The Train Girl

"So you joined some clubs?" Sakura asked, her spoonful of cereal halfway to her mouth. I nodded, eager to share the details with Sakura and Kaito, who were already in the know, having heard about it earlier when we were getting ready for the day.

Sakura took a bite of her cereal and nodded approvingly. A warm smile graced her lips as she said, "That's good for you. You needed to relax more from working so much."

"Did you really think so?" I returned her smile, appreciating their concern for me.

"Absolutely," Kaito chimed in, a playful grin spreading across his face. "You needed to take care of yourself too." I couldn't help but playfully pat them both on the head.

"If you say so, then I'll do it."

Sakura's voice took on a slightly melancholic tone as she reminded me, "We were all we had left, Haruki. We needed to take care of each other or we would lose everything."

Her words struck a chord within me, echoing the last sentiment my mom had expressed before she passed away.

"We were all we had left," I repeated silently, the weight of those words sinking in.

--❦--

As the weather turned colder, I flipped up my hoodie while waiting for the train, seeking warmth and comfort. Immersed in the enchanting melodies of classical music playing through my earphones, I allowed myself to be carried away. With the arrival of fall, the sun hadn't fully risen yet, its brilliance hidden behind the majestic mountains that surrounded us. The sky, painted with a beautiful golden hue, captivated my gaze.

I sighed, marveling at the breathtaking beauty of the morning, watching my breath escape into the chilly air, a visible reminder of life's ephemeral nature. The train arrived, and as I stepped inside, my thoughts momentarily lingered on the serendipitous encounters that awaited me.

"Sorry!" I heard a shy voice apologize, snapping me out of my reverie. I looked up to see a girl with earmuffs passing by. Her demeanor exuded timidity, her head slightly bowed, clutching a warm drink tightly in both hands. There was something intriguing about her, an inexplicable magnetism that captured my attention. For a fleeting moment, our eyes met, and I found myself momentarily captivated by her presence. My gaze quickly darted to my phone, hoping she hadn't noticed my curious stare.

What had gotten into me?

This time, as we reached the same stop, I resisted the urge to surreptitiously observe her departure. Instead, I raised my eyes to the sky, realizing that Aika was right—perhaps it was time for me to spend more moments gazing at the celestial wonders above.

--❦--

"And that's what happened in science!" Yujiro concluded his animated story, filling the air with excitement as we sat together at our usual table in the bustling cafeteria. I had been absentmindedly listening, my thoughts consumed by an unspoken encounter.

"Hey, something seemed off with you today," Aika remarked, her gaze fixed on me, her eyes reflecting genuine concern. I looked up from my tray, momentarily taken aback by her perceptiveness.

"It's nothing," I assured her, not wanting to burden them with the details of my unexpected train encounter.

Yujiro exchanged a knowing glance with Aika, his voice barely above a whisper as he said, "He didn't seem like himself."

She shot him a sharp look, a silent plea for discretion, and whispered back, "Quiet! It's not about the clubs."

Deciding to divert their attention, I shifted the topic, saying, "I'm just not entirely convinced that Yujiro's plan to cover my shifts will work out." I hoped that discussing my work-related concerns would shift their focus away from my hidden thoughts.

Yujiro's frown transformed into a confident smile as he reassured me, "You worry too much, my friend. My brother already spoke to your boss this morning, and he's completely fine with it. He understands your situation and has arranged for some people to cover your shifts. You're all set!"

"Thanks, Yujiro." I mustered a grateful smile, genuinely appreciative of his efforts. He patted my shoulder reassuringly, his gesture providing a comforting sense of camaraderie.

"No problem at all! Remember, you have a life too." Aika's smile returned, though I detected a glimmer of uncertainty in her eyes, an unspoken question she dared not voice.

--❦--

After school, I stepped into the vibrant world of my first club: Cuisine Cooking. The anticipation mingled with a touch of nervousness as I entered the room, greeted by a bustling group of individuals, more numerous than I had anticipated. The majority were girls, their passion for culinary arts evident in their focused expressions, but there were a few boys as well, proving that the art of cooking transcended gender stereotypes.

Amidst the sea of enthusiastic faces, I caught sight of Aika engaged in a lively conversation with the teacher in charge. I made my way over to her, eager to share this experience together.

