It's a morning in Tokyo, one of the biggest and full of people chasing their dreams.
It's a beautiful morning you can say. The sun starts to rise as the sky is clear, which is quite rare to see here in Tokyo.
In one of a small apartment in Tokyo, there lives a girl, or a woman there alone.
Tsukasa Akari is the name of this woman. She is 25 years old this year and she's working as an accountant in one of the many companies here in Tokyo.
The sound of the alarm keeps ringing inside the room trying to wake Akari from her dreams as the clock shows that it's already 6 o'clock.
After a few more minutes, Akari finally opens her eyes as she reaching her hands to stops the alarm from keeps ringing.
She's starting to stretch while she's still on her bed. The blanket is now got pushed out as she slowly wakes up from her bed and sits on the side of the bed.
Akari then opens the curtain that's in front of her as she's getting blasted by the light and makes her used her other hands to block her eyes from it.
After a few minutes of sitting there while watching the scenery of the outside world, she's finally get up and start to move to the bathroom.
After taking her time to shower, Akari came out of the bathroom with a towel still on her head while she wiping her hair.
She's now wearing a t-shirt and short pants which is, of course, different from the pajama that she's wearing when she's asleep.
Akari then goes to the kitchen and making some simple breakfast, while putting the towel on her neck.
She's also making a cup of coffee together while she's making breakfast.
After making a sandwich and a cup of coffee, Akari then walks towards the table that's just beside her bed and sits there while placing a plate of sandwich and coffee on the table. She's already put the towel somewhere else while she making breakfast.
She starts looking at her phone while munching on the sandwich with the other hands.
No sound can be heard, only the sound of cars from the outside of the building can be heard sometimes.
After around 10 minutes of eating while she wasn't even focusing on her phone, Akari then takes a sip of the coffee that she's making.
"Ah... Bitter..."
Finally, Akari's voice broke the silence inside the room.
But, no one replied to her talking, just the sound of the cars from the outside.
Akari then put her phone down as she looks in front of her.
There is no one there.
But, she can still see the shadow of a man there sitting with her while laughing at her.
"I'm changing, eh."
Akari spoke involuntarily as she remembers those memories.
She then looks at the ceiling which looks white as the memories start to come again.
"Whose fault is it?
Me? No!
Us? Maybe."
Akari then let out a sigh as she unconsciously looks at the picture on the table beside her bed where the alarm clock and some other things there.
It's a picture of her and a man stands side by side with a big smile on both of their face.
It's a picture from when both of them still in high school. Her appearance was so much different from what she looks like right now.
You can say that she looked like a nerd in the picture. With a big round frame glasses and ponytail hair.
But, unlike her appearance, she's actually not a smart girl or a nerd. She looks like that just because she doesn't know anything about fashion and the likes of those.
But, she's changed now. She starts to want to look pretty in front of the man in the picture. She's starting to wear eye contact and she wears all those pretty clothes. You can say that she's trying hard to look like the most pretty girl for the man in the picture.
As Akari look at that picture, she starts to remember the memories of when they first met.
It was a really beautiful memory for her.
It's just like in a movie or manga that she read.
It was around the second year of high school when they were first met.
At that time, some people tried to ask her out. But, they were used more forced as she rejects their approach.
At that time, the man, Yamanaka Tojou, appears like a prince charming who saves the damsel in distress.
Tojou then tried to talks to those people first saying.
"Stop! Don't you guys see that she doesn't want to go with you?"
Like a high school girl she was, she's fall for the prince charming at first sight.
But, even now, she's definitely said that she will fall for him again even though she knows how it will end like.
It's just so beautiful that even after all these years, she still remembered very clear about that day.
Anyway, Tojou and those people then fight in the end like it's all has been planned.
Maybe it is.
The result can already be known.
Yamanaka Tojou got beaten up.
Those people only leave because there is too much noise and they afraid that the police might come and arrest them.
"Why?"
Akari asked innocently while looking at Tojou that full of brushes.
"There's no way I will leave someone in trouble while I have the power to help them."
A perfect answer for a prince charming indeed and this line makes Akari fall deeper inside something called love.
"T-thanks"
With a blush on her face, Akari answered him.
"Since you're fine, then I will go first. Be careful next time."
After saying that, Tojou leave Akari without looking back.
Since that day, Akari then tried to get close to Tojou. Tojou himself wasn't acting when he saves her that day. His personality is always like that.
At least that's what Akari found out after she tried to get close to him.
Akari then comes back from her reminiscing about the past.
She grabs the coffee that was on the table and took another sip as the bitter taste hit her again.
"It's really bitter."
Akari said that as tears slowly fall from her eyes. Some fall on the table and some enter the cup that she was holding with both of her hands.
One year can't make her let go of the past.
