The Host (Part 1)

The river was glowing lazily and vibrating in the heat. The sun was starting to get lower and lower. Maybe they had spent a bit too much time sitting down, but the break was needed after all. Yai couldn’t walk anymore, at least walk normally, and if she kept going, the injury could have gotten worse. But as they were sitting down, time passed quickly, and before they realized, it was already 5PM. They had to keep going, even with Yai’s injury. As Tetsudo and Yai got up to walk again, they could hear a train passing again. Yai, due to her blisters, was pretty much limping.

But as the sun was nearing the far away horizon, houses appeared in the distance, and they could sense that only a kilometer or two was between them and Ichiyama. And so, relief poured down their eyes just like the sweat from the forehead. At least it wasn’t raining or anything. That would’ve been a lot worse. Still the hot weather took its toll on their bodies – their legs had started to buckle, their eyes to water and the sweat had begun to smell. It was not a pretty ride so far. But Yai and Tetsudo hoped that someone would be virtuous enough to help them stay a night over.

The small yellow grass sadly moved, its hypnotic dance intrigued the grasshoppers and small bugs. They all tried to dance together, but every rumble of a passing train would scare everyone away from the dance floor. The heat earth silently smiled back at the smiling sun. Yai and Tetsudo gazed at the swinging trees by their sides – you could see silhouettes of birds in them, quietly singing their songs of love or loneliness. The wires were too hot for them to sit on, they would burn the birds’ tiny feet. But the fat orange sun was descending lower and lower. It was a matter of time before they would sing songs on the railway wire.

“Stop!” Yai yelled and collapsed. Tetsudo rushed to her.

“Is it the blister?”

“Yeah, hurts too much to walk…” Yai said through her groans.

“Augh, damn it…” Tetsudo looked ahead – the town was really close. His head had to think of a way to get Yai there.

“What if… I carried you?” Tetsudo asked.

Yai looked at him with a curious gaze. The curious gaze turned to revelation. The revelation turned to slyness.

“So, you want to feel my boobs pressing against your back~? I guess your perverted thoughts cannot be helped, sure you can carry me!”

“STOP TRYING TO MAKE ME LOOK LIKE A PERVERT OR I WON’T CARRY YOU AT ALL!”

“Alright, alright!” Yai chuckled at Tetsudo’s crimson face.

Tetsudo kneeled, picked up Yai’s legs and lifted her up. She was really light, like a feather. Her hands around his neck were resting and she laid her head on his shoulder – clearly she was very tired, and it had been a long day. Her small fingers played around in front of his chest, he could hear her breath, her heartbeats, each and every one of them etching themselves into his body. Maybe she got red in the face too, just like him…

He continued to walk towards the town drowning in the sunset with Yai on his back, and by 6PM they were at the first few houses. Tetsudo started to knock on doors – a lot of young working people would open the door and refuse immediately. However, can you blame them? Who would actually affiliate with two runways? Tetsudo actually started to get worried someone would call the police on them. If that happened, it was over for this road trip, both of them were going home and likely never meeting up again.

He counted to houses that rejected them – one, three, six, eleven…

“Are we going to find a home for the night?” Yai was worried and tired; Her head was resting on Tetsudo’s left shoulder.

“Don’t worry, we will.” He said through his strained groans and short breaths.

The sun was already disappearing, and they still hadn’t found a home. Even worse, Tetsudo’s phone was on low battery, so it was doomed to die, if they didn’t find somewhere to charge it. The streets started looking bluer and lonelier, with only Yai and Tetsudo walking on the warm pavement. The lights above their heads started to get shinier and shinier as the sun was slowly disintegrating.

“Let’s stop for a bit, you’ll injure yourself worse than me.” Yai said.

“I’m fine.” Tetsudo answered with difficulty.

“You’re not, let me down and let’s find somewhere to rest.” Yai demanded.

Tetsudo decided to not fight with her and let her down at nearest street corner, where they both sat down. No cars were coming by, the street was deathly quiet. The blue streetlights were crawling around the town and breathing down Yai and Tetsudo’s necks. The moon had risen, and it was still a crescent, but was slowly getting fuller and fuller. Maybe by the time they reach Niigata, it will be full.

