The Beginning of Summer

The train doors closed shut behind me as I proceeded to take a seat next to the window. The train zoomed through the tunnel with incredible speed. In just a few seconds, it was nearly out of the tunnel as a blinding, slightly white-yellow light flooded the cabin. 

I couldn’t help but think that the train was quite impressive and high-tech; although it is built for speed, so there's no use in complaining. I somehow find trains to be pretty fascinating. Yep, I’m a geek; actually, the better term is Otaku, and I’m proud of it.

Summer has begun and I couldn’t be more excited, seeing as I’m finally going back home. I missed my mom and my annoying little sis. She’s the cutest, and her beauty is quite radiant if I do say so myself.

Before you make a face, no, I don’t have a little sister complex. Sure, I do love my little sister, but it’s purely platonic, thank you very much. I can’t even begin to imagine her in a romantic light. That would be weird… and creepy. I wonder if she and Mom will enjoy the souvenirs I bought.

I looked down at the plastic bag next to my leg. Inside there was: Tokyo Banana, N.Y.C. Sand, Goma Tamago, and a whole lot of other Tokyo treats. There was also a Maneki Neko keychain and high-tier glassware.

Yes, I definitely spoil my family. When you have a sister like mine, you have to buy a whole lot of souvenirs just to satisfy her little heart. It’s no surprise that I love my family. Everyone loves family, right?

As I looked out the window, I noticed that the train was nearly in Hokkaido, just a few kilometres until it reached Kiyomizuzawa—a town my family moved to after my mother and father broke up. Come to think of it, this was the first time I had actually visited since they moved there.

Mom told me that she used to live there when Gran was still alive, but she moved after graduating. I guess a person can never truly forget where they came from, huh?

A few minutes passed as the train entered Hokkaido and took the route to Kiyomi. As it circled around the town, it passed near Tokiwa Forest. 

The forest was way up atop a hill. Looking out, I saw the Elder Tree. It was a tree that had been in Kiyomizuzawa since it was founded, or at least that’s what I was told.

Before the train entered the station, I looked out at the tree and there she was: a girl in a beautiful pink yukata with a flower pattern all over it. 

Her silky black hair swayed with the gentle breeze; her pale skin was somewhat ethereal. I had never seen anything like it. Her slender profile somehow matched her tall height. 

Her rose-like eyes gleamed in the summer light. I don't think it’s far-fetched to say she was out of this world. She was looking at the sky as if waiting for something. The sky above her was like a compliment to her beauty. 

The train entered the station as it came to a halt. I thought, “Who was that?”

The train doors opened and I exited with my luggage, then came the walk home. As I walked, a realization hit me like the speeding train I had just ridden. 

I… didn’t know where I was going. I’m aware that this is where my mother grew up, but like I mentioned before, I’ve never visited this place before. 

After coming to this realization, I pulled my phone from my pocket and entered my contacts. There, I searched for Mom and dialed. The phone rang for a while, then she answered.

“Hello?”

“Hey Mom, it’s me.”

“Who are you?” she asked, her tone cautious.

“Wait, what? Please don't tell me she forgot me. That would be kinda painful… uh-haha?”

“Uh, Mom, it’s me, Hiroshi, your son.”

“I know, I was just messing with you. How have you been, my dear boy?”

“That’s not funny, Mom! You almost gave me a heart attack!”

“Hahahaha… oh please, I’ve never known you to be so easily frightened. You should have seen right through that.”

She’s not wrong. I should’ve seen through that the moment she asked who I was, but I guess there are too many things on my mind—like the girl I saw, for instance. I wonder if she lives near our house? 

Feeling a little annoyed, I replied, “Yeah, yeah. Anyway, could you please pick me up? I’m outside the station.”

“Sure, I’ll be right there in a few.”

“Okay, thank you… aaaand bye.” I ended the call as I looked at the phone with a playful frown. “Jeez, why does she always have to act like a kid? Her sense of humour is just dark. Or maybe I’m just boring—yeah, no, I don’t even want to think about that one.”

A few minutes later, Mom picked me up from the station in her car. As she drove to the house, she queried, a joyous expression lighting up her face.

“So, how has school been?”

As she asked that, my heart throbbed once and immediately my skin crawled. It wasn’t because of her; on the contrary, it was her question. I… I really don't like school. Here’s the truth about Otakus.

Most Otaku are loners who don’t have any friends, yet some actually do have friends; it just depends on the environment, or rather the people in it.

But the typical Otaku is a shut-in who watches anime and reads manga all day without so much as setting foot outside. I would be the same if it weren’t for my dad.

