[Chapter 2-Next steps]
Taro sighed, rubbing his temples.
"This professor can't stop talking nonsense. And what does she mean by checking with me? I’m not bringing her to Japan."
He glanced at his phone.
[11:24 AM]
"I arrived way too early in Japan, but at least I can meet my family now."
---
[On the Train]
Taro hopped on the subway, moving through Tokyo. From Akihabara to Shinjuku, then finally to Shibuya, he stared out the window, taking in the familiar sights.
"So nice being back here," he murmured. "My family moved from the rural area to Shibuya long ago. They should still be around here."
After exiting Shibuya Station, he walked through the bustling streets, heading toward Setagaya City.
"The house on the left should be my parents' place," he thought as he approached a cozy, two-story building.
---
[At the Doorstep]
Taro reached out to ring the bell, his heart pounding with anticipation. The door opened, but instead of his parents, he saw someone unexpected.
“Wassup, Taro-san!”
Taro froze, his eyes widening in shock.
Standing in the doorway was Akari Himeno, a childhood friend he hadn’t seen in years.
“Oi, Taro, what happened? Why are you frozen?” she teased.
“Nothing. Uh… Isn’t this my parents’ house?” Taro stammered, trying to regain his composure.
“Nope, your parents’ house is the one opposite this,” Akari replied with a grin.
“Thanks,” he said, turning to leave, but paused. “By the way, Akari, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, I live here now. My parents died a long time ago in a landslide back in the village, so your parents adopted me.”
Her words hit Taro like a truck. “Oh… I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be,” Akari replied, her tone calm. “It happened over a year ago.”
“A year ago… How disconnected have I become from my own family?” Taro thought, guilt washing over him.
“What are you thinking about, Taro?” Akari asked, tilting her head.
“Nothing. I’ll catch you later,” he said, already stepping away.
Before he could leave, he turned back. “By the way, Akari, do you have some free time later this afternoon?”
“Sure, but why?” she asked curiously.
“I was thinking of visiting our old hangout spots to refresh some memories. I might bring Kaito along if he’s free.”
“Kaito? He went to university with you, didn’t he?”
“Yeah. He’s back in Japan for his studies too.”
“Oh, that sounds fun. It’d be nice to catch up with both of you,” Akari said with a smile.
Taro nodded, bidding her goodbye before heading to the house next door—his parents’ home.
---
[At His Parents' Doorstep]
Taro stood before the door, his hand hovering over the bell. A wave of uncertainty hit him.
“How will they react to me showing up out of nowhere? It’s been so long…”
After taking a deep breath, he finally pressed the button. The sound of the bell echoed faintly, and he waited anxiously for someone to answer.
"This professor can't stop talking nonsense. And what does she mean by checking with me? I’m not bringing her to Japan."
He glanced at his phone.
[11:24 AM]
"I arrived way too early in Japan, but at least I can meet my family now."
---
[On the Train]
Taro hopped on the subway, moving through Tokyo. From Akihabara to Shinjuku, then finally to Shibuya, he stared out the window, taking in the familiar sights.
"So nice being back here," he murmured. "My family moved from the rural area to Shibuya long ago. They should still be around here."
After exiting Shibuya Station, he walked through the bustling streets, heading toward Setagaya City.
"The house on the left should be my parents' place," he thought as he approached a cozy, two-story building.
---
[At the Doorstep]
Taro reached out to ring the bell, his heart pounding with anticipation. The door opened, but instead of his parents, he saw someone unexpected.
“Wassup, Taro-san!”
Taro froze, his eyes widening in shock.
Standing in the doorway was Akari Himeno, a childhood friend he hadn’t seen in years.
“Oi, Taro, what happened? Why are you frozen?” she teased.
“Nothing. Uh… Isn’t this my parents’ house?” Taro stammered, trying to regain his composure.
“Nope, your parents’ house is the one opposite this,” Akari replied with a grin.
“Thanks,” he said, turning to leave, but paused. “By the way, Akari, what are you doing here?”
“Oh, I live here now. My parents died a long time ago in a landslide back in the village, so your parents adopted me.”
Her words hit Taro like a truck. “Oh… I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be,” Akari replied, her tone calm. “It happened over a year ago.”
“A year ago… How disconnected have I become from my own family?” Taro thought, guilt washing over him.
“What are you thinking about, Taro?” Akari asked, tilting her head.
“Nothing. I’ll catch you later,” he said, already stepping away.
Before he could leave, he turned back. “By the way, Akari, do you have some free time later this afternoon?”
“Sure, but why?” she asked curiously.
“I was thinking of visiting our old hangout spots to refresh some memories. I might bring Kaito along if he’s free.”
“Kaito? He went to university with you, didn’t he?”
“Yeah. He’s back in Japan for his studies too.”
“Oh, that sounds fun. It’d be nice to catch up with both of you,” Akari said with a smile.
Taro nodded, bidding her goodbye before heading to the house next door—his parents’ home.
---
[At His Parents' Doorstep]
Taro stood before the door, his hand hovering over the bell. A wave of uncertainty hit him.
“How will they react to me showing up out of nowhere? It’s been so long…”
After taking a deep breath, he finally pressed the button. The sound of the bell echoed faintly, and he waited anxiously for someone to answer.
Chapter-3:
Choices
[Coming soon]
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