Landed In Japan

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"How was your flight?"

"Karma got me too soon."

Her friend that picked her up glanced at her while she was pulling out of the parking lot of the arrival terminal, but didn't say anything.

She bent down and removed her shoes. She then folded her legs on the passenger seat. The drive would take them less than two hours give or take, depending on the traffic. However, Bella - her friend who she would be staying with has to meet some people because of her job. Hence, she took a car when it's more convenient to just take a train.

"How was the house?"

"Oh, thank you for contacting your friend about that house. It's perfect!"

"Well, when you said that the story you are writing is somehow set in the Edo period, the first thing I thought about was Kawagoe."

Although she tried to ignore the fact that Bella was staring at her from the moment they left Narita Airport, she was aware that he was watching her.

"It's also nice that the prefecture is part of greater Tokyo but it's outside of all the bustle. A bit laid back, I love it."

"But they have a lot of tourists too."

"Yes, but the house we are staying in is a residential area far from the usual tourist spot. I love that it has a tatami room, overlooking a small garden. I usually do my writing there, and also it is a good place to lie down and think."

"Seems like you are truly enjoying the place," she replied but her eyes were glued on the skyscrapers of Tokyo. Traffic started to build up, and she could see the many changes the city had ever since the last time she was here.

"What business do you have to do here, by the way?"

"I have to meet a friend from a publication company for my new book."

"Are you going to publish your book in a Japanese publication company?" She was surprised with the current development of Bella's writing. Two months ago they were both in Siargao, the surfer island in the Philippines - surfing, but mostly drinking and watching surfer dudes with their board. And when she said, board - she meant their surfer board's abs!

And that time, Bella has been moping around because she can't find the motivation and the inspiration to write the story that has been keeping her awake at night. Her story was something that happened in the Edo period. And that's all she knew. She didn't talk anymore about the story, and she didn't ask. She has no idea about writing anyway. She loves reading but writing - it should be given to someone that has the talent to write.

"No. This is not a Japanese publishing company. The representative of my publishing company in the US is currently in the country, so I'm going to meet him."

"Do I have to be there? I mean, I don't want to disturb your business talk or whatever it is. You could just drop me somewhere I could check some places I used to go and we could meet later when you are done?"

"Hmm, that's a good idea I think. Where do you want me to drop you off?"

"Over there," she said pointing to the building across the intersection ahead of them.

"It's on the other side of the road!" she glanced at her back and looked at the GPS monitor on the dashboard of the car. And saw that she had to drive for about four blocks and then turned around to drop her in front of the said building.

"You don't have to drop me off exactly there," she told her as she put on her shoes. "I'm just telling you that I would be in that building, and you picked me up there later."

"Oh, okay. Got it." She surveyed the street and glanced at the GPS monitor and found a good drop off point that was within walking distance to the building she was talking about.

"Do you have cash? Lend me some cash."

"Oh, get them in my wallet." she pointed to her handbag with her pursed lips. "Good thing I withdraw some cash at the airport when I was waiting for you."

"I didn't think of that. I didn't know that we would be in this area." She found her wallet and pulled out five ten thousand yen from it. "I don't like that this country is still heavy on cash. I like the convenience of paying for everything using my card for I don't like touching money full of germs!"

"So, are you germaphobe now?" she chuckled mockingly.

"Nah, only with money. Especially coins, because if you imagine the number of surfaces and hands those coins money travels until it reaches your hand, don't you feel a bit icky about it?"

"You're so weird."

She stopped the car and Laurie slung her backpack on her shoulder and opened the passenger door of the car and got off.

"Laters!"

She watched her car drive away to meet whoever that person was from her publishing company. She walked back from where they came from because it's where she saw the pedestrian that would take her to the building that she wanted to visit.

She wanted to visit the building because she remembered that there was a particular store in that building that was selling her preferred acrylic paints. She was thinking that she would be mostly holed up in the house so she could do some painting to kill time.

She pulled out her phone to open google and searched for the nearest Manga store near the area. She hasn't been reading manga for a while now. Maybe it's still fun to read, she thought as she entered the building and looked for the store from her memory.

And she is someone who is terribly bad in direction. Most of the time, looking for a place is an adventure itself for she is directionally challenged. She couldn't find her left hand even if it was in front of her face!