Chapter 04

THE WEEKS PASSED QUICKLY as the end of high school approached. After the school shooting in Colorado in April, Seven noticed a cloud hanging over the school. It differed from the normal cloud of sadness that came with the senior class saying goodbye to friends and childhood. To her, it felt like something changed after Colorado. They didn’t feel safe at school the day after, and over a month later, that hadn’t changed. With Y2K months away, maybe it’s a good thing she was graduating. Everything was going to change.

Aya had gotten her wish to break away from her protective mother and got into the University of Hawaii. Her father had no hesitation about paying for the out-of-state tuition if it meant getting her away from her mother.

David got a football scholarship to the University of California. Even though it was only an hour away, he’d be living on campus, but he promised to come home on the weekends to see Seven and do laundry.

Seven would attend a local California State University. Her hard work paid off in grants and scholarships, allowing her to leave home. She marked her own move-in date for the dorm in big bold letters on the calendar in her room. Also marked on the calendar, in bold purple text with pink cherry blossoms doodled around it, was what she was looking forward to the most—the trip to Japan.

The next thing Seven knew, it was the end of May and the weekend before the trip. She was standing in the fitting room trying on a dress Aya picked out for her. She let out a sigh as she pulled at the dark purple fabric, feeling uncomfortable. Aya picked something just on the outside of her comfort zone.

The dress was a simple sleeveless strap dress with small white stars. The neckline was too low, and the skirt was too short. It hugged her chest and waist, but draped off her hips. She turned around a few times with the skirt of the dress flowing out. She smiled as she sunk her hand into the pockets. Her smile faded as she saw it on her in the mirror.

“Seven, look at this when you’re dressed, okay?”

“Okay.” Seven opened the fitting room door.

Aya was looking in a trifold mirror, dressed in a baggy black dress that barely covered her butt.

“It won’t cover you if you have to pick something up.” Seven commented.

“That’s the point!” She turned to look at Seven. “That looks great on you! How does it feel being girly?”

“I think it’d like it better in bla-”

“No black!” Aya silenced her. “Let’s see it!”

Seven turned twice and looked in the mirror on the wall, tugging at the skirt. “I like it, but it’s a little-”

“Look, I told you already. They dress very nice in Japan. You’ll need a few things to wear when we go out with my friends.”

Seven held her arm across her chest. “Yeah but-”

“You look great!” Aya pulled her arm down, looking her over. “We can get a short-sleeve cardigan.”

“That’d be great.” Seven covered her chest again.

“First, answer my question. Does this make my butt look big?” Aya turned.

Once home, Seven put all the bags on the bed and pulled her suitcase out. Shopping before the trip made light work for packing. The clothes were folded, so she just had to cut the tags and put them in the suitcase. The toiletries were thrown into plastic bags and tossed into the suitcase.

She laid on her bed, staring up at the ceiling that she knew every crack and bump in. She looked forward to sleeping under new ceilings. There was a knock on her bedroom door.

“Who is it?” she asked in a good mood.

“It’s me, Derek.”

“What do you want?” The good mood was gone.

“Can you open the door? I want to talk face to face.”

She got off her bed in a huff, unlocking the door, and stepping into the hall. Derek took a couple of steps back as she closed the door behind her.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I wanted to give you this.” He held up an envelope.

She took it from him, looking inside. She stared blankly at the cash inside, roughly a thousand dollars. “W-what’s this for?”

“It’s a graduation gift. I’m going to be away, so I won’t see you before you leave. I wanted you to enjoy this last-”

“Thank you,” she said, cutting him off as she hugged him. Despite a part of her deep inside wanting to let go, this was the first time he felt like any kind of father to her. “This means a lot to me.”

“Well, that’s all,” he said, clearing his throat as she let go of him. He walked down the stairs.

She entered her room smiling as she put the money in her carry-on. She fell back onto the bed. She couldn’t wait to get on the plane.

* * *

Natsuo had slipped into a repetitive routine; each day blurred into the next. He mechanically woke up, got dressed, his manager called to say he’d be there in ten minutes, the car came, and he went to work. He worked till the later hours of the day, then his manager took him home. Day after week after month. He didn’t mind it as much as he thought he would. It gave him a chance to focus on work. He didn’t have a social life anyways. He didn’t interact with people outside the company, and he liked it that way, so did the boss.

