pillar despite the empty space on the bench beside him, and on the bench sat the brown haired lady, Tamamo.
Brian on the other edge of the bench also stood with his phone in his hand.
[SHE is paying half your travel expense, so you better not make her regret that], he replied to the text he just received. His gaze turned around at the pillar and saw Mateo turning his eye at Tamamo.
Brian quickly ran his fingers on the screen and sent another text,
[WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? JUST GO AND ADDRESS HER, YOU LOOK LIKE A STALKER FROM HERE].
The message popped up in Mateo's phone, he read the words and looked over at Brian.
He aggressively pointed at Tamamo and Mateo shrugged with his hand.
Another message rang Mateo's phone.
[Do not drag her neck in this, keep quiet about April].
With that message, Mateo again looked over the edge of the bench but Brian was already gone.
...That squidface...
With a deep breath, Mateo stepped out of the pillar and walked towards the bench where Tamamo sat diligently.
He stood right before her. She moved her eyes back and forth in confusion then slightly pulled her bag towards her from the side.
"H-Have a seat", she gestured at Mateo.
He placed down his bag beside the bench and sat near her.
Not a single word came out and the silence filled the gap—Until Tamamo broke it.
"It's finally nice to meet you", she stretched her hand.
"Brian speaks a lot about you".
"He does? oh—nice to meet you too...", Mateo reached out as well.
...that bastard didn't tell me her name...
"...Don't mind my asking...", he shook her hand.
"...but what was your name again? Brian only mentioned it a few times".
Mateo lied.
"He did? that's surprising...", her eyes lit up.
She retrieved her hand.
"Oh, sorry, it's Tamamo. Although he never mentioned yours—only how good you are in athletics".
"Athletics? No, no—he probably meant how I disappear when faced with danger, and it's Mateo by the way", Tamamo chuckled and Mateo continued.
"...About the trip, Brian told me that you were tagging along and...".
His voice faded.
"...Thanks...for covering me up—after this trip, I will pay you back in full", he finished his words.
Tamamo smiled and replied,
"It's alright, I insisted on it. Brian tried to talk me out of it—but I had my mind made up".
Mateo straightened up,
"What? No—the trip costs about thirty thousand yen per person, and you're filling in for two?!".
Mateo jumped off the seat.
"I know you aren't made of gold so let me pay you back after this".
Tamamo again went on with a little laugh.
She softly replied again,
"Ok, ok, if you say so—but no need to treat it as some debt you have to pay off with your life. We can sort it out after the trip".
She still smiled and Mateo again sat down.
"So, Mateo?", she started again.
"How long have you known Brian?".
Mateo gave some thought.
He leaned in, chin in his hand.
...Was it at the fish heist?...
...Or the Yakuza case?...
...No, no, no. Maybe it was at the police station...
"Umm...Mateo? are you with me?", Tamamo's voice rang in his ears.
"Yeah, yeah, I am here—actually I don't really remember when I met him but I guess it was a few years ago?", his voice trailing off uncertainly.
"...few years ago?", Tamamo repeated, her eyes widening.
"No, wait...I think it's just been one or two years?", he avoided the glimmering eyes of Tamamo.
"...one or two years??", she repeated again, her gaze lifted up.
"...One...closer to one", he finished and Tamamo collected herself.
She closely studied him—and looked away.
"...I see."
"What about you?", Mateo asked, a little too fast.
"A-are you part of his tourism program or something?".
"Not really, I only met him a few months back—but I do help him with it", She replied.
"He is really on board with his idea—don't you think?".
Mateo strained a smile across his face before speaking,
"On board? yeah. Drowning? that as well".
He sighed.
Tamamo's eyes blinked quickly and she asked,
"What...what are you trying to say?".
Her eyes narrowed and her voice sharp.
Mateo looked away and spoke,
"His idea, it's—".
The piercing gaze of Tamamo met his eyes.
Words continued from him,
"—I believe in him, not his Idea".
Tamamo tried to speak up when—
"Attention please"
"All services are restored,
any delayed train will depart shortly.
Thank you for your patience"
Trains became pulling up in the platforms.
The chattering of the crowd began once more.
Crowd that stood silent now were walking towards the platforms.
Among the chattering of the crowd, a familiar voice called out.
"Both of you—move, we really can't afford to lose this train", both Mateo and Tamamo moved their gaze behind them.
He was back.
"I don't plan to take a taxi with that storm outside".
Brian moved in front of the two.
