Too Basic To Live

コーヒーはいいにおいがする

In front of a drug store - Late Afternoon - 2:41 p.m.

I waltz down the rugged pavement, I could trip on one of the cracks in the pavement. Not many people come around these parts of Japan. It's almost like the graveyard of Japan. It's quiet, too quiet. I almost enjoy the silence. Finally I pass by someone, their silky black hair flows in the wind as I pass them. The wind is quite strong right now. I walk past a drug store and trip over the pavement when I see him. A man with pink hair and lightish yellow eyes. Should I go and talk to him? Honestly I'm not sure. I'm second guessing it. Then he turns and sees me starring at him. He smiles and waves. I smile nervously and wave. He's getting up and coming outside. He opens the store door.

N/A
Hi there! Are you okay? I saw you trip. Oh my gosh, do you need to me to clean up your knee?

My knee? Why would he say something about my knee? I look down at my left knee and it's bleeding everywhere. Woah, I didn't even notice I was bleeding.

Michiko
Oh. I didn't even notice my knee was bleeding. Do you have anything to clean it up?

N/A
Oh yes! Of course, come in, come in!

I walk into the small shop with the man. He brings me into the back and fixes up my knee. His yellow eyes glow in the light. His eyes almost look like tiny little suns.

Michiko
Thank you for cleaning up my knee. It means a lot. Wait, if you don't mind me asking what's your name?

Kazuko
Oh, my name is Kazuko. What's yours?

Michiko
My name is Michiko! It's nice to meet you Kazuko.

Kazuko
It's nice to meet you too Michiko! I have a question for you. Would you like to get a coffee after my shift ends?

Michiko
Oh yes! I would love to! When does your shift end?

Kazuko
It ends , oh now! There's a coffee shop down the road that we could go to.

I nod my head and we walk there. It's only about 2 blocks down. I've been to that coffee shop before, the coffee is very good. Especially their espressos.

Michiko
What are you going to get at the coffee shop? I normally get an espresso.

Kazuko
That's what I normally get, that's funny. The espresso is really good there.

Michiko
Yeah they are honestly.

We reach the coffee shop and Kazuko opens the door for me. I smile, I'll thank him inside the coffee shop.

Michiko
Thank you for opening the door.

Kazuko
Your welcome. Go ahead and pick a table.

I sit down at a table to with 2 chairs and a small circular table. I love small coffee shops, they have the best service. The waitress takes our orders and goes off. Kazuko and I talk about our lives. I've learned Kazuko has 2 brothers and 1 sister. He is the eldest child and sibling. Kazuko's sister looks up to him. His father died 1 year back and his mother is still taking care of his sister who is 14 currently. Kazuko is 22. His mother is 67. Then I start talking about my life. I have 2 sisters and 0 brothers. I am the middle child. My mother died giving birth to my little sister. My little sister is 12 and I am 20. My eldest sister is 29 currently. My father is still taking care of my little sister but isn't the greatest dad ever. The waitress comes up with our espressos.

Michiko
Thank you. I will leave a tip for you on the table.

Kazuko thanks the waitress as well. We both continue to talk about our normal lives. Mine is quite boring compared to his. Then something happens that..I never want to relive again. I can still hear the screams...

A car runs through the coffee shop window, right into Kazuko.

Michiko
KAZUKO!!!

I try to move the car off of Kazuko but I can't move it. I cry and scream for help.

Michiko
SOMEONE CALL AN AMBULANCE!!

I see someone struggling to grab a phone while I'm trying to lift the car off of him. Yet I still couldn't. I tried and tried until the ambulance got to the coffee shop. I cried and cried until they got to the hostpital. Then I met his mother, Hina, and his little sister, Ahmya. I hugged the little sister because that's what Kazuko would have wanted me to do. Ahmya cried in my arms for hours, hoping the doctors wouldn't come out with bad news. Then the doctors came out and told us.