The time that she spent with him is far too long to make her just forget about it and move on.
"Is this the best way just like you said?
Why did it hurt so bad?
Am I regretting this?
No!
This is the best way for us.
For me."
Akari said it trying to convince herself to not regretting her decision about this.
She then stands up with a cup in her hands. She wants to add some milk to the coffee to make the bitter taste go away.
Just as she pours the milk that she takes out of the refrigerator, she heard the sounds from her phone.
She then quickly put the milk back in the refrigerator and then walks towards her phone to see who called her.
Yukina, that was the words that Akari saw on her phone.
Yukina or Kawasaki Yukina is Akari's works mate that quite close to her.
"Hello, Akari-chan? You there?"
Yukina voice can be heard through the phone.
Akari prepared herself before she answered.
"Hello, Yukina-san. What's wrong?"
Akari's voice becomes normal as she answered Yukina.
"You see, there is this new sweet shop that just opens a few days ago.
I really want to go there, because they said that the sweets there are really good. But, I don't want to go alone there and my boyfriend is busy with his friends today.
So, as your big sister, I want to invite you with me to try these new sweetshops."
Akari's mouth can't help but let out a smile slightly when she heard this.
Yukina is a few years older than Akari. This makes her act as a big sister to Akari.
"You just invite me because your boyfriend is busy. Is this how a big sister is supposed to act?"
Akari raised her voiced a little as she pretends to be angry.
"No-no-no. How can I do that?
Do you know that this big sister especially told her boyfriend to go out so that I can invite you to go?
You're free today right, Akari-chan?
Then, go out with your big sister. We, two sisters, can go shopping later after we tried the new sweetshop."
"Okay then. I also want to try this new sweet shop as well."
"Then, we can meet there at 9. See you later, Akari-chan!"
"Later."
Akari then looks at her phone after that.
Akari always feels thankful that she met someone like Yukina.
When she was breaking up with Tojou around one year ago, Yukina helps her so much.
She always tried to make her cheerful again with all her antics. Yukina even let go of the chance to go out on holiday with her boyfriend at that time just to accompany her almost every day.
At that time, Akari really needs someone to be with her just to let out all of her emotions.
Without Yukina, Akari probably doing something stupid at that time.
Although Akari keeps saying that she also feels that her relationship with Tojou is messed up at that time and she even said that she won't feel bad even if they broke up.
But, the reality is different.
When they were truly breaking up, it just hit her so much at that time.
All the bravery and the strong words that she said before, feels like a joke that day.
Just after she watched Tojou leave her, she cried out like a hungry baby that needs its mother's care.
A relationship of more than 5 years broke with just a few sentences.
At that time, luckily Yukina came to her apartment and she barely saw Tojou leaves the apartment.
Akari cried until tears can't even come out of her eyes.
Yukina always there as she helps Akari to let out some stress.
Because of that, for Akari, Yukina has always been someone even closer than a real sister.
Knowing that there is sometimes to spare, Akari wasn't in a hurry to go to the promised place. She took her time to choose what she's going to wear today.
***
Akari is now standing in front of the shop called Little Sun Sweet Shop.
Akari wears a light purple one-piece dress with a matching color handbag on her hands.
It's the place where Akari and Yukina are supposed to meet.
Akari just came and then she's calling Yukina to ask her where she is.
"Hello, Yukina-san? I'm in front of the shop. Where are you?"
"Ah, Akari-chan? I'm almost there. You can go inside first. I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Sure. I'll wait inside."
"See you there!"
After that, Akari walks inside the shop, and then she sits on an empty table there.
A minute later, one of the employers there walks towards Akari to asked her what she wants to order.
Akari said that she will order later as she wants to wait until Yukina arrived before she orders something.
The girl who is the employer there then said yes before she goes back to where she was.
But, a few minutes later, the girl back while bringing a glass of water and give it to Akari.
"Thank you."
Akari said her thanks while the girl only smiles and then walks back.
Akari then took her time to see the inside of the sweet shop.
There are a few customers here eating their sweets and foods. The atmosphere here is quite nice. It wasn't too loud even when there are quite many customers here.
The waiters are also nice and their uniform also looks cute for her.
They wear a maid uniform with some modification here and there. The color is light blue and some yellow on it instead of black.
The interior is also nice making those customers here feel comfy eating here.
After Akari wait for another 10 minutes, she saw Yukina walks inside the shop while looking around.
Akari then raised her hands to let Yukina know where she is.
Yukina then smiles while walking towards her after she saw Akari.
"Akari-chan, did you wait a long time?"
"No, I just got here myself. Let's just order the foods."
Yukina then sits in front of Akari then she asks the waiters for a menu.
Akari also asks for a menu and then takes a look at the foods and sweets that she want to order.
