nhp | (Sutamai) Event: ‘At The Final Stop of The Galaxy Express’, Part 1

EVENT STORY INDEX

There was a time in the past when Go and I skipped school together.

It was on an astonishingly clear and fine autumn day.

-Inside the train-

Miyase: You know, I’ve always wanted to see what it was like…

Getting on a train without any destination in mind.

Kujo: Hmph. You seem to be having fun.

Miyase: And you’re not?

Kujo: Well… To put it frankly, I’m excited.

Miyase: Thought as much.

That was the conversation we had between the station we boarded at and two stops from there.

When we departed from the third stop, a young girl about the age of an early elementary school student sat down beside Go.

Little Girl: Hi there!

Miyase: Hello.

Kujo: Hello.

Miyase: Are you travelling alone?

Little Girl: Yep! I’m Kaoru, and I’m on my way to see my mum right now.

Miyase: Hmm, that so? I see, and your name is Kaoru.

Kujo: What a big girl you are to be able to ride a train all by yourself.

Kaoru: Ehehe~ Oh, yeah!

I’ll share my snacks with you two big brothers as well.

The young girl took out from her starry pouch some chocolate.

-Inside the train-

Go and I both, at the same time, plopped the ball of chocolate that she had taken out from a small box and directly placed onto our palms into our mouths.

Kujo: … It’s good.

Miyase: It really is delicious.

Thank you, Kaoru-san.

Kaoru: You’re welcome! Oh, the next stop is where I’m getting off!

Our exchange only lasted for the time between one station.

After leaving behind her the sweet aftertaste of chocolate, the little girl energetically jumped out from the train.

Through the window, I caught sight of her hugging onto a woman who appeared to be her mother waiting on the platform, and I felt relieved.

Miyase: … Her mother made sure to come pick her up on time.

Kujo: Yeah.

Miyase: It’s been a while since I’ve had chocolate.

Kujo: Same.

Miyase: It was apple-flavoured, wasn’t it? They didn’t sell this flavour when I was a kid.

Kujo: Apple… So that’s what it was.

No wonder I figured it wasn’t just any regular chocolate.

Miyase: Did you only realise after I pointed it out?

Kujo: Yeah. If I hadn’t eaten it with you, I would’ve just been left with a feeling that something was off.

Miyase: … I see.

On that day, Go and I got off the train at a station that neither of us had ever been to before.

The place was a countryside far away from town, and it was no exaggeration to say that there was nothing in sight.

We simply stood there side by side, idly gazing up at the blue sky with its faint stream of white clouds flowing.

-Countryside-

Kujo: It’s almost like an afternoon Milky Way.

Miyase: Haha, you're quite the poet…

Everything in that moment was one that I still remember dearly, even now.

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

Shindo: What? A “galaxy express drug”?

Rei: Correct. The illicit drug this time was apparently referred to as such among the youth.

It was late afternoon at the Kujo Household.

The visitor, Izumi Rei, with her dignified posture always gave off the impression when we met that the concept of slouching was foreign to her.

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

Shindo: That’s quite the merry name for a drug.

Rei: From what I hear…

Practically everyone at the party where the drug was being taken at the time hallucinated or rather about getting on a train that sped through the starry sky.

It was probably mass hysteria triggered by the drug. That incident then spread across the city like a legend, and—

Shindo: That’s how it got its name of being a “galaxy express drug”, huh.

Idiots sure come up with obscure things.

Rei: It’s due to the information you provided us that we were able to crack down on the drug ring before it got passed around like wildfire.

We thank you for your cooperation, Kujo-san.

She bowed her head deep and low, and my gaze was drawn to her straightened spine.

If an opportunity ever arose where we could talk at leisure, I would want to ask her—

“When are you not tense and relaxed?”

Kujo: If I was of any assistance, then that’s all that matters.

Rei: We really are grateful to you.

As I drank the tea that Go poured for me, I somehow found myself wanting to probe further into that term that popped up during the conversation.

Kujo: Galaxy express, huh. How nostalgic.

Shindo: By Miyazawa Kenji, wasn’t it?

Rei: You mean his “Night on the Galactic Railroad”!

Kujo: That’s right.

Shindo: I’ve long forgotten what it’s about.

Rei: Same here. I can’t remember the finer details myself either, since the last time I read it was ages ago.

Kujo: It’s an excellent piece of work that can be interpreted profoundly. But I do recall it being painful, and was unable to reread it with ease.

Rei: Oh, yeah… In that last scene, his best friend who he got on the train with, didn’t he…

Shindo: It was a depressing story, that one.

Kujo: There were many excruciating scenes aside from the finale as well.

Around the time when I first read “Night on the Galactic Railroad”, I couldn’t objectively view Giovanni’s solitude.

