Trapped between the sun from above and its reflection off the asphalt, we headed down the road. I looked up at a vapor trail stretched across the sky, wondering how far I’d have to go to pass under it. Before I knew it, we were at the train station.
“My place might be outside the range of your pass. It’s not that far, though…”
“Oh, don’t worry about it.”
“I haven’t said where we’re going! Do you have the fare?”
“It shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve got a bit extra charged to my IC card, and I’ve got my wallet with me.”
“Oh, okay. Then we’re good to go!”
We tapped our IC cards and passed through the gates.
The train pulled in as we got to the platform, so we hopped aboard and took a ride. At the terminal station, we changed trains and rode for a little longer.
I let Kurumi lead the way. We were on an unfamiliar train on an unfamiliar line. I knew where we were going, but it felt like a journey without a destination. It was kind of fun—it gave me a weird high, like I was on an adventure.
It looked like Kurumi was even more worked up than I was. She was sitting next to me, grinning from ear to ear.
“What a rush! It’s like we’re eloping!” she said.
“Eloping? That’s going a little far, don’t you think?”
“Is it? I thought it was very fitting. That’s how I’m feeling, anyway.”
She leaned against my shoulder. Then, without lifting her head, she reached back and yanked out her hairpins, freeing her gray underlayer. I had no reason to push her away, so I let her stay there as I stared vacantly out the windows across from us.
Before I knew it, we were passing through rice paddies on both sides. The occasional houses had tile roofs. I could see mountains against the blue in the distance. It was your classic countryside view. Nothing but deep green, dazzling blue, and clear air. It almost hurt my eyes.
With the two of us on board, the train chugged on through the maddeningly vivid summer scenery. There was hardly anyone around, both inside the train and out, and no one like us.
She’s right. Right now, we’re doing exactly want we want, how we want, with no one to stop us.
I wasn’t sure if that qualified as “eloping,” but it had a certain illicit thrill.
When we finally got off, we were at an unmanned station so run-down, it looked ready to collapse. The platform opened right onto the fields. The train pulled out behind us, leaving only quiet countryside behind—nothing but woods and fields.
“You live all the way out here, Kurumi? I had no idea.”
“No, I live a bit closer to Tokyo, in a normal neighborhood.”
“Huh? What do you mean? I thought we were going to your place.”
She flashed me a grin but offered no explanation.
What, is she planning to keep everything secret until we get there? I’m dying here!
I’d just have to wait and see. I had no clue what sort of surprise she had planned, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t actually going to kill me. Then again, if it was Kurumi, maybe I wouldn’t mind too much.
We walked through the countryside for twenty minutes, chatting. Eventually, we turned onto a narrow side street, and she said, “We’re here.”
The house was even older than the ones we’d passed on the way there. It had a tile roof and sliding screens. It was very traditional, almost nostalgic.
“You live here?” I asked.
“No. It’s an old café run by a relative.”
“Oh, yeah? I thought it looked pretty clean. So we’re here for tea?”
“Uh, not quite. Let’s head inside.”
Kurumi pulled out a key and unlocked the door. It slid open with a rattle.
We took our shoes off and stepped in, and she revealed the whole story.
“I’m actually staying here alone—just for summer vacation. My aunt said, ‘It’s hot, and we never get customers, so I’m closing up the shop’ and lent it to me.”
Aha. So that’s what she meant when she said we’d be all alone.
“I knew things weren’t adding up. I thought you were talking about your family home.”
“Yeah. Your confusion was too cute, so I wanted to keep your head spinning.”
She stuck out her tongue. She was far cuter than I was, so I felt inclined to forgive her.
Honestly, I was relieved not to be at her actual house. If I met her parents and had to explain our relationship, I wasn’t sure I could.
I couldn’t tell them I was her accomplice, but I couldn’t pretend to be her boyfriend, either. And yet the idea of acting like we were just friends or that she was just my underclassman got under my skin, for some reason…
I wasn’t processing my own feelings properly, and I wasn’t sure even Kurumi would get me on this one.
Making sure my shoes were lined up neatly, I stepped into the old house.
There were white sliding doors all down the hall. Kurumi opened one, revealing a spacious living room with a wooden floor.
The place was more like a typical café than I’d imagined. The tables and chairs had a modern warmth to them. There were three tables for two, and several seats at the bar by the kitchen. The place could accommodate a decent number of customers.
I assumed it had been remodeled. It held on to the charm of an old house but still managed to look stylish.