Road Trip! Part 2

Hiroshi had asked his father to send a car for him to use for our trip to the resort in Wakayama. Hiroshi paid for our guesthouse as well, we were lucky to have a man as rich as his father. It was a short trip down north, about an hour’s drive. Yuki sat with her cousin in the front seat as we drove, and Yuta was between Misako and I in the backseat. The drive was enjoyable and calming. I had changed my clothes after my defeat at the hands of Misako, but I still felt the pain within my soul. The smooth car ride was interrupted as Hiroshi played pop-music from his cellphone.

“Cuz! I love this song!” Yuki yelled in excitement.

“She’s an amazing artist, I want to marry her.” Hiroshi replied.

“You will never meet her, kid.” I retorted.

“Tsk, tsk.” Hiroshi began, clicking his tongue, “But you underestimate my power, young one.”

“Please don’t tell me that your father…” I was cut off.

“Obviously!” Hiroshi laughed.

The two cousins sang in a false voice as we continued our journey. Misako let Yuta sleep in her arms, the little man was tired from the long day of travelling he had. He was very, very peaceful when his energy was depleted, I was thankful for that. I ran my hand through Yuta’s hair – he was a good boy. I wished he had friends his age as well, but if he had to hang out with us, I wouldn’t have minded his presence. It was nearing sunset as we finally arrived in Wakayama. Hiroshi parked the car inside the guest-house driveway, and we unpacked our belongings. Yuki took little Yuta to a room to continue to let him rest. As she returned, she was gleaming from ear to ear.

“He’s such a cute boy!” She said as she walked in.

“He really is.” Misako said.

“Do you know him, Yuki?” I asked her.

“Only once, when I went to visit sis in Tokyo years ago.” She replied.

“He hasn’t changed that much.” Misako stated.

“Still as energetic as ever.” Yuki agreed.

“Says you.” I retorted.

“Wanna fight again, monster?”

“I apologize for my previous statement.” I repented.

Hiroshi interrupted, rubbing his stomach:

“Let’s go buy some groceries, I’m getting hungry.” He exclaimed.

“Sure, I’ll go with.” I said, as I was famished myself.

We took a walk through the semi-quiet streets of Wakayama; old temples and shrines were fantastic to look at. Such old buildings that were surrounded by apartment buildings and shopping centers were amazing to see. Hiroshi had said his father lived in Wakayama, so he’d visited the province numerous occasions.

“Want to go visit him?” I asked Hiroshi.

“Nah, I’m good. He’s a nice guy, but I don’t really consider him my father. Since he was never around when I was a kid.”

“That’s true, sorry for asking.”

“We’re best buds for a reason, we can talk about anything.”

“I won’t even argue you on that, you’ve been there for me since day one.” I said.

We’d found a grocery store, buying tons of meats and vegetables for a barbeque – beer and sake too. With our hands full with tons of groceries for only two days, we trudged our way back home.

“David.” Hiroshi caught my attention.

“What’s up?”

“Next time, don’t lie to us. If you’re in trouble, speak.”

“I won’t do that ever again. I promise.”

“Good, I can’t have my best friend dying on me, yet.”

“Why did you say ‘yet’?”

“No reason.”

“What devious schemes have you come up with?”

Hiroshi sped off, leaving me in the dust. I ran after him, needing answers.