Chapter 29: The Weekend

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: The Weekend

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September 6th, 2025.

The gentle, unhurried quiet of a Saturday morning hung over the neighborhood, entirely stripped of the usual weekday rush. For me, the morning began with the slow, deliberate ritual of pulling on a pair of comfortable trousers, a clean, oversized casual shirt, and lacing up my sneakers by the genkan.

​i picked up my shoulder bag, double-checking for my wallet and key chain, before closing the front door open. Both Maria and Erza had just went out for shopping. It seem that the close by market store is offering a 70% off per stock, man Maria was so excited to go.

She sort of just dragged Erza along.

The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of damp pavement and lingering morning dew from the garden plots down the alley. Stepping outside, i pulled the door shut until the latch clicked firmly into place, locking it with a familiar twist of my key.

​The sun sat low in the sky, casting long, soft shadows across the narrow residential street. A few houses down, an older neighbor was out watering her hydrangeas with a soft spray from a green garden hose.

​"Good morning, Oota-kun," she called out warmly, easing off the nozzle lever. "Off somewhere nice today?"

​i paused, giving a polite, slightly sheepish bow. "Good morning, Mrs. Tanaka. Yes, just heading out to meet some friends for the day."

​"Ah, that’s lovely weather for it! Take care on the roads," she chuckled, turning back to her flowers.

​"Thank you, I will. Have a good day," i replied, adjusting the strap of my bag over my shoulder as i turned the corner toward the main road.

​The walk to the local train station was familiar, yet it felt different on a weekend.

Without the sea of school uniforms and hurried commuters in black suits, the street had a lax, rhythmic pulse. A local bakery was just opening its shutters, letting out the rich, buttery aroma of freshly baked melon pan and milk bread into the morning air.

I inhaled deeply, smiling faintly at the scent before continuing down the slight incline toward the station entrance.

It was the day of the trial, sorry I mean date. I didn’t want anything from my personal life to interfere.

​The station building was a modest brick structure nestled between a convenience store and a small flower shop. I descended the stairs toward the turnstiles, the ambient noise shifting from the outdoor breeze to the quiet hum of fluorescent lights, soft footsteps, and the ping-pong tone echoing from the automated ticket gates.

​i pulled my phone from my pocket, resting the back of it against the IC card reader. A bright blue light flashed, accompanied by a sharp, cheerful pi-pi!as the gate swung open to display my remaining balance.

I know I shouldn’t be thinking of this but for some reason I almost wanted to laugh a bit, the sound was like Erza when she was a kid.

My nickname was "Pi-Pi" back then too.

Proceeding up the stairs to Platform 2, i stood behind the yellow tactile paving blocks, joining a scattered handful of passengers waiting for the incoming urban line bound for central Tokyo.

​Within three minutes, the wind whistled through the tunnel, followed by the low rumble of the approaching train. The silver cars slid smoothly along the rails, slowing to a stop with a gentle hiss of air brakes. The double doors slid open in unison.

​"Platform two, bound for Shinjuku and Tokyo. Please watch your step," the automated chime chimed softly overhead.

I stepped into the carriage. It was pleasantly uncrowded, the very opposite of the rib-crushing rush hour rides i endured on school days. I found a seat on the plush bench near the doors and sat down, letting out a small breath.

Outside the window, the suburban scenery began to blur together. Residential houses gave way to taller concrete apartment blocks, overhead wires crisscrossing against the pale blue sky, and glimpses of distant office towers rising in the morning sun.

​As the train rattled steadily along the tracks, stopping periodically at intermediate stations, i reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone to check the time. I didn’t want to be late but at this pace I might.

​The screen lit up

10:14 AM.

I blinked, staring at the digits for a moment as the realization settled in. Their agreed-upon meeting time was 10:15 AM at the main entrance. I was currently still three stops away from his transfer point, meaning i was undeniably running late. I hope Junpai and the others haven’t started before me.

I let out a quiet sigh, my thumb hovering over my messaging app, Wechat.

​I’m so bad at factoring in the weekend bus schedules,I thought to myself with a subtle cringe.

I quickly tapped out a message to Junpai

Oota: Sorry! Running about ten to fifteen minutes late. Just transferring soon.

I hit send, watching the small delivery icon pop up before slipping the phone back into my pocket. I leaned my head back against the glass pane, watching the Tokyo skyline grow denser as the train pulled into the transfer junction.

Yesterday’s rain feel like nothing, like it wasn’t the same country or planet I was in.

​When the train finally ground to a halt, i moved with a bit more urgency, stepping off the platform and following the yellow signs through the station corridors toward the bus terminal exit.

The station was livelier now, filled with families heading out for weekend trips and shopping. Navigating through the flow of people, i tapped my way out of the gates and made my way to the street-level bus stops.

​The air outside the station was bustling with the sounds of city traffic, idling engines, and distant chatter. I spotted the queue for the city loop bus heading toward the Bunkyo area. Fortunately, a green-and-white bus was already idling at the bay, its side display glowing with the destination board reading Via Tokyo Dome City.

I stepped up the low stairs into the bus, tapping my IC card once more against the fare reader pi-pi! before finding a standing spot near the middle exit, holding onto the leather strap hanging from the ceiling overhead.

​"Thank you for riding. Next stop, Suidobashi Station... followed by Tokyo Dome City," the driver’s voice droned calmly through the overhead speakers as the vehicle pulled smoothly away from the curb.

​The bus wove its way through the broad avenues, stopping at traffic lights and finding my way through the weekend city traffic. I kept my eyes fixed on the window, watching the familiar landmarks pass by. The towering, white-spoked curve of the massive Ferris wheel soon began to peek out from behind the tall glass facades of the surrounding buildings, signaling his arrival.

​The bus slowed down, pulling up alongside the wide sidewalk bordering the entertainment complex.

​"Tokyo Dome City. Tokyo Dome City," the automated voice announced.

I stepped down from the bus onto the wide stone pavement. The area was alive with energy, the distinct, far-off sound of music playing from the amusement park speakers, the distant rumble of the Thunder Dolphin roller coaster tracking along its steel rails, and the joyful noise of families, couples, and groups of friends gathering near the plazas.

Yeah, this is was this was the definition of the ’outside’. I got that from a movie I had watched with the group once.

​Checking my phone one last time

10:28 AM

I quickened my pace, walking past the fountain plaza toward the central park entrance. The bright morning sun washed over the open square, illuminating the colorful banners and towering structures of the park.

​And there, standing near the prominent park entrance arch, hands shoved casually into his pockets but seemed a bit nervous. he leaned against a stone pillar while scanning the crowd. Yeah he was practically panicking.

I released a soft breath, a faint smile breaking across my face as i raised a hand to wave.

The Saturday morning sun had burned through the last remnants of yesterday’s storm clouds, baking the asphalt of the Tokyo Dome City entrance into a shimmering heat. The air was a thick, sweet mixture of caramelized popcorn, roasted churros, and the distant, mechanical clanking of rollercoasters test-running on their tracks.

Crowds of teenagers and families surged through the turnstiles, a sea of bright summer clothes, selfie sticks, and overlapping chatter.

"You made it" Junpai said, his expression relaxing.

"Okay what is it?" I asked, showing that I have already know how tense he is.

"....."

"Y-you could tell uh" he asked but not surprised.

"Yeah I can"

"I made plans, but I’m starting to think it might not work out as good as I thought it would" he added.

"Okay calm down" I tapped him on the shoulder. I guess his new girlfriend is the reason his not glued to his phone.

"What makes you say that?" I asked calmly.

"Is it because she’s not here yet?"

"That and I don’t actually know what she likes. She might look at it and be like ’mid’ bro" he explained

"Nah, it’s cool. I don’t think she would hate whatever you have planned for her" I replied. Junpai is been as considerate as he can, I’m sure she would love that about him, I know I do.

"I’m sure it will work out"

"Work it out?" Junpai muttered before adding "things don’t just work it’s self out"

"I’m telling you, if she doesn’t like the Thunder Dolphin coaster, the whole date is compromised!" Junpai groaned, pacing frantically near the giant water fountain by the main gates. He adjusted the collar of his denim jacket for the twentieth time, his face a mix of pure terror and excitement.

"Relax, Junpai-senpai," i said, offering a genuine, easygoing smile.

"If she gave you a chance, she already likes you. You don’t need a rollercoaster to prove it."

"I mean what’s the point"

"Well, you can’t say that for sure." Junpai inserted in argument. "Sometimes a girl’s heart is way harder to please than most"

"Not to mention they are like a ticking time bomb at times.."

Funny, I think his saying this from experience.

"I honestly don’t know what that implies" i blurted out in confusion from the first line.

Two other students, walked over. The both dressed, causal and simple. Looking closely It was both Aki and Inosuki.

"Come on, what got y’all flustered?" Aki said, his muscular and brode build more visible over his clothes.

"Uh..Aki you made it?" I smiled, while noticed them coming my way.

"Wouldn’t miss it for anything" Aki replied with a smile on his face while they reached where me and Junpai stood. "Broski is getting himself girl, so it’s more like a duty in my part to see it through"

That last part was kinda unnecessary, but yeah I do understand where his coming from.

"Glad to see you guys..." Junpai muttered while noticing them approach.

"So what’s got you streaming this early" Aki asked his cheer atmosphere shifted towards Junpai.

"Well ah.."

"Are you still worried about the date" Aki pointed out with a obvious guess.

"Well of course!...you don’t understand how much work I put into asking her out and preparing for this date" Junpai said worriness lingering in his tone as he shakes a bit from nervousness.

I haven’t seen the girl in question but was she that high up his league?

I know I’m to say something like ’yeah I know my dude still got it’

But bro is literally on a micro-oven getting cooked on all sides.

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"No tree, it is said, can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell."

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