[Winter Contest Entry 2020] Fujiwara Finds Peace

The river ran like her tears as the little girl cried over it with her feet dangling between the railing. She never believed it would be possible to feel so much sorrow, yet here she was crying like she never had before.

“Who are you?” said a voice.

The girl took pause and looked to her left. There stood a young boy who was probably no older than her. “H-Huh?” said the girl.

“I asked: †˜Who are you?’” said the boy again with a chuckle. “Why are you so sad?”

“I’m… I’m Fujiwara…” said the girl. “I’m sad because… I’m… My father had an argument with my mother, and he left! He said he hated our family!”

“Wow,” said the boy as he sat next to her. “That sounds awful…”

“I know! I know! Now I don’t know what to do! I want my father to come back! He might not like us, but I like him! I’m so sad, I don’t know what to do,” said Fujiwara.

“That is tough…” the boy sighed as he stood up. He walked off the bridge to a nearby planter and picked up some stones. As he sat back down next to Fujiwara, he gave her one. “My parents are weird. They want what’s best for me, but it doesn’t always feel like they know what’s best for me. Sometimes, I come here to cry about it just like you. When I turned eight, I said that I would do my best to keep them from making me sad. You see this rock?” said the boy as he held it out.

“Y-Yeah?” said Fujiwara.

“I like to think it’s a vessel for all my sadness. I think about everything that makes me unhappy and pour it all into this rock. Then, once I’m done…” the boy stood up and threw the rock as hard and as far as he could into the river. “I let them go!”

Fujiwara went silent as she admired how much more mature he was despite them being the same age. She rubbed her tears and stared at the rock the boy gave her. Wordlessly, she followed his lead and did the same.

“How do you feel now?” the boy smiled at her.

“Still sad… but… a lot better,” said Fujiwara. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome! Anything I can do to help! I don’t like seeing other people sad since I know how it feels!” said the boy. “Anyway, I should be going home before my parents wonder why I’m gone. Hey, if you’re ever sad again, maybe we’ll see each other again!”

Fujiwara watched as the boy walked away. She bit her lower lip, hesitating to speak. “W-Wait! What’s your name? What should I call you?”

“My name is Sugimoto,” he waved without looking back. “It was nice meeting you, Fujiwara!”

XXXXXXXXXX

The alarm tunneled its incessant noise into Fujiwara’s ears until it forced her eyes open. She quickly stopped it and basked in the silence for mere moments before getting up. After a quick stretch, Fujiwara started her daily routine. She took a bath, brushed her teeth, got dressed for work, slathered some jam on toast and ate it as she made her way to the train station. She shivered a bit at the cold, but she was thankful the past few winters had been calm.

Upon arriving at the station, Fujiwara packed herself in like a sardine alongside everyone who also happened to be going to work. She did not know why, but she thought about the possibility of some dirty old man groping her. She then exhaled at the thought of how mundane and routine her day was when someone groping her would be a new experience. “Maybe I should ask for a vacation…” Fujiwara said to herself.

The train stopped at several stations until Fujiwara finally got off. She walked a few blocks until she arrived at a tall building. As she entered, she looked at the wall in the lobby where there were the framed faces of the company’s best employees over the recent months. She did not realize it until now, but three of the eleven pictures were her.

“Hey, Fujiwara! Admiring yourself? Planning to get it a fourth time before the year ends?” said a woman.

“Yoshino,” said Fujiwara as she greeted her coworker with a smile. “N-No, it’s just… I didn’t realize I was on the wall that many times…”

“That’s not a surprise,” said another coworker as a group of them piled into the elevator.

“For being such a good employee, you’re very out of it most of the times, aren’t you?” said Yoshino with a giggle as the group chuckled a little.

“Haha, I guess I am…” said Fujiwara as she chuckled with them. As the elevator opened, she went her separate way from Yoshino and her coworkers. She entered her tiny cubicle that was identical to all the others. Fujiwara nestled into her chair and got to work. She started with financing and paperwork before moving on to punch numbers into her computer. She did this over the course of the day, only stopping to take quick breaks for tea, lunch, and the bathroom. During these times, she made small talk with Yoshino and her coworkers, enjoying the gossip but making sure to never fully invest herself in it. The day eventually winded down, Fujiwara now finished with extra work she had offered to do. She packed her things as Yoshino’s head popped up over her cubicle.

“Hey, Fujiwara, you busy tonight?” said Yoshino.

“Not particularly, no,” said Fujiwara.

“Since it’s Christmas Eve and most of us are off tomorrow, want to go to karaoke with me and a few coworkers? Momoshiro’s going to be there,” Yoshino said with a playful smile. “I know you sneak peeks at him and I’m pretty sure he likes you too. Heck, I’m pretty sure a lot of the men like you. Just look at you.”

Fujiwara laughed a bit at Yoshino’s comment. “Um… as flattering as that was, I think I’ll just go home.”

“What? Why?!” said Yoshino. “You just said you’re not particularly busy and you’re one of the people who’re off tomorrow! What is your reason, really? Tell me!”

“It’s nothing, I just need to get some things sorted out back at my place. Tell you what: I’ll call you and ask for the address if I change my mind. Deal?” said Fujiwara.

“I guess, but you better call!” said Yoshino with a pout before making her way to the elevator.

Fujiwara waved at her coworker before making her way to her boss’ office. She handed in the extra work she did and stepped out before she was given too much praise. She thought about the last time she did not excuse herself and had to listen to him drone on about how much he appreciated her. It was by no means a bad thing, Fujiwara just thought it took up precious time she could be using to relax at home before coming back to work the next day.

The trip home was very similar to the trip to work. It was uneventful with the only change being the color of the sky. As she entered her apartment, Fujiwara got out of her work clothes and into something comfier. She laid on her bed and stared at the ceiling for a while before going to her kitchen and making herself dinner. She contemplated turning on the TV but settled with the silent atmosphere instead. It allowed her to take in her living space. Compared to her old and tiny apartment, she was living a good life. Or at the very least, what she believed to be a good life.

She remembered four cramped walls with very little space for all her belongings. The only thing she truly appreciated from her old place was the balcony. Now, she did not need a balcony since one of her walls in her living room and kitchen was just a window that gave her a great view of the city. She was thankful her talents were finally noticed and that it got her a very well paying if not menial job. Living in a fancy penthouse suite for an apartment was definitely a step up from her life before.

Despite her financial security, Fujiwara felt as if there was something missing. At first, she had thought it was a need for companionship, but she was never really sure. She was close to all her coworkers, especially Yoshino, but there was something else that was missing. Initially, she expected it to be romance. But as she flirted and spoke with more of her male coworkers, she realized there was something that was keeping her from making a full connection. She could never place a sure idea on what it was, but it always got in the way. It was a shame, too, since like Yoshino said, most of her male coworkers found her very attractive.

“It’s like I’m looking for something, but what…?” she said to herself as she finished plating her food and sat on a table. She looked at the picture of her and her mother on the table with a smile and sighed. “I don’t know, Mom… I feel like something is still missing…”

Fujiwara’s trance broke as she took a bite of her food. She must have flavored something wrong, because for once in her life, it did not taste good. She realized she might have been in one of her dramatic states of mind for a bit too long. She laughed it off and did her best to eat anyway, not wanting to waste the food. Once she finished and did her dishes, she waved at her mother’s photo as she headed for her room. “Looks like another lonely Christmas, mom…”

With a loud thud, Fujiwara collapsed on her bed. She once again stared at the ceiling, unsure of what to contemplate about other than if she should be taking her bath soon. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes, allowing her mind to drift away

XXXXXXXXXX

Fujiwara clutched the stone tightly in her hand before tossing it into the river.

“Feel better?” said Sugimoto.

“Yeah,” said Fujiwara. “My mother barely made rent for this month. I was afraid of what might happen. I’ve been studying like crazy so that I can get a good job, but I don’t think we’ll ever have the money to pay University tuition.”

“I wish I thought that far ahead. Any talk about University is usually done for me by my parents. They’re making sure I end up in one best suited for my future,” said Sugimoto. “Who talks to their kid like that? We’re just starting junior high. I just wish they’d see me for who I am now rather than who they want me to be later.”

“At least, in a way, they’re kind of looking out for you. It’s better than nothing,” said Fujiwara.

“I guess. It doesn’t feel like it most of the time, though,” said Sugimoto. “I’m thankful for my parents’ wealth, but I wish I had more sentimental ones like your mother. Living in a nice house doesn’t feel like home when your parents don’t feel like parents.”

“Yeah, I bet. As loving as she is to me, I wish my mother had the money to just pay all her debts away. I bet she would be a lot happier…” said Fujiwara.

“It’s settled. Let’s make a promise!” said Sugimoto.

“What kind of promise?” said Fujiwara.

“Let’s promise that we both have happy futures! Promise me that you and your mother will fight for a future where you can both be happy!” said Sugimoto. He stuck out and extended his pinky.

“I swear! I promise!” Fujiwara said excitedly. “Promise me that you’ll do what’s best for your own interests, and not your parents’!”

“I promise,” said Sugimoto.

Fujiwara locked their pinkies tight and smiled before suddenly giggling. She blushed as she looked at the boy that stood before her. “Hey, Sugimoto…?”

“Yeah, Fujiwara?” said Sugimoto.

“We’re going to the same junior high and… I thought… we’ve known each other for years now…”


“Yeah? What about it?”


“I want everyone in junior high to know that we are friends starting on the very first day. Can I… call you by your first name?”

“Oh… um… yeah, I think I’d like that. Can I do the same?”

“Y-Yeah…” said Fujiwara with a blush. She looked to see that Sugimoto was blushing as well. “Wh-Why… don’t we practice a bit right now?

XXXXXXXXXX

Reality came flooding back as Fujiwara opened her eyes. She looked at her phone and remembered the promise she made as a child. “I am supposed to be happy. I will be happy. It was a promise…” she said to herself as she grabbed her phone. She cycled through her contacts until she found Yoshino’s number. It did not take more than one ring before her coworker picked up. “Yoshino! It’s Fujiwara. I changed my mind! I’d like to go to karaoke with you!”

“Really?! Awesome!!!” said Yoshino. “Yeah, let me text you the address! We’ve already gotten started, but we’re not stopping any time soon! Come over as soon as you can!”

“I will. I’m looking forward to it,” said Fujiwara. She quickly got dressed and inspected herself in the mirror before heading out. As expected, despite it being Christmas Eve, the trains were loaded with people. She focused on her phone while pressed against a wall of people. “I have to try to be happy. Even if I’m not, I have to do my best to figure out why…” she whispered to herself before staring out into space.

There was a sudden regret she felt for spacing out as she heard the voice on the train announce a stop to which she was swept along with all the people. By the time she returned to her senses, the train had left, and she stood at the station wide eyed. “N-No! Dammit! Ugh… I should really stop spacing out…” said Fujiwara as she sighed. Her brow twitched a bit as the station intercom said that the next train was delayed due to heavy foot traffic and engine issues. “I guess I’ll walk there,” she said with a sigh of irritation.

Leaving the station, Fujiwara immediately realized where she was at. It was her hometown. A rush of nostalgia came flooding back as she thought about how she had not been home in years. The last memory she had was of a harsh winter a few years back. “Hm… Maybe a quick trip down memory lane wouldn’t be bad…” Fujiwara said to herself as she looked at her phone. She spent a good period of time walking through the streets and taking in the sites. There was always this aura about her hometown that she could feel with all her senses. Whether it was the noises it generated, the smells it produced, or any manner of other things, her hometown always managed to give her comfort.

Before she knew it, she was upon a familiar bridge. Fujiwara stared at it for a bit before taking the first step. The rest came easy as she made it to the middle of the bridge and leaned over the railing. The river was still going, though some parts of it were a bit sloshy from the cold. Coming back to such a place put a smile on her face. Suddenly, her attention was drawn to the sky as she saw some early Christmas Eve fireworks. They whistled and plastered the sky with an ocean of color, which only made her smile wider.

“No way… I…” said a more than familiar voice.

Fujiwara looked to her left to see a man standing there. It was a person she had not seen in years. “Sugi… no… Seiichi?” she said.


“Hello, Akina. Today, I... said I wanted to be happy and said farewell to my parents,” said Seiichi. He walked up next to her and opened his hand to reveal a rock. “I… didn’t expect you to be here…”

“I was going to go see some friends, but… got sidetracked and winded up here instead…” said Akina. She smiled faintly and looked back at the river. “I didn’t…. expect you to be here either…”

Seiichi clutched the rock and leaned on the railing next to Akina. “I’m… sorry for everything… for leaving you...”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. Sometimes, it takes a long time to find what you really want,” said Akina as she leaned on Seiichi. She was very happy when he did not resist.

“I will never let my parents make decisions for me again, I want to make my own. I want to be happy,” said Seiichi.

“Well, since I feel the same…” said Akina as she clutched Seiichi’s hand that held the rock. “Do you… want to be happy together? Like before?”

Seiichi leaned a bit on Akina as well before smiling a little. He then broke away from her and threw the rock as hard and as far as he could into the river. “Yeah, I think I’d like to try again.”

Akina looked at her phone before sending a message to Yoshino that something urgent came up. She clutched Seiichi’s hand and intertwined their fingers before giving his arm a tug. “I love you, Seiichi. Let’s go home.”