Tetsudo looked at Yai with a disheartened look.

“There are still around ten or more houses, so um… after I rest here for a bit I should keep knocking…”

The wind started to blow again. The weeds started their hypnotizing dance in the distance. The sheets, hung out to dry on the balconies, started to flap around. The headlights of a nearby train lit the distant fields up for a second and then vanished once again into the blue and melancholic dusk.

As Tetsudo was looking down, his head running around trying desperately to find a quick solution, his hand suddenly felt warm. He looked up and saw Yai’s hand in his. She leaned closer, her face just as red as Tetsudo’s.

“You don’t have to push yourself a-anymore; You’ve already done so much for me, and I-I am so grateful…”

Tetsudo smiled in relief and patted her on the head. Her warm black hair felt like silk to him.

“I have to get you home after all,” Yai’s eyes widened. “You’ve done just as much for me, even if it may not seem like it to you.”

The wind suddenly became a lot warmer. Or it just seemed like it did for them. The moon may have gotten a bit red, or maybe it was just an illusion. Both their faces were crimson like and their eyes glistened as they stared into one another. The few dots inside their irises moved anxiously in beautiful rhythmic patterns, captivating the dots in the other iris.

“What are you two kids doing here out so late?” A low and raspy voice coming from the middle of the street startled them. The two turned around and on the street stood an old man with grey hair. “Where are your parents?”

“Um, we are runaways,” Tetsudo said with an embarrassed voice. “We are actually looking for a place to stay for a night. Do you live near somewhere near by any chance, sir?”

“I do. But why should I shelter you?” The old man said as he got closer. The white streetlight above now lit the empty silhouette that was standing in front of them just a second ago.

“We’ll do chores for the night and morning as payment,” Tetsudo pleaded with him. “Please sir, we have nowhere to stay tonight.”

The old man stood in the spotlight for a few seconds without moving a muscle. His face then turned into a soft smile.

“Alright, you punks. Come.”

Tetsudo picked up Yai and started to carry her again. The street was empty, and so only the three of them walked down the blue and empty street. The sun had long settled down and fallen asleep. Only the crickets engaged in happy or sad conversations. The rest of the town had grown quiet.

After some walking, they stopped in front of a relatively small house compared to the rest of the houses Tetsudo knocked on. He set Yai down since the door was too low for him to carry her through it. They entered through the low door and got a first look around the house for the night. The house was really small – there were only three rooms it seemed – a bathroom, a kitchen/a living room and a bedroom. It was like an apartment, but instead of a huge apartment block, it was a house.

The walls looked worn out, with some of the wallpaper peeling off at certain spots. The kitchen, although small, was pretty normal; there was a small table in the middle of it, a bit scratched and old, the lacquer had almost disappeared. To the left of the table was a small flat TV, sitting on an overused drawer. In the far corner sat a coal-fired stove, its black stovepipe going through the ceiling with one big black and ashy ring around the exit. It was clear to them that this person wasn’t exactly wealthy and had to make do with what he had.

“I bought ingredients, let me make you dinner.” The old man said as he set the bag on his shoulder down.

“But shouldn’t we make dinner?” Yai interjected as she limped out of the bathroom.

“You’ll wash the dishes and make your beds. Also, I don’t really trust anyone to cook for me.”

The old man put some coal and sticks and lit up the stove with a match. He then put on it a pot filled with water, in which he added various vegetables and white chicken meat.

“Are you okay with soup?” he asked, without turning his head towards them.

“No, soup is fine,” Tetsudo said.

Yai and him both sat down at the table and waited. Tetsudo finally managed to get a better look at the host. He wore a blue and white striped jacket, which at some spots looked torn and dirty. Beneath it was a normal white shirt that looked new. He wore black jeans and his big brown shoes stood next to his in the entrance. Tetsudo glanced up at the old man’s face – it was wrinkled and slumped. His grey hair looked like a mop, going down on all sides and leaving an empty and shiny bald head at the top. He inhaled and exhaled quietly through his gaping mouth that was missing a few teeth. His nose looked disfigured and was probably broken. His eyes however were blue like the endless seas, and despite the rough voice and manners the man had, Tetsudo could sense an unknown kindness emitting from them.

