Despite his burning joy, few minutes later, he slumped on the what it looks like a main street, he leans against a light pole, catching his breath.
"Dang it… I'm tired, haha… hhahahah..."
But seriously... which way to Tokyo...?
On the way here he barely sees any people.
"Is there anyone I can ask?"
If I'm asking police, they will take me home for sure...
At least that what he remembered how it always played out in books and movies.
"Let's just... keep walking..."
Soon after, he found a warehouse, he sees a truck with bold writing on it
—Shirosato - Tokyo—
Tokyo!!
He walked closer to the truck and circling it like a curious cat.
"If I... maybe I could sneak inside...?"
Just as he thought that—
"Oi! Who's there??"
"EEK!"
Renji jumped and turns his back toward the sharp voice. The man with bandana scowl at him, walks closer with a brisk step.
"What… Just a kid… you lost or— "
Before the man could finish, Renji bowed down and said in a high pitch.
"Please help!!!"
"Huh?" The man stopped and startled.
"I-I need to go to Tokyo, could you tell me which way it is?"
"Wait, wait, wait, why? who are you, and where your parents in the first place?"
"I- I uh..."
Crap...!
Renji scrambled his brain, then in reflex he blurted sentences from a scene in one of stuff he read.
"I-my father is in Tokyo! and... I ran away from my... aunt! Because she... took me away from my dad!"
"What? That's bad, kid. We should call the police—"
"NO! don't!! Uhhh…" Renji's voice cracked. "Yeah! my aunt's... close to the police! She'll drag me back!"
"Huh...??" The man continuously blinking, clearly trying to process it all.
"Please, please, sir! I just need to go to Tokyo as soon as possible! Can you just tell me which way is it?"
"This is a problem..." The man scratched his head and reluctantly pointed his hand to a vague direction "Well... Tokyo's that way."
"O-Oh I see, thank you sir!" Renji about to dart in the direction he showed.
"Whoa, wait! You planning to run there? Do you even know how to get there?"
"Uh... I- I'll figure it out... I- I can use train..."
"… It's way past the last train, kid."
"O-oh... then... I'll just walk..."
"Hey...You're seriously trying to see your father there?"
"Yeah! Y-yeah, I am!"
".... Haaaaaahhhhhh…" The man then walked to the truck and started the engine. "Hop on."
"...Hop in."
"R-really?! Thank you so much, sir!!" Renji climbed into the passenger seat with barely contained excitement.
Somehow it worked!! Sorry sir for lying!!
As the truck rolled down the road, the man eyed him suspiciously.
"Just so we're clear... you weren't kidnapped or involved in some shady crime, right?"
"N-no! it's just my aunt is uh... how do I explain this... since she thinks that my father unable to take care of me by himself...So she... brought me here, but I missed my father and... she wouldn't let me see him... Kinda like... overprotective...?"
"Ol' fancy family drama huh..."
"I-I guess..."
"You know which part of Tokyo your father at?"
"Huh?"
"Tokyo's big kid..."
"Ah... Uuh... Ummm... The-there's this big crossroad in front of the train station…? And when the light's green everyone goes at the same time? and huge TVs on the buildings, and I think there's a dog statue too? And lights! Like, lots of lights! It looks really shiny even at night!"
"... Shibuya...?"
"Y-Yes! Yes, That's the one..." Then with a lower voice, borderline mumbling. "I think..."
"And what part of Shibuya your father house at?"
"M-my dad's place is like, um, you know that spot in Kamikaze gal? The one where she goes to the 'Star shine bright' boutique? It's like, right around there! Near some narrow street with big stairs, but you can still hear the city, and it's definitely in Shibuya. I saw it... I mean, I remember it from when I visited before..."
"Seriously... what am I getting into..." The man let out one exasperated sigh.
About an hour later, the empty highways scenery turns into tall building and glowing lights past midnight.
W-Wooooow, this is big city? Tokyo?
Renji stared in awe behind the windshields. Then soon, the man parked his truck in front of a 24-hour convenience store.
"Okay, based on what you told me, looks like your father lived in one of these residential areas. Come on, I'll walk you there."
"Hu-uh?"
"You remember what your house looks like, right?"
"Ye-yeah of course I am..."
...C-can I lie through this again somehow...?
Renji simulates multiple scenarios already, then—
"Oh yeah! how much?" He took out crumpled bill from his pocket, tried to shift the conversation.
"Ha? no need, keep your money to yourself, kid."
"I-is that so..."
"Just… Come on, let's go, it's late and I'm tired."
The man stepped out of the truck. Renji followed hesitantly.
What do I do, what do I do...??
"I think... it's that way…" Renji walked ahead of the man to one random direction.
"Oh yeah… keep calling you 'kid' is inconvenient… Got any name, kid…?" The man asks as he followed behind Renji, until a few steps in—
"O-Oi! Kid!" The man startled as Renji dashed with full sprint, like his life depends on it.
Sorry, sorry, sorry!!
The man initially ran after him, but Renji veered into a narrow alley and running through the tight space, until the man can't keep up with him anymore.
He finally stopped—hands on knees, chest heaving—in the middle of a dark alley surrounded by silent trash bins.
"Haah, haaah, haah... Crap that was scary...but..."
He's not following me...
Renji warily scans his surrounding until he catches it, a light at the edge of the alley. Just like a moth drawn to fire he walks towards it, dragging his feet with uncertainty.
What am I doing...
Until he reached the end, and the scene before his eyes was—
Many colors flashing with so many variations and different picture. Signs blinking in unreadable kanji. Cars driving past. And crowds moving in waves. The lively city, exactly like the one he sees on the screen.
"Whoooa!! This is... Real big city... Tokyo!"
He smiled as he walked forward in awe, head turning in all directions. His small build dwarfed among the few pedestrians who glanced down at him. Most didn't care as he fumbled around.