セレナーデ
5. harana
— a sweet, romantic song dedicated to someone special; a serenade.

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10:12 p.m. NIGHT #5.

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NOAH

I slammed the telephone back to its place with a sigh before stepping out of the phone booth. Outside, the streets have come to life in a series of lights and sounds that rushed in its nightly demeanor.

But for the first time since I've arrived in Tokyo, I wasn't there to marvel at the view.

Pushing my cold hands deep into the pockets of my deceased uncle's weary, brown, oversized coat, I kicked a pebble that was in my way, letting it skim over the curb and hit a nearby fire hydrant. A cat who had found solace by it, hissed at me angrily before jumping away.

Great, even animals have a profound disdain for me now.

I huffed out a breath and returned my earphones back to my ears before playing my go-to playlist at full blast volume.

Seconds ago, I had just called my aunt back at home to tell her that I would, in fact, be out late again. She had reprimanded me of course, warned me of the dangers of the night with the pickpockets and criminals that hid in the shady corners of Tokyo.

But I would rather be sacked by a masked man than spend my entire life in that cold home of hers, hiding away and letting my mind roam free until I finally lose it

I didn't want to stay put and think, because thinking would lead to remembering, and remembering would lead to reliving — which was everything I've been trying to avoid for the past three months.

Despite what my aunt believes, I do indeed feel slightly more alive walking lonesome by the streets of this city. It feels like being carried along by the ocean of people, letting the sea of lights take me to somewhere other than reality.

Tonight was rather different though.

With a slight glance at my wristwatch, I then looked up to see the lone bench next to a street lamp at the eastern side of Ueno Park.

Yuuki and I had come to a conclusion that fate would have its strange way of making us cross paths anyway, and so we had decided to precede whatever magnetic force was pulling us together, and meet up here. Just to talk again, keep each other company for the night.

The bench was cold as I sat down, nothing but the comforting music to company me. Ueno Park seemed quieter compared to the other streets and places in Tokyo that I've visited before. It was also more ambient with a line of Cherry Blossom trees gracing its cobblestones. Petals scattered across the ground, and it reminded me of something. Or maybe someone.

"What are you listening?"

I sat up straight in surprise as Yuuki suddenly appeared out of nowhere, seemingly amused at my jumpy reaction. I don't think I'll ever get used to her out of the blue appearances in my life. She was almost like a ghost that apparated every night time, haunting me.

"Where did you even come fro—" My sentence stopped midway when my gaze landed on her and I realized that she wasn't wearing her usual faded white dress that was starting to grow on me.

Instead, Yuuki was in a blush-colored pant suit, with a white, pearly handbag on her shoulder.

"Close your mouth, it's cold." She laughed, before plopping down beside me on the bench.

"You seem to be dressed up for an occasion." I remark, turning to her with a curious look. "Are you going somewhere?"

Her body gave off a comforting warmth in contrast to the night's coldness, radiating beside me. It felt very nice, like the presence of a campfire by the beach, or the sunshine on a windy day; not at all like the cold sheets of my bed back at my aunt's home.

"Oh, is this not a date?" She frowned, and I almost fell from the bench with her words.

"D-DATE?" I stammered, feeling the blood rush to my cheeks. "I—"

"We agreed to quote and quote 'meet up' here." She raised an eyebrow before wiggling the two fingers of both her hands in the air. "Doesn't that equate to a date?"

I looked at her, stunned.

She stared back at me before throwing her head back for a laugh. Her face was illuminated by the light that shone from the lamp post, and her eyes had shut to a close in merriment. It was a sight to behold. And her laugh. Her laugh was the kind of sound that should be treasured and whisked inside a bottle for safekeeping. I could get drunk on the mere sound of it, and still would be enamored by it — every single time.

"I'm just kidding." Yuuki finally said with a winning smile as she wiped away the tears of laughter. "You always seem so serious that it's easy to make fun of you."

I huffed out a scowl and wiped my face with one hand to try to wring myself back to reality after basking in her magnetic presence. "Well," I finally said, deciding to play along.