After ordering one Parfait and one tiramisu looking sweets and a glass of orange juice. Akari gives the menu back to the waiters.
Akari then looks at Yukina and saw that Yukina also finished her order.
After that, the waiters confirming the orders before she walks back to the counter.
"Akari-chan, are you really going back home at the end of this month? I heard that you'll be taking a break at the end of this month from Honjou-san."
"Yes, I've been away from home for a long time now and I've also missed my parents and my little brother. So, I think of taking a break for a few days at the end of the month."
Yukina silent for a moment before she said.
"Is it really not because of Tojou?"
Akari who heard that stop for seconds as she was about to drinks water.
"No, I've forgotten about him already. Oh, by the way, why didn't you go out with your boyfriend today Yukina-san?"
Akari said that as she's trying to change the conversation.
"You know it's useless to change the conversation Akari-chan!
Sigh... It's been a year already and you still can't move on from him. I know that you're still young. But, you're not that young anymore.
For how long you'll stay like this? 2 years? 5 years?
At that time, you'll find that it's too hard to feel love again.
Don't waste your time like this Akari-chan."
Akari silent when she heard that.
She knows it herself that she can't always stay like this. But, those memories, those feelings. She just can't let go of it yet.
Akari opens her mouth a few times as she wants to say something, but she's closed it again in the end as the worlds can't seem to come out from her mouth.
"I know that it's hard for you Akari-chan, but you have to do it.
Right now, you're hurting yourself like this.
You know that this place hurt you, and yet, you can't help but stay at this place where it hurt you the most.
This is wrong!
If you still choose to stay in this place even after all this time. Then I have no choice but to drag you out of this place myself."
Akari then looks at Yukina with her mouth open.
She's about to say something. But, once again, she swallows those words.
Akari then starts to remember about those memories again when she's still with Tojou.
After both of them graduated from high school, both of them decide to go to Tokyo to chase their dreams.
It's not a high dream such as becoming a superstar or Idol. It's just that they were both agree to saves enough money together and then go back to their home and then married.
They can make some small business in their home town together after they are married later.
Youth!
How beautiful it was!
Knowing nothing about how hard it is to live in Tokyo.
They still think that it will work out somehow as long as they are together.
How naive they were!
She was still optimistic as she works really hard to chase their dreams, her dream.
But then, it's somehow things slowly changed.
Both of them slowly changed.
She still believes in their dreams, while he chases another dream.
At least that's what she thought.
"But, this place, this memories is so beautiful, Yukina-san."
Akari said that with a longing feeling on her face.
"I know. But, no matter how beautiful it is, it's just a memory. You can't live in it!"
"Live in it...
Maybe I am."
In the end, Yukina let out a big sigh as she shakes her head when she saw Akari's expression.
"I'll go to the bathroom for a minute."
Akari then stands up as she walks towards the waiters and asked where the bathroom is.
Yukina saw that with a little bit of pain on her face.
"Live in it, ah.
How hurt it is to live like that.
Like someone who waits for something that never gonna happen.
Aish... Let's wait until she came back from her break. Maybe her parents can wake her up."
Yukina herself seems to be tired of watching Akari always like that.
Yukina already thinks of Akari as her little sister. When she saw how Akari broke down when Tojou leaves her. She really wants to run to him and then beat him up.
But, she knows that Akari needs her the most at that time and she can't leave her alone or something bad will happened.
"Sigh... Maybe this is why they say that Tokyo is scary.
Both of them changed. Not because love changed them, but, Tokyo is the one who changed them.
A pure young man gets forced to changed his perception of life after he lives here for a few years."
Yukina knows it herself that maybe Tojou got forced to know how the world works when he lived here for a few years.
Moreover, he's out of luck. Unlike Akari who meet her, Tojou probably met someone that makes him changed his view in life.
Akari is lucky because Yukina is always there to help her just after she works in Tokyo.
Yukina once again let out a sigh when she thinks about Akari.
The first time Yukina hear about Akari and Tojou, she felt like this is the feeling of youth.
Akari always tells Yukina about Tojou almost all the time. Yukina saw how happy Akari was when she talks about her high school times with Tojou.
When Akari talks about Tojou, Yukina can see her first love. It was so beautiful that she can even see flowers bloom behind Akari.
Yukina even thought that Akari was an author of a romance novel at that time.
But, after Yukina heard this, again and again, she even feels a little bit afraid. Afraid that both Akari and Tojou somehow decided to broke up.
And when Yukina saw the two of them really broke up, she knew that Akari will be devastated.
Yukina was right.
Akari was beyond devastated. If Yukina wasn't there when both of them break up, she won't know what might happen that day.
You might say that Akari was stupid if she ever thinks about suicide that day. But, that was the truth.
If Yukina wasn't there at that time, Yukina is really sure that Akari will think about suicide.
It only takes one thought to make her did it.
Not everyone as strong as you!
And sometimes, it only takes one word to break a person.
Although they know that it was stupid to suicide, but, certain conditions make them forget that it is stupid.
They even think that suicide is the only thing that makes them free.
After all, it's easy to run away than to face a problem.
What Akari needs at that time, wasn't some words of encouragement or some bullshit wise words.
She only needs someone to hear her crying, a shoulder to lean on.
And sometimes, not saying anything and listening to their words is what saves people from getting suicide.
Not scolding or wise words that you can found on Google.
Because they know that it's bad to kill themselves and they already read a thousand or more articles about that.
They only need someone to hear their cry, to hear their pent-up anger and frustration.
'it's ok, I'm here'
Is better than all those wise words and a simple hug is better than all those medicines for them.
Once again, Yukina let out a sigh when she thinking about Akari.
Just as Yukina about to say something, she heard someone talking beside her.
She then takes a look and saw that waiters stand there and ask her about the order.
Yukina then nods and the waiters then put down the order that both Yukina and Akari order before.
After the waiters finished putting the order down, she walks back to the kitchen.
Soon after that, Akari came back from the bathroom.
Yukina doesn't ask her anything and just said that the order just come and she can't wait to taste them.
Everything that happened after that is different than before. Both Akari and Yukina just talk about works and the taste of the sweet that they orders before.
Akari also seems to be better after that. As Yukina didn't bring Tojou or love talks anymore.
Times fly and soon both of them finish eating and chatting.
After that, Yukina and Akari then start to go shopping like all the talks and all those heavy words before was never happened.
This is normal things for Yukina as this isn't only happened once.
No matter how many times Yukina tried to advise Akari, in the end, everything seems to disappear like it never happened in the first place.
Yukina just thinks that it's just not the right time for Akari to move on or no one has slapped her hard enough for her to wake up.
Both of them then used more than 3 hours shopping as they look at all kinds of shop.
From clothes to accessories, they even look at all kinds of dolls amid the shopping.
They only stop when they look that the sky getting dark.
The sound of thunder can be heard in the sky as the skies getting darker and darker.
"Akari-chan, are you sure that you don't want to wait with me? I'm sure my boyfriend isn't that far. You're also didn't bring an umbrella with you."
Yukina asks Akari as both of them stand in front of the mall waiting for Yukina boyfriend to come to pick her up.
"It's ok. I can take a train to go home as the station wasn't that far from my house."
"Then remember to buy an umbrella before you go home."
"Yes. Then see you later Yukina-san!"
"Later, Akari-chan!"
Yukina afraid that Akari will be thought in the rain and as she didn't bring an umbrella with her, she will be drenched because of the rain.
Akari is in hurry to catch the train as she walks faster and faster towards the station while the skies seem to get darker and darker as the sound of thunder keeps getting louder and louder.
"Ah, it will be a big rain. I should've checked the weather before I'm going out!"
After Akari getting on the train, she let out a big sigh.
'In the end, the topic will be out again.'
Akari thinking about the conversation with Yukina before.
She knows that Yukina will bring this topic again every time they met.
Akari knows that Yukina means the best to her.
It's just that, somehow she can't, at least not yet.
Maybe Yukina was right that she's live inside her dreams now.
Akari suddenly wakes up from her thought as she already arrives at her destinations while she's in deep thought.
Akari walks out without a second thought like it was normal for her to do that.
She then starts to walks towards her house while still thinking about something.
*drip...drop...*
Rain starts to fall and once again take her up from her thought.
"Ah... It's raining!"
Akari then starts to run as she saw an izakaya close to where she is.
Without a second thought, she gets inside because of the rain.
"Welcome! Please take a seat and take this towel or you'll catch a cold."
After Akari enters the Izakaya, an old woman's voice can be heard as she gives Akari a warm towel to wipe her face with.
Akari saw that the Izakaya is quite empty, only the old woman who is probably the owner, and an old man sitting at one table with a smoke pipe in his hand.
Akari then took a sit on an empty chair as the old woman from before came back with a warm tea on her hand.
Akari looks at the old woman as the other smile and then said.
"It's ok, it's on the house. I don't want my customer to be sick after she comes here."
Akari can't just decline it after she heard that.
At first, Akari only thought that she will order some drink and wait until the rain stop.
But, after she wipes her face with the warm towel and drinks the warm tea, she starts to feel a little bit hungry.
So, she orders some warm food to fill her stomach while she waits for the rain to stop.
***
Half an hour passed as Akari finished her food. But, the sound of rain can still be heard even inside the building.
Akari really hates herself because she forgot to bring an umbrella with her.
