Fade in:
NEW YORK CITY - 5 AM
AKIRA(narration): When I came to America, I was only running away. But before I realized it those kids had already become a part of my life, when I look back we were all running from something. They saved me as much as I saved them, and Kirameki had unknowingly become a place of refuge for us.
EXT - KIRAMEKI
[CU] A raindrop rolls down the side of a red brick building, creating a rainbow as the sun shines.
The camera zooms out from the raindrop and focuses on a small bricked pub, still in the afterglow of the rainstorm. On a glossy plaque reads the words Kirameki.
The bell above the door rings as a man in his mid-twenties opens the door, his black hair slicked back loosely as stubble dots his chin.
He hangs up a wooden sign engraved with the words open. As he turns to head back inside the name AKIRA is seen on his weathered apron.
INT - KIRAMEKI
The inside is cozy and dimly lit by two fireplaces. Thick red candles are lit in the middle of wooden tables and the place has a woozy feel.
Akira leisurely moves as he pours hot coffee into a bronze mug. Close up as he inhales deeply before taking a sip and sighing contentedly against the counter.
He throws his head back and lets out a sound between a sigh and a moan.
AKIRA(sleepily): Good coffee.
Akira gulps down the rest of the coffee in the mug. He glances at the wooden clock on the wall opposite him and bites the rim of his cup.
AKIRA: They should be coming anytime now..
FADE TO: INT - STREET 54 - APARTMENT
The scene starts out pitch black, face-paced breathing resounding faintly in the background. Extreme close up of a brown, watery eye.
Reflected in the eye is a man on his knees, holding a woman's hands desperately. The woman's blond curls bounce as she pries his hands off hers.
The eye shivers and blinks. The woman in the reflection walks away disdainfully, leaving the man trembling on his knees. The man holds the woman's dress and says something but it's lost in the background, the eye blinks twice as the breathing accelerates.
The eye blinks again and the camera shifts out from behind a little boy's head. The little boy is facing the man who is still on his knees, staring at the empty space where the woman used to be.
The man turns to look at the boy, his eyes bloodshot, lips trembling.
MAN: CAMERON… Your mother… I…
But the boy runs out, not listening to what his father has to say.
DISSOLVE TO: INT - HOUSE - TRACE'S ROOM.
Medium shot of a girl sitting on her bed in a dimly lit room. She wraps her arms around her knees and her long ginger hair drift to her feet.
She stares at a small stuffed animal a few feet away from her. Close up of the round, blank eyes of the stuffed animal.
The blank eyes suddenly take on a wicked gleam and curve into crescents, seemingly laughing. The girl pales and covers her eyes with her hands.
Her lips tremble but she does not remove her hands. Whispers fervently resound in the background. Trace's hands start to tremble and she whimpers. She flinches as a loud knock intrudes.
GIRL: Trace? Are you awake?
Trace kicks off the stuffed animal before removing her hands. Her eyelashes flutter as she stares at the door, anger in her eyes.
TRACE: … I'm awake.
GIRL: Can I borrow your dress tomorrow? You know, the one that you got for Christmas.
TRACE(quietly): No.
GIRL: Wha-
Trace throws her hairbrush at the door and the girl yelps loudly.
The girl whimpers but she does not leave. Trace throws her mirror, and it shatters against the door. The girl screams and footsteps going away from the door can be heard.
[CU] Trace smiles and lays back down with a 'poof'. Trace tilts her head to the right and the camera follows her gaze to a big window covered thickly by a curtain.
Streams of sunlight shine through the cracks in the curtain, the camera follows the trail of light as it lands on Trace's face. She has a look of realization and shock fills her eyes.
TRACE:I'm late.
FADE TO: INT - KIRAMEKI
AKIRA(drying cups): Come to do your homework again boy?
The camera follows as a small boy too young for this establishment trots over to the counter and laboriously plops himself in front of Akira.
He doesn't say anything and folds his hands in front of himself seriously, as if waiting for Akira to do something.
