"So today is the day," someone announced loudly, as if the entire station needed confirmation.
"Yeah, but seriously… how are you so energetic this early?" another boy replied, eyes half closed. "I'm still dreaming."
A third boy rubbed his arms dramatically. "Seese… it's freezing out here!"
"Damn idiot," his friend said immediately. "It's winter. Of course it's cold. What were you expecting, warm hugs from the air?"
The station was filled with students from Aoyama High School. Second and third years stood in groups, some excited, some sleepy, and some questioning their life choices.
"Okay, okay, everyone come here!" the teacher called out, clapping his hands.
Students slowly gathered, dragging their feet like they were being summoned for punishment.
"Check your belongings first. Now, attendance."
Names were called out one by one.
"Here!"
"Here…"
"…yeah…"
Some voices were loud. Some sounded like they came from another dimension.
"Alright," the teacher continued. "Get into the train, take your seats, and do not make unnecessary noise."
Minato leaned slightly toward his seat and whispered, "He says that like we're capable of silence."
"We're not," his friend replied calmly.
They boarded the train.
Groups of friends quickly occupied seats together, talking, laughing, claiming territory. A few students sat elsewhere, quietly staring out the windows. Hitori took a window seat. Beside him sat Takahashi.
The next seat behind him, Minato and his friends settled in, already louder than necessary.
The train started moving, and a soft hum filled the air.
"Dude… I'm going to sleep," one boy said, already leaning against the window. "Wake me up when we reach Kyoto."
"Yeah, sure," his friend smiled.
Five minutes later, both of them were asleep.
Minato turned his head and noticed something unusual.
Hitori… was talking to someone.
Minato narrowed his eyes.
"That's illegal," he muttered.
He stood up and leaned over the seat dramatically.
"Hey! You're Takahashi, right?"
Takahashi turned back and gave a small smile. "Yeah, that's me."
"Ahh"
"I'm a friend of Hitori," he added.
Minato froze for a second, then slowly made a suspicious face.
"…Interesting."
Hitori looked at him. "What's interesting?"
"Nothing," Minato said, smiling like he clearly meant something.
Hitori kept staring at him for a moment.
Minato leaned forward again. "You know, Takahashi… he's a very philosophical person."
"That's not even the right word," Hitori said.
"I just upgraded it," Minato replied confidently. Then he added in a lower voice, "Be careful. He might start saying weird things and confuse you."
Takahashi chuckled softly. "don't worry, it's fine."
Minato blinked.
"It's fine...," Takahashi said.
Minato leaned back dramatically into his seat. "Ohhhhhhh… it's fine, he says."
He folded his arms. "…This is getting interesting."
Time passed. The train gently rocked as more students fell asleep or pretended to.
Then the announcement came.
"The next station is Kyoto."
They were getting up from their sleep.
"We're here?!"
"Wake up!"
"Where's my bag?!"
"Who touched my snacks?!"
Minato stretched lazily. "Ahh… so we finally made it."
"…Obviously," a girl nearby replied.
They stepped off the train. Cold air hit them immediately, sharp and refreshing.
"Check your belongings," the teacher reminded again.
Minato frowned. "What the hack with them? We're not some damn little brat."
Hitori and takahashi looked at him and then hitori said. "You lost your belongings many times."
"They were a strategic misplacement."
"You were panicking for an hours."
"…Details."
They moved toward the buses.
Once inside, the noise slowly faded as everyone got comfortable.
Then the scenery began to change.
Snow covered rooftops.
People clearing paths outside their homes.
Soft sunlight barely touching the ground.
"Dude… that's amazing," one of Minato's friends said, pressing his face to the window.
"It's healing me more fast than population growth of India and china," another added proudly.
"That doesn't make any sense"
Yeah! It's just... divine," someone replied.
"Hmm...hmm...," Minato nodded.
"Let him feel things," Minato said.
Even he was quieter now, watching the view.
Eyes that refused to open earlier were now wide awake.
"You can't take your eyes off it, huh?" Takahashi said, glancing at hitori.
Hitori was looking outside from window,
For a moment, he stayed silent.
Then he spoke.
"It's said that life is likea sh*t that can not be unsh*ten. So instead of tasting others taste yours..."
He continued.
Unfortunately... Minato heard that.
At that moment both takahashi and Minato was thinking while looking at him with a disgust face that what the hell he was saying and who motherfu*ker said that.
But they decided to remain calm and ignore him and his creepy quote.
The bus continued its journey, snow passing by like a moving painting.
Finally, it stopped.
"Alright everyone, we've arrived," the teacher announced.
Students got off one by one.
And then they saw it.
Kinkaku-ji.
Golden.
Still.
Surrounded by white snow.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Minato exhaled slowly.
"…Okay," he said.
"…This was worth waking up."
And they were ready to explore it.