Two with one crown (UshiTen)

Stairs (part 24)

Note: everything Ushijima says in this chapter IS in Japanese and everything everyone else says (other than the taxi driver and his mom most of the time) is in English.

Ushijima stepped out of the cab and admired the scene before him. Well, behind him. He turned around, looking over the car to find a beach. The water sparkled in the warm sunlight of the midday sky. Ushijima had been to the beach before, but he was much younger then and doesn't remember much from that day. His mom took him there once for his birthday back in Japan. It was a cold day, considering it was in summer.

"Hey kid. You gonna go or what?"

The olive-brown haired boy jumped, turning his attention to the man who had driven him. "Ah, yeah. Sorry about that." He backed away from the taxi and watched as it pulled out of the driveway and drove away. He turned around, facing a large apartment building. It gave off a much darker aura than the sunny beach had, most likely due to the fact that it was engulfed in its own shadow. He cautiously walked forward, wondering how two things that were right next to each other could let off such different vibes.

It was then he realized, he had no Idea what room his mother was in.

Ushijima walked up the building and begun climbing the flight of stairs on his left side. Left was always his lucky side. The stairs seemed to consist of gravel and rocks, as they made a faint crunch noise under his shoes. As he reached the top of the stairs, he noticed somebody walk out of one of the rooms a couple of doors down . The walls were painted a light blue color and the doors were white, though the paint seemed aged and rustic. (It was gross and peeling)

"Um, hello?"

The man turned to him, looking slightly confused. He had on a grey, white striped button up and khaki shorts. His face lifted a little upon the sight of Ushijima.

"Uh, hey kid. Do you need something?"

He moved away from the room he had previously walked out of and shifted his weight onto his right foot, ruffling his light brown/dirty blonde short hair. Ushijima looked at him puzzled.

"Do you know where my mom lives? Her name is Mariko."

The man matched Ushijima's puzzled look.

"What.."

Both of the males stood there, looking confused as ever. (🧍) Ushijima realized that, of course, this guy didn't speak Japanese and he would have to elaborate.

"Mar-i-ko. Do you know where she is? Mariko?"

The man's face lit up.

"Wait, Mary? Mariko, yes! Yeah I know her!"

Ushijima jumped slightly and nodded vigorously.

"Yes! Where? Where is she?"

The man looks around, back to his confused facial expression.

"Uhm.."

He lifted his finger, indicating for the olive-brown haired boy to follow him. Ushijima complied, happy he finally knew what he was doing. The man knocked on the door that was next to the one he exited from. A young woman who had medium length, silky black hair and was dressed in a purple tank top answered shortly after.

"Adam, what's up?"

She spoke, her voice with a slight rasp to it. Ushijima gave up on trying to actually understand what they were saying.

"Uh, this kid said he's looking for Mary. You know where she is?"

Ushijima's ears perked when he heard "Mary." It sounded similar to his moms name, that must be what they call her here. The woman looked down at him with a slightly skeptical expression.

"She's uh, apartment 41."

She returned her gaze to the man, her face softening.

"Thanks so much! See ya-"

She had shut her door before he was able to finish his sentence. The brunette paused and looked defeated at the shut door, before turning to Ushijima. He kneeled down to the boys eye level. (He didn't have to go very far, Ushijima was pretty tall for a first year.)

"Alright, she's in apartment 41. Mary- I mean Mariko is in 41. Got that?"

Ushijima slowly nodded his head, even though he really had no clue what the man was saying. He heard "Mariko" and "41," so he assumed that that was probably his mom's apartment number. Hopefully. The man straightened up and slapped his sides as if he was looking for his keys or something.

"Okay, kid. Good luck."

I'm gonna be changing the format I'm writing in so I'm gonna be going back to all of the previous chapters and changing them (probably) but if there are some that are wrong or just the same, please don't mind it.

-Carbon

(789 words)