Kenji and Natsuo had finished shooting a fall drama they were starring in. They moved right into recording their next album. Writing their own songs filled days with writing and recording sessions. They even brought Sayuri in for a song on the album. During breaks, the three of them always talked. They didn’t talk about anything serious since, for the right money, the other two might sell their secret to the media. Natsuo didn’t think the others would, but the fear never fully goes away.

His doorbell and the knocks that followed tore him from the dream of waiting for someone at a train station. He sat up in bed, his hair standing up. His shorts and T-shirt were twisted around him. He straightened his clothes and answered the door.

Sayuri stood outside, her hair was a mess, and her smeared eye-makeup showed she’d been crying.

“What happened?” His body tensed.

“Sorry for waking you.” She took a breath to calm herself so she could talk. “Can I come in? Mom’s at work, and I don’t want to be alone.”

“Of course!” he stepped aside.

She stepped in the door, slipping off her shoes. When the door clicked closed, she grabbed his shirt and sobbed into his chest.

“What happened?” he asked, lightly wrapping an arm around her.

“I’m sick of the way he treats me…” she muttered between sobs.

“What did he do now?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“I don’t know what to do! I’m scared.” She stepped back, wiping her eyes, getting make up on her hands. “He’s getting worse.”

“What Did He Do?” He said each word clearly, trying to control his anger.

Sayuri’s manager was a dirty pig of a pervert, and Natsuo hated his kind. Her manager patted her on the butt, talked to her as if he owned her, like she was some whore that only did what he said. Every time someone took their eyes off him, he’d try something.

“He ‘tripped’ and grabbed my chest. He did it on purpose!” Her hands shook with frustration. “No one did anything! They believed him!”

He guided her to the couch. “Sit down. I’ll get you something to drink.”

“My throat hurts. Can I have some water?” she asked, wiping her face again.

He stood in the kitchen, staring at the glasses in the cabinet for a moment. Once he calmed down, he said, “Sayuri, it’s late. You should stay here. We’ll go to work tomorrow and talk to the boss about this. He won’t be able to ignore me and Kenji.”

Not getting a reply, he glanced at the couch, seeing she was asleep. He yawned, wanting to get back to his dream before it was too late.

“All you need to do right now is get a good night’s sleep,” he whispered, covering her with a blanket. He turned off the light and returned to his futon.

* * *

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Natsuo stood in the middle of the train station again. Hearing a train leaving the station, he ran up the stairs to the platform. He saw her sitting on a bench talking with a tall, muscular, blonde-haired guy. The man appeared younger than Natsuo, and an uneasy feeling filled him. Walking towards them, she turned her head slowly, glancing at him before returning her attention to the blonde guy.

“It’s time for you to go. Thanks for keeping me company,” she said to the guy sitting next to her. He faded from the bench as she stood up, wrapping her arms around Natsuo. “I was waiting.”

He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her up, and spinning her around. He put her down, staring at her, hoping to remember what she looked like when he woke.

“I’m coming,” she said, smiling. She looked around the station platform. “It’s too busy inside. Maybe we should meet in front next time?”

“Next time? You have to go already?” He grabbed her hand, trying to hold onto her.

“Don’t worry. We just have to wait a bit longer.” She leaned in to kiss him. As their lips met, she started to fade away.

“Don’t go…” he said.

Her eyes filled with sadness were the last thing to fade.

* * *

“Don’t go…” Natsuo mumbled. With a gasp, he opened his eyes and found Sayuri watching him from the couch. The dream slipped away from him as he wiped away a tear rolling down his cheek.

“Morning,” he said, stretching.

“Morning,” she replied with a curious look on her face. “What were you dreaming?”

“Dreaming?” He knew he had another dream about her. Every time he did, he woke with the same feeling he had now, but he couldn’t remember what happened in it. “Why?”

“You were talking in your sleep.” She smiled at him.

“I was?” He sat up anxiously. “What did I say?”

“Don’t go,” she replied. “You don’t remember?”

“No.” He stood up, needing water.

“Must be some dream if you were crying,” she said.

“I remember little from those dreams.” Natsuo downed a glass of water, refilling the glass.

“Those dreams? You had it before?”

“My whole life…” He drank more water, keeping his back turned to her. He had never talked to anyone about his dreams before.

“You don’t remember them, but you know you had them your whole life?” she asked, confused.

