Ride on Time

Chapter 101

It was night and they decided to finally call it a day. Chandrika drove straight to Sheralbon to drop Mitsuo off for the night.
"So did you like your day out?" Shree asked, leaning forward in her seat to speak to Mitsuo.
"It was great," Mitsuo answered honestly but blandly. "I got to try out breakfast at a kopitiam, a taste of home for lunch, a grand Indian dinner that I still have yet to digest, and even got to watch a funny Malaysian movie. It was really good."
"Sure?" Shree wasn't sure if he was telling the truth or just saying that to not make her feel bad. "Mitsu, did you not like the day we just had?"
Mitsuo quickly shook his head, his fingers unconscious carrying out their habit of playing with his necklace. "No, no, it's not that. I had a blast today, my best day so far." He sighed, shaking his head. "Nika, I'm just tired. This was an amazing day, I can assure you that I had a lot fun."
The car stopped in front of the hotel's lobby and Mitsuo got out, giving them a big bow of respect and gratitude.
"Text me when you get home, okay?" Mitsuo told Shree when she rolled down the back window. "Today was really good, I had a lot of fun. Please don't get the wrong idea, Nika. I'm just tired."
Shree nodded. "Rest well, okay? Make sure pack all your things and make sure you don't leave anything behind. I'll come see you off at the airport."
"You are?!" Vasu gasped beside her.
Shree nodded at Mitsuo and quickly rolled the window up. Mitsuo gave them one last bow and entered the hotel.

Mitsuo sat down on the bed and heaved a sigh as he laid back onto the mattress. He wasn't sure what he felt or why he felt this way. It wasn't like he didn't enjoy hanging out with Shree and her family, he loved his day out with them. But why? Why was he feeling as if he was missing something?
He got up and made his way to the bathroom for a long bath. After all, what eases a tired day better than a hot bubbly bath? Mitsuo placed his waterproof speaker on the counter, turning it on to play some music as he showered and bathed.
Music started just as he stepped into the shower after running a bath. Aoyama Killer Story began as he took a soak in the tub. Bathing normally calms him, but Mitsuo felt anything but calmed. His muscles were relaxing, yes, but his mind still whirled and whirled around about... something. It could be anything, but nothing that he knew about.
Mitsuo got out of the bathtub and stepped into the shower for another wash. His hair clung onto his face like wet tentacles as he frowned at this strange emotion he was feeling. It was like a mixture of dread and sadness. But for what?
Mitsuo still wasn't sure.
He went for one more soak before wrapping a plain blue yukata around himself as he walked out of the bathroom. A row of large water bottles stood on the dresser. Mitsuo tried his best to finish those off before his departure but there was still a lot left. He cracked one open and started chugging at the cold liquid. Mitsuo didn't know he was this thirsty, but it wasn't a surprise since he spent the whole day eating without drinking much.
He pulled out one of Shri's books that he just got, one that was titled The Wondrous Paradise. The cover wasn't all that colourful, but it told him that it took place in a land surrounded by nature.
Mitsuo's phone suddenly buzzed, gaining his attention. He put the book down on his lap and reached for it on the nightstand. Turns out, it was a message from Shree saying that she and her family were safely at home.

Shree arrived home and went straight to the shower.
"Did you bathe in the morning?" Chandrika asked as she walked past her daughter, who merely shook her head. "Eiyer... and you went around everywhere with Mitsuo."
Shree just ignored her mother's remark and made her way to the bathroom for a hot bath. Vasu frowned, seeing how she seemed upset as he entered his room.
He sighed as soon as he closed the door and turned the lights on. The outing with his family only served as a temporary distraction of what happened to him at school. How could his teacher do this to him? Vasu was sure that Musa would just make up an excuse if asked, saying that he wasn't trying to offend him in any way but only meant good, to correct his mistakes so that it would never be repeated. Then what about the weeks he had left the assignment untouched?
Vasu groaned. Not only was he embarrassed in front of the whole class, his phone just had to fall face down with a massive clack.
At least it was fixed now, and his family had given him the green light to skip school tomorrow.
But now there was his sister. Vasu made out a plan to cheer her up the following day since he would have the whole day to plan anyway.

***

Mitsuo spent the day packing his stuff, making sure he had left nothing behind. His clothes, toiletries, his diary, quill, pens, everything. The miniature version of the tall golden statue of Lord Muruga was removed from the desk to be carefully packed. Mitsuo remembered the time Shree got it for him, insisting upon it since idols shouldn't be bought for one's self but for others. He sighed and carefully placed it back in its box before packing it into his bag.
It didn't really take long since he didn't bring much clothes, reusing them since a laundrette was right downstairs. Mitsuo didn't really know what a kedai dobi was at first but read the translation right below it.
He was leaving, that was certain. Though he had a three-month visa to be in Malaysia, he was only going to be spending three weeks. It seemed long at first, but how quickly it went by.
Mitsuo smiled sadly, playing with his necklace, when remembering how Shree reacted upon knowing that he only had a few days left in Malaysia. He didn't know how he could repay her for making his holiday so much more meaningful.
Before meeting her, he was as clueless as a headless chicken wandering around Petaling Jaya in the name of seeking information and exploring local culture. How was he supposed to do that without a tour guide or a local to help him out? Mitsuo shook his head at his stupid decision of saving money by not hiring one. If it wasn't for Shree's family practically becoming his host family, much like how his parents did for Ramachandran all those years ago, he wouldn't have explored this much.
Mitsuo sighed, he didn't get to meet his old friend. Then again, would he even remember him? He was sure that he wasn't going to be as close with Ramachandran as he was as his exchange brother nearly ten years ago.
Mitsuo decided to take a walk around PJ State on his last day in Malaysia. After all, there must be something he still hasn't seen yet.