secret gem • haikyuu !!

2 ; Home Sweet Home

"Next Station: Ueno"

After 40 minutes, I look up to see the LED sign flash 'Ueno' which I instantly knew was my cue to get off. I excused myself from the person beside me and with the help of their assistance, I was able to get off without a hassle.

Rolling my carry-on and suitcase along with me around the train station, I made my way to the next train to Ikebukuro. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and I dug my hands into the pocket of my jumper. With my belongings in my peripheral vision, I was able to relax for a bit and stare at the different posters that surrounded me.

Soon, a playful ring went across and the service announcement commenced.

"The next train to Ikebukuro is now approaching, please stand clear of the doors."

Quite swiftly, the train came rushing past to a gradual stop. I grasp onto my belongings and travel into the train. I push my luggage around into an empty compartment and I swung my bag off of me and onto my lap. After plopping down onto the seat, I took a deep sigh.

"I'm not gonna be on here for long, 20 minutes to go until we reach Ikebukuro. Hmmm," I mumble quietly to myself, "Wait, doesn't nii-chan have a practice match... or was it the training camp? I guess we'll see when we get home."

As the train started to move, I leaned onto the window sill and took a moment to admire the outside scenery. The one think I miss when I was living in Japan was when the seasons changed. Flowers blooming, leaves falling, sun shining. Rainfall was always calming and relaxing. When I used to live in Japan, I would always go outside and play with Tetsurō, and occasionally Kenma too. They got me into volleyball. All the memories we made when we were little would never leave the three of us. It was always the three of us against the world.

Well, until I left Japan.

I re-focused myself back into the train and I took my phone out of my pocket. I unlocked my phone and went onto my messages. Apart from my dad, the last person I've texted was my brother. He always texts me whenever he's free but because of the ridiculous time difference, I'm always late to answer him.

I went back to my contacts and scrolled down to 'K'. The display name read 'Kenkotan'. The old nickname I would call Kenma. I silently smiled to myself, mouthing the foreign name I'd forgotten. I clicked and check the last message I sent him: 'Ke-chan! You've got this! You'll do well on your exam! I believe in you!!' which he replied with, 'Thank you Mai-chi :)'. From a year ago... Ohh, this was for his final exams. Wow, we haven't talked in a while. I hope he's doing well and that my brother isn't causing him any trouble.

I switch over to the music app and press shuffle onto the countless of songs I have. I exit my music app and went back onto my messages. I answered a couple of unread messages from my friend's back in England.

Before I left to go to the airport, I spent the whole morning until the afternoon with two of my closest friends from high school. I've already finished Year 11 around a month ago and I was initially going to university but then I remembered what I promised myself; that after I finish high school, I'll go back to Japan. So, here I am.

*****

After a long conversation with my friends, the announcer said that the next stop was Ikebukuro. I carefully got myself ready and headed my way to the doors with my luggage. One last trip and I'll finally be in Nerima.

I got off the train and I trudged along the hallways, reading different signs to get me to the correct station. My kanji reading was a bit rusty but at least there was english underneath the characters. After a few minutes of walking around the station, I was able to find my way to the platform where the train goes straight to Nerima. I made my way to the nearest seat and dropped my body onto the seat as fast as I could. I took a deep breath and I stretched my neck to look at the LED sign. The next train is coming in 3 minutes. I guess I could kill some time. I went onto my phone and went onto one of my favourite games to play. It wasn't any of the strategical games that Kenma likes, it was simple and calming.