Strings

one

Aki turned over in his cramped bed, tucked in the corner of his cramped room. His alarm was vibrating, and sighing he sat up. "Ugh," Aki groans, before lying back down. Mornings were the worst. That low, deep feeling down, right below his belly button was particularly noticeable this morning. As if on cue, he curled up and broke down. Drowning every morning in this same pit of lowness. Constantly, repetitive feelings. At least it wasn't new, at least the pain slowly came and went throughout the day. Sometimes better - sometimes worse.

"Aki, if you are late one more time, I will personally see to your death." Kumi, Aki's young mother opened the door to his room, cigarettes in hand.

"Place. Is. A. Mess." She coughed through the smoke.

Reaching up, Aki pulled the blinds to the side from his diagonal room, set up like a miniature a-frame house. "Got it, Kumi."

"Train money on the table, not enough to pay for a hot breakfast this morning." Kumi shut the door, chucking her cigarette butt into one of the many ashtrays laid around the small 2 bedroom apartment. One and a half really, Aki's bedroom was more the size of a medium walk-in wardrobe. Aki checked his phone. Nothing. Expected honestly, not much happening in his life. He threw on his school uniform, or what was left of it. The only set he had, he had worn it so far in the colours had all faded and frays, stains, and other mysterious substances covered the remained clothed areas. Somehow Aki managed to make it look presentable.

Aki walked out of his room into the living room and kitchen. He heard Kumi yell a quick, "I'm out."
Stuff was littered all over the counters, table, and couch. As aforementioned ashtrays covered the leftover space. Going over to the table, Aki grabbed the money left for him. Not that he needed it for the train, he knew how to get through the gate onto any subway for free. It was a little trick he had learned because often Kumi didn't leave money on the table. Aki opened the fridge and finding nothing, shut it and headed to the door, picking up his satchel filled with second-hand school books on the way, as well as a half-opened packet of cigarettes. Bad habit, he supposed. All his life Kumi had smoked. Second-hand smoking had brought Aki up, soon enough he held those lit joints in his own hand.

Kumi and Aki lived in the west side of Chiba, Japan. Their 6 story apartment building was slowly crumbling, only 10 people lived in the whole building now. Mr. Yamamoto lived on the ground floor, and also owned the whole complex. His old age meant that his health was slowly declining and his memories fading. He never remember to ask his renters for the rent. On the second floor were Sayuri and her girlfriend Yubi. Music and mold bleed out of their apartment, but they were happy and that was enough. Next up was the Tachis. A family of four, single dad and 3 very loud kids. The fourth floor was occupied by Mrs. Ando. Mrs. Ando was a 35-year-old woman, burnt out, heartbroken and jobless. She took peace (as her name means) in bringing soup down to Mr. Yamamoto every night. It made her feel as if she was doing her bit, and Aki couldn't argue with that. Finally, Aki and Kumi on the fifth floor. They were the newest residents - kicked out from their old place, the rent here was cheap and sometimes not needed. The sixth floor was an empty room, lived in only by the rats, bugs, and dust mites. It did have a staircase leading to the roof. Aki's favourite place. The strange feeling of releasing tension always surprised him every time he went up.

"Morning Mr. Yamamoto." Called Aki as he clumped down the last set of stairs. There never had been an elevator. Mr. Yamamoto's reply was a hand held high, and a small bow. He wasn't much of a speaker. Aki pushed some of his badly dyed blonde hair back and walked out of the building.

The west side of Chiba wasn't a typically pretty place, anyone could see that. But Aki enjoyed the difference. Weeds struggling up through the cracked concrete was beautiful, in a desolate sort of way. The broken alcohol bottles glittered in the sunlight, making it seem like some sort of mosaic. No birds, however. No trees for the birds. No dirt for the trees. No air for anyone, yet so many were enclosed in this suburb. Desolate, but beautiful. Reaching the train station, Aki took the packet of cigarettes out of his satchel, place one in his mouth, but continued to hold the packet in his hand. He strode confidently up to the gate, where one would normally swipe their electronic train pass and go on. Aki pretended to search for his pass, fumbling in his satchel, pockets, and all-around his old uniform. He put down the packet of cigarettes and groaned, catching the attention of the guard.

"Sumimasen, excuse me. Everything alright?" The guard questioned.

"I've got a huge assessment coming up, my girlfriend left me, I've got dog piss all on my pants, and I forgot my lighter." Aki leaned against the small bench and facepalmed his hand. The guard looked at him, a confused expression strewed on his face, but clearly somewhat amused.

"Is that it?" Aki looked up and gave the guard a painful nod.

"Forgot my pass too, Sir." Remembering his manners Aki bowed. The guard gave a sympathetic nod, typed into the electronic screen on the gate, and as it swung opened said,

"Think your girlfriend left you because you're disorganized?" Aki bowed again and thanked the guard. "Give me one of those cigarettes, son." Obliging, Aki handed him one. "You shouldn't be smoking these, fry any brain cells you have left." Aki nodded, packed up his satchel, and walked through the gate, passing the guard and giving a smirk. Depending on the days, Aki either could just strut through or when there was a guard - put on an act. The distressed, struggling student was one of the very best options. Japan was very strict on education, found it more important than paying the train fee. Finding a train, he jumped on and found a seat.

Aki leaned back onto the seat, his satchel in his lap. He had placed the unlit cigarette back into its pack, smoking wasn't allowed on any trains in Japan. A notification rang out against the thrumming of the train moving.

Izumi: surf.

Aki: Got school sorry

Izumi: did i ask?

Aki: fine

Grinning, Aki turned off his phone and looked up at the electronic screen that stated which stop the train was next arriving at. He took off his school blazer and shoved it in his bag. Best that people didn't know he was skipping school. It was a normal thing for him to do. Izumi was 20, 2 years older than Aki. He had dropped out of school and wanted Aki to do the same. However, Aki wanted to at least graduate, to have something in his life to say he accomplished. They had met surfing at the beach and usually met up most days to go out together. Not much was ever said between them, but both preferred it that way. Recently, they had found an abandoned beach shack, a little ways away from the main stretch of beach. Now, it held both of their boards, and often either Izumi, or Aki - if they needed a place to get away or crash would stay a night or two.

Some grabbed Aki's shoulder as he walked onto the bus, Izumi. There were no more seats, so Izumi and Aki both reached up and grabbed the bar.

"Everything going alright?" Izumi said softly. Actually Aki couldn't remember a time he had heard Izumi speak over a low voice. This made it difficult in the water, and in loud public spaces to know what he was saying, Aki had to become good a lip reading.

"The Takahashi's got kicked out last week." Like Aki, Izumi lived in a area of Japan that houses the lower economy, but it that up and coming with more (richer) families. Every now and again some family would disappear, the most recent being the Takahashi family. 6 kids; which was strange for a family living in a tiny cramped apartment. They were known for the kids strange and wonderful athletic abilities. However the pay from competitions won clearly wasn't enough to save them from getting evicted. Izumi nodded, and he and Aki looked out the train window at the passing buildings, slowly fading out into smaller and more wildly spread out houses.
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