“The only thing I remember is her. Her blonde hair, her green eyes. They’re filled with overwhelming joy and sadness at the same time. When I look at them, I feel like there wasn’t a time when I didn’t know those eyes.”

“Did you seriously just say that?” she laughed.

“Shut up!” he said, chuckling a little.

“Any idea who the blonde girl is?” she asked, walking into the kitchen.

He glanced towards the gray stuffed rabbit next to his pillow. He didn’t want to tell her any more. “No,” he replied.

* * *

The plane left LAX around nine am on its eleven-hour journey to Japan. The plan was to stay awake the night before, so they’d sleep on the plane. They hoped when they got to Tokyo in the afternoon, they’d be ready to explore. They got three seats together; Seven sat at the window, David in the middle, and Aya got the aisle seat.

“I’m coming…” she mumbled.

“She’s talking in her sleep.”

She opened her eyes, hearing David whisper to himself. Next to him Aya had fallen asleep with her head against his shoulder.

“Hey sleepy head. We’ll be landing in a few hours,” David whispered.

“Really? Great, I can’t wait.” She smiled as she stretched.

“You’re in a good mood. Good dream?” he asked.

“I don’t remember...” She looked over at Aya. “How about you?”

“I dreamed I was sitting with you somewhere. You were waiting for someone or something and I was keeping you company…”

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as David talked about his dream. She didn’t know why she had been with him…in a train station… while she waited for…someone.

“You okay?” he asked, waving his hand in front of her eyes.

She flinched, registering his hand waving in front of her. “I need something to drink.”

“Help is on the way, my lady.” He pushed the button to call someone.

“My knight in shining armor.” She laughed.

Aya’s head shifted against his shoulder. “Are we there yet?” she asked.

“Few more hours,” he answered.

A flight attendant walked up to them. “What can I help you with?”

“Can I get a Coke?” Seven ordered.

“Oh! I want one too,” Aya added.

“Two cokes. Anything for you, sir?” the flight attendant asked David. He shook his head and the flight attendant left to get their drinks.

Time passed by quickly and the three of them talked over plans after the plane landed when the plane started its descent into Narita Airport.

* * *

Natsuo and Kenji stood waiting for the elevator to come up to their floor. Kenji leaned back against the wall.

“This whole thing is terrible! How is letting that pervert take care of the juniors a solution? I feel like punching my fist through this wall!” Kenji fumed.

“I know. Thanks for coming with me. You made all the difference.” Natsuo pushed the button for the elevator again impatiently.

“No problem. I can’t believe he’s been touching Sayuri like that…” Kenji’s voice shook with anger.

The anger in Kenji’s eyes was scary. Natsuo looked at Kenji, not understanding him. One moment, he slept with tons of women like they mean nothing, and the next, he was chivalrous, feeling anger when they’re mistreated.

“Sayuri will thank you too,” Natsuo added.

“There’s no need,” Kenji replied, worry filling his eyes. “Why did you show up together today?”

“After what happened with her manager, she came to my apartment, and she fell asleep on my couch.” The answer only strengthened the worry in Kenji’s eyes. “Why?”

“Nothing. She was in bad shape. It’s good she had you to turn to,” he replied.

Kenji’s body stiffened as the door to the office they had just left opened.

“Imai-san, he’d like to have a private word with you,” their manager said, walking out into the hall.

“Natsuo, just be careful with women.” Sadness replaced the worry in Kenji’s eyes as the elevator doors opened. “That’s the only warning I have for you.”

“I need to tell Sayuri what happened,” he stammered, not knowing what to say. “I’ll see you in the studio after.”

Kenji nodded and turned as Natsuo stepped into the elevator. He watched him walk back into the office as the elevator doors closed.

He pressed the button for the lobby and let out a sigh. He was thankful Kenji had joined him and they approached the bosses as a united front. If he had gone in there alone, nothing would’ve changed.

“What happened?” Sayuri hurried over to him as he stepped out of the elevator.

“He’s being moved to the junior members’ team. Our manager will take care of you,” he answered, not pleased.

“The juniors? But-”

“I know. There’s nothing we can do.” He pushed the elevator button again. “I got some work to do, so I’ll see you later.”

That night, Natsuo stood on his balcony looking out at the city. He felt worn down. Working over sixteen hours almost every day wasn’t what did it. Everything that had happened in his life was catching up with him. He looked down at the ground stories beneath him. How easy it’d be to just step over the railing.

