Tangerine ~ Bullet Train

7 - It really was him

'Hurry up!' Kenji yelled in annoyance. 'The train will arrive in a few minutes and we still have to cross some distance.'

'Relax,' Kota said, 'we will surely be on time.' He didn't seem bothered by the fact that the bullet train followed a schedule to only stop for one minute at each station. His friend thought so otherwise. 'Not if you all keep walking so slowly,' Kenji replied annoyed. 'We wouldn't have to walk so "slowly" if you guys would help us carry our luggage!' Akira exclaimed whilst panting. The boys seemed to agree with each other for once. 'So it's our fault you brought too much stuff?'

Yuina began to feel slightly annoyed by them bickering the whole time. No, that was incorrect, she felt annoyed the moment her mother called yesterday. This wasn't the plan. She shouldn't be with this group anymore. They would go on this train right now and Yuina should've followed them two weeks after. But of course there was still one ticket she could buy to cover a few stations, so she would be able to make her way home to visit her father in the hospital. She found a bit of solace in the fact that she wouldn't be sitting right beside them in the wagon, but a few places further on.

'Wait up!' Himari yelled, but Kenji wasn't planning on it. He wanted to take this train, no matter if the others wouldn't make it. He wasn't going to be waiting for another few hours before the next one would show up. 'Asshole,' the girls panted under their breaths. Missing this train didn't seem such a bad thing for Yuina. She didn't want to be home just yet. 'Here, let me help you,' she therefore said whilst grabbing her suitcase and briefcase with one hand, helping Akira carrying her large bag with her other hand. 'Thanks,' she said, slightly surprised. Akira almost felt a little bit guilty by the fact that their whole group made fun of Yuina behind her back. Little did she know that Yuina was trying to stall to get to the platform on time. Her mother surely would forgive her when she would hear she didn't make it on time, because she wouldn't let her friend behind and helped her carry her stuff?

'It's here already!' Kenji yelled whilst looking at the arriving train. 'Such a neurotic,' Himari panted in annoyance. They were only just arriving at the platform when the train stood still and the doors opened. They managed to walk a bit further before Kenji yelled they had to get in already. So they did. They would cross the rest of the distance inside the train.

It was such a bizarre thing to so, especially at this time when they needed to hurry, but Yuina couldn't help but take a quick look around the platform. Of course he wasn't there. She would never lay eyes on him again, except for when she would look at her drawing.

'Didn't I tell you?' Kota said triumphantly. 'We were on time.' Although everyone succeeded in getting on the train on time, Kenji was still acting a bit frustrated. 'We could've stepped in at the right wagon,' he said. 'Now we will have to walk all the way up there with our luggage.'

'You act like we need to walk a marathon,' Kota replied whilst rolling his eyes. 'It's just three wagons.' They all started to make their way to their own wagon. Yuina tried to hide the fact that she was very disappointed they made it on time. 'It's such a shame Yuina couldn't get a ticket next to us anymore,' Himari said. Yuina couldn't tell whether she really thought so or if she was just sucking up to her again. Himari's voice always sounded sarcastic. 'Yes,' Yuina still replied as convincingly as possible, 'indeed.'

'How is your dad?' Akira asked, pretending to be really interested. Her question annoyed the rest of the group, because they wanted to be the one to ask that. It would surely revolve back to Yuina's mother if they'd show interest, so their parents could have more success. Yuina felt annoyed, but tried to hide it. 'This morning, my mother told me that he's still unconscious,' she replied. 'I hope he will get better soon,' Kenji said, pretending to be compassionate. 'My mother bought him a bouquet with flowers that symbolize healing.'