Tokyo, Japan-(1)

Author: Tong Feifei / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Akita Medical University, Apartment 602, Block A, No. 11. The computer speaker was playing Utada Hikaru's "Natural." A messy ashtray filled with Mild Seven. Several CDs. A worn-out, dog-eared professional guidebook. An open copy of "Death Note." The alarm rang. "Ugh, shut up!" Kita lifted his head from under the blanket without opening his eyes, slapped his left hand out. It rang again. This time, he his right hand with more force. "Pah!" "Huh? Why is it soft?" "Damn it!" Kita opened his eyes to see Yoichi covering his face and crying. "How did you get onto my bed?" "I was afraid you wouldn't wake up! Boss, you're going to SIM Company today! The meeting is at 9 a.m." 9 a.m.? SIM Company? Kita suddenly sat up. Yes, SIM was a well-known internet service provider interested in discussing the development of the gu-ga forum, which was crucial to their future. Checking his Casio-G300, 8:20—luckily, he had time. Kita grabbed a T-shirt and pulled it over his head. Yoichi rushed over and blocked him: "You can't dress casually today." "Okay, okay, dress like you're going on a date." Kita yawned and dug a cream-colored round-neck shirt and gray corduroy pants out of the closet. "Awesome." Standing in front of the mirror, he started to admire himself again. "Your beard" Yoichi leaned against the bed, shaking his head as he watched. "You have a Philips, right? Five minutes to fix it." Kita started fiddling with it, and Yoichi smirked. "Let's go!" He slung his signature large bag over his shoulder and made a silly face before heading out the door. Dong dong dong dong downstairs, dong dong dong dong, he rushed back in, pulled back the blanket, flipped through the drawers, and finally found the folder in a pile of books. "God, please save my business plan, my heart, my future, my "love." Downstairs, Kita realized the sky was terrifyingly overcast. He sprinted through the beech forest, but the rain got heavier, and he started running with his large bag. The taxis were unusually busy today; they were all full. Finally, one came, but it was snatched by a young lady behind him. "Never mind, I won't compete with the girls." But as the taxi drove away, the wheels splashed a wave of water that splattered all over his white shirt. Kita watched the mud stains expressionlessly, thinking, "Thank goodness it's not a date." Finally, an empty taxi arrived. Before it could stop, Kita dove in with ninja-like speed. Just as he was about to tell the driver his destination, the door swung open again, and a white figure swayed in, sitting next to him. Kita didn't react at first, only hearing a girl's voice: "Please take me to Shell Beach. The faster, the better." "No, no, you're taking me to Suki Street, No. 96, SIM Group headquarters." He finally realized she was trying to steal his taxi! The driver glanced at them: "Which way are you going? There are so many people looking for taxis. If you're not getting in, please get out." "Listen to me! Shell Bay!" "I got in first; I'm going to Suki Street!" "How about this? You're going in one direction, and I'll go the other. We'll meet at the intersection." The driver started the engine. The heavy rain hammered the roof like drumsticks, making everyone's heads buzz. "Ugh, you idiot! I'm in a hurry!" The girl turned to face him, glaring. Kita shifted slightly inward, feeling a bit embarrassed. Honestly, she was really pretty. Long chestnut hair cascaded down a pure white chiffon dress. Her long, curled lashes blinked like a doll's, and her amber eyes sparkled with a certain charm. A pair of cute dimples adorned the sides of her plump red lips. 20 cm? 15 cm? He had never been this close to a beauty before! But beauty or not, his rights had to be defended. "I got in first, so naturally, I decide. This is about my future today!" "But this is about my life." She said calmly and looked out the window without speaking. Suddenly, the car stopped. The radio was filled with news of traffic disruptions. The driver shook his head: "Look at the overpass ahead. It's full of water, and several cars have stalled. You'll have to walk." As they were about to separate, Kita glanced back reluctantly and suddenly saw a motorcycle speeding toward the side of the road. The girl didn't notice it! He rushed over and pulled her behind him. The motorcycle splashed a huge wave right past Kita! His folder also fell into the water! He was so lucky! The girl sighed in relief. She gave