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The weather had cooled down by at least ten degrees by the time we got out. The streetlights muted the starry sky, with sallaryman walking around the streets of Sakae holding a mix of briefcases and beer cans.

“What time is it?” I asked, shivering.

“Only like eight,” Maria said, sadly, without a coat for me to steal. “Are you seriously cold again?”

“Yeah, not all of us like to torture ourselves!”

“No girl, that's just you,” Hana joined our little circle as the rest of the team said their goodbyes. Sadly, her coat was also missing in action. “I know lizards with warmer blood.”

I rolled my eyes.“Whatever, don’t come crawling to me when you're sick with a cold.”

“Girl, when do I ever come crawling to you with a cold?”

“Hana, you do that every time you get sick! I’ve seen five year olds with a better immune system.”

“Whatever, anyway, my parents expected me back an hour ago, and I absolutely forgot to tell them what I was doing.” Hana started to jog away before I could get a word in. “Peace out, girl, and good luck, Maria!”

“Good luck with what?”

“I have no idea,” I said. “We’re the same way. Want to walk back together.”

“Please! My phone is dead and I don’t have the route memorized.”

The five-minute walk to the subway passed by in a flash. It was technically still a weekend, so the train was stuffed to the brim as we got on.

“Are the city trains always this–” Maria’s voice cut off as the train jolted to the right. “Crowded?”

“At Sakae station? Are the trains on Broadway packed?”

“Fair point.” She sighed. “It’s like I'm surrounded up to my shoulders in a pool.”

Up to her shoulders was honestly overestimating it. Her head stood out above the metal handrails hanging from the ceiling, a few inches from the train ceiling. That wasn’t to mention the people. My short 5 foot 8 ass started over the heads of most people here, forget Maria.

“Do they even have subways in Minnesota?"
“We barely have public buses, and trust me when I say you don’t want to go on those buses.”

Luckily, the loudspeakers interrupted our conversation, “Attention. Soon, the train bound for Fujigaoka will arrive on track two. This is the end of the Higashiyama line.”

“Freedom!” The second the train doors opened, Maria was the first out. “You’re saying it's typically this packed at the end of the line?”

“This far out? Hell no.”

“I’d hope so.”

I rolled my eyes as we walked back down the starts. Even out here, people crowded the streets filled with mom and pop restaurants and bars. Bright neon lights lit the streets where the streetlights didn’t reach.

“Are you in a rush?” I asked.

“Not really, why?”

“Because I smell burgers, and after everything today, I’m starving.”

“I could eat. I don’t know what's good around here, but I think I could eat anything right now.”

“Same girl!” I looked around the street. Burger chains were far from my preferred places to eat, but with how exhausted I felt, the protein from a burger sounded amazing. God, Maria’s Americaness is rubbing off on me. First, I’m shooting toy guns now I'm stuffing hamburgers down my throat. “Screw it, let's do your favorite.”

“My favorite?” Maria followed my eyes before rolling her eyes. “Just because I’m American doesn’t mean my favorite restaurant is a freaking WcDonalds.”

“Yeah, it does. Don’t you guys eat burgers like four times a week over there?”

“Four? Maybe more like twice a week.”

“Ok, I was joking, but twice a week? How is your country real?”

“You have rice like four times a week here.”

“That’s like saying you have bread four times a week! So? That's a whole food group.”

“I–” Maria clearly knew I was right. “Ok fair enough, I really want a hamburger now.”

“Ok, American.”

We walked into the half-empty restaurant and took our seats on the second floor, with its freshly mopped floors.

The giant soy sauce-soaked hamburger on my tray had never looked better, with melty cheese and bits of ketchup spilling from the sides. The giant basket of fries next to it didn’t hurt things either.

I took a massive bite of the burger. “You know, if every other restaurant in Japan were a burger joint, I’d also eat these four times a week.”

“Really? I’m the opposite. Every restaurant in America seems like it's a chain, so having all these options feels overwhelming. Forget burgers, I want to see what the fifteen different ramen shops are like!”

“Eh, they all blend together after a while,” I said, half listening. Right now, nothing was getting in between me and my cheeseburger.

Before I could blink, both our trays were completely empty.

I lazily got up. It had been long enough that I could start to feel an ache in my legs after sitting. Tomorrow was going to hurt.

“At least it's only a five–Wahh!” Maria screamed as her foot slipped on the floor.

CRASH

We tumbled to the ground in a mess.

I could feel her heartbeat through my shirt as our eyes met. Her breath tickled my nose.

Wha- I- My brain started to fry as our eyes met. W-why is she not pulling away? Calm down Aiko!

Her face grew closer. I could nearly taste her lips as Maria closed her eyes and my heart beat a million miles an hour. We're going to kiss, were going to kiss…

“A-A-Aanyway! We really should get going home!” I slid backward with every bit of effort my sore legs could muster. “D-don’t wanna be getting back home too late.

What the hell am I doing! I wanted to run away and go hide like a worm. She was right there Aiko! I don’t even know if I want to kiss… No I want to kiss her more than anything!

“Y-yeah,” Maria shot up, more flustered than I was. “A-anyway, I need to get going!”

“Y-yeah same,” I muttered

I just stood there, in complete and utter shock, as she started to walk away.

What is wrong with me! I quite literally smashed my fist into the table. All these stupid butterflies in my stomach, the way I blush whenever she gets close to me. Of course you like her Aiko!

Why did it take me this long to admit it! I wanted to bash my head against the wall. That was my chance. Her lips were right there! What kind of stupid, pathetic, coward am I?

BUZZZ

We both froze as Maria’s phone rang in her pocket. “O-one second Aiko?”

“Hello?” She spoke into the phone. “Coach Snyder? Yes, I’m absolutely free!”

“Coach Snyder?” I whispered.

“My future college coach at UKON.” She whispered back. “Yeah absolutely… Wait. You’re coming to Japan!”

She talked a bit more on the phone, with the vague mumbly voice of her coach the only thing I could hear in response. “The Inner High? The first round? Yeah, absolutely, I’ll be there!”

“What's going on?” I asked her the second she got off the phone.

“Coach Snyder, he’s coming to Japan to watch me play, and he said he wanted to scout for any potential Japanese talent while in the country.”

“H-he did?” I sat there for a second as Maria’s words sank in. The Inner High had just massively raised its stakes.