Chapter 1- The Girl At The Train Station

My alarm clock rang at 8:30 am. As everything else in the house, this was also old. It was so loud that it would even wake up the most sleepers. I groaned as I moved my hand over to turn it off. Opening my eyes, I managed to hit it. I looked outside to see the sun over the horizon and the sound of roosters echoing through the village. I sat up and stretched as I look under my bed to find my slippers. I put them on and left my room. I rubbed my eyes as I head to the living room where my family usually has breakfast. I found my father getting dressed to head out. It must be one of those days in the month where he goes to the shop to collect his share of 'hard-earned cash'. I guess that is the privilege that an owner gets.

" I'll be back by the evening," He gave his wife a quick kiss and headed to the door. He didn't even notice me.

"What an asshole!" I thought as I sat down to eat breakfast.

"Did you sleep well Akiro?" She made me a sandwich and passed it to me.

"Yeah, I did," I smiled. "Where's Rizawa?"

"Still in her room. You know she likes to sleep in,"

"Oh right,"

I had a question that I was going to ask my mother for a long time now but I never did. I could have been scared or because my father would get angry at me that I never did. Just when I was about to ask her, she said something I wasn't expecting.

"Are you nervous about going to the city?"

My reaction to that question was like when a mystery gets solved and the bad guy was actually someone close to you. The shock factor in those movies is the same that I had on my face.

"O-oh, I kinda am. I don't know what to expect that's why I am almost on edge," I responded while looking at my empty plate.

"Akiro..." She put her hand on mine. "It's not as bad as you think it might be. I never told you but I actually visited Tokyo a few times before I married your father. It's a big city and you could easily get lost and confused if you don't know anything about how the city functions. That was almost 20 years ago though so it could have changed a bit."

"I see. So, how was Tokyo?"

"It was a great experience. I was only there for a few hours as I was doing some errands but it was definitely interesting. I do remember seeing a school. I'm pretty sure it was a high school that stood out among the rest."

"Oh, what was it called?"

"If I could just remember." She tried really hard to recall the name of the school. She tapped her chin and looked around the room.

"Something that starts with um. Um-um... Ah, I remember, it's Umaya Junior High School." She stated merrily.

"Hmm... I wonder if I could sign up there though?" I crossed my arms, thinking if I had a chance in getting in.

"Your grades were excellent and you're a hard worker so I bet that you will get in," She encouraged me and it helped me calm down a little. Even though there were hundreds of schools in Tokyo, this one had my attention. I wanted to see what it was all about. I gazed at the clock to check the time and it was almost 9:30. It was time to get ready to leave.

"I'll get my stuff ready. My train arrives in an hour."

I walked back to my room to check if I packed everything. You can never be sure if you forgot anything important. I went through my stuff and everything seemed to be in check.

"Rizawa's gift?" I gasped

Thankfully, I remembered that I had put it on my desk before I went to sleep. I was about to put it in the briefcase but it was already full. I went to my backpack but the piece of paper was too big and it would get condensed. I had no choice but to fold it in half and put it in carefully. I didn't want her gift to be ruined as soon as I left. I wore a sweatshirt. It wasn't too cold outside, far from it. It was early autumn and it still had the feeling of summer. A cold wind was blowing so I wanted to take the safe call of not catching a cold on the way. I put on my backpack and carried my briefcase with me. My mother waited for.me.at the door.

"I forgot to give you something," She reached into her pocket.

"Give me your hand," I did as she said and showed her my bare palm.

She pulled out a 100 Zel banknote.

"Here, " She set the banknote on my hand with a sort of sad smile on her face.

"Mom, I can't take this," I shook my head as she gave it to me.

"You can and you will," She said firmly.

"I've saved up money for the trip and I have enough to survive for a while."

"I don't care. I want you to have this because I know your father hasn't been himself lately and since he isn't going to fund your scholarship or your rent I'm gonna do my best to help you out. This is just a start but I'll make sure you receive at least double the amount every month."

I looked away from her. I felt guilty,  but it wasn't for me, but for my father. Him not being himself lately is an understatement. He hasn't been the same for years. I don't know when he started to change but it definitely wasn't recently. He is putting himself and me in uncomfortable situations like this one. I love my mother but even I don't want her to work overtime just so she can think that I can be happy.

"Mother, I-" I was interrupted by Rizawa exiting her room.

"You leaving already?" She rubbed her eyes and approached me.

"Yeah, my train will arrive soon."

She gave me another hug which I wasn't expecting.

"One last hug before you go." She added.

My mother had put her hand on her cheek and smiled. She was enjoying how close we are as brother and sister.

"I'll send you a letter or something when I get there." I opened the door and took my luggage with me. The sun beamed into my face to the point that I had to put my hand up just to get used to the light. I went down a few steps and opened the metal gate of the front yard.