[Mid shot] Akira pauses and stifles a smile before receiving Cameron in a overly pretentious manner.
AKIRA: Ahem. To what honor do I have to be able to receive such a esteemed guest today?
CAMERON(aloof): Nothing. Just… the usual.
Akira almost laughs but he holds it in and pours some warm milk with whipped cream and sprinkles. He presents it to Cameron with a wink.
AKIRA: Ja Jan~ Meshiagare. It's on the house today.
(Ja Jan is a phrase similar to Ta Da and meshiagare is like saying please enjoy in Japanese).
Close up as Cameron shows a smile of approval and his legs swing back and forth.
[Medium Shot] Akira hears the bells jangle against each other and focuses his attention on the new customer. But this new arrival was no stranger as she too plopped down by Cameron and looked expectantly at Akira.
AKIRA(amused): Trace… You'll get scolded if you come here too much ya know?
TRACE: Like I care, the bullshit they say means nothing to me. Hurry, give me the usual.
Trace places a $100 bill on the counter casually and smiles. Cameron slurps his milk loudly and stares wide eyed at Trace.
Akira chuckles and goes to the back to retrieve something, clearly foreseeing this situation.
[CU] Cameron glances in Akira's direction several times before staring at Trace.
CAMERON(quietly): Is cursing fun?
TRACE: Why don't you try it? It's no big deal.
CAMERON: Okay… Fuh… F-Fun.
Cameron looks helplessly at Trace and slurps his milk loudly again.
CAMERON: My pops said that if I ever curse I'll be taken by a very scary man and I'd never see mum or pops again. Were you taken away?
[CU] Trace tenses and hesitates. She notices Cameron's round and earnest eyes and caved.
TRACE: Yeah.
The camera shifts as Akira walks in and places a fragrant yellowish drink in front of Trace. Trace looks incredibly wary and looks at the drink then at Akira.
She laughs awkwardly.
TRACE: Is this? It's not right?
AKIRA(irritated): No. It's umeshu. I ran out of what you wanted but this is ten times better, you can't get this stuff in America as good as you do here.
Trace crinkles her eyes and smiles insincerely.
TRACE: Perhaps.
She grimaces and takes a sip. She looks up at Akira.
TRACE(surprised): …Not bad…
Akira grins and gets on eye level with the kids.
AKIRA: You guys should leave soon, I can't babysit you guys all the time. I know there's problems at home but that isn't an excuse to come to my place.
TRACE: Hypocrite.
Akira scratches his head awkwardly and laughs.
AKIRA: Maa, you have a point.
CAMERON: …I think my mum isn't coming back anymore…
Trace and Akira stare at Cameron.
[CU] Cameron's wet brown eyes stared back.
CAMERON: Can I stay here instead?
Akira sighs and pats Cameron's head silently.
AKIRA(quietly): I don't wanna be misunderstood as a kidnapper okay? You should head home before rush hour.
The camera is positioned behind Cameron and Trace. Cameron sulks and his head drops.
TRACE: Look what you did. You're not even gonna apologize?
Trace's voice fades to the background as the camera is transitioned to Akira's point of view. The colors change to black and white.
AKIRA(narration): A pity party of sorts. Licking each others wounds. Time stops in Kirameki, like none of our problems exist. This is how we pass our days, protecting each other from ourselves, from others.
The color and sounds return as Trace touches Akira's arm.
TRACE: Hey, are you coming?
AKIRA: What?
CAMERON: We're playing darts.
AKIRA: That again? Planning to use apples too?
TRACE: Yea, I love the sound it makes when I hit it.
AKIRA: Yabai, I've brought danger into my home.
(Yabai means oh yikes in Japanese).
Trace laughs and pulls Cameron to the dart area. Akira smiles sheepishly and rubs the back of his neck.
Fade out.
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Hello! If you've read this far and finished then, thank you. I wrote this in high school and just felt like sharing it for fun.