Unexpected Friends
Chapters 36. Redemptions

"Flights to Hokkaido, Japan will depart in 15 minutes."

The clock is still showing at 06:45, but the airport is crowded with people who will meet and also separate. And separation is the hardest thing so that family or friends have to make the last words memorable. Because they won't know when they'll meet again anytime soon.

"Let me know if you've arrived. Okay, Akiko?" Violet let go. Today she looks beautiful in a peach dress wrapped in a white coat. His smoky blue jeans are similar to the ones Steve wears. His shoulder hair was neatly combed and the sunlight illuminated his brownish hair so that Violet was like in a Polaroid photo.

Unlike Steve who looks sober with his flagship black T-shirt because he did not have time to dress up like Violet. Or rather, lazy. At least Steve is not lazy to drive them to the airport with his car.

In Akiko's heart thought maybe this was Alice's feeling when she parted ways with him.

Mournfully. But he kept going and didn't look back. Although Alice's plane was not accompanied by Elizabeth from her mother's description when they passed her on the way home from the airport. At that time Akiko felt guilty because Alice must be lonely.

"alright. Steve, Violet, I'm going first." Akiko replies before she pulls her suitcase towards the check counter. From a distance Steve shouted, "Be careful Akiko!" Waving his hand.

As Akiko looked back, she put on a knotty smile by waving her hands slowly. "Yes." Yeah."

***

On the plane, Akiko looked for a seat with the same number as the ticket until she finally found a bench near the window, the left side of the plane, number 3 from where the pilot was. Since the bench next to her was empty, Akiko easily entered it.

"The plane will take off in 5 minutes. Passengers are expected to sit on their own lap and abide by the rules of the aircraft for mutual comfort and safety during the flight."

The pilot's voice from the speaker Akiko heard reminded her of the first experience of boarding the plane. He was on holiday in England for winning a lottery prize. And it was unexpected that he would meet his happy life there. Have a good job with a high salary and a wonderful family. Everything is like a dream.

But dreams can also be lost in an instant if awakened.

"Excuse me. Is this chair empty?" That speech disperse Akiko's daydream. Reflexes he looked toward the source of the voice on the right and found a woman his age waiting outside the row of seats. Her skin is white and her hair is curly black brown. His light blue shirt is in harmony with the Abyss Green color jeans he wears. In the left hand there is a leather bag made by a famous brand. "Yes, go ahead." Akiko was nervous.

"First time on a plane?" This woman opened their conversation with a random topic. Since this was not Akiko's first experience, then she replied politely, "Not really."

"Well! You look like a stranger. Is Chinese?"

"I'm Japanese."

Akiko felt a little disturbed because this woman was quite noisy. But he tried to keep smiling and reply to their conversation well. "Haaa... So you want to go home, right?" This woman asked the obvious. Akiko answered "Yes." Briefest.

Huh...

Akiko heard the woman next to him breathing softly. As she looked up, the woman looked up at the sky for a moment, then down again. Then suddenly I said, "I don't like being home. My family is too stressful for my life. So I'd better just 'go', but somehow I feel guilty."

One of his arms was raised to cover his eyes. His breathing was heavy and his face slightly shriveled. With a sigh the woman continued,

"Am I wrong, Miss?"

Missy? Akiko was surprised because the woman called her Miss which means Miss when she was married. But Akiko will ignore them so that their conversation doesn't get more complicated. Moreover, this woman seemed to be depressed.

"I have no right to say that. But we also need time to 'rest' for a while, right? I'm sure you don't completely hate them." Because of Akiko's words, this woman raised next to her arm that covered both eyes and looked at Akiko sayu.

Then a small smile formed on his face. "Thank you, Miss." His words looked sincere as his eyes were almost glazed over, yet there was no intention to cry.

Akiko, who saw this, gave a small nod, then replied, "It's okay."

"The plane has taken off."

💮🗾💮

July 15, 2013

After about 15 hours and 35 minutes in the air, Akiko finally managed to come to Japan again at 06.00 in the morning.

Maybe the UK is already night due to the time difference of the Western and Eastern world. So Akiko will call Violet or Steve later when they wake up in the afternoon Japanese time.

After retrieving his luggage from the baggage claim room at the passenger arrival area, he walked in the New Chitose Airport lobby to the exit. Now Akiko is waiting for the airport exit to meet her brother who is coming to pick her up.

From a distance, Akiko saw a woman approaching her by waving her hand while holding a bag to her left. Akiko recognized him immediately and said, "Konniti ha, Oni-chan, Hana-san."

"Konniti ha, Akiko - chan." They bow to each other as a sign of official respect. Perhaps because time had passed long enough, they became awkward with each other and ended up being formal for starters. Then Hana made small talk. "A long time ago we met again. Why don't you call me again?"

But not unexpectedly Akiko even insinuated it. "Why? Isn't it Hana-san who didn't answer my phone?" Ketus. Akiko recalled the last conversation they had made a few months ago lasted less than 1 minute before Hana turned off the connection unilaterally because she was busy attending daily meetings.

"Hana-San-"

"Ssht, I'll call you later. I'm in a meeting. Piips..."

Just thinking about it Akiko became frustrated.

Hana apologizes many times in front of Akiko while explaining all the reasons. From busy working, helping his father keep the store, doing work at home, to forgetting to call. "Gomae, gumae. But I've been busy lately. Working at the Private Company requires extra energy, then I have to help Otau-san, at home is still complicated to take care of this - it is because you are not there until I forget to call you. Hehe."

Hana laughed flatly to melt the atmosphere. Fortunately Akiko was quick to understand and forget all Hana's mistakes, if not because Akiko was in a hurry. "alright. Let's go home." Akiko said as she walked out the airport door.

Hana followed from behind while running small until she could align her distance with Akiko. "Don't hurry Akiko!" He's dead in the middle of the road.

Their destination now is to the terminal to catch a bus to Ishikari Subprefecture¹, where their home is located. Alice School is located in Sapporo Prefecture.

Ishikari is a Subprefecture, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, located in the western part of the island. Almost close to Sapporo if using transportation such as trains or buses. That's why Akiko strongly entrusts Alice to her family in Ishikari as the Guardian if there is any business regarding school and others. Especially Hana as Aunt Alice and her closest relatives.

The sunlight still refused to show itself. But the combination of blue and white gradient colors makes the sky look clear with morning clouds that look like cotton.

The paved roads around them do not inhibit the growth of weeds and some small, light-colored flowers on every sidewalk. They blend perfectly in the buildings close to the road and give a distinctive impression.

Although there are many changes in some corners such as the emergence of several new stores, the loss of old facilities, and the environment that is undergoing renewal, Akiko still recognizes the path that she usually goes through with friends when returning to school. And the terminal was now in front of his eyes. Even though it has undergone a change.

"Much has changed as long as I'm not around?" Akiko said in pleasantries. Then Hana replied with a nod. "Hi! I'll take you around sometime. I know a good restaurant near here." Hana nudged Akiko's shoulder while blinking her eyes. While his sister even showed an expression of disgust with a small ringing. "Ish...." Dengus Akiko's.

Suddenly they stared at each other sharply for a second in front of the terminal entrance. Then hold both corners of their lips that rise by themselves. Then because they couldn't stand it, they laughed. "Gahaha!" Their laughter broke as they went inside and embraced each other warmly. "I miss you, Akiko." Hana's words made Akiko tighten her embrace even more.

And suddenly let go because now there's a lot of people looking at them around. "Haha, let's go to the counter to get a ticket." Akiko said awkwardly. Then Hana immediately replied, "During her stay in England her language became mixed." Candaan Hana was dealt a slow blow by Akiko many times.

After that, they saw several bus lines to several different destinations covering all the surrounding areas of Hokkaido island. Hana's eyes are fixed on the path to Ishikari so that Akiko can rest and put her belongings, but her sister instead chooses the path to Sapporo directly.

They argued in the waiting room about their different decisions. "Sik, you just arrived. Let's go to the house first." It was Hana who made Akiko think back. There was no way she would visit Alice while carrying a large suitcase in her dorm. Besides, maybe now Alice is preparing to learn, Inner Akiko.

Eventually he relented and let Hana choose their bus destination. After a few minutes of waiting for Akiko on the terminal bench, Hana finally returned with two bus tickets in her hand. "Come on." It was Hana who made Akiko stand up again. Then they went to the new bus.

🚃🎡🚃

After getting off the bus, Hana and Akiko arrive at Ishikari. Then continue the journey a few kilometers through the shops, until they can see a house that looks small in a dense housing complex.

Wood dominates the basic materials of the house. The front yard measures about 2 meters with an iron fence and concrete beams around it. The red post box is on the left side of the iron fence and has not been filled.

The front of the house looks simple with doors made of bamboo, 2 windows that are not filled with glass but a kind of oil paper, and some plants grow well in the yard. The greenery of the branches and the diverse colors of the flowers such as welcoming the arrival of Akiko and Hana with a friendly.

As they walked into the house and said their greetings, it was unexpected that the elderly couple had been waiting in front of the entrance while saying, "You Koso(Welcome)!" Concurrently.

Akiko was surprised by the celebration of her sudden return so she widened in shock while covering her mouth with one hand in disbelief.