Although the food here is really good, but she still feels a little bit uncomfortable staying here even after she finished the food.
Of course, she knew that the owner won't kick her out knowing that it's still raining outside.
It's just that the atmosphere here is too quiet.
Neither the owner nor the old man saying anything.
"Jou-chan, if you're in hurry, you can used the umbrella over there. It's mine, you can just bring it back here tomorrow."
The old man who sit across Akari said that as he took a puff of his pipe.
"No, it's ok. The rain probably stop soon."
"Fufufu... Yama-jii, you're still as heartless as always. To kick a beautiful young lady here.
Moreover, the umbrella IS mine. I lent it to you because we're neighbors, but now, you're saying that it's yours?
Did you lose your shame somewhere?"
Hearing what the old woman words males the old man, Yama-jii moved his head to the side as he take a puff from his pipe.
"Isn't it fine? You have a few umbrella anyway. Why bother losing a single one.
Anyway, i just said that because i thought this jou-chan seems a little bit in hurry."
"Sigh... Whatever, it seems you're became more shameless the more you grow old."
The old woman said that as she shakes her head.
Akari let out a gigle while watching the two old people bickering at each other.
"It's fine, i'm not in hurry anyway. Moreover, my house is not that far and i'm living alone. So, i don't need to prepare for something or anything like that."
Akari voice seems a little sad as she talked about that.
She seems to remember about the past when she and Tojou still live together.
The two old people stop talking as they seems to catch something from what Akari said just now.
Both of them has many experience after living for so long and meet many people along the way.
Of course they can sense that Akari moods suddenly changed after she said that words.
"Jou-chan, it seems that you have something in your mind. If you don't mind, we can listen to your problem.
But, if you don't want to, it's ok. After all, it was me who was rude to ask that."
The old woman said that to Akari with a gentle smile on her face.
Akari feels hesitated after hearing that.
After all, both of them are stranger and talking about her private life to a stranger who she just met is a little bit too much.
But, Akari do need someone to hear her talking about her problems.
She can't always asked Yukina to hear her talking the same topics again and again. She knew that Yukina herself probably already sick of her keep talking about Tojou.
That's why Akari became hesitated about talking to the old woman or not.
In the end with a sigh came out of her mouth, Akari decided to start talking.
"Aunty, can you bring some sake first please?"
The old woman only smile before she walks and took a bottle of sake and two empty cup with her.
She then put them on the table and then she sit on front Akari as she pours the sake into the two cup.
Akari didn't say anything about this as it makes her more comfortable with talking about her problem.
"Aunty, do you think that it is stupid to still thinking about someone who left you, even after more than a year has passed?"
Akari said that as she drinks the sake in the cup.
"Probably."
"My friends said that i should have forget about him all those moths ago.
But, i- i just can't!"
Akari stop talking for a seconds as she start to remember about all those happy memories she has with Tojou.
"They said that i was so stupid because i can't forget about him.
But, what can i do?
It was so beautiful that i don't want to forget about it."
The old woman didn't interupt Akari from talking as she pour another cup of sake for Akari.
"My friends introduce me to many people just so that i can move on from him.
They did many things to make me realize that he's not the best for me.
They said that, for how long do i want to stay like this?
They said, you can't always like this? Waiting for something that might not happening.
Some even told me to start a relationship with another man so that it can make me forget about him.
But, i can't- i can't!
His face, his voice, his words, always come to my mind every time i try to get close with someone.
When i tried to ignore it, it only makes my heart ache- it's hurt... So, bad!"
"It's like he put a course on me, so that i can't never move on- forget about him.
And so i thought that.
Isn't it fine to live inside this memories?"
Akari empty the cup with single thought yet again.
The feeling of her throat burning isn't even make the pain go away.
All the memories come to her mind like an open floor gate.
As tears start to fall from her eyes and the sounds of her sobbing can be heard inside this Izakaya.
While all of this happened, the old woman face start to changed as she listening to Akari words.
It's not shocked and It's not pitty or worry either.
Her face showed an expression of someone who reminisine about the past.
The old man, Yama-jii, who listen to Akari talking while sitting behind the old woman, look at the old woman after Akari stop talking.
Maybe he knew about the old woman past, because he look the the old woman with a sad expression like he sympathize with her.
"Do you think i'm stupid, aunty?
Should i forget about him and move on?
But, how?"
"You're not stupid or wrong at all."
"Then-"
"But, you're not right either."
Akari showed a confused face, as she look at the old woman.
"You see, the reason why i said that you're not wrong is because you don't need to forget about those memories.
After all, just like you said, it's a beautiful memories. So beautiful to you're willing to live in it."
The old woman stop for a seconds as she drink the sake in her cup.