"I'm sorry I don't the 'dress' the part for our 'date'," I nod towards her, emphasizing my words. "But I promise to give you a memorable night."

"And by memorable, you mean another night full of sodas and shouting?" She ogled me teasingly. "Yeah right, how memorable indeed."

"Ouch," I grunted sarcastically, placing a hand on my chest as if in pain. "You hurt my feelings so."

She giggled, and I let out another sigh.

"What do you suppose we do?" I asked, searching her face.

On my end, I could sit beside her for the rest of this lovely night and I would have no complaint. But I wanted to know what she thought, wanted to hear more of her mind and adjust the pieces of her image in my head.

But the young girl merely wrinkled her nose and shrugged her shoulders as an answer. "I don't know, get to know each other I suppose. Isn't that what dates are supposed to be?" She asked teasingly, leaning forward and wiggling her eyebrows.

"Point taken," I shrug in response, before taking out one of the buds of my earphones and handing it over to her.

The young girl gave me a confused look. I guess I surprise her as much as she surprises me.

"You asked what I was listening earlier, so here." I said as she reached out for the bud and placed it on her right ear.

"I think it's better if you listen. My father used to say music is the window to one's soul, and you did say you wanted us to get to know each other better." 

Cranking up the volume, Yuuki's face was contorted in concentration as she listened to the tune I had been listening. It was rather slow and steady, the vocals almost sounding like a lullaby.

"Oh," she nodded to the beat, whilst I tapped my hand on my thigh to the music. "It sounds good. I like the drums."

A small smile tugged the corner of my lips.

"But you don't understand it, do you?" I asked, and the teenage girl shook her head expectantly.

"No, sorry." She squeaked meekly. "What language is this anyway? It seems so familiar, like I've heard it before. I don't know when though."

"It's in Filipino." I explained, remnants of myself slowly being exposed like a wallpaper peeling itself off. "Sung by a Filipino indie band."

"Filipino?"

"Yeah," I said uncomfortably, not used to telling a foreigner and a stranger about my personal background. "It's the language and nationality of the people of the Philippines."

Yuuki's forehead creased, as if she was trying to remember something. I tense inwardly, wondering if she would ask something personal about me that would force me to think, remember, and worse, relive.

But instead, she focused on the tune. "Ah, I see. And what is the song about? It sounds bittersweet."

I let out a soft, relieved chuckle. "The title directly translates to 'another lifetime'. It's about... wishful thinking I guess, of hoping to try again in another lifetime."

"That sounds sad." She frowned, knitting her eyebrows together. "No wonder you always look sad. The music you listen to is depressing!"

"H-Hey!" I exclaimed in defense as the song faded away to a finish. "Okay, then what music do you listen to?"

"I listen to indie too, but the wistful happy ones!" She said proudly, rummaging through her bag before pulling out her own phone. "Sometimes alternative, when I'm in the mood."

"My favorite artist is Haruomi Hosono, but lately I've been finding newer and underground artists. Listen to this one by Vaundy! It's time to inject happier tunes in your mind." Her words were quick and rambling, enough for me to know that she was slightly geeking out — excited for me to take a peek into the window of her own soul and listen to the music she consumes.

By the time she connects my earphones to her phone, a soft, melodic tune fills my ears.

"Oh, this does sound happy and wistful...ish." I commented, tapping my foot along with the melody. "What is this one about?"

"It's a love song." She replied, her eyes twinkling, seemingly happy that I was enjoying it.

"Ah," I rubbed my chin playfully. "Is this your way of professing your undying love for me?"

"Ha-ha," she said dryly, before the two of us erupted into laughter — making a few passersby turn their heads towards our direction.

The night fell deeper as we exchanged more songs to one another, some with a few explanations, others with just the comfortable silence of enjoying the music with each other's company.

It was good while it lasted.

But like all the other nights, Yuuki and I parted ways for the fifth time. This time, with the promise to exchange a more prominent structured playlist for one another.