Chapter 9: Chapter 8: Journey
Through the narrow opening of the curtains, early morning light provided enough light for her to open her eyes slowly. Yesterday was a tiring day and she fell asleep early. She yawned but didn't sat up yet. Kota is still fast asleep next to her and she's cuddling him from behind. She adjusted a bit more and flushed him more to her and she laid next to him for few more minutes. With their mother away on her work, she and their grandmother take care of Kota. Even their father cannot spend more than half a day with them. Growing up without her parents, being distant, she kinda used to being indipendent and sometimes mean. That's why she's always mean to her brother but she always let's him sleep next to her whenever he's scared of sleeping alone. She do care about him.
Yumi knows what day is it though. They're going on a hiking trip. Well not just any trip. Nobita is really into finding out about the truth behind those weird things happened at the hill few days ago. Even though she's in bad terms with him, she somehow don't mind going out with them.
Nobita. She only knew that guy from the stories told by her friends and she always wanted to meet him. They told her how kind and a loving person he was. And they told her about some crazy things they did. They sounded fake but one time they showed her some clues and almost everything they said turned more believable. Yumi wanted to do crazy things like them. But since they are separated, they said how much things are changed. Once Shizuka told her, how incomplete they felt without Nobita.
But now, the same person in those stories are back again with his friends. But by the looks of it, their childhood friend is changed. Yumi started to realise how much Nobita matters to them when she saw how sad they were when Nobita lost his control at the playground yesterday. The friendliest person of their gang is now turned into an unpredictable individual. His mood changes faster and unexpected than normal.
Yumi is jealous though. Since he came back, she started to think her friends no longer paying attention on her. She thought he's a spotlight stealer. However when Shizuka told her that she matters, Yumi no longer believe that.
Her alarm went off. It's 7:30am and they're leaving about two hours from now. Kota also wanted to go but she ain't sure. Shizuka said bring him too when she asked, so she's taking him as well but she didn't told him that. Yumi poked his cheeks to wake him up. Being a light sleeper, Kota whined in his sleep and his small body turns around in her way. But he still haven't awake yet.
She playfully smiled as she continued her assualt until his sleepy eyes opened. "I'm sleepy." He whined and tried to close his eyes again.
"No you don't." She said and sat up, then scooped him up and placed on her lap. "It's wake up time, you know." She said and tickled his belly.
Kota whined and laughed at the same time. "S... haha.....st.. haha.. stop." He shouted and tried his best to crawl out of her hold.
Eventually she let him breath and Kota looks up at her annoyed and was about to pounce on her , but she beat him to it. Yumi caught both his hands and held them behind him. Both of them looks at one another and Yumi' smirk annoyed him more.
"Meanie." Kota said and looks away with a huff.
She chuckled and shook her head. "Hey, hey. Keep those tiny hands to yourself, little brother. But I won't spoil you. 7:00am, every morning and you'll get used to it." Yumi said making him pout.
"I wanna sleep. I don't wanna wake up early." He complained.
She clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Cry all you want but I said it. 7 O'clock every morning or else." She said with an evil look which made Kota cautious but before he could act, he's laughing his brains out as she kept tickling him.
Yumi stopped once again and hugged him. "Guess what?" She said.
"What?" He repeated still panting.
"You're coming with us." She said and there's a silence. Kota slowly looks up at her and then his eyes sparkled.
"I AM?" He screamed excited making her chuckle.
"Only if you ready before I leave, that is. Can you do it?" She said and looks at him with her brows raised.
Before she knows it, he already left the room. "That was fast." She muttered.
AFTER AN HOUR LATER
They both walked slowly hand in hand. It's been a while since she let him hold her hand and just walk around the place. Kota is a good kid but she doesn't want him to turn out like her. S reason why she always make him scared of doing anything stupid. Well, she sometimes goes a bit too harsh. The only way she apologize without saying is buying him toys or ice cream. It always worked. But there are times when she's the stupid one. It's her mistake to leave Kota alone and go buy some drinks for them. She was so harsh on him. Always were. But in the end, he always came back to her smiling.
"I'm so excited." His little voice spoke in an energetic sound. "Who's coming?" He asked immediately, doubled in excitement.
"Hey don't burst with your excitement, okay?" Yumi said playfully. "Shizuka, Gian, Suneo, Shizuka and Dekisuki. Everyone's coming." Yumi said.
"Your boyfriend is coming? Wow." Kota said but immediately shut his mouth and nervously looks up at her and saw her eyes twitching and cheeks turning red. He gulped heavily. He should've kept his mouth shut.