Kita a small smile, her hair soaked. "Thank you." Then she took a closer look and realized he was actually quite charming. Tall, his long hair fell over his broad shoulders. His eyes were deep and mysterious, his nose was sharp, his lips had a distinct shape, and his European-style jawline was cool. "Oh no!" Kita finally realized, looking dejected. "My business plan is ruined!" He grabbed the cross necklace around his neck: "God, what's going on?" She froze for a moment, her eyes softening: "If this is fate, then go with me to the beach." His hand was pulled by her, and a warm, soft feeling spread through his fingertips and palm. Kita felt strange—how had she suddenly become so gentle? Shell Bay was southeast of Tokyo. The bay curved beautifully like a shell's edge. On clear days, the fine sand was transparent, the water crystal clear, with coral reefs and white-faced gulls everywhere, making it breathtaking. Even on a stormy day, the misty white haze added a strange beauty to the beach. As they got closer to the sea, the rain still poured, the coastline blurred in a deep gray, and the waves were much bigger than usual. Their hair danced in the wind. "Can you draw?" she suddenly asked. "I'm a huge anime fan!" She was silent but then smiled. How cute! Those dimples were sweet and adorable. Kita felt like he'd seen such a smile somewhere before, but he couldn't remember. They stepped onto the beach. "No, it's just a illusion," the girl suddenly murmured and ran into the deeper water. The water flowed over her toes, ankles, calves, and knees. She stumbled, her arms shaking like an injured little bird. Kita chased after her, shouting: "Wait for me, it's dangerous!" "We didn't say we were going swimming!" A wave hit, and she suddenly disappeared. "Hey! Don't mess with me, I'm serious!" Kita panicked and rushed into the deep water, swimming while shouting. No answer, no trace. He felt like he was falling into hell. "Kita, how could you not take care of a little girl? You have to find her!" He dived into the water, but it was too dark to see anything. He surfaced, gasping for air, and dived again, stirring the water blindly with his hands like an angry octopus, murmuring, "She's fine, she's okay." Kita, your brother is gone. No one is left to rely on! Die quickly! The water swayed, and her body felt light, but her chest hurt badly. The sound of rushing water filled her ears, bubbles rising and exploding one after another. Just hold on a little longer, and you'll see your brother again. And your mother... she had always imagined the shape of death. Now, it was slowly taking form, but why was the process so long? Her mind was filled with chaotic flowers. She lay among them, drifting off to sleep in the scent. Suddenly, a kangaroo jumped out and punched her in the face. "Oof, it hurts! Stop it!" She struggled to open her eyes and found a boy kissing her! "Pah!" A hard slap landed on Kita's face. "I'm in the water! How am I on the beach? Is it...?" Chi suddenly realized she had blamed him. She tried to sit up but felt nauseous, spitting out seawater and coughing uncontrollably. Kita came over to help her, and Chi grabbed his arm: "I was wrong. Sorry! For the places that hurt, I'll give you love pills next time! >_^" "Do you know how heavy you are? I grabbed your arm, lifted your back—it's like running fifty laps in the city square." Kita still felt a bit wronged. "What's your name?" Chi interrupted gently. "Kita." "I'm Chi, from Chiba Island, Chi." "Chi, why did you jump into the sea?" "The waves were too big—I just lost my balance!" "I nearly died! You owe me!" The sky had begun to clear slightly, the waves were gentler, and white-faced gulls flew past their silhouettes. A few rays of sunlight, warm and gentle, fell on the two of them from the depths of the clouds. They sat on the rocks, chatting as if they had known each other for a long time. "Do you have a pen? Write something for me as a souvenir." Chi shook Kita's arm. He dug a pen and a piece of notebook paper out of his bag and wrote his name and number. Should he include his address too? Websites and email addresses were a must. Chi took the note seriously. Then she took off a ring from her little finger on her left hand: "This will help you find me." They got into a taxi on the coastal highway and split up in different directions. Kita's mind was blank. The radio played Hiromi Kawabe's "Miracles," and he stared at the small ring in his palm, still unable to believe everything that had happened that day. P4-9