Shindo: That sensitivity of yours is your downfall, you know.

Kujo: … It’s in the past.

[Door clicks open]

Kirishima: Kujo-san! Rei! Oh, and you too, Shindo.

Shindo: Don’t bother counting me in for the heck of it.

Kirishima: Haha, don’t sweat the small stuff, man. We baked the cookies that Miyase made!

Rei: Wow, thank you! So you were home too, Kaname-kun.

Kirishima: We were both helping out Miyase.

Kaname: More like, you forced him to let you help out… Well, whatever.

Miyase: Haha. The cookies have been baked to the finest thanks to you two.

Kirishima: It topped for the number one best cookie in the world when I tasted it.

Shindo: It’s not convincing at all unless it’s coming from someone who’s eaten cookies from all around the world.

Kirishima: If you’re gonna complain then I’m eating your share too.

Miyase: Haha, there’s plenty for all.

Kujo: It smells delicious. I was just feeling a little peckish now, myself.

Kirishima: We made it with heaaaps of sugar because we know you like sweet stuff!

Kujo: Thank you.

Miyase: Now then, let’s all behave and have our afternoon tea together.

10.

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

Kirishima: This star-shaped cookie here, and this bird-shaped one here are the ones I made.

Rei: Oooh~! You must be good at this, Kirishima-san. They’ve turned out really pretty.

Kirishima: Right? What can I say, there’s nothing I can’t handle!

Kujo: (He looks happy.)

Next to Kirishima and his energetic smile, Kaname was silently eating the cookies.

Miyase: Is the taste to your liking, Kaname-kun?

Kaname: … It’s good.

But just cookies on its own makes me hungrier.

Miyase: Haha, you’re still growing, after all.

By all means, please stay for dinner as well.

Kaname: Will do.

Miyase: I’ll do my absolute best to cook up plenty of food so that you’re full to the max.

Kaname: Thanks.

Kujo: (Eat up and grow strong, Kaname.)

Shindo: Hey, Miyase.

Miyase: Yes?

Shindo: What’s with this cookie on the edge of the plate that looks like a face? I can’t tell if it’s meant to be a person or monster or what.

Rei: Oh, I was curious about that too.

Kujo: (So was I.)

Kirishima: Don’t bring it up, man.

Rei: Huh?

Kujo: (Did… something happen?)

13.

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

Kirishima: There are times in life when things just don’t go the way you want it to, y’know.

Shindo: I’m talking about cookies here.

Kirishima: And so am I, dude.

Miyase: We couldn’t have imagined that it would turn out like this after being baked.

Rei: What… happened?

Miyase: The truth is, this cookie was meant to be Kujo-san’s face.

Kujo: My—

Kirishima: I’m so sorry the end result is something this worthless, Kujo-san!

I even had the design all sketched out too, dammit…

The piece of paper that Kirishima retrieved from his pocket had a picture of my face drawn in a cartoonish style.

Sections such as the brow and eyes were noted down with “chocolate cookie dough here!” and made for a heartwarming sight.

Kirishima: I was super psyched and gave it my all, but…

Kujo: Kirishima…

(That face isn’t one that I want you to make. At the very least, not while you’re in this house.)

There’s no need to be so down.

I picked up the cookie of my face that Kirishima had baked for me.

Then, going in from the ear, I took a bite of the still slightly warm cookie.

Kirishima: !

Kujo: … The taste is superb. And the shape as well. Depending on how you choose to look at it, you can see that it resembles my face accordingly.

Rei: H-He’s right, Kirishima-san! I also think it could look like Kujo-san!

Kujo: (Thank you for backing me up.)

I sent her a glance conveying that thought, but she was desperate in her attempt to cheer up Kirishima.

In this same manner, our eyes would hardly meet when we were with a large group of people.

Shindo: A lie that obvious is just cruel, you two.

17.

-Kujo Household: Living Room-

Shindo: However positively you look at it, that cookie barely passes for a human face. No, you know what—it doesn’t even count.

Kujo: (Shindo…)

Kirishima: Shindo! Don’t you have any companion in you, man!

Shindo: What?

Kaname: Companion…?

Kujo: (Perhaps…)

Kirishima, do you mean to say “compassion”?

Kirishima: That’s the one, Kujo-san! “Compassion”! Yeah, that!

Kujo: …

Shindo: Why the hell do I have to show you any compassion over the subject of cookies.

Kaname: Actually, in this case, I feel like the meaning of compassion is also a bit off here.

Miyase: *Chuckles*

Kirishima: What, even you’re laughing, Miyase…

Kujo: (Go’s laugh just now was different, Kirishima.)

Miyase: Oh no, that’s not it.

Kirishima: But you were laughing, man.