She put the cup down on the table and she trace the edge of the cup with her finger as she seem to lost in her own memories.
"But, just like your friends said. You can't always like this.
Yes, the memory of you with him is beautiful. But, memories is memories, no matter how beautiful it is, you can't live in it.
You can remember it or even talk about it with someone else. But, you can't live in it."
"I know that!
I know that really well!
But, how?
How can i move on from it?"
The old woman pours the sake on both of her and Akari cup again as she let out a sigh.
"This is why it's hard for you to move on."
Akari look at the old woman as she wait for an answer from her.
The old woman drink the sake then look at Akari.
"You know that you need to move on. But, you, yourself don't want to move on.
You close your eyes and close your ears with both of your hands. You keep telling yourself that 'it's ok. It'll be fine'. Trying to escape from the reality, run into the dreams where you can't get hurt without knowing that you're already bleed.
You said that you listen to what your friends said and advice, but, all those words never truly reach you."
The more Akari listen to the old woman saying the more her expression changed.
She want to denied what the old woman saying, but, she know that what the old woman saying is right.
" Little girl, how much longer do you want to be like this?
Although you're still young, but, you're not that young anymore.
You need to be brave and strong about this, make a decision for yourself.
Because by the time you get older, it will be hard for you to feel love again."
After the old woman stop, Akari didn't say anything. Because the words that the old woman said almost the same like what Yukina and her other friends said.
Maybe because it is said by a stranger that this words hit Akari in a different feeling compared when it was said by her friends.
When Yukina or her other friends said this words to her. She only said that she's still young and still has the time to find another man.
She answered them with a half-assed answer like it was nothing important.
But now, she's somehow can't answer the old woman question like when she's talking with her friends.
Maybe Akari can said that because she's talking with an older person than her, well, much older than her.
But, she knew it deeply that she's afraid.
She's afraid of what the old woman going to said the moment she answer the question.
It's not because the old woman might get angry or scolding her.
But, Akari afraid that the words will shakes her.
Because Akari herself already knew the words that might come.
So, Akari choose to be silent.
But, it's not going to help her as the old woman in front of her start to smile like she's already expecting Akari to be silent.
"Let's changed the topic a little bit, shall we?"
Akari, who have her face looking down, now mover her face towards the source of the voice.
She's start to listen closely to what the old woman will say next.
"Do you know where the rainbow came from?"
Akari seem to be a little bit confused. But, she's still answer the question.
" A rainbow is caused by sunlight and atmospheric conditions. Light enters a water droplet, slowing down and bending as it goes from air to dens-"
"Stop, stop! I don't need to know the answer that you get from Wikipedia."
The old woman stop Akari who was trying to answer her question.
"Then-"
"Well, since you know it. Then, you also know that if there is a rainbow, there might be a rain or even storm there right?"
"Yes, but, shouldn't the words be ' after the rain, there will be a rainbow?' "
"Well, it's sound the same to me."
' That's not the same!'
That's what inside Akari's mind.
"So, do you mean that as long as i can wait and hold on, i can achieve my dream?"
When Akari said that, the old woman didn't said anything and only smile at Akari.
"I have a little quiz for you jou-chan.
There is this girl who really want to see a rainbow and what a luck! It is a rain now and here is the question for you.
The first is, for the girl to wait in the rain until the rain stop to see the rainbow that the girl really want to see.
Or the second one, the girl go inside her house and wait until the rain to stop and then go out to see the rainbow.
Which options would you pick, jou-chan?"
Akari silent for a moment to think about the question that the old woman give her.
" It's the second one right?
If you choose the first one, you will only get sick because you stand in the rain like a fool. It is better to wait inside the house and wait until the rain stop."
The old woman smile once again after she heard Akari answer.
"Yes, that's the logical answer. After all, no one want to get sick just to see a rainbow."
Akari nodded when she heard the old woman words. But, soon she feel that something is wrong.
Akari think that the quiz seem so easy if it can be solved like that.
Everyone can answer that kind of question or quiz easily and they don't even need to think hard.
" Yes, your answer is right. But, from the way things happened right now, what you did is the first one.
You are standing in the rain waiting for those rainbow that you really want to see, without care of getting sick because of it."
Akari surprised after she heard that. After she start to think again, the old woman words is right. But, it seem like she doesn't want to give up yet.
" Isn't it ok? As long as i can see those rainbow, then all my effort will be worth it."
"Yes, but, if you can see the rainbow that is.
What if after waiting for so long, the rainbow that you want to see, that you keep chasing won't show up?
Will you keep on waiting- no, keep chasing for those rainbow?"
Akari open her eyes wide when she heard that.
Now, her emotion, her will, her believe, is starting to shake.
She ask herself ' can i still wait for him? '
Akari then grit her teeth as she said
"Then, what about the second answer?