"Hey!" Aika's face lit up with excitement as she spotted me. "Glad you could make it!"

Returning her enthusiasm, I replied with a smile, "Well, as you guys said, I need to relax more from work."

"Great! I'm even happier you're here because we need partners for today. Since you're the only person I know who would be here beside me, it would have been quite awkward to end up with a random student I don't even know!" Aika's smile grew wider, her eyes shining with anticipation. We shared a moment of laughter, the shared anticipation building a bond between us.

"I highly doubt that would have happened. How else did you become the school news president?" I playfully teased, reveling in the joyous camaraderie that enveloped us.

Aika playfully placed her hands on her hips, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Through many days of hard work and a few well-placed bribes." Our laughter filled the room once more, momentarily lifting the weight of our daily responsibilities.

"They were all right," I thought to myself as we prepared for the culinary adventure that awaited us. "Taking a break is exactly what I need."

--❦--

With our culinary endeavors behind us, Aika and I left the bustling classroom together, our spirits light and content. I carried a bag filled with the fragrant rosemary chicken we had masterfully crafted, a testament to our newfound skills.

"I have to grab my bag from my locker," Aika said, breaking the comfortable silence. "Be right back."

I nodded, understanding her need to retrieve her belongings. "I'll wait for you down the hall."

Walking down the brightly lit hallway, I exhaled, consciously letting go of any remaining stress that lingered within me. Retrieving my phone from my pocket, I snapped a picture of the mouthwatering chicken, capturing the essence of our achievement. As I glanced at the screen, a genuine smile spread across my face.

"Good days are surely ahead," I murmured to myself, a hopeful affirmation. When I lifted my gaze from the screen, I suddenly halted in my tracks. There she was—the same girl from the train, standing by the bulletin board. Did she attend the same school as well?

Intrigued, I quickly ducked behind a nearby corner, careful not to draw her attention, as I covertly observed her actions.

She approached the bulletin board with a purposeful stride, her delicate hand reaching out to grasp a pen. With focused determination, she wrote her name on the signup sheet before stepping back and turning away. Curiosity gnawed at me, begging for answers. What could possibly bring her to this place at this particular moment?

"What are you looking at?" Aika's voice, laced with playful mischief, startled me as she placed her hands on my shoulders from behind.

I took a step back, caught off guard by her sudden presence. "Oh, jeez! You scared me!"

"Sorry about that," she chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But you seemed deeply focused on something when I arrived, so I thought, 'Why not sneak up on you?'" Her gaze shifted down the hall, scanning the surroundings.

"So, what were you looking at?" She inquired, genuine curiosity in her voice. I hesitated for a moment, deliberating whether to share my discovery or keep it to myself.

"Oh, nothing, really," I finally replied, opting to protect the enigmatic aura that surrounded the girl I had unexpectedly encountered.

Resuming our walk, I couldn't help but steal another glance at the bulletin board, my eyes fixating on a name that hadn't been there before. Ayumi—the word stood out like a beacon amidst the sea of names. It appeared she had joined the Astronomy club.

"Haruki?" Aika's voice broke through my reverie, bringing me back to the present moment. I shifted my gaze between her and the club sign-up lists, weighing my next words carefully. "Is this what you were looking at? Is there another club you want to join?"

I glanced at the Astronomy list once more, a surge of unexpected excitement bubbling within me. "I was just thinking," I began, my voice filled with newfound determination, "since we used to stargaze together, maybe we should sign up for Astronomy. I think Yujiro would like it too."

Aika's eyes widened with surprise, her expression a delightful mix of curiosity and enthusiasm. "So, have you changed your mind? From not wanting to join to suddenly wanting to join more?"

I grinned playfully, relishing in the thrill of embracing new possibilities. "You could say that."

Her smile grew wider, a radiant reflection of the newfound spark in me. "Well then, let's add one more club to our list!"

Together, we added our names alongside Yujiro's on the Astronomy signup sheet, our shared excitement filling the air as we walked away, ready to embark on this celestial adventure.

"Look at the sky now," Aika suggested, wrapping her scarf snugly around her neck. "You can already see some stars!"

I tilted my head upward, gazing at the night sky with renewed wonder. The stars, though faint in the early evening glow, twinkled with a captivating brilliance—much like Ayumi, the girl I had unexpectedly encountered.