122 Platforms

Our entire school made mobilized back to the main Saroff Station so as to wait for our high speed rail to arrive. Apparently, our train was to depart at 6:00 P.M. However, due to the large number of students present, we needed plenty of time to make our way over to the station from the hotel and pass through the ticket gates.

Like expected, the short journey over to the station was chaotic. This huge number of students made it difficult to navigate through the city streets efficiently, often resulting in stoppages due to a sudden change of the traffic lights. Ultimately, it ended with the principal of the school deciding that each class should mobilize as a unit and for everyone to meet up at the Saroff Station. This method proved to be much more efficient as the classes at the front of the caravan did not need to stop and wait for the others.

"Man," Noah whined as he walked beside me. "I can't believe the week's over just like that."

"We did have plenty of fun," Loyd laughed and said. "It's gonna be great memories to look back on."

"It just sucks that even after this one week," Noah said, looking over at me from the corner of his eye. "This guy is still a virgin."

"What are you trying to be? The cupid?" I sighed.

"Isn't the cupid supposed to get people into meaningful relationships?" Loyd asked.

"Right," Noah said with a smile on his face. "That's why I'm not the cupid."

His words seemed to have a double meaning. The first meaning is figurative, him saying that what he's intending to do isn't what a cupid does. The second and beneath-the-surface meaning that only him, I, and the Emilia that walked not too far ahead of us knew about. He's literally, not the cupid. Like does the cupid even exist?

"Is there even such a thing as a cupid?" I leaned closer to Noah and whispered into his ear.

"I wouldn't say no exactly," Noah answered. "But it's not the same thing as what you're thinking about."

After that brief conversation, I continued the walk in silence as the others chatted. Loyd was interacting with Noah, and walking behind me, Muria was interacting with Irina. This works for me because it gives me an opportunity at tranquility and silence. All I had to deal with was the ambiance noise of the loud chattering of the other students, but that I can easily block out.

It was probably about 5:30 P.M. when my class, Class 2-A, made it pass the ticket gates and waited on the platforms. We were given full permission to roam about on the platforms while we waited for the other classes to arrive as well as the high-speed bullet train. Therefore, our little in my class gathered in the corner of the platforms so as to avoid the large crowd of other students as well as traffic in the form of regular passengers.

The members currently gathered were Muria, Irina, Noah, Loyd, and I. Zaksus hasn't arrived yet since his class was one of the last to leave the hotel. As for Luna, she should already have arrived since her class was at the very front of the pack. However, since I see no sign of her, she must be at the very front of the platforms. I hope she was able to make it alright.

I leaned against the wall with my duffel bag placed on the floor by my feet in order to rest my shoulders. I merely listened in to the conversation the others were having at the moment but did not engage in it at all except for the occasional response to the rare questions that're directed at me. I have nothing much to talk about, so when possible, I chose to remain silent. However, what's weird is that I occasionally felt glances thrown my way from Irina and sometimes Muria. However, when I would search for the glance, it would disappear. This confused me, but it didn't bother me much.

"I'm gonna find a vending machine," I said, excusing myself after my throat started feeling a bit dry.

"I'll go with you," Irina then suggested with a pretty enthusiastic expression on her face.

"It's fine," I said as I started walking away. "Message me what you want. I'll get it for you."

"O-okay..." Irina's voice slowly quieted as her countenance lost its fervor from earlier.

Muria observed Irina in silence, probably taking in why she was acting so depressed. I didn't know if she discovered anything, but even if she did, she didn't express it. She merely continued to observe Irina, who quickly forced a smile to appear on her face as the conversation continued on without me.

I continued walking down the platforms in search of a vending machine with a slowed pace since I wasn't in a hurry. Rather, it was actually quite nice being able to move about and exercise my legs for standing in one place had made them quite sore. The cool autumn breeze was quite refreshing to feel as it gently kissed my face. However, because of the lower temperature, I stuck my hands in my pockets as I walked.

After walking leisurely for about five minutes, I finally found a vending machine. I approached it and scanned it for what it had. At the same time, I was thinking what I wanted to get in my mind.

Since it was kinda cold, maybe I should get a hot coffee? But that doesn't quench thirst. Maybe I should just get a soda or a juice...

As I frowned and struggled to decide what I should buy, I heard a familiar voice call my name. It was a cleansing and gentle voice that was also quite lively and demanding at the same time. This voice, it belonged to no other than Luna.

"Alevian?" She said in surprise. She appeared quite astonished by my sudden appearance, and because of that, remained static as she gazed at me with her widened amber eyes. "What're you doing here?"

"Just getting a drink," I said, looking over towards the vending machine from the corner of my eye. "What about you?"

She then pointed over her shoulder. "My class is waiting down there," she said with a smile on her face. "I'm also here to get a drink. What a coincidence!"

"Yeah..."

"How's your day today?" she then asked me. She made no move towards the vending machine, and instead, stood there before me to strike up a conversation.

"It's alright," I sighed, thinking back about where I had woken up this morning and what led to that.

"Hmm... That's nice to hear," she smiled.

"What about you?" I immediately followed up so that our conversation wouldn't just end on an awkward note.

"It's been going fine," she said in the lively voice of her's.