"Welcome back, son." Akiko's mother hugged her warmly as an outlet for her longing. "Okaa-san..." Akiko could speak again because she thought they had forgotten her. In the hug his mother Akiko returned his embrace with a slight smile.

"Akiko-Chan, my daughter is home." Akiko heard the heavy hoarse voice coming from her father. As he tried to find the figure of the man, Gin Yamada was already in front of him. "How are you doing, son?" Soft question.

Suddenly Akiko pouted and frowned both of her eyebrows, "Otau-san never said she could use a cell phone." Gin smiled clumsily as he wanted to respond to Akiko, then scratched his groggy neck. "Ah, yes yes sorry. I also just learned a little." Gin replied awkwardly.

The Yamada family finally reunited. This small reunion starts from Akiko who is welcome to clean her suitcase in her old room with Hana. After that they had a light conversation about each day in the living room while waiting for Ayako Yamada-Mother Akiko-finished cooking.

Hana begins with a topic about her new job that Akiko has not known so she makes a nod of understanding and praises Hana. "Eh? Really true?! Congratulations Oni-chan, I'm so happy!" Akiko's words made Hana blush, then replied, "Haha, thank you Akiko."

Then Gin continued with the topic of his increased grocery store revenue. Of course Hana and Akiko who did not understand the topic just listened and nodded small because they did not want to hurt old Gin.

Then Akiko tries to ask about Alice in hopes of doing well. "Any, Alice! Is the school good?" Ask. Suddenly Hana who was gulping water choked then coughed several times so that made her father and sister worried. But Hana's first words when she recovered even made Akiko become chaotic when she heard it. "M-Matte, is Alice already in Japan?"

Spontaneously Akiko screamed, "Don't joke! I've been telling you all day." Akiko's bluff made the surroundings come as a surprise. Hana swore not to meet Alice that day, even she waited for several hours in the airport until night. There was no sign of Alice.

"Sorry to you." Hana does not know what to say especially because of her mistake. But Akiko, who had just come to her senses, denied, "No, no..." Which made Hana astonished.

It's not without reason, Akiko just remembered that she told Alice to go straight to her school while they were having breakfast. Hana asks for help to pick up Alice. Baka, baka... Akiko in the heart.

Gin who was carried away stood up and spontaneously said, "Come to the police station!" In a hurry, Gin walks into her room to change clothes even though Akiko has already told her. "Outau-san! No, I told my son to go straight to school." Akiko said no less panicked because of the wrong action.

Of course Akiko's previous remark made everyone panic, instantly furious at him. Especially Hana who felt being played with, "Huh, what?! I skipped work to wait for a child who was already at his school?!!" Shouted Hana annoyed. Then the brothers fight each other until Gin comes back to break them up with a jacket that is not properly attached.

"Already, Already! Akiko, if you act think first. You're troubling your brother." While tidying up her jacket, Gin grumbled at Akiko who was now bowed in shame. His heart seemed to be pierced deeply, but Akiko still received it with a spacious chest. Not only Akiko, Hana was also reviled for her actions to start a fight by grabbing Akiko's hair.

Finally they were asked to forgive with a feeling of constancy rather than face Gin's constant nagging.

"I'm sorry."

"Yes, I'm sorry too."

Said Akiko and Hana consecutively who was not really intent.

Ring, Ring....

Suddenly the sound of the house phone rings. Spontaneously, Hana who usually picked up the phone stood up and walked towards it. When he was close to the cable phone, Hana took the handle and replied, "Moshi, moshi. With Yamada's residence."

Then a voice from across replies, "Good Morning, -ehem-Is that right with Hana Yamada?" Hana slumped because her name was called. Moreover, the one who called seemed to be the male from his heavy vocals and strangely the dialect he used was unlike the original Japanese. More like an outsider.

But Hana tries to stay calm and tries to ask questions with a search about the identity of this mysterious caller. "Yes, who is this with?"

There was no reply from across the street to answer his question. Then suddenly there was a glitch sound and there seemed to be a short conversation going on. Although very slow, Hana could hear, and,

"Here you go kid."

"Thank you."

Inwardly, Hana thought hard about the meaning of this phone. Why was my name called? hana's inner confusion. After a few seconds, there was finally a reply. But this time the sound is different because it is high-vocal and light. And again, the accent is not from the original Japanese.

"Moshi, moshi. Aunt Hana-san, um, we've actually never met before. But I hope aunt knows my name from Okaa-san."

Okaa-san is? Could it be Akiko? Suspicion rippled in Hana's heart and a possibility arose. What possible...

"My name is Alicia Yamada Henkis. She is called Alice. I am the son of my aunt's sister. Right now I need help."

[To Be Continue!]🍵

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¹Subprefecture is an administrative division of a country that is under a prefecture or province.