Red left first.

  It was a Friday morning. He stuffed the boxes he packed into his car, an old sedan he bought with his own prize money back when we were sixteen. The one we’d take on late-night drives into the mountains.

  It still smells faintly of corn chips and sodas. He said he would clean it to "sparkling condition" one day.

  He never did.

  Red was headed to Tamamushi (Celadon). He was accepted to Tamamushi University, the best private university in Japan, by scholarship. I mean, what else would you expect from a nationwide, no, worldwide household name. I think he majors in economics or something, I'm not really sure. He isn't the talkative type, or maybe I just didn’t care that much.

  My campus is in the capital, Yamabuki (Saffron). It's not far from Tamamushi, so I asked Red to carry my stuff to the apartment I rented since I won’t be able to.

  "Hey, thanks again Red"

  "Yup, no prob" he answered, "around 2 p.m. tomorrow?"

  "Yeah, I've given the address already right?"

  "Naka-Meguro?"

  "Uh-uh, thanks again"

  I stood outside as his car disappeared into the camphor trees. I waved him off until he turned into a speck.

  I don't know why, but I waited a little after that, staring at the empty road. Like maybe, if I stared long enough, time would fold back on itself. But of course, it didn't.

  Green is still here. Still in the country, at least.

  Less than two weeks ago the acceptance letters came out. He was accepted to study abroad, to Kalos.

  Funny, I applied there too. We studied night after night, perfecting our essays and our grades to get the chance to venture across the globe. In the end he got through, leaving me here.

  I mean, he was always smarter, he was always wittier, faster, hungrier. It's no surprise he got it.

  And by no means am I unhappy with the university I was accepted into. All the sleepless nights studying eventually paid off, the national tests gone and went, and by luck I was accepted into the best mechanical engineering program in the nation, Yamabuki Tech. And I am nothing less of excited. Yamabuki — the biggest city in the world — was out there, waiting to be conquered. I can't wait to see the iconic saffron glow of the city from my apartment window.

  It's just, I imagined walking down the streets of Lumiose with him.

  He was my best friend during high school. He helped me work on the bike I found in a shed, we studied day and night together, we sparred thrice a week against eachother, I set him up with the girl he liked one time, he did the same to me.

  It's sad to see him leave.

  He isn't even leaving until like, July, or something. But he's spending the rest of his time at his uncle's house in Fusube (Blackthorn). His uncle happens to speak French, so he's studying with him.

  And so, only one left from the "Masara Trio" is left.

  Now I stand upon the empty rice fields. The skies casted a warm hue as the sun began to set.

  I look out, far as I can see.

  The wind flew between the blades of the grass, and through the strands of my hair.

  It sung a particular melody, I can't really describe it.

  It sang in colors,

  flowed between the mountains,

  in harmony with the seas.

  It whispered into my ear, asking,

  where should it take me next?

  Usually Espe would sit beside me, yawning as the breeze run through her fur. But she's been sleeping all day long, and so I'm here, alone.

  Well, not for long.

  Behind me, gravel crunched under steady footsteps. I recognised them.

  "What's on your mind, sport?"

  Dad's voice had become softer these days. Less stern, more steady.

  I didn’t answer his question immediately. I didn't know how.

  Instead I asked,

  "Were you scared?"

  "When?"

  "When you were placed in the middle of nowhere. When you studied medicine at Tamamushi. When you left home for the first time. When your future felt uncertain.”. When, grandpa died, when you were twelve."

  He chuckled a bit, then turned to the setting sky.

  "You just named every time I was scared"

  I looked at him as he was gazing upon the sunset.

  "How did you get through it?"

  "I just, kept walking" he answered in a soft tone. "You'll only see the road once you take the first step."

  I smiled.

  We sat down on the thin patch of grass on the side of the gravel road. The sky had turned a dark purple and some stars had started to appear. He lit a cigarette and began smoking besides me. I find it quite ironic since he's a doctor. The wind blew in his direction so the smoke didn't get into my face.

  "Y'know you wont be able to see the stars when you move into the city" he joked.

  I chuckled, "Well at least the moon'll be there."

  "Yeah, and if you ever find yourself staring at it one night, just know that I'll be staring at the same thing."

  ...

  "Are you scared?" Dad asked.

  "Yeah" I admitted. "I don't know, maybe I'm just worried about what lies ahead, and if I'll ever be enough."

  He looked at me, eye to eye.

  "Midoriba Aoi, you were always first place in your class, you brought life to a beat up motorbike, you ventured on your own at eleven years old, you managed to reach heights no other can even fathom, heck, you were able to walk when you were just six months old."

  His eyes glimmered when he said that, I don't think I've ever seen that before.

  He looked back at the stars before turning down to the cigarette he was holding.