After twenty minutes or so, he took the pot off the stove, and placed it on the kitchen counter, where he poured soup into three bowls. He took two and served them to Yai and Tetsudo.

“Here, you can start eating,” and he left to get his bowl.

“Thank you for the food,” said Yai and Tetsudo and tucked in.

“Delicious!”  They both exclaimed in their minds.

After a few servings and thirty minutes of eating in silence, the three finished the entire pot.

“There are no desserts, I’m afraid.” The old man said somberly.

“The soup was delicious, there is no need for desserts. You cooked for us after all.” Yai said with a friendly smile on her face. The old man smiled back, with his hand covering his toothless mouth.

“I’m glad.”

“Oi, Tetsu!” Yai said.

“Huh?”

“Go and make our beds, I’ll wash the dishes!”

“Since when are you in charge?”

“Ugh, just do it, will you?” Yai got up, took the three bowls and went to the kitchen sink.

With a sigh, Tetsudo also got up and went to the bedroom. It was a small room, with a cupboard and single bed in the left corner of the room. The walls were just as worn out as in the kitchen. There were futons tucked in the other corner, along with three pillows. Tetsudo went up and started assembling the beds for himself and Yai.

“Why are you kids runaways?” The old man’s voice startled him.

“Well um, technically only she’s a runaway, I’m just helping her get back home.” Tetsudo answered. The old man raised an eyebrow.

“Just helping her, eh? Why don’t you just buy a train ticket for her?”

“I did, but she told me to leave, before the train came. And when I got home, she had already refunded the ticket back and demanded both of us to go on a road trip together.” Tetsudo explained; his face was all red from embarrassment.

The old man sat on his bed and supported his head with a hand on the knee, and with a curious gaze on his face he continued to question Tetsudo:

“How did you two meet?”

“Last Friday, she came with a train to my hometown, she asked if she could stay over, and I said ‘Yes, for a week.’”

“Why would you allow a stranger into your house, girl or not, they could bring harm.” The old man grimaced. Tetsudo looked at him calmly.

“I should ask you the same thing.” The old man was surprised by that response. To him it was clear this boy was mature enough to understand the consequences of letting a stranger into your house. He chuckled quietly.

“When I say you, I could tell you were honest teenagers. The girl was injured and you were desperate; there was not a single drop of hostility or hidden intentions in your eyes. You needed help and I am not a heartless person.” Tetsudo listened to the old man’s with awe. “But let me ask you: When you met that girl, what did you see in her eyes, in her body language?”

Tetsudo thought for a bit. What were Yai’s eyes like back then on their first encounter? She obviously hadn’t done any harm to him, but did she have intentions back then? He thought and thought, but finally came to a concrete answer.

“There were no hidden intentions when I met her for the first time. I can tell, because the way she acted when we first met, and the way she acts now, is the same. She didn’t just change her mind midway to become my friend.”

The old man chuckled and asked him with a serious tone: 

"Now answer my question: Why would you allow a stranger into your house?" Tetsudo's face was buried in thoughts, as he tried to find an answer from within.

"I think... my life up to that point was a boring static. I felt like nothing was going on. Even if I had been the cause of that, I couldn't wake up from an endless cycle of wasting my youth. But when I saw her get off that train, in all the times I had walked on that railway, I felt that it wasn't right someone to be there except for me. It felt like... change had come. Like this stranger that was in front of me was so much more than just a stranger." Tetsudo was left with no breath after his speech.

The old man sat with an expressionless look on his face as the silence grew. After listening to Tetsudo's rambles, he stood up and went to the door.

“Tell me, on the first day, did she say things like ‘I am so grateful’ or held your hand?”

Tetsudo was perplexed at that question.

“Well, no.”

“Then she has changed, just for the better. I’m sure you have noticed it as well.” He smiled softly. “I’ll go treat your friend’s wounds and we go to bed.”

The old man exited the room, leaving Tetsudo to ponder over his words. He treated Yai’s blisters and gave the teens some pajamas. They changed and the old man took their clothes and told them to wash their clothes in the morning, since it’s late. After some chit-chat before bed, the old man turned off the lights and the three of them laid in their futons to dream away and sleep. Except Tetsudo. The words that the old man said to him stayed in his mind and kept him awake for a while that night.