"Right..." I nervously rubbed the back of my head, feeling my hair with my hands. "So um... what did you end up doing yesterday?"

"I was with Erith," Luna said with a pleasant and charming smile. "If you're asking what we did—" She winked and brought her ring finger up to her lips. "—it's a girl's secret."

"Girl's secret, huh?" I awkwardly laughed at this unexpected response.

"It's nothing to serious," she said as she brought her hand away from her face and clasped them behind her back. "It's just something girl's do."

"Right..." I lowered my head as I struggled to think of a way to rid the atmosphere of this awkwardness.

"What about you?" She then asked, leaning in slightly so as to see my face. "What did you do yesterday?"

"Well..." I felt my heart rate increasing as I thought back on yesterday and debated whether or not I should tell her. It was a tough decision, but I think I shouldn't lie to her and say I did nothing. "I was walking around the city and I met Ms. Edel, my literature teacher."

I looked at her face to see her reaction to my story. To my surprise, she was looking at me attentively as she smiled, signalling to me that she was, indeed, paying close attention to what I was saying.

"Well," I continued. "Since she was bored, she dragged me to the mall with her."

"Did you buy her lingerie?" Luna then asked in a playful manner as she leaned closer to me so as to see from a closer view my nervousness and flustered mental state.

Well, I was flustered by this question she jokingly asked, but this blush on my face was mostly from how close her face got to mine. I could even smell the familiar scent of her shampoo from her hair.

"Of course not!" I quickly responded.

"Then I don't need to worry," she smiled as she retreated back to where she originally was. "I thought you betrayed me and bought lingerie for other girls."

"I mean I don't have anyone to buy it for..." I sighed and awkwardly laughed.

"You do." Her voice drew my attention, causing me to look over and focus on her pretty face and that cute and mischievous smile on her face. "Only me, that is."

At that moment, a gentle breeze blew by, moving her hair in the air. It was as if the world around us had disappeared, leaving only the two of us present. Her figure dominated my vision, making her the only thing that I could see as all my attention was drawn to this beautiful girl.

"Now what if I get a girlfriend in the future?" I smiled and jokingly responded.

"It won't matter," Luna responded with also a smile on her face. "That restriction will end when I die, and I don't think you'll be able to find a girlfriend in the near future, so I think you'll be safe."

"When you die, huh...?" I could feel that joyful atmosphere slowly slip away from me.

"Don't worry," she then continued to say with a smile, but this time with a softer and more serious voice. "It won't be long."

"..." I remained silent as another gentle breeze blew by, causing my blazer to flutter in the air behind me. The gentle breeze also bestowed my face with its love, caressing my skin as well as moving my hair gently about in the wind.

"Alevian?" She leaned forward and closer to my face while smiling as she looked playfully into my eyes.

I didn't respond. I was still recovering from what she had said. It was... rather painful to hear it from her. Even though I know her death is in the near future, hearing her say it'll be soon still wasn't easy to accept. She's just so lively and energetic, almost as if she could live until her hundreds. Yet... this was all simply a facade created by the medical advancements of our time. This lively girl before me that seemed as if she's filled with vitality and vigor, is simply an illusion created by medicine. Rather, that pale and weak girl laying helplessly on her bed in my memories was the real Luna.

"Alevian?"

I felt myself snapping out of my melancholic trance due to her hand that she waved rapidly before my face. I then looked over at her, feeling the same sense of bitterness rising in my heart. However, a simple gesture from her once again cleansed me of that feeling.

"I'm kidding," she said laughing. "I'm not gonna die that quickly. I still want to make it until next summer."

"Next summer..." I lowered my head and sadly smiled.

"You know," she continued to say. In those amber eyes of her's, I saw a gleaming shine of anticipation and enthusiasm. "I always wanted to graduate high school, just finish it. And from the time that I've spent with you guys this week, I feel like I'm not ready to be done yet." She then turned towards me and smiled. "I want to go to the beach next time with everybody."

"The beach..." I thought about what she said and a soft chuckle escaped from me as I couldn't help it but smile as I imagined how fun it would be to go to the beach together with her. "Let's do that. When summer comes, we'll all take a beach trip together."

"I'm excited," she said, smiling happily at my promise. "I'll have to make sure I live until then."

"You better," I laughed, feeling moisture forming in my eyes. However, it stopped before any could climb out of my eyes.

"It's a promise then." Luna smiled as she gazed into my eyes. Then, she held out both of her arms in my direction.

"N-now?" I asked her in surprise.

She nodded.

"B-but there's people around," I whispered to her as I looked around the crowded platforms. "People will see."

In fact, there were plenty of people looking over in our direction already since Luna was pretty well known at my school since she's the student council president. I could even hear people having a quiet debate about what was occurring.

I then redirected my gaze back to her, hoping to see her response. She didn't answer me. Instead, she continued to keep her arms out before her with a happy smile on her face. Seeing this charming smile... it's near impossible for me to try and deny her.

With a happy sigh, I stepped forward and brought my arms around her slender body. I took her into my embrace and felt her arms close in around me as well. Then, we just held our embrace, not caring if other people were present. I heard gasps from the crowd as well as the sound of photography. However, that didn't matter to me. What mattered at the moment was the softness and warmth of her body as well as her fragrance.