“You don’t know what it’s like not to be alone,” he reminded himself. He closed his eyes to listen to the city. The city sounded like it always had, but it felt like there was something new in the harmony of sounds…something important.

He walked back inside, leaving the sliding door open so he could hear the city. He laid on his futon, staring up at the ceiling. Deep inside, he felt something had changed, that something was going to happen soon.

* * *

After landing at Narita Airport, David and Seven followed Aya closely, not wanting to lose their guide. They had trouble keeping up with her as she maneuvered through the large amounts of people who stood on the airport train platform.

After what seemed like endless landscapes of breathtaking green hills and rice patties mixed in with the darkness of tunnels, Japan resembled the cities Seven imagined. No trip to LA or San Francisco could prepare her for what she was going to encounter stepping out into Tokyo Station.

Aya only informed them they’d be transferring to the ‘green line’ as they headed up escalator after escalator. Out on the main floors of the station, the sense of humanity was overwhelming. Tokyo Station was huge, every speck filled with people moving through to their connecting trains on one of the sixteen lines that ran through it. There were shops selling food packaged so beautifully that it’d be worth the money if the wrapping hadn’t contained their delicious treats.

Luckily, David was taller than everyone else around them, making it easy to follow him as he clung to Aya’s heels. They hurried across the station to only queue for another escalator. As they stepped onto the escalator, music played over the platform above. Some people started walking up the escalator past those that stood to the left.

“Damn it! We missed it!” Aya cursed as she let out a sigh, standing on the escalator with her suitcase behind her. “Now we have to wait three minutes!”

David looked behind him at Seven. The look she gave back told him they were thinking the same thing: in California, if they missed a train, it’d easily be an hour wait till the next.

The humidity of Japan in June was something Seven wasn’t ready for. It was amazing how all the underground stations and trains were air-conditioned. Yet there were great numbers of what Aya called salarymen that had small towels to wipe the sweat from their brows in the early summer heat. Only when you came to a rest on the train did you really start sweating.

They disembarked at the station closest to the apartment and rolled their bags through the station. There were still many people, but it felt empty compared to Tokyo Station.

On the street, they finally got to see the city. The first thing that caught Seven’s attention was the bumpy yellow lines down the sidewalks.

“That yellow bumpy line was in the train station too,” David noted before asking, “What’s it for?”

Seven was wondering the same thing, but couldn’t bring herself to ask. Aya was too focused on leading them.

“It’s for blind people,” Aya answered.

On the main street from the station to the apartment, there were shops of every kind. Seven never imagined seeing a Pizza Hut or 7-Eleven would be so comforting in the sea of the unknown.

One thing that fascinated Seven the most along the walk from the station was the abundance of vending machines. They were literally at every corner, all offering different things.

They rolled their bags into the lobby of a tall apartment building. It appeared to be renovated from an old hotel, complete with a name, White Mountain Vines. Aya walked over to a man working behind the counter and after a brief conversation she received a key, bowed and led the way to apartment 707.

The apartment was very nice, having three bedrooms and a kitchen. The sliding glass door that opened to the balcony had a spectacular view of Tokyo Tower, being only two stations away on the local train line. Aya quickly picked the nicest room as Seven waited for David to pick his.

Seven closed the door to her room behind her and almost locked it out of habit. She placed her suitcase on the bed and slid the curtains open, seeing the same view from the balcony out her own bedroom window. She opened the window to let in the smells and sounds from the city below.

As she turned her attention back to her suitcase, someone knocked on her door. Like most Japanese doors, it opened out into the hall instead of into the room. David stood outside the room with a smile on his face.

“Wow! Look at the view you have! You can see Tokyo Tower!” He walked across the room to the window, looking out at the city. “On the other side of the apartment, all I can see from my window is the staircase of the apartment next to us. It’s ten feet away.”

“Do you want to change rooms?” she offered, feeling bad she’d have the better room.

“Not at all!” he replied, glancing at her with a worried look before he gazed back out the window. “I’m happy you got the better room.”

“So, you guys want to head out or…” Aya stood at the door watching David at the window.

“I want food.” David stretched his back.

“I could eat,” Seven added, happy that he wanted to eat. She was starving.

“There’s a family restaurant nearby. It’ll be nice to walk around a bit after that flight.”

Before joining them in the living room, Seven took one more look at Tokyo. She smiled, feeling that she was finally out of her cage.