《Remember That Time?》


 Prologue

    Light was so bright. There was a girl. I cannot see her face because of the bright light shining like the sun. Even our surroundings, I cannot see. I was sitting¡ªsomething like a seat of a swing. The girl seems to be talking. I was just there, sitting, listening, and thinking. Thinking something that I do not even have a clue what it was.


    ¡°¡ªah, I got to go¡ª¡°said the girl, and she bidded good-bye to me. A good-bye that felt so sad, a good-bye that wanted me to burst tears. I wanted to say something to her. I tried to open my mouth, but it was dry. My heart would not let me say it no matter how desperate I wanted to. She walked away. Being sucked by the never-ending light, never to be seen again.


    Darkness was filling the light. I was sucked into the abyss. Alone. Forgotten.


    Wait. This feeling¡­ I felt like lying on soft cotton. I felt like being born again. Being carried up to the light of this miserable world. I opened my eyes. I was in my room, sleeping, but was woken up by a mysterious, powerful force inside me. I sat bolt upright. I hugged my knees while sitting down on the bed. It was just a dream.


    I turned my head to the window. It was morning, obviously. The sky was hazy. Buildings can be seen from here. Another day for a lame person like me.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    I stood up. My head hurts. Sweat was dripping from my face¡ªwait, this wasn¡¯t sweat. I placed one of my fingers on my wet cheeks and tasted it.


    ¡°Salty¡­¡±


    Meh, absolute rubbish. I am not crying. In fact, I did not cry for two years. I lazily walked to the mirror. I stood in front of the mirror. There was a man with long, pointy but messy brown hair. There were also strands of hair because of sleeping. He was wearing a soggy white shirt that had not been washed for days. He was also wearing boxers, colored in blue with white stripes. I realized that it was just my reflection. A reflection of a monster that has woke up from its nest looking for prey.


    The words from the girl were still tingling in my eardrum like a taiko.


    ¡°¡ªah, I got to go¡ª¡°


    It echoed deep inside my mind. Strange. I was sure I had not heard that voice before. A sweet voice, a sweet sad voice bothering me. It was getting annoying.


    I was in the kitchen. I poured coffee in my cup. Sitting alone on my small coffee table. Light from the outside had already creeped into the kitchen window by the sink. It dazzled me.


    I took a small gentle sip my coffee and enjoyed its bitterness. The aroma was making me feel a lot better. I am already used being alone, enjoying this never-ending miserable cycle called¡ªlife.


    After wearing my clothes¡ªjeans and a shirt under a coat, I stepped outside, into the morning light.


    Skyscrapers.


    Cars.


    People.


    Tokyo.


    A completely new day.

 Chapter 1

    I am in the airport. What was its name again? Oh right, it was Haneda. I glanced around. There were many people. Chattering. Smiling. Laughing. Crying. Therefore, this is what it felt when someone is leaving, or had just come back after a long time staying on another country. I dragged my luggage behind me. I was wearing sunglasses, for eye protection from the sun of course.


    There lots of people outside the airport too. A taxi stopped in front of me. I went in, and the driver turned the vehicle on and drove away from the busy airport.


    ¡°Yoyogi, please,¡±I said. Then the driver gave me a nod and continued driving.


    Yoyogi is the place where I lived. It was great living there. I felt like a child, being excited to see its mother again. To be reunited once again.


    Tokyo hadn¡¯t changed at all. Although I can see new buildings being constructed. The shopping districts seem to be crowded today. I hadn¡¯t forgot that Sunday is a busy day for shopping in Shinjuku, Tokyo. I came from America, but originally, I lived here in Tokyo until I was 10.


    My father has been promoted as an executive of the company he was working at and had to be moved to America as a representative for the company too. He brought Mom and me with him. It is a father¡¯s obligation not to leave his wife and daughter alone after all.


    A nostalgic feeling had hit me so hard, it made me unusually excited. I happily gazed at buildings that I find great or attractive.


    Suddenly, I remembered something. Something very important. I do not know why I came here. Is it because I miss the country where I had real friends? Is it because I want to enjoy here? On the other hand, is it because I was searching...? Desperately searching for something¡­


    When we got in front of my old home at Yoyogi, I paid the driver the exact amount. The taxi drove away. I was standing by the gate of my old home. It was still the same. Although I was sure that there were weeds sprouted like mushrooms around the yard. It has been seven years. I am so happy to be in my old house again. I gave a sigh of relief that nothing bad happened to it while we were living in America. I walked to the gate, bended my body down and started unlocking it using an old rusty key.


