The Story of the Seven

CHAPTER 19 - Somewhere In Kanagawa

As we departed the train, Amane once again started pulling me all over the place. Soon we were out of the station, and we could see the elevated railway where the trains ran.

"Let's follow the railroad like they do in the movie Stand By Me!"

"I'm pretty sure they walked on the railroad in the movie."

"Close enough! Let's go."

So that's how I ended up walking along the railroad for about an hour.

"How's life, Amane?"

"What's that ominous question all the sudden?"

"Don't be so freaked out; I'm just wondering how you're doing."

"Good, I guess. Thinking about volunteering at the local school in our neighborhood."

"You planning to be a teacher?"

"Yeah, maybe."

"Seriously?"

"You asked the question, why are you getting so surprised?"

"Well, I said it as a joke...."

"Don't get me wrong; it's not because I like children. It's just that there's nothing I want to do in my life, so I thought I might as well do something that would help someone."

"Wow. That's a strong resolve."

"You think so?"

"Doing something that would help someone, just for the sake of doing it. Yeah, that really is a strong resolve."

"Thanks."

"Nothing to thank me on; it's you whose gonna be doing all the work."

"So is there anything that you want to do?"

"Probably join the police force for the Organization?"

"So you want to help people too?"

"Yeah, I do. And given my personality, I thought I would be better in the police force than a teacher or social worker."

"Really? You seem to be such a nice guy. I could imagine all the little kids crowding around you."

"I'm not a good person, Amane. Just a regular person."

"But you comforted me so many times, you know, when I was feeling down."

"I was just doing the obvious."

"But you know, there's many people in the world who can't do the obvious. So being able to do that would make you a good person."

"There's many people in the world who can't do the obvious, huh."

"That's what my father told me."

"I think that's a wise-"

"Cat! Cute!"

Amane abruptly ran toward an alleyway chasing a cute black cat.

"As I always say, why do you have to ruin the mood when stuff gets serious?"

I groan to myself as I chase after her. When I finally caught up –

"What is this place?"

"The place" in question was a small cozy neighborhood, beautiful and picturesque.

"That's a beautiful stream, isn't it."

Amane pointed to a small blue stream that ran through the middle of the street, where pure white ducks were flapping their wings while bathing in the water.