Lost in Japan

Prologue

5:00 am - Apartment; Europe

(Y/N) P.O.V
At 4:00 a.m., I woke up groggily, too lazy to get out of bed to catch my flight to Japan. The alarm on my phone blared constantly, but I felt as if my body was glued to the mattress. My body screamed for more sleep, and my eyelids felt too heavy.

I knew I had to get moving, but the warmth and comfort of the bed were almost impossible to leave behind. The excitement of the trip fought with the fatigue weighing me down. After what felt like an eternity, I finally mustered the strength to swing my legs over the edge of the bed.

My feet hit the cold floor, sending a shiver up my spine. I stretched and yawned, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep. Then I checked my phone for any notifications.

Dragging myself to the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face, hoping it would wake me up. As the chill hit, a spark of alertness began to ignite within me. This trip to Japan had been planned for months, and despite my current laziness, I knew it was going to be worth it but nonetheless stressful.

I comically slummped on to the bathroom sink because I felt too tired to move. Although I've packed my stuff beforehand I was still too lazy to carry the stuff out.

I stepped into the shower, letting the cold water drip over me. I felt my muscles start to tense. Gradually, the grogginess began to fade. Enjoying the sensation of the water and soap washing away my sleepiness.

After the shower, I quickly dried off and got dressed. I chose a comfortable outfit for the long flight: soft jeans, a plain T-shirt, and my favorite hoodie. I just ruffled my hair then brushed my teeth, trying to make myself look at least somewhat presentable.

I checked my packing list one last time to ensure I hadn't forgotten anything important. Passport, tickets, wallet, phone, charger, and a book for the flight were all accounted for. Satisfied, I packed inside my bag and slumped it on my shoulder while dragging a suitcase behind me.

Taking a deep breath, I dialed the number for the taxi service. The phone rang a few times before a tired voice answered, "Good morning, how can I help you?"

"I need a taxi to the airport, please," I said, trying to sound more awake than I felt.

"Sure thing. One will be there in about ten minutes," the dispatcher replied groggily.

"Thank you," I said, hanging up.

I took a moment to look around my apartment, making sure everything was in order. The taxi's headlights appeared in the driveway, illuminating the early morning darkness. I grabbed my suitcase and backpack, locked the door behind me, and headed out to meet the driver.

As I settled into the backseat of the taxi. The driver, an older gentleman has a tired look, and drove off without asking questions.

The drive to the airport was quiet and uneventful. The driver, with a tired look, focused on the road, not engaging in small talk. I was grateful for the silence.

I took out my headphones and started listening to music, the familiar melodies calming my nerves. I scrolled through the internet, reading a few articles and checking social media. Occasionally, I switched to reading an e-book and watching short videos to pass the time.

The city lights blurred as we made our way to the airport, and before I knew it, we were pulling up to the terminal. I thanked the driver, paid the fare, and stepped out into the brisk morning air. The airport buzzed with early travelers.

I walked through the sliding glass doors and headed straight to the check-in counter. The process was smooth, and soon I had my boarding pass in hand. With my luggage checked, I made my way through security, which, thankfully, didn't take too long.

Once I was through, I found myself with some time to kill before boarding. I grabbed a cup of coffee from a nearby café and found a seat near the gate. Sipping the hot beverage, I watched the steady stream of travelers moving through the terminal. The announcements over the PA system provided a constant background hum.

To keep myself occupied, I continued to read my book, the story pulling me in and making the minutes fly by. Occasionally, I glanced up at the departure board to ensure there were no changes to my flight.

Finally, the announcement for boarding came, and I joined the queue of passengers. As I handed my boarding pass to the attendant.

I made my way down the jet bridge and onto the plane, finding my seat and stowing my small luggage in the overhead compartment. Settling into my seat, I buckled up and placed my small bag on my lap and took out a small pillow just in case I need to sleep.

As the plane began to taxi down the runway, I looked out the window, watching the lights of the airport blur into streaks. The engines roared to life, and we lifted off into the sky.

The flight to Japan was long but comfortable. I managed to catch some sleep and watch a couple of movies, which made the hours pass more quickly. As the plane descended, I peered out the window and saw the sprawling landscape of Japan coming into view. The excitement bubbled up inside me again, knowing that my adventure was truly about to begin.

After landing, I navigated through customs and baggage claim. The process was smoother than I expected, and soon I was standing in the arrivals hall, suitcase in hand. The bustling crowd of travelers and the unfamiliar signs in Japanese made the reality of my journey sink in.

I followed the signs to the taxi stand, where a line of taxis waited for passengers. A driver stepped forward, a middle-aged man with a polite smile. He helped me load my suitcase into the trunk, and I showed him the address of my new apartment, written in both English and Japanese.

The taxi pulled away from the airport, merging into the traffic of the city. I watched the unfamiliar scenery rush by—the neon signs, the orderly streets, and the blend of modern and traditional architecture. Everything felt so new and exciting.

As we drove, I tried to follow the route on my phone, but the unfamiliar street names and kanji characters made it difficult. The ride seemed to take quite a while, and I started to get a little worried about the fare. I had read about Japan's efficient and honest public transportation system, so I did not question the long detours, and just hoped I reached my destination.

Eventually, we pulled up to my new apartment building. The meter displayed a fare that seemed quite high, but not knowing the usual taxi fare from here, I paid it without questioning. I thanked the driver, who politely nodded and helped me with my luggage.

Standing in front of my new apartment building, I took a deep breath, absorbing the moment. The street was quiet, lined with small shops and homes, a stark contrast to the bustling airport and city center. I checked the address again to ensure I was in the right place, then headed inside to look at my new apartment.

As I unlocked the door and stepped into the apartment, a sense of relief and excitement washed over me. The space was small but cozy, just as I had expected. I set my bags down and took a moment to look around, feeling a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration.

Now that I am here the first step is to at least grasp the language. Just looking at the alphabet is making my head run in circles. If I were to study here I would be a first year highschool. The problem is moved here not knowing which schools I should go to. I can worry about this later and should focus on studying. I'll explore the area and research on schools to enroll. I let out a sigh and quietly spoke to myself, "I wonder which school I should enroll in."

Author's Note:
Hi, Reading through this story right now. Damn, it was cringy, I really don't know what went through my head. As of now, I am just recycling the concept, guess you could say I've somewhat improved on my writing, maybe? Hopefully it did improve. I've been trying to scrapped this for awhile now because I kept seeing Haikyuu vids on tiktok and I suddenly remembered this story I wrote when I was in gradeschool or first year highschool. Yeah, just decided to rework things. Hopefully, I can rework this, I just missed writing. That's all have a good day, 👌.

Also thank you for reading this story before it was edited even though it was very cringy and needed a lot of work. I am sorry you have suffered 🙇‍♀️.

The image is from pinterest.

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