Can i just go inside my house to avoid the rain?
Right, i can just take a break and then-"
With every words she say, Akari feels something is broken inside her.
But this time, before Akari even finish her words, the old woman voice cut in.
" Does it matter?"
"W-what? But you said-"
Akari feel like an emotion inside her about to erupt. She feel really angry with this old woman.
But once again, the old woman voice can be heard as she smile while saying.
"Does it matter if the girl see the rainbow or not?"
The old woman then laughing as she saw that Akari is glaring at her as she is about to beat her up.
"Hahaha... Whether it is the first answer or the second answer, if the girl can't see the rainbow in the end, does it really matter if the girl waiting inside the rain or inside the house?
What we both know is, the girl is wasting her time by doing that.
Jou-chan, this is how life is. You can't always got what you want. No matter how much you want something, if it's not meant for you, then no matter how long you wait for it, all you get is nothing and you also wasting all your time and your youth to wait for that? I can't say that it's worth it."
The old woman stop for a seconds as she smile and look at Akari.
" Chasing for rainbow is ok as long as you can get it. After all, rainbow is beautiful and you can't denied that.
But, if you wasting all your time for chasing the rainbow, then that's not ok.
Look around, there are still many things that just as beautiful as rainbow or even more beautiful than the rainbow.
Jou-chan, open your eyes and start to look around you. While you were chasing those rainbow that you want to see, you also slowly leaving your friends behind you.
Try to stop for a moment and then look around you. Right now, you can still see them there trying to stop you.
But, if you're always blindly running towards the rainbow, they will stop chasing you as they will get sick if they are keep chasing you in the rain."
Akari can't say anything after she heard what the old woman said.
This is what she afraid the most. Losing not only the one that she love, but also those who were with her all this time, her friends.
But, she just keep ignoring that facts even though she knows it.
She know it, but doesn't want to know it at the same time. So, she keep ignore it and act like she doesn't know about it.
The fear of bring alone is really terrify her.
"Is it really that bad?"
Akari look at the old woman as she Askes that.
The old woman look at Akari face who seem to beg her to say 'No'.
"Yes, it is.
I know really well that it is really hard for you to do it. But, you have to do it.
You're bring too selfish right now. Thinking that they will still follow you to stand on the rain together.
It's like you're asking them to be sick together and i can definitely say that no one want that."
Akari seem to lost her strength when she heard that.
"I'm not saying you should forget about all those memories. Just like i said before, those memories is beautiful and you can keep it with you. But, what you need right now is to look around and tried to open your heart.
I know it will hurt the first time because i know you can't help but remember those memories when you get close to someone.
But, you don't need to afraid. At the time like this, you need to be strong. Think about your future, your friends, and all those that will be sad if you keep on running away."
The old woman stop as she pours the last bit of sake in the bottle to the two cup.
"If you feeling lost and don't know what you need to do at this point', you can talk to your friends about this.
But, do remember that they might encourage you to forget about him, about your memories.
What you need to do is to not angry, try to listen to them and just remember that it is your memories you don't need or don't have to forget about him.
He can be part of your life- no, he's already be a part of your life. But, that's it. He can't be your life!
Just remember that you need to keep on living and live a life that you won't regret in the future!
And if you're still feel lost and don't know what you need to do even after you talk to your friends, you can come here again if you want.
If you don't mind to hear this old woman talking nonsense."
Akari look at the old woman face with a grateful look on her face.
She might not just move on like that after all of this. But, she know that at least she has enough confident to try to take the first step.
After all this talks, Akari know that it will be hard for her to take that first step. But, she need to take that first step for her friends, for her future.
"Thanks."
Akari said it as she look at the sake in the cup on her hands.
She remember all the memories she has with Tojou. Those beautiful times when they laugh together. Those talks that they have as they both start their journey to Tokyo trying to chase their dreams.
"We will back here and at that time, we can go marry and live a beautiful life together here until we both grow old.
We sit on our house together as we see the sun set together with our future child.
It won't be long, as long as we can get enough to build our own ryokan(jap inn). Then we can go back and settled here."
Akari can still hear the words that Tojou said back then when they decided to go to Tokyo.
It was a simple dreams that they thought before they go to Tokyo. But, it was harder than they thought as the reality hit both of them harder than ever.
All the money that they got after they work in Tokyo for three years there wasn't even enough for them to even start to build the ryokan.
But, they still believe in their dreams- no, maybe at that time, only she still believe in those dreams.
Then the memories of Tojou leaving her came as the tears start to fall again from Akari eyes without her knowing it.
But, at this time Akari remember Yukina face who was really worry for her. The face that Yukina make the moment she know that Tojou was leaving Akari was deeply remembered by Akari.