Tamamo clicked her tongue and stood up.
"How about we continue later on?".
Mateo nodded and also got on his feet.
He grabbed his bag and followed the two towards the train.
A red striped train soon entered the platform.
Following his two companions, Mateo stepped inside the sliding door.
The doors were closing behind him when he felt a familiar sensation.
A cold whisper.
"He—holds—"
He turned around to see the door closing.
Although, for a second—A man standing at a distance.
His long and black coat fluttered as the train's door closed.
"This is the Marunouchi Line bound for Tokyo.
The next station is Shinjuku."
—————————————————
9:24 am
The Rain still fell like it was hours ago.
Drops from the sky streamed down the window.
It stood in harmony with his face—an ambiguous face.
"Doesn't look like your usual homecoming rain", a familiar voice reached out.
His gaze caught the reflection of the lady beside him.
"Yes, it seems so".
Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he leaned back to his seat.
Then opened them once more,
"Again, thanks—for covering him".
"You have been saying it since we boarded, Brian. Don't you get tired?".
She leaned forward to check the seats in front of her.
There sat Mateo with his eyes closed.
She swung back to her seat.
Her hands again reached out for the newspaper on the seat in front.
Brian quickly snatched the papers before her.
"It's a great sum, all right? And as far as I know, it could be for nothing".
"We had a deal if you recall—do you?", she took the papers back.
Brian stopped for a few seconds and continued again,
"Tamamo, even so, you never mentioned any expense—".
She shooed him with the newspaper.
"—then consider it a kind gesture. You would have needed it from someone else anyways, might as well be me".
The newspaper flicked open.
Tamamo buried her face inside it,
"And while we are at it".
Brian lifted his head.
"Mateo doesn't know you are paying me back—does he?", Tamamo asked.
Once again, Brian leaned back on his seat.
"I feel it's one of those things you can't talk about again or is it?".
Brian sighed and began,
"You are well aware of my tourism program".
"Hmm, so?".
"Then you must have realized I have to move out of Tokyo sooner or later—in order for it to spread", Brian reached for his bag as he spoke.
"And once I do that, I won't be there at every corner to bail him out of troubles".
Tamamo lowered the papers and saw Brian.
He was rummaging through his bag.
"So, this is all a part of some lesson you're giving him?",
Tamamo asked.
She saw Brian pulling out something from his bag.
It was a pamphlet from what she could see.
"Actually, it's more of an experience. Experience is the best teacher after all".
Tamamo lifted the papers again and hid behind it.
"Then...is this whole trip part of the experience as well? Is that why you didn't want me to come along?",
Tamamo asked and pulled down the papers.
She saw that Brian's hands were empty.
"Could be. Honestly, I am not sure myself", he replied and placed back his bag above them.
"What?", Tamamo squeaked.
"I'm going to meet someone there".
She slowly rolled her eyes and lifted the papers again.
"...someone special? Or your thirty fourth job proposal?".
Brian stared out the window again.
"...someone special, yes".
Tamamo's finger tore through the newspaper.
"For me and Mateo—both".
Brian finished and Tamamo placed the newspaper back in the seat.
She also saw the raindrops dripping down the window.
While looking, she caught the glimpse of Brian's face.
His eyes seemed to drown among the falling drops—as tired as ever.
—————————————————
11:42 am
"...push it down your throat if you have to but do not return it back".
Brian said and looked down the aisle.
With no one in sight—he breathed in relief.
"Come on, you're shitting with me. It can't be that bad", Mateo replied.
He held a brown box.
"IT IS THAT BAD!", Brian squeaked out.
The handful of passengers glanced down the aisle.
Brian apologized to them and again went to his seat.
He saw the brown box there.
...This little shit...
Mateo in the seat after them twisted open a water bottle.
A brown box flew over his seat and crashed on his head.
He grabbed the box before it hit the floor.
Mateo turned around with the box in his hand,
"Really, Brian—".
Brian again leaned out and checked the aisle.
Still no one.
He seated back and said,
"Do you really want to see a young woman eat all that by her lonesome while shedding tears and all of that because you wanted snacks bought from shops instead of a home-made meal? Especially when she made it out of goodwill and even shook her savings dry for you? Do you want that, shit head?".
Mateo squinted his eyes,
"When you put it like that...".
He turned froward again with a forced smile.
He sighed and closed the bottle in his other hand.
Click
His eyes flashed as the light beside him vanished.
Turning his head, he saw nothing.
A pitch blackness filled the window.
