Trapped in the Past
An Unexpected Meeting

The first morning of the long semester has begun. The atmosphere of the city is not as noisy as usual, the streets are a little loose because students who usually stifle the road are still curled in the morning. The sun rises from the eastern horizon, illuminating the earth's passageways. His warmth pierced through Ruri's room curtain.

Ruri's thick blanket was forcibly pulled by Shanala, whose cold feet immediately sought warmth.

"Mama, it's a holiday. Let Ruri sleep for a while longer," the protest did not accept.

Shanala shook Ruri's shoulder as her son fell asleep again. "Mama knows that. But Kagami and Alita are downstairs, she says you have an appointment at eight in the morning."

Hearing him Ruri immediately got out of bed, struggling to find a towel. How could he forget this important day. They'll go see Riodra as planned.

After neatly wearing a light blue t-shirt with denim-colored trousers, the glasses girl ran towards the living room. Long hair that always decomposes, flying on a broomstick when the pace is increasingly spurred quickly to meet the two friends who are waiting.

"Basic kebo. He was the most excited!" sindir Alita watches Ruri panting.

Ruri fused her two palms. "I'm sorry, I forgot."

Vehicle noise is not deafening as usual. The morning breeze blowing gently swept across the face. The sky was bright as if smiling at them today. Ruri kept seeing the clouds on the way to Mirai's house. There he saw a painting of Dion's smile as a good omen.

"Today I'll meet Riodra and you'll be cured, won't you, Dion? Remember, you once said you wanted to give me something that day. I'll charge it later when you open your eyes!" muttered Ruri excitedly.

***

Mirai waited for the arrival of her friends with a feeling of anxiety. Standing in front of the gate, away from the main door of his house. However, his feelings were covered in agitation, feeling a pair of sharp eyes continue glaring at him from earlier.

When he left earlier he had indeed met Rachel, there was no fear and anxiety he showed, his legs continued to step, passing the blonde woman casually. The attitude Mirai showed made Rachel unable to hold back any longer if this continued any longer.

Mirai understands. Of the four maids at her house, not least Mbok Yuti, only Rachel looks the most hate him. She doesn't know why, but Rachel's hatred for her is more obvious than anyone.

His bad thoughts evaporated as a black sedan stopped nearby.

She smiled to find Alita saying hello. His head was poking out of the car window.

"Mirai, good morning. Have you been waiting a long time?"

Mirai shook her head, then joined them.

Before the car connected to the motion that had originally paused, Mirai first handed over a piece of paper that he had drawn a rough map to Riodra's house. Hope to worry his heart, it turns out that the paper was well received by Mr. Miko.

"Last time I went there in 5th grade. I think the atmosphere there has changed a lot, even more so I'm not sure if Riodra still lives there" Mirai said.

Alita gave him some spirit. "Don't be that pessimistic, Mirai. The change is obvious, but if he's still there or not, we'll prove it!"

"No one will turn on you. From the beginning it was all because of my ego to drag you guys up to this point" Ruri said after the car moved from position.

They live in the central part of the city and to get to the inner city again should take an hour's drive.

Various songs played. The beautiful voice of the singer echoed in the car that was so quiet. There was no conversation between them. Kagami falls asleep next to Mr. Miko, Alita is pensively observing the streets, Mirai plays games on the phone while Ruri reads novels. What a stressful bored trip.

The car that took them had entered the western city, first Pak Miko stopped at the nearest SPBU, waiting for a little gasoline.

The slowing down of the car woke Kagami up. "Have we arrived?" tanyanya.

The question he asked caught Ruri's attention. The glasses girl stopped reading the novel while wiping her sore eyes.

Mirai thought for a while. "He's an outlier and flirtatious as a boy. But behind it all, he's actually a good man. I hope you can be friends with him too."

"From the nature you've mentioned I know why he knows Dion more deeply. He must have asked a lot of strange questions, approaching Dion in many ways too!" cibir Ruri doesn't like it.

"Ehem! Some are jealous, though. I hope our meeting doesn't invite disaster." Kagami insinuates Ruri, holding back her laughter.

"I wish they could be good friends!" timpal Alita seduces Ruri.

The face of the glasses girl blushed. He looked over while carrying his long hair. "Whisper you!"

Shortly after entering the western city, the speed of the car was slowed again. Mr. Miko scanned the streets he passed carefully, aided also by Mirai's instructions they finally reached their destination.

"we're here!" Mirai cheers celebrate.

The four-wheeled vehicle carrying them stopped in front of the dark blue house. The four teenagers who were in it quickly came out, soft fresh air hit the nose until it entered the lungs. They are stunned by the atmosphere around, because in other parts of the city the trees are easier to find than in the city center. No wonder the air is so much fresher.

They glanced at the fence as an adult surrounded the dark blue house. The yard of his house was trimmed neatly, flower pots lined up along the page signifies the homeowner really likes flowers. Then most importantly, the turnstile opened, Mirai springah because a good feeling hit him.

"This fence looks newly opened. I think there's someone's house!" He looked at the faces of his friends.

"We're going straight in, is that okay?" Kagami is doubtful.

Mirai gave a definite answer. "It's okay. I'll walk in front, if it's the wrong house we can apologize in person later!"

The creaking sound of the shifting fence crept into the air, fused in their steps towards the main door of the house. Along the foot, their eyeballs continued to scan the surrounding area, especially Kagami who was suddenly struck by a sense of comfort, his doubts instantly evaporated.

"Satisfaction in the village. Simple house style, spacious courtyard filled with flowers. Then the fence was as high as an adult's chest, really an unfamiliar atmosphere" he murmured.

"Did you remember something else, Kagami?" Alita overhears the muttering of her friend.

The man with the undercut haircut smiled, the line of face he made revealed his increasingly visible good looks. "Nothing, Princess." He's cheating on Alita.

Really annoying. Ruri to the point of pretending to be blind and deaf saw their familiarity in the tense atmosphere like now. His brain kept imagining what this Riodra had. Is it very pretty? Does he also have feelings for Dion? Ruri did not stop thinking.

"Excuse me!"

Mirai knocked on the door, occasionally bringing her earlobes closer together, looking for any sounds inside the house. However, it was so quiet and empty inside.

Mirai tapped again, hardening the sound with a continuous knock. The action stopped after hearing the sound of objects falling from inside the house. Shortly after, a girl's voice replied.

"Just a second!" The owner ran quickly to the door.

Ruri frowned at the voice of the owner of the house, for some reason she felt familiar with this voice. His eyes continued to lock the white door in front of them, until the door knob turned. Then a girl came out of there.

The height of the girl is the same as Alita. Haircut like Mirai, short shoulder to shoulder plus bangs close until reaching the eyebrows. The style of dress is like a village girl, wearing a t-shirt and a long skirt. The girl was stunned to look at the guest who came unexpectedly, but she instead got similar gazes from Ruri, Alita and Kagami.

"Rooms?" Ruri did not expect.