The Japanese Tutor (PART I-II) [ONGOING]

XIX: Winter Train Ride

In a brisk winter of London, the streets were full of lights dangling across the lampposts. Back then, the celebration of Christmas was inside the families' home—cheers of children enclosed indoors as they played parlor games and bonded with their relatives. From the outside, the lingering smell of turkey persisted. The bliss of Christmas would last until the dawn of the next day, where workers came back to work.

Despite the lively atmosphere, the exterior was cold. Believed that the temperature dropped to negative tonight, staying outside was the worst thing a person would do. But there were two people on the street, riding a brown carriage from Buckinghamshire. Two horses trotted

Aya and Yui were silent during the entire trip to the train station. Crossing counties even took them a while. As the younger fell asleep on Yui's shoulders, she asked the driver.

"Where are we now?"

"We're almost there, ma'am. After a few turns, we will get to Southampton station in no time," the driver replied. Then, Yui nodded.

She looked through the open window and saw the dazzling lights. Lingering at her was nostalgic days when she used to be one of the people. Eating meals, socializing life—being one of the aristocrats was only a picture in her memory.

Transitioning into a lower class was for their sake, but at what cost?

"Ma'am, we're here in Southampton station," the driver told them. Yui nudged Aya on her shoulders to wake her up. The younger slowly opened her eyes then fully opened once she saw a familiar place around them. They picked up their suitcases and went out of the carriage. Once they stepped foot onto rocky ground, their skins shivered, and sight narrowed. Around them had a lack of lighting except in a distant station afar. They took strides through the thick snow until they reached the station.

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY - PADDINGTON STATION

Aya read the text carefully, and something came to mind—it was the same station when she arrived from Southampton. She glanced at Yui to analyze her stoic expression as they went inside the station. Once they went in, they passed the checkpoint where Yui showed tickets to security personnel. After that, they entered the platform through a stony arc. There, Yui checked on the clock above them: it was nine twenty-one in the evening.

"We can drop our suitcases and sit down for a while," Yui told Aya as she faced at a bench near them. She sat down first then placed her two suitcases beside her foot. Aya did the same thing and began to look around.

"It seems there are a few people here," Aya commented to her mentor in her native language, "is it common in every holiday?"

Yui nodded and explained, "indeed, but you have to expect an influx of passengers at least tomorrow. Riding a train is part of our daily lives, but I will not suggest you do so. We will be under the watch from the government."

Aya nodded. "Although the platform isn't crowded, do we have to fear someone giving us a gaze because we don't speak English?"

"Don't mind them. It's those self-centered folks' fault thinking that way." Yui crossed her arms and pouted. "You have to get used to that. They are not used to more foreign people wandering around this country."

Aya just agreed and pondered as she only listened to the ticks of the clock across them. She

"Do you have someone you miss back in Buckinghamshire?" Yui asked.

She looked at her right side and saw the train approaching from afar. She picked up her suitcase and stood straight. When the train door finally aligned to them, they quickly went inside the train and sat on a comfy seat farther than most people. Yui placed their suitcases correctly in front of them and looked at Aya beside her, watching the night sky.