  If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  "I remember, I was at the clinic treating a patient. The guy was lying on bed, he asked to turn the TV on. The league was going on, he wanted to watch it. And there she was, my daughter. She had only turned twelve a few weeks ago. Now she appeared on national television, in pursuit of her dreams."

  "I thought you didn't approve of me battling?"

  "..." He paused for a bit, then turn his head towards me.

  He answered,

  "I was scared"

  The sky had darken. The sun hid behind the mountains, leaving behind a hint of crimson in the distance. The stars blinked awake, one by one, accompanying the crescent moon.

  He put out his cigarette then placed his arm on my shoulder. We just sat there, no words, just us living the moment.

  I felt every gust of wind blowing past my face, I heard every chirp the pidgeys made across the fields.

  This is unusual of Dad, he's usually stern, rigid, to the point.

  I think this is the first time.

  But it isn't.

  He held me — just like he always had.

  When I was sixteen, asking where life would take me next.

  When I was thirteen, struggling to keep up in school.

  When I was ten, wondering what lay beyond the edges of Masara.

  When I was seven, terrified there was a ghost behind the shed.

  When I was five, when the world smelled like cut grass.

  When I was three, riding on his back, arms wrapped tight around his neck.

  When I was newborn,

  and he held me to his chest,

  whispering that the wind would watch over me.

  "Take the first step Aoi,"

  and I did.

  =========================

  The day came.

  I was on my bed, staring at the sun rays striking through my window. The air was still, and the only sounds I heard were the ticks from the clock.

  Espe curled up by my feet. Her purple fur was all over the room.

  The house felt, quiet.

  I got out of bed, still rubbing my eyes. My mind was trying to comprehend that today was the day.

  I walked out of my room heading towards the kitchen where my mom cooks. Before reaching there I saw Mom and Dad on the couch. They sat next to each other. Both of them looked towards me as my bedroom door creaked.

  "You're finally awake." Mom said softly, "Breakfast’s ready—grab yours and sit here with us."

  I walked towards the dining table, a wooden antique my Dad insisted in keeping. There lay my breakfast. Mom made miso soup—hers always has sweet potato and thin-fried tofu in it.

  I took my warm bowls to the coffee table where they sat. We ate breakfast, together.

  There's something off. It's not the soup, it's perfect just like always. But for some reason the air around us felt thick, heavy, uneasy.

  The silence broke when the door creaked again as Espe walked out of my room. Her eyes were barely open and she kept yawning all the time. She headed right towards her bowl of food Mom had prepared. She had given Espe extra for the trip. Or maybe she’d just emptied the whole packet—this was the last time Espe would eat here, after all.

  "So, when will you depart?" Dad asked.

  "In a couple of hours, I guess"

  It was 7:14 in the morning. I’d already packed my backpack with the things Red’s car couldn’t fit. My bike had its fuel filled up. I was ready to go.

  I just had two to three hours to say goodbye to the house.

  I tidied my room. Checking if there's anything I forgot to bring. Books, pens, sketchpads. I looked once more at the picture frames that hung on my wall. There was a photo of me at my first day of high school. Another was a photo our first trip abroad to Galar. There was one of me as a toddler, Dad was holding my hand.

  I decided to take one of them with me. A small frame of our family photo back when I was eight.

  The sky was a beautiful blue that morning. The flowers started to bloom as spring rolled in. The buzzing of bug types filled the atmosphere along with the chirping birds. And the sun was shining as bright as ever.

  This would've been perfect for a bike ride, or bug catching. If only I were still nine.

  Mom packed me lunch. Wrapped in a floral furoshiki, tied neat. Just like she used to when I went on school trips, like she did when I went to my first Indigo League. It's hard to believe this'll be my last meal from mom for a while.

  Before I knew it, the clock had struck ten.

  Time, a funny thing isn't it? It moves in a constant pace. Yet it feels slow when you want it to end quickly, and it feels fast when you want it to never end.

  We stood on the porch. I had my backpack ready, strapped like armor.

  "Call us when you get there." Dad told me.

  "Yeah, I will"

  Mom looked at me. She placed a hand on the side of my face and rubbed her thumb across my cheek. I saw her smile, it was wide yet subtle. Just like when I left Masara seven years ago, just like my first day of primary school. A few tears dropped from her eyes, I couldn't hold in mine either.

  She embraced me, Dad too. It felt warm, it felt like home. Time stood still. No words were uttered. Just us three.

  Me,

  Mom,

  Dad.

  Two loving parents, letting their only child go.

  I had to go.

  I had, to go.

  I got on my bike, the Honda NS400R I fixed three-four years ago. A lot of memories on this bike. The engine still smells like it did when I was fifteen.

  Espe went into her PokéBall. We were set to go.

  I waved my goodbyes, they did too.

  I turned the throttle, and off I went.

  As I see the road in front of me, I looked at the rearview mirror. They were still waving.

  If only I could have waved back.

  It was a three hour trip to Yamabuki. The routes were scenic, long, and somewhat exhausting on this bike, with this posture.

  I weaved through the winding roads settled between the mountains and the ocean. I pulled into some road stops along the way. Espe needed to stretch her legs.

  But a thought still lingers.

  Weird, this isn't the first time I left Masara. I've done it dozens of times before.

  But I'm leaving for college for four to six years. After that I'll find work somewhere, buy a house, start a family maybe.

  When will I go back?

  They say by eighteen you've already spent 90% of your time with your parents.

  And yet I've barely lived through 25% of my life.

  It had already past noon. The city buildings started to appear. I took my last stop before Yamabuki.

  I sat on a bench near a PokéMart. Espe came out of her PokéBall and wandered off. She usually comes back in a few minutes.

  I took out my lunch from my bag. I unwrapped the furokishi, opened the container. It was a bento. Rice with chicken karaage, some simmered kabocha, and pickled cucumber slices. It was, cold. The long trip must've cooled it down. Shame my last meal from mom wasn't fresh from the stove. I snapped the chopsticks, took a bite.

  Did I say it was cold? Funny, because it felt warm. It felt, comforting. I devoured the whole thing in under five minutes. The chicken was seasoned to perfection, the rice hit that sweet spot—not too wet, not too dry, and the veggies were spot on. It was, perfect.

  Espe came back as well, and we were set to go on our final leg of our journey.

  One by one, the buildings came into view. I past through Tamamushi Prefecture. The houses became denser, then it became taller. I saw the commuter trains run past by me. Billboards and signs fill my view. And before I knew it, I was there.

  I made it, to Yamabuki.

  I can see the towering skyscrapers from the distance. Silph Tower, a sentinel guarding the horizon, a monument to human ambition, the tallest in all of Japan. It sure was a view. I've been to Yamabuki dozens of times before. But for some reason, it still feels like my first.

  I got off the expressway at Meguro. I saw the iconic river, the bridges, parks, and trees. The cherry trees were ready to blossom, any day now. I think I already love this neighborhood.

  Took a few turns to my apartment. It was around Yutenji Temple. After going here and there, asked a few locals, I found my apartment. An old building tucked in an alley. I saw Red's car parking nearby.

  Speak of the devil, There he is.

  "Heyy!"

  "Sure took you long enough."

  "Hahah, sorry. Was just enjoying the view."

  Red helped me carry my things to my apartment.

  It was a small 1R apartment. Kitchen, bedroom, living room all in one. The bathroom was small, the shower had a minor leak, but atleast there's a tub. Espe seemed to be unimpressed with the place, but I'm sure she'll get used to it. Overall it was cramped compared to my room back home.

  But I opened the window. And there it is, the reason I chose this.

  The view.

  Cherry trees were planted on the streets that surround the building, by spring this would be the most beautiful view ever. I can see the train running through to downtown, my room rumbles everytime it passes. I can see And from afar, I can see the towers and skyscrapers. The ones that bring the promised saffron glow of Yamabuki.

  Best part? The rent was a jackpot.

  Red carried the last of my stuff, he also helped me clean up a bit. After that he had to go.

  "Thanks again by the way, you've been such a help."

  "No prob, call me if you need anything, Blue."

  And here it is. The first few hours of living all by myself.

  I spent the afternoon tidying up the place. Decorated some bits, placed some posters on the wall, a little bit of this, a little bit of that.

  Espe helped with moving some of the heavy stuffs, like the cupboards. That's a good use of a psychic type.

  Voila! Just as I imagined. My own room, curated into perfection. A monk would say this is top level feng-shui for real.

  It was home.

  It was...

  ...home.

  Was is it home?

  My first dinner here wasn't much, just some cup noodles.

  I didn't do much at night, planned on sleeping early. It was a tiring day.

  The city glowed, in saffron, just like they said. I think a tear dropped to my cheek when I saw the view. I was finally here.

  I lay down on my bed. I stared at the ceiling 'till I fall unawake.

  I couldn't sleep.

  Where am I?

  I'm at my apartment, my new home.

  Home.

  I opened my phone, opened the call logs. It was near midnight, People are asleep by now. But I just, felt like it, don't know why. I called mom.

  My phone rang,

  once,

  twice,

  three times,

  ...

  ...no answer.

  I should have guessed.

  I put my phone down, tried to sleep.

  ...

  ...

  ...

  I couldn't.

  I opened my phone again,

  this time, Dad.

  My phone rang,

  once,

  twice,

  three times,

  ...

  "Hello?"

  He answered.

  "Hi... Dad."

  I didn't remember how that night ended.

  I think I cried.

  I think Dad did too.

  At that moment, I was home.