Ride on Time

Chapter 103

On a highway on a gloomy day, a car was speeding down with Mitsuo in the front passenger seat.
"Slow down!" Mitsuo turned to the driver, who changed gears as the car grew louder.
The driver, a familiar man with thin-framed glasses and small hoop earrings on each earlobe sped on, ignoring Mitsuo's plea.
"I'm driving to KLIA now," the man remarked.
Mitsuo didn't in the least seem confused as the other man spoke.
"She... she's dead!"
Mitsuo wasn't sure who but just listened quietly.
"I wanna see her one last time before... before... ARGH!" The car quickly swerved to the side, pulling Mitsuo along with it. It was then Mitsuo noticed a stationary car obstructing the lane.
"Stupid feller sudden brake in the middle of the road!" The man cursed as he sped on. "What will I say to her parents? Everything's over."
It was as if Mitsuo was just a watcher in this situation, a tag-along dragged into an irreparable mess.
All of a sudden, the large figure of a lorry suddenly appeared before the car. The Indian man beside Mitsuo turned to him, giving him a sad look full of hope.
"Don't go..." his voice was barely heard.
Before Mitsuo could react, the lorry hit the car with such force, bringing it to a sudden halt. Mitsuo couldn't see anything else besides the distorted engine of the car behind the windshield.
It all happened so fast, Mitsuo seemed unnaturally calm in this situation. He tried to wake the olive-skinned man beside him, who now lay sprawled against the steering wheel.
"Are you okay?" Mitsuo pulled at his arm, which merely fell limp to his side. A sudden heat burned at Mitsuo's face, he turned to see smoke rapidly rising from the front, tongues of flames licking at the crushed bonnet and cracking the windshield. He turned back to the other man and desperately tried to pull him. "You have to come! Please wake up, man! We have to get out of here! Come on!"
No matter how much force he used, it was no use. The man laid as still as a statue, his dishevelled dark hair obscuring his face. Mitsuo didn't give up, wrapping his arms against his torso to pull him to his side.
All of a sudden, the door beside him opened, letting the fiery air warm his face with the hints of a cold breeze. Mitsuo felt himself being yanked out of the car by the waist, much like how he had tried to save the other man.
As soon as he reached the grey asphalt, the flames engulfed the seat he had been sitting on, taking the other man along with it. Mitsuo turned to his saviour, and to his surprise, it was Shruti, Shree standing right beside her.

Mitsuo woke up with a jump, startled by a loud banging sound. The sound, however, was followed by feminine singing, which told him that it was only his alarm of Junko Yagami's Bay City.
Mitsuo fumbled for his face, his body. He was safe, not on a highway but on a luxurious king-sized bed. He turned the alarm off and got out of bed to take his last shower in Malaysia before leaving for Kyoto. Though he didn't feel like showering after the nightmare, he felt like he must, especially since it was the last time he would feel the waters of Malaysia against his skin.
After that, he would be back in Japan.

The curry bun that Mitsuo got from the nearby petrol station was his only breakfast option. It was filling, but now the taste was burning the back of his throat. It was funny how he missed the hotel breakfast, not because he was too late but because he was too early. The buffet would only open at seven, but he was out way before that.
Crossing the Asia Jaya road wasn't as exciting as it was the first time he saw it, though it felt much harder now even with little to no cars. Mitsuo dragged himself up the steps of the Asia Jaya LRT station and got a blue token that would take him to KL Sentral.
He was way more excited the first time he came here, now it just felt like he was doing something against his will. Mitsuo thought listening to music might help lighten the mood, taking his wireless earbuds out and plugging them into his ears. Stay Girl Stay Pure by 1986 Omega Tribe immediately filled his ears as he made his way to the platform.
To Mitsuo's dismay, the first train of the day left just before he could step off the escalator. He groaned and turned to a nearby display board and saw that the next train would take five minutes to arrive.

Mitsuo watched as the Taman Jaya station disappeared from view, the tracks extending right up to the Universiti station without any intervals. It was his last glimpse of Petaling Jaya, the train station. The other stations on his way would belong to the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory. 
He sat down since this was one of the only times the train would be as empty as it was now, with him being the only passenger in the coach. Mitsuo chuckled slightly when remembering the time he and Shree took the LRT to Kelana Jaya, having Nasi Kerabu together. He wasn't sure when he would get to meet her again, if ever.
The Universiti station finally came, then Kerinchi, Abdullah Hukum, and Bank Rakyat. By this time, the coach was occupied by at least three people.
Finally, the train stopped at KL Sentral. A few of the passengers shuffled out, Mitsuo included, and made their way down the escalator. Though it was very early, KL Sentral was still as busy as always, with many foreigners coming in from KLIA and some leaving like Mitsuo.
Most of the departing foreigners made a beeline for the KLIA Express counter to get tickets, among some locals leaving for early-morning trips. Some had booked online tickets since it was cheaper, but for some reason, Mitsuo didn't. He waited for the line to progress, silently though his mind was in a whirl, as his fingers unconsciously reached for the Manji hanging from his neck.
What was that dream? Who was that guy? First, he appears in the mirror in place of Mitsuo's reflection and now this? What was his deal?
And why Shruti of all people had to be a side character in this strange nightmare plot?
"Don't go..." the man's soft voice rang clear in his mind again.
Mitsuo suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see a Caucasian man close to his age gesturing towards the counter. Mitsuo turned to look and saw that no one was left in front of him, it was his turn.
"How many tickets?" The hijab-clad lady behind the glass asked.
Mitsuo said nothing. The nightmare still played itself in his mind. How could he leave when he didn't feel like it? Setsubun was the only reason he was leaving, a festival he always celebrated with his parents. But this year, said parents left him to celebrate alone in Kyoto while they chose to do so in Nagoya. There wasn't even any logic to this, Setsubun was a festival held to ward off evil spirits, it should be done at home, not in another state.
"Sir?" The lady behind the counter called again.
Mitsuo frowned as he made his decision. His hand dropped from his necklace as he met her gaze, bowed, and said. "I think I changed my mind."
With that, he turned and walked away from the KLIA Express counter.