"I-i'm sorry..."
Just the thought of Yukina start to leave her too makes Akari feel hurt so much.
"I, i realize it now. I should've listen to you back then.
Now i realize how selfish i am all this time."
Akari then wipe the tears from her eyes as she drink the sake straight.
Light Flicker from her eyes as Akari found a new confident this time.
"This time i won't run away again!
I'm not the same girl who keep standing in the rain waiting for a rainbow to come!
I will stop chasing my rainbow and start to look for something else this time!"
The old woman doesn't say anything all this time and only looking at Akari with a smile on her face.
While all of this happened, the old man, Yama-jii is just watching all of this happened like it was a show.
He doesn't say anything as he know that he will only make things more complicated of he join the talks.
"Thanks aunty, i will come back later when i found something else besides my rainbow!"
Akari then put the money on the table as she run out of the Izakaya.
"Well, i think you should've stop her as it is still raining outside."
A few minutes after Akari gone, Yama-jii voice can be heard inside the Izakaya.
"Aiiyyooo... Why didn't you stop her old man?"
The old woman looking at Yama-jii as she's about to hit him.
"Well, it was too sudden as i can't even talking."
"Sigh... Whatever, let's just hope that her house is really close."
*Clank**clank*
"Welcome!"
"Hello grandma!"
The old woman then saw a little boy enter the Izakaya with a woman followed behind him.
"Aiyoo... Little Jun, did you miss your grandma?"
"Umm..."
The little boy, Jun, nodded cutely when the old woman ask him.
Seeing how cute the little boy is, the old woman can't help but hug him.
"Hello mom and also Yama-jii."
A woman then followed the little boy inside the izakaya.
"Yui-chan, hello."
Yui, the mother of the little boy is the daughter of the old woman. She is a beautiful woman around her 30.
"Yui, where is your husband? How come you two coming here without him?"
The old woman asks Yui as she brings the little boy to sit on the chair.
"Well, he is come here. It's just that, he's going to the supermarket to buy something."
Yui then saw a sake bottle and two empty glass on the table as her expression start to change.
"Mother, are you drinking again?"
"This, no?"
The old woman lied as she looks at the empty bottle and two glasses on the table.
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's customers that just came before you got here."
Yui then look at Yama-jii.
"Yui-chan, she's right. It was customers that order that."
Yama-jii answered as he nodded his head.
The old woman seem to relieve when she heard that.
"She just help those customer drinking those sake. After all, drinking alone isn't as great as when you have someone to drink with."
"Mother!"
The old woman then glare at Yama-jii as she's about to beat the shit out of him.
"She even make the customer cry."
"Hey, I'm not! I help her ok. I teach her about how to move on!"
"No shit! You just want to act cool."
The old woman then start to walks towards Yama-jii as she's raising her hand.
"Shit!"
Suddenly the room became quiet as all the grown up eyes looking at the little boy who just say the word.
"" YAMA-JII!!""
Well, we don't need to know what happened to the old man after that.
***
Meanwhile with Akari.
'Ah, I should've waited until the rain stop before I go.'
Akari who run out of the izakaya now regretting her choice to come out of there while it was still raining.
She runs out because of the impulse or rather a sudden thought.
She never thought that it was still raining outside and now, she's running with all her might to get to her house as fast as possible.
With her hand above her head using her handbags as a cover to not let her head gets wet. Which of course, we all know that it's close to useless.
Akari wasn't even paying attention to her surrounding or where she runs to as she is already quite close to her house and her body itself remember where she is supposed to go.
And then.
*bang*
She hit something or someone.
"Are you okay? You shouldn't run in this kind of weather. You do not even bring an umbrella with you."
A voice of man can be heard as Akari look at the source of the voice.
"I'm really sorry."
Akari then saw a man around her age wearing a jacket with a hoodie and a pair of jeans crouching as he helps her stands up.
"Here take this umbrella with you."
"But-"
"It's ok, my home is close and I'm wearing a hoodie so, just take it."
The man then starts to walks away as he pulls his hoodie to cover his head.
"Thanks."
Akari said that with a low voice that maybe the man can't even hear.
Later Akari will remember this moment as her precious memories.
(END)
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A/N:
This story is supposed to come out sooner. it's just that, I didn't have time to finish it cause of my work just got really busy. I haven't edit it again and this is true for the last thousands words I think. so, there might be many error in grammar. heck I'm not even sure about the grammar in this whole story. so yeah, since again sorry about the late.
please note that whatever I write about depressions is only my own view. please do go to the doctor or the professional if you are really in those states. do try to talk about your problem with someone, after all if you don't talk about it no one will know about your problem and too much stress is not good.
well that's just my opinion.
anyway, thanks for reading this ill try to make more short story later on if I have enough time to write.