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Kyousuke brought a hand up to a button on his suit, fiddling with it while he stood on the platform of the train station. He wasn’t used to wearing such a formal outfit - the small town he grew up in was rather behind the times. If he wanted to look ahead and realize his aspirations, though, he needed to dress the part.
Kyousuke took in a breath, subconsciously holding the air in his lungs as his dark hues gazed down the tracks. Any minute now.
His stomach churned - it was only natural to feel nervous when making such a big change of lifestyle. He would be starting fresh somewhere new.
A new home. A new school. A new way of living.
Was he really ready to say goodbye to this one?
Kyousuke wasn’t sure. There was a lot he would be happy to escape from, however...there were things to miss as well.
His hues shifted over towards the town he was leaving behind - the streets he had worked his first job delivering papers on, the hilltops he traversed on spring days, the mountain view that always seemed to transport you outside of yourself…
None of that was what he would miss most, though.
The sound of a train whistle blowing in the distance broke Kyousuke out of his thoughts. A bit flustered, the young man gripped his suitcase a little tighter. It was time.
‘Where is he?’
Kyousuke shouldn’t really be surprised...after all, his childhood friend probably had a lot better things to do than see him off.
But still…
He glanced over towards the entrance to the platform, hoping to catch a glimpse of silver-toned hair hurrying his way past commuters making their way over before the train arrived.
However, that was only a hope.
A painful pang pierced his heart as the train slowed to a stop, the conductor announcing that riders may now board.
Kyousuke nervously swallowed the lump that appeared in his throat, holding his suitcase close as he walked towards the entrance of the train. He allowed others to board before him, more than just politeness making him pause as he let them pass.
He was buying time, as much as he could. Soon enough, though, he was the last remaining passenger on the platform, the conductor hollering that it was the last call to board.
With one final glance over towards the station, Kyousuke let out a sigh before stepping foot onto the train.
His shoulders were hunched as he tried to find a place to sit in the crowded car. A dejected feeling washed over him, making Kyousuke wish that he had had a chance to say goodbye to his friend.
"Kyousu-!"
A familiar voice out of nowhere made his ears perk up, the sound abruptly cut off by the sharp whistle of the train.
"Ishikawa-kun…?" He murmured, lifting his head up quickly to look out the window. His eyes scanned the platform for his friend, his heart beating quickly in his chest. Had he imagined it?
"Kyousuke-san!"
There it was again — Kyousuke turned his head in the direction he had heard his friend's voice. His eyes widened, just barely catching a glimpse of silver hair as the train lurched forward.
"Ishikawa-kun!" Kyousuke shouted out, stumbling down the aisle in the opposite direction that the train was beginning to move on the tracks.
'He's here…he came to see me off!'
Kyousuke continued down the car, sliding open the door and moving into the next one to try and spot his friend before the train picked up its pace.
"Kyousuke-san~!"
'Ishikawa-kun!'
Kyousuke managed to reach the final train car – and luckily enough, there was an empty seat available. He hurried over to the window, opening it and practically sticking his head out to see his friend trying to keep up with the train as he ran on the platform.
"Ishikawa-kun, what are you doing?!" Kyousuke shouted out, his friend red-faced and sweaty but smiling when he noticed Kyousuke.
"Haha-" he let out a huff as he tried keeping up. "I made it, Kyousuke-san…! I made it in time...to see you off...!"
Kyousuke gripped onto the window, his heart pounding in his chest while a flutter of laughter ran through him. Only Ishikawa would push things this close and somehow still manage to see him. As young as he was, it seemed like he had run the entire way to the station.
"You were late, Ishikawa-kun…" he murmured, probably unheard by the other. He couldn't help but smile though to see how hard he was working to say goodbye. He quickly cheered up. "I'm glad you made it!"
Ishikawa smiled brightly at the other, despite huffing between breaths. "I wanted to...wish you luck, Kyousuke-san!" He exclaimed. "Don't let me down…!"
Ishikawa's words made a familiar warmth move through Kyousuke. A motivation that would help him get through his studies. Even if Ishikawa wasn't going to be with him anymore, he had to believe he was still rooting for him.
Kyousuke nodded, "Thank you, Ishikawa-kun. I won't," He said, noticing the end of the platform quickly approaching. This was it.
Ishikawa seemed to notice as well. "I guess this is it, Kyousuke-san. Invite me to the city sometime!" He called out, starting to slow down his pace.
With the distance between them increasing, Kyousuke's heart already ached. However, he nodded.
"I will! Don't slack off now that I won't be around to make you do your work…!" He called out, positive Ishikawa heard him but figured the other would act as if he hadn't.
"Until next time, Kyousuke-san~!!"
Ishikawa's voice rang out, the train leaving the station. Kyousuke watched the other waving as long as he could before closing the window and taking a seat.
Leaving his hometown made Kyousuke feel like a piece of himself was missing. However, Ishikawa's words had fueled a reassurance within him that he could do this.
Kyousuke looked out the window at the sprawling mountain view. He would study as hard as he could to become a teacher. And when he did, he would make sure Ishikawa had a chance to visit the city. No matter what.
"Until next time, Ishikawa-kun…" Kyousuke said softly, holding his suitcase against his chest to make up for the hug he had wished he had been able to get from his friend.