I turned back to face my family one last time. Rizawa was holding my mothers hand almost scared for me. I waved at them happily as I walked down the road towards the bus station and it arrived quicker than anticipated. I got on the 'floating bus' as that was the name of it. Funnily enough, it was floating from the ground. I sat down in one of the seats close to the driver and a little robot came up to me after a while.

"Sir?" It spoke to me.

I was lost in thought and didn't pay attention to it.

"Excuse me, sir,"  I looked at the robot who had no eyes but rather a bar which lights went from left to right and vice versa. I noticed that it had no legs as a small metal pole dragged it around the bus to various travellers.

"Would you please give me the bus fare?" It asked politely which was kinda cute. I was just glad that it had some form of manners. I figured that the programmers made him that way so that they act as a pleasant person.

"Right, here you are,"

I reached into my pocket to pull out the fare that was needed to pay for the trip. The robot took it out of my hand and placed it inside his 'safe'.

"Thank you and have a safe trip."

It bowed slightly and speed away behind me.

The trip only lasted about twenty minutes. After the bus had stopped at my destination, I got out and walked to the entrance. After buying a ticket, I went and sat down on a bench. There weren't too many people at the station. A few businessmen who were on their phones probably talking to clients in the city, a woman who was taking care of a baby and her daughter who looked to be my age and an older man in the back who had a cigar in his mouth and a briefcase. I looked up at the time and the train should be arriving any minute.

"Pardon me," I veered to meet the girl that was with the woman.

"Yes?"

"U-um, I don't mean to bother you but do you have some money to borrow?" I was quite surprised by the question. She didn't look like the type to beg for money. Something must have happened to them. I could see her getting extremely embarrassed and nervous. Her clothes looked new, although they were ripped up like they were just in an accident. Her looks didn't deceive her either. She had short reddish hair and pale skin, probably because she doesn't leave her home much. Her hands were behind her back but I did notice a scar on her right elbow.

"Y-you don't have to... It's just that my baby sister is sick. We don't have any money since we got robbed on the way here and unfortunately, we have to stay here until my grandfather comes to pick us up. We can't buy any medicine at the nearest pharmacy to help her right now so I need something, anything just to help her in the slightest."

I frowned, hearing her story and it does happen to most people. As much as technology has advanced the crime rate is still high. Some would even say it's higher than it was in the past. It could be because high-level scavengers, as they are called, steal the technology produced to help people and sell it to criminals and robbers across the world using their sources to transfer them.

I reached for my pocket to give her the money needed but I had no change.

She noticed that and almost tried to get out of my sight as quick as possible.

"It's okay, I see that you don't have it. My apologies."

I felt her shaky voice like she was on the verge of tearing up. I couldn't let her leave like this, my consciousness would kill me if I did. I reached for my back pocket and pulled out the 100 Zel banknote that my mother had given me.

"Wait..." I stopped her from leaving. She turned around and faced me but quickly glanced away.

"Take this. You need it more than me,"

I handed her the money. Her eyes expanded seeing the large sum.

"Sir, I can't take this much money from you. I could be a fraud that just begs for money and makes up a story just to get it," she quietly muttered.

"I believe you," I said to her.

"I saw the scar on your elbow and it looks to be recent so there is no way you are making this all up. I don't really care too much about money. All I want is to fulfil my dream and see the city that is Tokyo."

She clenched the banknote and cried a little.

"You are such a good person, I can't thank you enough, " She bowed to me.

"You don't need to thank me and you don't need to call me sir either. I think we are both the same age."

"May I know your name then?" Her cheeks blushed.

"It's Akiro, what about you?"

"I'm Sakura, " She turned around and saw her aunt calling her.

"I got to go. I hope you fulfil your dream Akiro," She ran off towards her aunt.

"I'll remember you, " She shouted while looking back and waving.

A few seconds later, the train arrived and the wind from it followed.

It was so strong that her yellow skirt fluttered and revealed a little bit of her panties. Was that a reward for my kindness? I would put that more down to luck than anything. I did catch a little glimpse of it but I couldn't determine the colour of it. I felt my face slightly getting hotter, seeing it. My daydreaming was interrupted by a female announcer.

"Attention everyone please show your tickets as you enter the train. Our next stop is the technological city of Tokyo. No pushing at the doors and no weapons allowed in the train. All luggage will need to be inspected. Thank you for your attention."

As the voice finished I grabbed my stuff and went to enter the train.

I had to, of course, place my luggage into a machine just to make sure that I wasn't carrying any weapons. I passed and gave my ticket to the Robot conductor. I settled down in one of the seats near a window. The train did have more people than I expected, at least in this part of the train. I was in the middle wagon, which had people of all ages and different job proficiencies.

As the train slowly got going, I looked out of the window excitedly. I was heading to Tokyo and I felt like this would be a new beginning for me.