Ride on Time

Chapter 15

Misao kept lifting the jewel around her neck to admire it. She eventually stopped when Kumiko kept nudging her. She turned back to Shri and smiled at him before taking a sip of her coffee.
Kumiko smirked and downed all of her coffee before calling a waiter to pay.
"I need to go," Kumiko said with a bow. "You guys are okay with that, right?"
"Kumi, I thought you wanted to hang out today?" Misao asked in Japanese, frowning at her roommate. "Why are you leaving so early?"
Kumiko smirked and also spoke in Japanese. "Well, that was the initial plan, but since your guy came too..." she smiled at Shri then turned back to Misao. "I'll leave you guys alone."
With that, Kumiko waved at them and left the cafe. Misao just stared after her in surprise before turning back to Shri.
"Uh... she left me..." Misao awkwardly said. "You wanna go anywhere?"
Shri shrugged. "Sure. I don't mind. Where do you wanna go?"
Misao frowned slightly. "I dunno... wanna just walk around?"
Shri nodded and finished his coffee before calling for a waiter to pay. Soon, they were out, walking down the picturesque streets of Gion.
"This place... I like how it's still so traditional despite the rest of Japan being so much more modern," Shri remarked as they passed the Shirakawa Bridge. "It kinda makes me feel like I'm reading a Samurai-themed novel that takes place in a province like this."
Misao chuckled. "Well, this place probably looked like this during the era of the samurai too, back in the Edo Period and before that. This is what I love about Japan. Though modernisation kicked in, we're still proud of our culture and traditions."
Shri snorted. "Well, wish I could say the same for some Malaysians too. They are many who don't even know their own culture."
"Well, I can't say there aren't people like that here too," Misao pointed out. "Just that we don't see them here, that doesn't mean there aren't any, right?"
"True too," Shri agreed with a nod. He stopped by the side of the bridge to look the serene landscape, just silently admiring it.
"I know, it's really peaceful here, isn't it?" Misao smiled next to him, not in the least bored of the scenery though she walks this way on a daily basis. "Nature is beautiful, isn't it?"
Shri took a deep breath and released it slowly. "I wish I could one day live in a place like this, escape the busy lifestyle back at home. Just stay in a peaceful place, surrounded by greenery, and sit in the middle of it to write. That would be amazing, writing with a clear and peaceful mind. I wish I could do that, but I'd have to help manage my father's company as well."
"I thought you said your brother is managing it in your father's absence?" Misao asked curiously.
"Yeah, but he can't do it all alone, right?" Shri sighed. "Shruti will be good at it, but she's still studying. Sometimes, it's all so hard... I'm going back in a few days too..."
Misao suddenly took hold of his hand, much to his surprise. "Don't worry about it, Shri. Maybe one day, you'll achieve that. I know you will."
Shri nodded and continued staring at the canals. A Sakura tree branch, now filled with leaves of green, gently swayed in the gentle summer breeze.
"How is it like to live in a country with seasons?" Shri asked, remembering how Sakura trees change depending on the time of the year. "In Malaysia, we only have like two seasons. Hot season, rainy season. And it alternates between each other, not having a specific time table."
Misao looked at him in surprise, letting go of his hand. "You mean... your country doesn't have four seasons?!"
Shri shook his head. "Nope. It's like summer all year round. It's in the tropics."
"Oh, that explains it... must be nice getting fruits throughout the year."
"Actually, not really," Shri shrugged. "There's a specific season for fruits, the fruit season. But yeah, we still get fruits throughout the year. You guys don't?"
"Not all the time, I think," Misao shrugged. "I think it depends on the fruit."
"What does snow feel like?" Shri asked. "I've never felt snow before, they say that the only place in Malaysia with snow is the Mount Kinabalu in Sabah. I've never been to the East of Malaysia, Borneo, so I don't really know. What does it feel like?"
"Oh, it's cold. Very cold. Imagine holding an ice cube, but that's how it feels throughout your body if you don't wear appropriate clothing."
"That sounds painful..." Shri gulped. "How do you guys even survive like that?"
"There's such a thing as heating, Shri," Misao chuckled. "And thick clothing."
"Well, I wouldn't know since the coldest I've been to is Cameron Highlands and that's like ten degrees minimum. There was a fireplace at the place we stayed but we didn't really use it since... well, we were scared that we might burn the place down or something."
"You guys don't have heating in Malaysia? Oh wow..."
"Like I said, it's like summer the whole year. The last thing you need is heating. Everyone wants air conditioning instead, not heat."
"Yep, that sounds like summer, alright," Misao chuckled. "Anyway, do you wanna go or just stand here and continue admiring the beauty of Shirakawa?"
That's when he realised that he was too close for comfort to the very low railing of the bridge. He quickly backed away. "Uh, yeah, let's go."
They ended up going back to their homes and stopped in front of Yumemite for a goodbye.
"I really liked the pen you got me yesterday, Misao," Shri bowed, smiling. "It's a really good pen."
Misao bowed too. "I'm glad that you do." She lifted the pendant of the necklace she was wearing and grinned. "I really like this magatama that you got for me too. Thank you, Shri. I will treasure it."
Shri smiled, pleased that she really liked the gift he gave her. "It was nothing, Misao. I just thought you'd look really good in it and got it for you. And then you showed up at the cafe."
Misao giggled slightly. "Well, I guess it's destiny then. Or as we say in Japanese, unmei."
"That means destiny?" Shri asked in surprise. "Well, the same word means truth in Tamil."
"Really?" Misao asked, mildly surprised. "Well, I guess there might be some similar words then."
"Yeah, like chawan," Shri shrugged. "Means teacup or tea bowl, right? In Malay, cawan, without the H, means cup. I think that word is borrowed from Japanese since many Malay words are actually borrowed."
Misao chuckled. "Maybe. By the way, I'll leave you, Shri. I've held you out here on the sidewalk long enough."
"No no, it's fine," Shri bowed. "I don't actually mind. See you around, Misao."
Misao smiled and bowed. "See you soon."
"Bye," Shri waved, bowing a little like how he had seen Japanese people do.
Misao bowed too, waving, before walking away with a small smile on her face.

Remember that magatama I ordered? It's finally here! Woo! It's kinda small but it's really pretty!