lost boy » yuta

first ride。

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"Ugh. why do I have to take the train again?" the 17-year-old girl muttered out of annoyance. "Ah yes, mom wants me to be independent! wow. so. great" she muttered once again and rolled her eyes.

She took a glimpse at her watch and saw it was already 6:48 she's been standing there for exactly 10 minutes; waiting for the train to come. Fortunately, there weren't many people at 6:30 pm compared from 5:00 to 6:00 pm in which the station is more crowded. She sighed in relief at that thought, she doesn't want to take the train because of that reason; she's claustrophobic.

"Mom, you should make me a good dinner tonight. tsk." she breathed and pursed her lips as she remembered her conversation with her mom.

Finally, at 55, the train came. Akane huffed in satisfaction when she felt the cold breeze coming from the inside of the vehicle as the doors opened. She made her way in and sat at one of the long chairs beside the window.

As soon as she fixed herself on her seat, she wandered her eyes inside the train. That was actually her first time riding on one. There wasn't anything amazing inside it but Akane can't stop gaping at what she was looking at. Anyone who'll see her would probably think that she's weird. Good thing she's at the far end of the train and quite far from other passengers for them to notice.

Akane's family wasn't originally living in japan, they're actually from New York. Though their ethnicity is Japanese, she and her younger sister are born and raised in New York; where her parents own a hospital.

Their father decided to widen their business and flew to Japan-- their motherland-- to establish another branch of their hospital. Eventually, her parents decided to migrate from new york to Japan so that they can fully focus on the newly established hospital. the original branch in NYC is currently handled by their uncle; her father's older brother. Well, in the meantime.

The reason why Akane and her sister never commuted is that they still haven't adjusted yet. Though they already knew how to speak Japanese, they still feel uncomfortable in their surroundings. New places, new faces, new culture-- it was quite heavy to take it all in.

Not until last night when her mother suddenly told her to start commuting every day to school in order to "help" her be more exposed to her surroundings and be independent. She's coming near to her 18th birthday anyway.

While Akane was still engrossed at looking around, a young man, wearing the same uniform as hers seated one meter away beside her.

"Excuse me?" a male voice interrupted Akane from being amazed at what she's seeing. 

"Oh! a-ah yes?" surprised, Akane acknowledges the boy.

"Wait what?" the boy said confused which also made Akane confused as well.

"Wait what? what?" She asked wrinkling her face due to more confusion.

"I mean, you see me?" the boy asked surprised. 

Akane gave him a side glance. Wow, he's cute but weird. Is he pranking me? "Uh, yeah? why wouldn't I?" she asked with a puzzled look but instead of an answer, he gave her a bright smile which made her face flush.

Oh gosh, who is he and why is he doing that? she thought to herself

"You took my usual spot." he said. The girl blushed even more and immediately bowed to apologize 

"Oh no, I'm sorry I didn't know! here, I can just move to the front--" she said as she was about to stand from her seat but the boy pulled her back to her seat.

"No, it's fine. You can take it from now on" he said and leaned his back comfortably on the window. 

"Uh, thanks?" she muttered which made the boy smile.

"Is this your first time riding this train?" he asked. Akane slightly bowed her head to hide the embarrassment. Was she really obvious?

"Y-yes. Actually, I haven't ridden any trains yet. Quite unusual huh?" she said and cringed. The young man tried his best not to laugh, not because she was weird or ignorant but because she was blushing which he found cute.

the latter cleared his throat and sighed "Hmm nah, I knew someone like you back then" he said coolly and chuckled. "I see you're also studying at NCTU*so that means we're schoolmates!" he joyfully added

[ a/n: *neo culture technology university. lmao ]

"Oh yes." the girl said and looked at the boy's uniform. She noticed that he have a red badge. he's a senior. she thought.

"you're my senior. what section are you from?" she asked

"I'm from class 4-C" he said and akane nodded her head.

They started talking to each other for quite a while after that-- for who knows how long that they almost didn't notice that they are already at Akane's stop.

Akane dropped her shoulder and looked at the boy with regret "It was very nice talking to you but I better keep going. Where's your stop?" akane asked with sadness evident in her voice. She's been enjoying his company throughout the whole train ride.

"It's fine, there are still next times. I'm on the next one" he said as he put his hand above Akane's head and slightly messed it. The latter let out a small chuckle.

"Do you often take this train?" Akane asked. she just doesn't want to be alone during her trip and they're now friends anyway.

are they?

"don't worry, I always take the train" he said and smiled at her which she returned.

"bye!" she said as she ran out of the vehicle and gave him a bow to bid her farewell.

"Wait! What's your name?!" the boy shouted when she was already out of the train. She mentally slapped her head for forgetting to introduce herself earlier. she doesn't know his name too.

"Koizumi Akane! How about you? What's your name?!" she shouted back

The boy brightly smiled and shouted as the doors gradually close. "Yuta, Nakamoto Yuta! nice to meet you Akane!" and the train began to move again. 

"Nice to meet you too, Yuta." she whispered as her eyes followed the moving train until it was out of her sight.