Today is the start of a new school year. I get on the same train as always, and find my friend Maki there.
Maki "Morning, Shey!"
Shey "Morning!"
Shey "Starting today, we'll be juniors!"
Maki "Right. And I have decided that this is the year I'm going to get a boyfriend for sure."
Shey "Hmm? Really? I seem to remember you deciding that exact same thing last year."
Maki "Oh, shush. I really mean it this time! This year is definitly going to be the one!"
I think about how much more fun high school would be if I had a boyfriend. (But, I'd be too embarrassed to... I mean, I can't just come out and say it like Maki does...)
Maki "We've got this Karen. Let's go all out!"
Shey "Y-yeah"
Maki "Then let's get started getting guys right away with my own patented system!"
Maki "I call it the Love Visualization Training Methods or LoveVision for short!"
Shey "Wait, what?"
Maki "You know, Visualization training. Like what athletes do"
"You picture in your mind what it would be like if you met a guy and start dating!"
Shey "So you mean... just daydreaming?"
Maki "Well, anyway, everyone does it!"
Shey "Th-that so?"
Maki manages to rope into game of hers by force of personality. Even so, it seems like it might be fun! Just as I'm warming up to the game, my train of thought is interrupted. There's a man talking loudly on a cellphone. His voice carries throught the whole car.
Rude man "Come on, I got the quote last week! Just do your job and confirm the details!!"
Shey "...Ugh, people like that are so obnoxious."
The man looks like some kind of office worker. By now, every eye on the train is focused on him, glaring but he doesn't seem to care...
Maki "Oh, I can't stand rude people like that!"
Bristling, Maki set her shoulders and start towards the man.
Shey "Wh-Maki?! Don't just-!"
I panic a bit, following after her.
Maki "Using your phone in the middle of a train goes against basic courtesy!"
Maki talks to the man in a commanding voice. She's standing in front of him, feet planted firmly apart, arms crossed in indignation.
Rude man "You say something?"
The man glares at her from under his brow. (H-he's frightening...)
As soon as I think it, the man's gaze shifts towards me.
Rude man This is your friend? You got something you wanna say to me too?"
Shey "..."
Rude man "And what's with that look?"
Shey "Ah...!"
Suddenly, the man grabs me by the shoulder
...And, in that very same instant...
Rude man "Urgh..."
(Huh...?!)
The man lets fo of me, his face twisting in pain.
When I look up, I see large hands gripping the man's arm...
?? "..."
A silent, tough-looking boy in a school uniform is twisting the man's arm back.
Maki "Are you OK, Shey?"
Shey "Y-yeah..."
I'm still reeling a bit, and Maki pulls me closer to her to steady me.
Rude man "C-come on man, lemme go..."
He releases the cowering man. The train stops at the next station a short time later.
When the doors open, the officer worker clasher out onto the platform like he's being chased.
Shey "I, um, I wanted to-to say thank you..."
?? "...'s nothing."
He speaks softly, a quiet voice which doesn't seem to fit his tall frame.
Maki "Hi, um... you ride this train often, don't you?"
At Maki's question, he starts looking really anxious for some reason.
Face still frozen in that expression, he turns on his heel and walks away through the car.
Maki "Huh. I wonder if I had the wrong person? But still... I feel like I see him almost every day..."
Shey "Really? I haven't noticed him before..."
Maki "Well, I've caught him looking at me a lot, you know."
Shey "Oh, you. I keep telling you, you read too much into these things!"