Miyase: I’m sorry. It’s just…

I was somewhat thinking of how incredibly fun it is that we’re able to get this excited over a cookie.

Kirishima: !

Kujo: That is true. This is a very enjoyable time.

Kirishima: If that’s the case, then go ahead and laugh some more! You too, Shindo.

Shindo: Ha. Ha. Ha.

Kirishima: Woah, the heck was that?

Shindo: I laughed, didn’t I?

Kujo: Pfft—

Kaname: … Even high schoolers nowadays don’t get this excited just from baking cookies.

Rei: Really?

Kaname: It’s because Koya-kun’s sometimes on the same level as an elementary school kid.

Kirishima: So what you’re saying is I’m still young!

Shindo: The embodiment of positivity, this one.

Rei: Ahaha.

Miyase: For anyone who needs their tea refilled, please feel free to say so.

Kujo: …

May this peace last forever…

All the while thinking that, I mixed in the sugar and milk, and slowly savoured the tea that was at my desired sweetness.

-Nighttime-

-Kujo Household: Study-

The sun had set, and it was about the time when the faint scent of dinner prepared by Go would reach the study.

I had stopped working, and was standing in front of a bookshelf that I wouldn’t usually have touched.

Kujo: (“Night on the Galactic Railroad”, huh…)

20.

-Kujo Household: Study-

I grabbed the book that was lined up together with the countless anthologies of poems.

When I opened it, the distinctive smell of paper ageing over time brushed against the tip of my nose.

I gently flipped the page.

Kujo: …

(… Starting from this opening scene of the class, there’s no mercy.)

The explanation on the Milky Way that would later become an important element to the story, and the disquieting feeling of Giovanni and Campanella’s behaviour.

As you flipped through the pages, you’d learn that Giovanni was working a job despite still being in school.

And when he received his pay, his face would brighten. When he returned home, his loneliness was emphasised by his talk with his mother.

What was even more painful was when he was on his way to the dairy…

Before I knew it, I was immersed in the story, and it was then that there came the sound of knocking and a familiar voice.

Miyase: Kujo-san, it’s almost dinner time.

Kujo: Yes, of course. Come in.

The door slowly opened up.

Miyase: Were you still in the middle of your work?

Kujo: No, I was preoccupied by a nostalgic book.

Go had entered the room, and stood in place at a distance from where he could make out the cover of the title I was holding in my hand.

Miyase: “Night on the Galactic Railroad”… Why that one?

Come to think of it, Go wasn’t around during the topic of the illicit drug.

Kujo: Shindo, her, and I were talking about this book in the afternoon.

The both of them had said that they vaguely remember the story, and for me too, the details have become quite faint.

Miyase: I see, so that’s why you were reading it. That book brings back memories.

Kujo: You’ve read it before?

Miyase: Yes, when I was little.

… There was a time when I looked up to Campanella.

Kujo: ……

I got the sense that Go was essentially saying he didn’t want to be “the one being left behind”.

But at this very moment, I didn’t have it in me to confirm if that was true or not.

Miyase: Shall we get going then? Everyone’s waiting.

Kujo: Right.

I placed the book back onto the shelf, and exited the room together with Go.

25.

-Kujo Household: Hallway-

Miyase: By the way, earlier…

Kirishima-san and Shindo-san were heatedly speaking about how they want to go to the hot springs with everyone again before the cold truly sets in.

Kujo: Good point. A trip around this time of the year is perfect.

Miyase: Kirishima-san was very eager to ask you at dinner which place you have in mind to visit.

Kujo: … Do you have somewhere that you’d want to go?

Miyase: For me, as long as it’s somewhere everyone can enjoy, the place can be anywhere.

Kujo: Same here.

Miyase: You always say that, Kujo-san.

Occasionally voicing a place that you, yourself, can enjoy to the fullest is a good idea, don’t you reckon?

Kujo: If everyone is able to have fun, then that to me, is the ultimate trip.

Miyase: … I see.

Kujo: …

[Scene shifts to the night sky]

Kujo: (Giovanni and Campanella…)

If the two only had each other in the world, then their bond from childhood would not have wavered.

Every now and then, I found myself thinking that.

* * *

……

…………

[Train noises]

……………………

…………

Kujo: (What’s this sound…)

The familiar and nostalgic rattling noise shook my eardrums.

???: —hey, you listening?

It seemed like someone was speaking to me.

???: Hey! Wake up!

-Galaxy Express: Inside Carriage-

Kujo: !

Saotome: Finally woken up, huh? I was planning on drumming that belly of yours awake if you had been pretending to be asleep.

Kujo: Drumming my belly…?

(Isn’t he that guy from Shukuo University…)

Why are you here? … What’s going on?