Izumi in the Other Side of her World

CHAPTER 16 - HANEDA AIRPORT (IT'S NOT OVER YET.)

      November 28

   
      My flight back home starts early at 9:00 AM. Matsuri wakes me up very early at 6:00 AM. The sky is still dark. It seems she's ready to take me to the airport. With her makeup and hair, as well as clothes. She helps me repack everything in my luggages and bags as well. And she gives me another luggage for all the stuff I brought.

     She seem to have did it really neatly and organized like Marie Kondo, or that Japanese moving company. It's like that time I see her the most hardworking. While I was hustled by her to get myself cleaned and ready. Shower as not usually people do it here. But wash hair, brush teeth, wash face, and refrigerated coffee.

     It's like Matsuri is determined to have everything out of the house by 6:15 AM. I dress in my warmest and coziest so far. Jeans, long sleeve t-shirt, sweater coat, cloche, sunglasses, and Vans shoes. In which they are all mines. I've actually did laundry twice here in Japan. The second time, at the 26th before I have to leave. Don't I actually look nice? Maybe better than Matsuri today.

   We are indeed at Shibuya urban area. And we agree for one last walk around here. Through Center-Gai only because it's long enough. I start playing LiSA's Howl as it sounds like energy to start the day. I mean it sounds like an opening for a fantasy anime.

    And finally, we decide to go through the crossing. Matsuri says together for safety, but I thought of choosing to go to the crossing by myself. That's also why I choose to hold back a bit to buy one more thing. A coffee pack from Starbucks for my mom.

   The way I see the sky today, the whole color uplifts in a lighter blue today. In where the lights will soon turn off, or decrease the brightness. Today the sky is very chilly with many gusts and breezes I feel through my sweater. Matsuri has already reached the other side. Which is good. I challenge myself to handle the crossing much better.

  While dragging my luggages. I'm not in the middle, but more of the side rather. My walk was a little timid, but more of normal and calm. And after finally able to go through the crossing, I guess it wasn't that bad after all.

  I didn't know why I was scared to do it. That felt stupid of me kinda. Matsuri clapped a little, in where I was able to fix an other-world flaw. And we both giggle it off.

   She raises her hand to pick up a taxi. I asked: "Why couldn't you ask for one at the other side?" "I remembered your fear of that crosswalk. So I shall test you." That's... BS and true.

    As she calls for a taxi, I thought of one thing. I have been going around a trip, with a really pretty Japanese lady. That to me was still a good opportunity. As not even expecting it.

    She picks up a taxi for us, set off to a pretty long road trip to Haneda Airport. Two of my luggages are put in the trunk, and my carry-ons are with us at the back seats. "Is this ride to Haneda Airport very long from here?" I ask. "Uhm... we will stop at Hamamatsuchō. We're gonna take the Tokyo Monorail to the Haneda airport."

   Okay. I get how and why we chose not to take the JR Yamanote line. We actually brought an extra bag here for the souvenir and gifts. So yeah.

    The ride starts, and it much explains how much I love views of the dawn at morning. Especially going somewhere, zooming in a cab. Once again, the buildings in Tokyo we zoom by, and the sun very bright to rise on us and blinking. That's what Japan most likely feels like.

   I never stop loving those views in perfect blue skies at dawn. Dawn is really beautiful afar and over. I bother to open the window to feel the vast wind blowing by the cab.

   To breathe, feel, and for my hair to run through. With the view, I play BTS' Japanese songs for the softness. In my earphones.

   Matsuri at the other side starts asking me: "Okay. What was one thing you learned from this whole trip? Just one or few."