Read SETOGIWA: A World On The Brink (Part 1) :: Ch 4: Reassurance, Part 2

Reassurance, Part 2

The announcements echoed through the station, and there was a quiet chatter in the area. There was a screeching of rails in another section of the track, and the clicking of shoes was heard shortly after boarding the train.

The day for Zenatori to move to Tokyo has finally arrived. Zenatori and Kurosawa stood next to each other waiting for the train. His mom had to go to work, so she couldn't see him at the train station. But he had already said his goodbyes to her.

As he waited for the train, he thought over everything that had happened yesterday. The bittersweetness of it all. Was he actually sure this was what he wanted to do? There wasn't time for indecisiveness. It's far too late for that. Zenatori internally reassured himself.

"I'll worry about it when the time comes to worry about it."

For now, he had to keep moving forward. The world of syneji artistry awaited him, and he would embrace it head-on.

Growing up, he only lived with his mom, and they were never rich. She planned on having a second child but knew she could never afford the expenses. Even then, she tried her hardest to make a living and sacrificed much of her time to give Zenatori a decent life. Now is the time for him to give back. He will become a strong syneji artist and save his mother; only he can do it.

Regardless of his conflicted thoughts, he readies himself to finally board the train. As he stepped through the doors, Kurosawa said her goodbyes.

"Bye, Zenatori!"

What was it? The feeling. Kurosawa felt her chest tighten immensely as Zenatori boarded the train. It only grew as his shoes hit against the floor of the train. She felt a small tear run down her face.
"Crap, I can't let Zenatori see me all teary-eyed." She thought. "I was the one getting onto him for not expressing himself earlier."

It was a floodgate, and every second she felt it breaking one after another. One drop quickly fell, then another. It was too powerful.

"Zenatori!" She cried out.

Zenatori looked back quickly.
"What's wrong?"

"Can you look the other way?"

"Yeah-"

What took time to travel left an instant impact. Zenatori feels Kurosawa's lips press against the side of his face, leaving a remarkable feeling. She then rushed back, leaving Zenatori looking at the redness of her face.

He quickly felt the side of his face to make sure whatever was happening wasn't a dream. He saw Kurosawa's flushed face, leaving him unable to speak.
"What-"

"Get on the train, you!"

"Shoot!"

Zenatori rushed back, getting on the train, and shortly after the door closed, it began his departure. He knew this would be something he would never forget. After he spends his time there, he will come home and make everyone happy. He was certain of it.

As the train doors closed, Kurosawa could only smile at Zenatori.

"I'm kinda mad at myself," She thought. "But I'm satisfied with what happened."

Much later, the train continued zooming through the rails, entering a long tunnel, darkening the insides. Idle chatter filled the air, but Zenatori was stuck in his own thoughts.

"Does this mean Kurosawa likes me or something? It just sounds so unbelievable. What would she realistically even see in me?"

The train finally exited the tunnel, coming to a screeching stop. People stood up from their respective seats, with Zenatori following suit.

"Well, let's focus on the matter at hand now," Zenatori thought.

He finally left the subway station and found himself on the streets of Tokyo. Countless people walked around the clean streets and sidewalks. Zenatori felt a cherry blossom aura in the sky, and the clicking of thousands, if not millions, of shoes, was heard through the city.

"The beauty of Tokyo. This is truly my chance at a new life."

Zenatori then looks at his phone, using the GPS to walk to the location. Zenatori instantly remembered what he was doing and felt a sense of realization.
"A school of syneji artists. I have no idea how this will play out," He mumbled under his breath, walking in the direction of the location.

After some time, he finally arrives, but what he saw could be seen from miles away. The school was extremely prestigious and was grand in size. From what Zenatori could make out, there are three buildings, with the biggest one being in the center.

There was a courtyard on the other side of the left building, and a massive gate about 200 feet before you even enter the school. Its entrance was meticulously crafted in a great brick arch, and it led to a pathway to the center building, and a fountain was built in the middle of the yard. A few people were guarding the inside, and several guards were on the outside perimeter. There were several other buildings behind the school, but he was unable to make them out.

Zenatori approached closer to the gate, but was intercepted by a guard.

"Who are you?" The man said.

He wore a suit and tie, but didn't seem to carry any firearms. Zenatori lay back and introduced himself.
"I'm a new student, and I was told to meet here by Akito Koumiko."

"Koumiko?"

Another guard quickly stepped forward.

"I think he's referring to the girl on patrol in Kyoto." He said to the first guard.

"Oh, Koumiko! We rarely get newbies. What's your name?"

"Sakatoro Zenatori."

"Master Hayoku told me to look out for you. I'll get him here."

"Master? Hayoku..?" Zenatori thought.

Suddenly, a man with an all-black suit walks out of the building. He had a stylish aura and looked very young, maintaining some handsome features. He was quite tall and had a set of beautiful, golden, well-maintained hair. He walked toward the front gate with a sharp smile.
"So you're the Sakatoro Zenatori, huh?" He said.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Well, Zenatori, welcome to Tokyo Regiment Academy. I'll show you your dorm room, and then you can get acquainted in class."