    It doesn¡¯t seem to fit.


    ¡°Come on¡­¡± I mumbled, while trying to fit the key in the lock. After several failed attempts, the lock came off. Istood up, wiped my skirt. Instinctively, I turned my head both left and right. There was no one around my sight. Not even a fly. It was quiet here. I realized that it was cold. I tightened the scarf around my neck and grabbed the handle end of my luggage.


    Kring Kring!


    It was the sound of a bicycle bell. I was curious who made that sound; I glanced to the right side, where the sound came from.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    There was a figure moving; the person riding the bike seems to be rather, wiggling.


    Isquinted my eyes, trying to see that strange person. Who might it be? The bike moved sideways, then towards me.


    When the figure got nearer, like something had risen from the horizon. Itried to step back, but Ionly stood where Iwas. Not moving a single body part. Ihear the man yelling at me to go away, but Icouldn¡¯t. It was undeniable.


    ¡°Move away! ¡°Said the man. He was wearing a coat and had a troublesome face. His hair was long, messy and pointy. My eyes met his widened eyes. Ifelt something rising up inside me. Ihad the urge to embrace him in my arms. Like a faraway star that Iwanted to reach for a very long time.


    CRASH!


    It was too late. Ican see stars dancing around my head. Ifelt the cold stone caught me. There was hot white pain penetrating my body. I pulled my body back up and saw the bike in front of me. The handlebars were twisted. The wheels are still moving, but only a bit slow. But where is he?


    ¡°Ah¡­ That really hurts¡­¡±


    Iquickly sat on the ground at turned my head behind: it was the troublesome man. He was there, behind me, rubbing the back of his head.


    ¡°A-are you all right?¡± Iasked. ¡°I am so sorry! Geez, I shouldn¡¯t have blocked the path in the first place¡­¡±


    The man stood up, he was smiling.


    ¡°Ah, yes I¡¯m all right. Its not your fault, I could have been more careful though¡­¡±


    Suddenly, as it was unexpected, he held out his arm. Istared at his happy face. He wasn¡¯t mad or upset at all, even though Ibroke his bike.


    Something¡­.No, someone¡­ He really does look like someone Ihave met a long time ago, but Idon¡¯t know who or what¡­


    With no choice, Iaccepted the gentleman¡¯s kindness; Islowly grabbed his hand, Igripped it very tight, Istood up, my waist tingling in pain, Igroaned a little.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    ¡°O-oh! Just bear with the pain a little longer,¡± said the man, with a worried expression. Ilet go of his hand and finally, Ican walk with my two legs again like a baby who had walked on its own for the very first time, but my waist still in pain.


    Wow. Really? He is the kindest, generous man Ihave ever met in my entire life. Iwonder how many women he had helped? Probably a few? The world will never know¡­


    ¡°This must be your house,¡± he said, turning his head away from me and pointed to my house. ¡°Could you be¡­?¡±


    Could I be what? What? What? Just say it come on! Arghhh!!!


    ¡°Could it be that you are the new owner of this house?¡±


    Well, I have lived here for 10 years, so that meant Iam not new here. Heck, Istill even know the name of the district where I lived.


    Hmm, it wouldn¡¯t be that bad if Itold him that Ijust moved here, right?


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m the new owner. The previous owners sold it me a month ago,¡± Isaid lying. Ifelt bad though.


    Color had drained from the man¡¯s face. Why? IS he hungry? Before Icould ask any of this, Imust ask his name first.


    ¡°Uhm, let¡¯s see here¡­ ¡°I mumbled, looking away shyly from him.


    ¡°Yes?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Uhm, what is your name?¡± Iquickly asked, with my voice trembling in embarrassment. ¡°A-ah! I¡¯m so sorry I asked a thing like that!¡± Crap, good thing Iapologized quickly or I might have creeped him out.


    ¡°My name is Kogaru¡­¡± he croaked.


    Kogaru?


    Wait, that seems familiar¡­


    Really? It really does seem familiar...


    ¡°Excuse me, did we already met?¡± I asked shyly.


    Something has risen inside me again. Iwas a little¡­happy?