Book of Memory

Chapter 1: "Cannot Pass"

"I already feel like a squid is touching me.", said Gwen as soon as she touched the ground. The air smelled of salt. "Alright, bye world.", said Gwen. She walked dutifully towards the docks only to be met by her mother's arm. "Oh, no you don't. We didn't go on a 72 hour flight for that, little girl.", said Liz. "Foreign places. They stink. I get it. But how do you expect me to put up with it if I don't have my my baby girl to suffer with me?" Gwen stared apathetically. "We're getting through this together. Okay?", Liz said smiling. Taking a deep breath, Gwen agreed.

They both walked from the docks to the roadside and down towards the nearest bus stop. The bus ride was crowded because of everyone trying to make their way to the famous Akihabara district. As the bus drove on, Gwen could feel herself moving farther away from her home in Indiana. She was obviously moving farther, but this was painful. It hurt to think about the family that must be enjoying her old house...but it was for the best that they moved. Liz wanted to travel, and Gwen couldn't stay alone. Japan might be a good place, Gwen thought.
Liz clinched her hands on the bottom of her seat. She was uncertain about Japan, too. Gwen reached over and grabbed Liz's hand. They looked at each other and smiled softly. The both of them were in this together. The bus soon arrived in Akihabara, which was a beautiful city, and immediately began to walking the their new place with the crowds basically forcing them into the correct direction.

There was a young man standing in front of their home. He was dressed very neatly; his black hair was combed, his blue dress shirt tucked in and secured with a belt, and his glasses never leaned a bit off of his face. His spoke up as Liz and Gwen approached. "H-h-hello! You must be Lisa-san!"

"Actually, it's Liz. Liz Scarlet", said Liz happily.

"O-oh! I'm so soddy! I'm not finished wit my English studies!"

The young man blushed hard.

"It's okay. So, did someone from the university send you?"

"Yes! Professor Akiba! H-he almo gave me a check for y-you, Liz-san!

"Prof. Akiba? Is here over the Department of Sciences?"

"Y-y-yes, Liz-san!"

"Oh, I'm sorry! I haven't even asked your name!"

"I'm Yusuke."

"Nice to meet you, Yusuke."
As they shook hands, he couldn't help but to lock eyes with Gwen.

"Oh, sorry again. This is my little girl, Gwen."
Gwen waved unsympathetically and said, " Hi".
"Arigato, Gwen-kun!", Yusuke said as he bowed.
Yusuke looked up at Gwen, and smiled.

"I'll show y-you two tha house now."

Yusuke opened the door and helped Liz bring their stuff in while Gwen was still reeling from the look Yusuke gave her. It was like he was an innocent pup. That was weird.

"Get in here, you little priss, and help!", yelled Liz.
Gwen got up and grabbed her bags.
~~~~~
"Tell the professor I said thanks again, Yusuke. And I'll see you in class tomorrow."

"Y-yes, Liz-san! Goodbye!"

Yusuke scurried off quickly to his bike. Liz turned to Gwen and said," So, you like that guy?"

"Please, not now", said Gwen.
"I already don't like this place and here you go making jokes about the cliché shy guy."

" I was KIDDING. He's not that bad looking, though---"

"Can you stop? Please?"

"Alright, alright. Well, I gotta get up in the morning for school so I'll order out now."

" Who wants to study abroad in Japan anyway? There's nothing here but salty water and those weird otaku people..ew."

"You'll see when you're in college, kid....yes? Is this Miichi's?"

Gwen went outside on the back porch. The only thing back here was a river and piles of stones, so what else would someone do? She whipped each stone with precision. That is, until a bright light shone in the bottom of the river. Gwen squinted to no avail. Could it a flashlight? Or maybe it was the moon? Or just maybe...

"Gwen! Food's coming!", Liz called.

Gwen started to walk back home, but threw the last stone at the river. A day was a day.
Gwen played in bed that night with emptiness in her heart. She couldn't live here. It was so different from Indiana. Maybe she could convince Liz to move back. As Gwen closed her eyes, she knew she was here to stay.