All he saw was his own face.
Staring into his own gaze of darkness, he sat completely without any movement.
...away...new...V—
Distorted whispers filled his head until—
He jerked in front as his seat launched forward.
"She's coming, don't blow it".
It was Brian.
He still held the water bottle, the brown box beside him.
"—so? How's the bento?", Tamamo asked with her arrival.
"It's good, a little too spicy for me though", Mateo heard Brian's muffled voice.
His hands moved in a haste and opened the brown box.
"Ok, now I am starting to believe everything's too spicy for you", Tamamo leaned forward.
"And Mateo? You are not a bland tofu like your friend here, are you?".
Mateo smiled and held the chopstick in his hand—still in one piece.
"It's great, thanks for err...getting this for us?".
Tamamo stared at him for a moment before leaning back into her seat.
Mateo took time to breathe in and closed the box.
"I have to use the...restroom", with that, he left.
Brian watched as Mateo disappeared down the aisle.
Tamamo also opened her box.
She took apart the wooden chopsticks and,
"Thank you for the food".
Joined her hands once and began with the rise.
"Mmmhmm—better than I thought", she muttered as she chewed the rice.
"I should buy them more often".
Brian scoffed and Tamamo quickly passed him water.
"Ladies and gentlemen,
Next stop is Kokura station.
Interchange station for local lines"
...
Mateo reached the end of the cabin.
The sliding door in front opened and he stepped forward.
He made his way inside one of the restrooms.
Once inside, he pulled out the brown box.
"Sorry, Tamamo, but some other time I guess".
He threw out the whole lunch in the dustbin.
Ding-dong
A bell rang.
Mateo heard another announcement but it was impossible to hear.
All he could hear was a muffled voice and the humming of the ventilations.
With the box empty, he stood beside the mirror.
Lifting his hair, he stared at his forehead.
One that seemed much bigger in the mirror.
With a sigh, he turned the sink.
Nothing streamed out.
Still turning it again—nothing.
He rubbed his hands on his pants and proceeded to leave with the empty box.
The door opened and he heard a metal rattling.
He turned around and the sound seemed to centre from the sink.
His step backed up and the doors closed.
Now standing by the sink, he saw something falling down from it.
A sparkling shard.
With bubbling curiosity he picked it up.
A cold sensation spread through his body.
...Ice?...
In a second, more rattling sound broke out.
The sink shook violently and shards of ice came shooting out of it.
"The fuc—!?", one of the shards shattered with a crash.
The chips flew out and a few fell straight into the eyes of Mateo.
He grunted out.
"—GODDAMN THAT HURTS!".
With every second, the sink overflowed.
Many more crashed and shattered on sight.
Several chip piercing through Mateo's clothes.
He wailed out and tried to grab the sink.
It was ice cold.
Using all his force, he twisted but it was frozen in place.
Until—
Snap
The sink broke out and more Ice shards shot out.
He quickly jumped back and stepped out the door.
After stepping out, a bitter cold entombed his hand.
"Fucking hell", he threw away the broken part of the sink in his hand.
It shattered into a thousand pieces of Ice.
The door to the cabin behind him slid open.
He turned to around to see the whole cabin drowned in mist.
Lights dimmed out and windows black.
The mist flowed through the door and reached Mateo.
Near his feet encircled the mist and swayed away.
His feet fell in the coldness of the mist.
Soon his beating heart felt the bitter cold.
A warm breath from his mouth and his steps marched on.
Walking through the mist, he reached his seat.
Looking behind his own seat—he saw no one.
"W-what the hell is going on...", his teeth grinded themselves as he spoke.
Soon his shoulders took a start on shivers.
Throwing the box in his seat, he turned towards the aisle once more.
He checked every seat in the cabin—empty as it was.
Not a single soul was present.
With a final judgement, he sat on one of the seat.
Mateo sat alone with no one but only his thoughts.
...Fucking shishi package...
...Fucking deliv—ding dong!...
A bell rang and Mateo lifted his head.
The mist between his legs started to vanish and his shivering stopped.
Only after a moment, the doors opened.
He leaned his head out the seat just enough to peek.
The vanished mist had gathered at the door as it slid open.
Mateo kept staring until he saw what seemed like a pale hand emerging from the mist.
He jerked back to the seat.
The body that shivered in cold was now burning from heat.
Drops of sweat centered in his face.
The gate on the other end of the cabin slid open.
His scorching hand pushed the icy armrest and he launched towards the door.