Wednesday morning dawned as usual, with the sun streaming through my window and the familiar buzz of the city awakening. I got ready for work, my thoughts lingering on the wonderful day spent with Akari at Dreamland Amusement Park. The connection between us felt stronger than ever, and I was eager to see her again today.
When I arrived at the office, I noticed immediately that Akari's desk was empty. A pang of worry hit me as I settled into my cubicle. She hadn't mentioned anything about being absent today.
I pulled out my phone and typed a quick message. *Hey Akari, are you okay? I noticed you're not at work today. Let me know if you need anything.*
The morning dragged on, each hour seeming to stretch into an eternity. I found it hard to concentrate, my thoughts constantly drifting back to Akari. By lunchtime, I still hadn't received a response, and my worry intensified.
Hirose noticed my distracted state. "Hey, Kei, you seem off today. Everything alright?"
I sighed. "Yeah, just a bit worried about Akari. She's not here today, and she hasn't replied to my text."
"Maybe she just needed a day off," Hirose suggested. "Don't stress too much. I'm sure she's fine."
I nodded, trying to take his advice to heart. But as the day wore on, my concern only grew. It wasn't like Akari to be out of touch.
Finally, as the workday came to an end, my phone buzzed with a message. I grabbed it eagerly, relief flooding through me when I saw Akari's name.
*Sorry for the worry, Kei. Can you meet me in Akihabara this evening?*
Without hesitation, I replied, *Of course. I'll be there as soon as I can.*
I quickly packed up my things and headed to the train station. The ride to Akihabara was filled with a mixture of relief and curiosity. Why did she want to meet there?
Akihabara, the vibrant heart of Tokyo's otaku culture, was buzzing with its usual energy as I arrived. Neon lights flickered in the early evening, and the streets were crowded with people, each immersed in their own world of anime, manga, and technology.
I spotted Akari near one of the iconic electronics stores, looking as beautiful as ever. She wore a casual yet stylish outfit—jeans, a light sweater, and her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. When she saw me, her face lit up with a smile that chased away all my earlier worries.
"Kei, thanks for coming," she said, her voice a mix of relief and warmth.
"Of course. I was worried about you," I admitted. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine," she reassured me. "I just needed a day to clear my head, and I thought Akihabara would be the perfect place."
We started walking through the bustling streets, the familiar sights and sounds bringing back a flood of childhood memories.
"Do you remember the first time we came here together?" Akari asked, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia.
"How could I forget?" I replied, smiling. "We were so excited, running around and exploring all the stores. I think we spent hours in that one arcade."
"Yes! And you won that stuffed animal for me from the claw machine," she added, laughing. "I still have it, you know."
"Really?" I said, surprised and touched. "I can't believe you kept it all these years."
"Of course. It was a special day," she said softly, her eyes meeting mine.
We continued to wander through the maze of shops and arcades, reminiscing about our childhood adventures. Every corner seemed to hold a memory, each one more precious than the last. It was amazing how much had changed, yet how much had stayed the same.
At one point, we stopped at a small café that we used to visit. It had undergone some renovations but still held the charm we remembered. We ordered drinks and sat by the window, watching the lively street scene outside.
"I missed this," Akari said, stirring her coffee. "Coming here with you, reliving our childhood memories. It feels like no time has passed."
"I missed it too," I admitted. "And I'm glad we're making new memories now."
We talked for hours, losing track of time as we shared stories, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company. It felt so natural, so right, to be there with her.
As the evening wore on, we decided to head back to the train station. The streets were still bustling, but there was a comfortable silence between us as we walked.
"That's the wrong way, the station's up ahead. Why are you walking over the railway crossing?" I asked as she crossed the tracks.
A sight too familiar. A memory too traumatic. A promise too significant to have forgotten.
*Ding, ding, ding!*
The gate arms closed down, signalling an approaching train.
A dangerous feeling of Déjà vu starting to devour me whole.
"This time…" she shouted. "…I'll make sure you hear me."
My body had frozen up again. Just like back then. My pathetic and powerless self.
"She was right. I really hadn't changed a single back. Not then, not now." I thought, tears streaming down my face.
"SUZUKI KEI!" Akira desperately screamed. "I…"
"AKIYAMA AKIRA!" I screamed back. "Will…" I ducked under the guard arm and jumped across the crossing to the other side. "…you marry me?"
I didn't care anymore if that train came or if I died, I never did care about anything like that in the first place, so why had I been when I finally found something… someone who I truly cared about. It was so simple as I embraced Akira tightly.
*Ding, ding, ding*
Akari's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Her fingers gripped my back tightly. Then, tears welled up in her eyes, and she smiled, a smile so beautiful it took my breath away. "Of course I'll marry you, I really love you, I always have."
At that moment, the train finally rushed past us sending gales of wind against us as I replied, "I really love you too Akira."
However, in that moment God had planned a tragic twist of fate for us as Akira's body started to glow up in a fragmented state and become ethereal as she cried. "Thank you, Kei, for everything, I really do love you so much."
"What's going on?!? WHAT'S HAPPENING?!?! AKIRA!" I cried desperately, looking for answers that weren't there as Akira kissed me passionately, yet ever so weakly.
The last trace of the passing train had disappeared into the night and once again, so did Akira.