Even though I don’t openly admit that I’m a nerd, geek, or Otaku, I still get judged for basically being me. And because of that, I haven’t been able to make any friends. My school life sucks, like a lot. To be honest, I’m actually being bullied instead of just being judged.

I paused for a moment, thinking of a way to respond, but nothing came to mind. I couldn’t answer. Fear took over—fear of what she would think. She didn’t raise a coward; she raised a strong boy who was capable. 

As a kid, I beamed with confidence and fear was but an illusion. And yet, ever since puberty sunk in, well, all of that became mere memories of who I was. 

I tried to speak, but my words caught in my throat as I started sweating bullets. Then I comically waved my hands around as I said, 

“It’s been awesome, really awesome! In fact, I’ve had so much fun. I didn’t expect high school to be so much fun, hahahaha… being a first-year is fu—”

“Okay, hold it right there, buster. You’re lying to me, aren’t you?” she interrupted, a vein popping on the side of her forehead as a scary smile curled her lips.

I twitched the minute she questioned me, then I began to sweat even more. Looking back, she could always tell when I was lying. It’s all in the way I speak in that moment; for example, just a few seconds ago, I repeated the word fun more than twice. When I’m lying, I always repeat one word over and over—it could be any word that is in context.

“I, uh, yes, I was lying,” I mumbled, my tone low.

“What was that?”

“I was lying. As it turns out, I don’t like going to school, but I… I’ve actually started to enjoy it just a bit. I don’t know, it’s…”

“Complicated?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Listen, son, you shouldn’t lie about these things. If you want to get help, then you have to be honest with yourself and everyone around you. Honesty is the best policy, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then make sure to be honest at all times and just be yourself, alright?”

“Right, thanks.”

“That’s a good boy. I’m so happy you’re back with your mommy.”

“Okay, one: I’m not a dog. Two: I’m not a baby. So please, talk normally with me.”

“You are my son; I’ll talk to you in whatever manner I want, or else no dinner for you,” she declared with that terrifying smile.

My lips curled up as I murmured, “Fine, you win.”

“Good.”

“So we’re in Kiyomizuzawa town right now?”

“Not quite. It’s a district, not a town. We’re in Yubari’s Kiyomizuzawa district. Do you get it now?”

“Sorta.”

“Hahahaha, understandable.”

As Mom navigated the roads of Yubari, the sweet scent of melons from roadside stands drifted through the open window. It was a reminder that life can be just as sweet, and just as bitter, as black coffee.

For some reason, this small, almost-forgotten district had more life than my crowded classroom in Tokyo. A few minutes passed and we finally made it to the house. It was pretty old; the paint was cracking, and the pavement received the same treatment. 

We exited the car and walked into the house. Mom showed me to my room, and when I entered, I found it to be pretty pleasant. I had no complaints whatsoever. It was a nice room; it had a bed, a TV, and a clear view of the beauty of Kiyomizuzawa—or Yubari, yeah, I don't know. 

I went back to the kitchen and unpacked the bag of souvenirs. I gave Mom her glassware and some of the snacks, then it dawned on me: my dear sister was nowhere to be found.

I turned to Mom as I asked, “Hey Mom, where’s Miyu?”

“She went out with some friends of hers; she’ll be back a little later.”

“I see. I guess I’ll see her later. Oh, before I forget, what’s the name of the forest at the top of the hill I saw?”

“Atop a hill? Huh, maybe that’s… oh yeah, it’s most likely Tokiwa Forest; it’s near Takinoue Park. That is the only hill that’s close to here as far as I know, though I could be wrong.”

“Thanks, Mom. Takinoue Park is the same park we saw before, right?”

“Yes. Why? Do you want to go there?”

“Yeah, I’ll be back soon.” By the time I finished my sentence, I was already out the door as I ran towards the park.

In a few minutes, I was already there as I passed through the fence and climbed over it. I ran into the forest and headed for the Elder Tree. As I ran, my thoughts screamed:

I ran until I made it to a small walkway that led to the tree. I sauntered for a while, and then she appeared before my hazel eyes. She was still standing there, staring into the sky.

This time I could see her from up close and, truly, she was beautiful beyond words. She took my clichéd breath away. She turned to look at me, and immediately I was captivated by her rose-like eyes. 

They were kind of hollow and heavy-lidded, yet their warmth was unmistakable; it was as if they pierced my very soul. The girl smiled at me; her expression was calm and relaxed. Just by looking at her, I felt weirdly at ease. Then she spoke, her tone like warm honey.

“Hello there, are you lost?”