Yumi looks down at him but only sighed. "You're safe today. But if I hear you say it again, your cheeks are gone. Understood?" She dangerously said and Kota immediately nodded. "Good."
They decided to meet up one another at Suneo' and others probably at his place by now. Maybe Nobita also reached there. If not, she should have waited for him. Her eyes widened again. Why in earth she out of all people wait for him. Even though her view slightly changed on him, doesnt mean she's in good terms with him. He still irritated her.
"Are you mad at me, Yumi?" She's snapped out of her thoughts hearing Kota' guilty voice.
She shook her head. "Why thought I'm mad at you?" She asked.
"You weren't talking to me." He said.
"Don't worry. I was just thinking. I'm not mad at you." She said smiling at her little brother. In return, she got a bright smile if his own.
After ten minutes of walk, they reached Suneo' house and saw her friends gathered at the entrance. Nit everyone though. Nobita ain't nowhere in sight. He's running late it seems. "Hey guys. Are we late?" Yumi called out attracting their attention.
Her friends smiled and waved back. "Nope. We're early." Suneo responded.
Shizuka saw Kota and crouched in front of him and ruffled his hair. "Good morning, Kota. You look so pumped. Ready for the journey?" She asked and he nodded smiling back.
"Aye." He said cutely. Shizuka chuckled and others also found it cute.
Yumi looks around hoping to find a round glassed boy anywhere near. "So the glasses running late huh? First to say yes, last to arrive." Yumi said.
"He'll meet us at the train station. I think he's probably got there." Dekisuki replied.
"He's really into it, you know? Knowing Nobita, he was always curious." Gian added.
"I hope he's not stressing about it. I'm kinda worried about how quickly something upset him." Shizuka added.
Kota blinked a few times and a bright smile appeared on his face. "Nobita brother, is coming with us too?" He chirped.
Shizuka looks down at him and smiled. "You know, Nobita?" She asked.
"Yes. He read me a story when I met him. He promised to let me play with him." Kota explained.
They nodded. "Okay, talk more on the road, people." Yumi said encouraging them to move forward.
Walking all the way, they chatted and laughed with one another's jokes. Gian carried Kota on his back and the little boy really loves every second of it. Time went flying and before they knew, they're walking on the 2nd platform where their train will arrive in ten minutes or so. There were a lot of people. But wasn't crowded. Eventually they decided to sit and sat on some chairs attached to the floor. But there's no sign of Nobita yet.
"Train is arriving in five minutes. I wonder why he's running late." Dekisuki voiced out his concern.
Gian and Suneo looks one another and chuckled. "Like old times, huh?" Suneo started.
"I could count the days he showed up early. He always comes barging in only to scolded by teacher and stand outside rest of the day." Gian added.
"Yeah. He was quite a sight to behold. I've always felt bad, you know?" Shizuka said and Kota sat on her lap listening to them. Yumi' also listening their conversation. If she knew him before, she could tell how much a changed boy Nobita is.
Soon enough, Yumi spotted a round glasses a distance away. Nobita slowly walks towards their way and he seems to see them before they saw him.
"Here's the last passenger." Yumi said and others looks at his way. Strangely he wore all black. Black hoodie, black jeans and even shoes are black. They've never seen him wear black. His face was emotionless as usual. Nobita' dark hair messily fell on his forehead and his round glasses somehow made him look more good looking.
"Hey, Nobita? You look different?" Suneo said. Even though they all changed in looks, Nobita' appearance is the most changed one.
Nobita just looks down at his appearance and raised a brow. "I am?" He asked.
"Yeah. I've never knew you wear black. I don't recall seeing you with black." Dekisuki said. Even though it's just that colour, it's Nobita they're talking about. His clothes always were colorful.
"Maybe I like these more." Nobita said and saw Shizuka looking at him in disbelief. But she immediately looks away when he looked at her. Abd that's when he saw an awestruck Kota in Shizuka' hand.
"Wow. You look cool." Kota said with those sparkling eyes and Nobita just chuckled. His chuckle surprised them. It's so rare now.
"Nope. He's not. I've seen better." Yumi said with a huff.
Nobita looks at her way and didn't spoke anything. Before the things go more heated up, Suneo decided to speak. "So, papa arranged us a small cabin near the mountains. A kilometre away, but that's the only place or else we have to set up a camp on our own." He said.
"I'm fine with the hotel." Gian said and others agreed except for Nobita who wasn't sure what to pick.
"I it possible to get view of the mountain from the cabin?" He asked confusing others.
Suneo nodded. "Sure. If not we could always move on with a tent." He replied.
"Okay. I'm in." Nobita said.
The train soon arrived and they're ready for the four hours long ride.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone