Read Echo :: Sayonara - 04 | Tapas Community

The distant rumble broke through the silence, jolting Souta from his despondent vigil. His head snapped up, eyes straining against the mist that had begun to settle over the tracks like a veil. And then he saw it—a puff of smoke rising and curling into the sky, its origins hidden beyond the next bend. Heart pounding, he stood, disbelieving, as the sound grew louder, clearer.

It was the unmistakable chug of an engine, the hiss of steam, the rhythmic clack of wheels on rails. The train—the very symbol of escape he'd convinced himself had abandoned him—was coming back. With each passing second, the silhouette of the locomotive materialized through the fog, growing larger, more defined.

In that instant, something within Souta reignited. The weight of resignation that had crushed him only moments ago lifted, replaced by a surge of frantic hope. He couldn't, wouldn't let this chance slip away.

He bolted from the station, legs carrying him quicker than thought, propelled a newfound urgency. The dirt path to his home blurred beneath his feet, each step a drumbeat echoing the call to action. As he burst through the gate, everything else seemed inconsequential now, the backdrop of his life's canvas ready to be painted anew.

Souta tore into his house, grabbing the dirty bag from where it lay discarded on the floor. Into it, he shoved clothes, some food—only the essentials that his trembling hands could grasp in their haste. Then, diving into the closet, his fingers found the hidden trove, the money saved from countless harvests and frugal living. It was more than just currency; it was the key to the world beyond these withering walls.

With the bag slung over his shoulder, Souta didn't pause to survey the home on his lineage one last time. The photographs of smiling faces, the furniture polished by years of meticulous care, the corners filled with memories—all were left behind in a blur as he dashed out, the gate swinging wide in his wake, unclosed, unheeded.

His return to the station was a sprint against time itself, every gasp for air a cry of determination. When he arrived, drenched in sweat and lungs burning, the old train operator awaited, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

"I scared you, didn't I?" the old man teased, the lines on his face deepening with his grin.

Souta could only nod, his breath coming in ragged pulls, but his eyes sparkled with gratitude and the stirrings of adventure.

"Well, come on. Let's go," urged the operator, gesturing towards the open door of the train car.

With the weight of his past on his back and the promise of the future before him, Souta stepped onto the train. The engine gave a mighty heave, and as the train pulled away from the station that had been both his haven and his prison, Souta's smile mirrored that of the old man's—a radiant sign of new beginnings.

---

The chime of the storefront bell sang a cheerful tune as Souta stepped out of his bookstore, flipping the sign to 'Closed.' The glow of sunset bathed the bustling street in warm hues, and he paused to savor the sight. “How’s the shop doing, Souta?” called a familiar voice from across the way.

“Better than I ever dreamed,” he replied with a chuckle, patting his pocket where the day’s earnings lay secure. His hand was steady, but the white strands threading through his hair told stories of time’s passage, of experiences gathered like leaves in the wind.

A gentle tug on his sleeve drew his gaze downward to bright eyes looking up at him. His wife held their daughter’s hand—a young girl vibrant in a dress of vivid azure, as if challenging the sky to match its brilliance. Beside him, his young son, with tousled hair and a playful grin, scampered up and reached for Souta. He lifted the boy and settled him on his shoulder, the child's laughter ringing out like music.

“Did you find anything new today?” his wife asked, a teasing glint in her eye.

“Just the usual,” Souta replied, smiling. “But I think I’ve finally tracked down that rare edition you wanted.”

Her expression brightened. “Really? You’re the best! I can’t wait to see it.”

As they walked, Souta’s heart swelled, each step a reminder of the journey taken, the decisions made, and the promise of countless tomorrows. Their eyes, aglow with contentment, were not just windows to their souls but mirrors reflecting a future once uncertain, now resplendent with possibility.