Between Him and Her

Missing

The next day, Liya had butterflies in her stomach as she waited for the train to come. She scrolled through her music library listlessly looking up now and then. A chorus of what-ifs was going through her mind. What if he doesn't look at me? What if he isn't there? What if. What if....?

The station announcer's voice buzzed through, "Mamonaku..." She didn't listen. She turned her whole body facing the oncoming train. He would be there with his head sticking out of his conductor compartment — the long line of cars passed by causing already cold Liya to shiver slightly. The inside of the train car was warm and lit. She could see some empty spots in the last car, but her eyes went to the head that was sticking out. It was Him. He was there with his whistle between his lips.

Liya gave a small wave to him, and he returned a subtle nod. She smiled and stepped into the car. It would be insensitive of her if she went right to him, so she decided to play it cool. There wasn't a crowd like the last time, and so it would be evident to anyone traveling to see her being a distraction to him. But she did stand by the doors turning towards him. With her headphones on, she switched between watching the passing landscape and glancing at him once in a while. When she got the chance, she memorized what his name looked like as it was written on a metal pin on his shirt. She recognized one of the two first characters.

In Japan, all names were written with the family name first followed by the first. People referred to each other using their last name with a -san attached at the end. It was very common except when it came to foreigners name. They always used her first name with -san. Within Japanese standards, it was very familiar to be called by the first name. Students called her as Liya-sensei. The others she would have to ask Iwata sensei to tell her.

The train stopped at her station. She got off and slightly looked at him and waved goodbye. He again returned it with a barely there nod. Rubbing her hands for warmth, she walked towards the station exit.

During lunchtime, Liya slowly approached Iwata sensei. She was having lunch with another sensei -the PE teacher, a tall, muscled lady.

"Hey, Iwata sensei. Is it alright if I spoke with you about something?"

With an emphatic mmm Iwata gave her full attention.

"Can you tell me how to read this name?" Liya showed Iwata the name she had painstakingly written on a small post-it.

Iwata looked at it. "Well, this is Matsu and this is moto. So Matsumoto. Then the first name is Ryuuhei. They are common characters used for this name."

Iwata glanced at Liya, "Is this a student?"

Liya shook her head, "No. Not a student. Someone I met recently." Liya smiled at Iwata and said, "Thank you, sensei."

"How are you feeling nowadays? Are you used to the living here?" Iwata asked. Liya stopped from turning away from her and replied, "I am slowly. Every day I learn new things I think."

"Like... "

"LIke shopping in the supermarket and such things. They are all new experiences for me."

Iwata sensei nodded her head. "Please let me know if you need any help. Our previous foreign teacher knew Japanese, so he was able to move around with ease."

Liya knew it was not a judgment on her lack of knowledge, so she didn't take the comparison seriously. She nodded her head in acknowledgment. "I know I will have to study the Japanese language soon enough. If you know of any places that offer Japanese language classes after hours, please let me know." Liya bowed and walked to her table. Iwata returned to her lunchmate.

The classes ended, and Liya stayed behind for club activities. She just sat in the room as students conducted their meeting. Occasionally she was called on for some opinion or suggestions. Otherwise, she sat there reading a book. In her mind, she couldn't wait to get to that train conductor, Matsumoto-san.

Standing on the station platform, she waited for the train to stop. Liya looked around for that familiar face. She saw a head peeping out of the window as the train came to a stop.

But it wasn't his? Where was he?