[Chapter 4] - The Walk Down the Memory Lane (1)

{How was your interview in the afternoon? Really, I had a very good time today, knowing you. - Risa} Ai read off the screen of the mobile phone.

'Risa-san?' Ai thought. {It's nice know you as well, Risa-san. My interview? Hopefully I can get the job. But most likely, I will have to go around and search for another soon - Ai} Ai entered in her cell phone and pushed the 'send' button, before placing it back on the table where it had been lying on. She started walking away slightly towards the bathroom, reaching out her hand to her hair, pulling off the ribbon that was holding her long silky hair in a pony tail.

Almost immediately, the phone on the table vibrated. 'So fast?'. Ai stopped in her steps, turned back a little and grabbed her phone along with her, before continue moving into the bathroom.

{Ganbatte! I'm sure that you will be able to get that job! ^.^ Anyway, do you mind if I asked what are you doing tomorrow? - Risa}

Ai closed the door of the bathroom and grabbed the brush that was lying on the rim of the sink and ran it through her hair with her right hand and typed the reply with her left. {Why are you asking? - Ai}. She placed the phone at the position where the brush used to stand. 'Why am I so happy today?' Ai asked her reflection in the mirror in her mind. Shrugging her shoulder a little in response to her own question, Ai placed the brush beside the phone  and turned around , stepping into the shower area.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

{Why are you asking? -Ai}  Risa read as she laid on her stomach on her bed in Eri's study room. 'What should I say? Hmmm.' {I was thinking since both of us are so free, why not hang out together? I have nothing to do tomorrow. Well, I pretty much have nothing to do until the results of the second audition is out. - Risa}

Risa placed her phone beside her pillow and returned to reading the sign language book she stole from Eri's room when Eri was taking her shower. Her mind ran away from the contents of the book in less than a minute time. 'Why haven't she reply my message? Am I being too fast? I mean we just got to know each, maybe she's not comfortable hanging out together. Hmmm.'

Risa took her phone up again. {It's okay if you do not want to hang out tomorrow, Ai-san. Just pretend that I did not asked. - Risa}

"Risa ! I'm coming in." Eri called out as she knocked on the door.

'Sheez, I can't let her know that I took her book.' Risa thought. With that, she shoved the book that she was reading under her pillow and turned on her back, pretending that she was just about to prepare to sleep.

"What are you doing? Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Risa asked innocently as Eri entered the room.

Eri proceeded towards her bookshelf in the study room and began running her eyes along the long stretch of books. "I'm looking for some books. I need to finish my report by tonight. " Eri replied as she pulled out a book from the shelf, flipping a few pages, before placing it back on the shelf. It was obvious that that was not the book she was looking for. She continued her search for the books. "Oh yah! " Eri called out, only to see Risa checking her phone.

"Yes?" Risa asked, looking up from the screen of her phone. 'Why haven't Ai reply me? Did I scared her with my actions?'

"Have you seen the sign language book that I bought last week? " Eri asked as she pulled out another book and placed it on the study table, looking at Risa's direction once again.

"No . . . I have not seen it. Why did you asked?" Risa acted blur about the situation while she checked her phone once again for any new message.

Eri pouted. "It's gone! It was in my room a while ago. But when I came out from the shower, it's gone! I can't find it." Eri whined, picking out two more books and place it on top of the one she selected previously. "I was about to finish that book." Eri grunted childishly, only to catch Risa checking her phone for the third time. "Are you waiting for someone's call or message?" Eri asked curiously.

"Huh?" Risa was shocked. She dropped the phone that she was holding at that moment and it dropped onto her chest and down on the bed. "No - I am not." Risa lied nervously.

"Really?" There was no way Eri would believe the claim Risa had made moments ago. Eri began walking towards the sofa bed Risa was lying. "Do you really think I will believe that, Risa?"  Eri asked when made it to the right side of Risa.

Risa sat up. "Why not? That - that's the truth. I'm not waiting for anything. I'm was about to sleep when you came in." Risa answered with slight shutter at the start and sat up. She held on to the phone she had just dropped.

"I've came in for less than 5 minutes, and I had caught you looking into your phone 3 times. Are you trying to kid me or something?" Eri analysed. " Come on, SAY!" Eri demanded as she jumped onto Risa, with the intention to snatch over the mobile phone in Risa's grip.

"No! It's really nothing! I was just checking the time! Nothing else!" Risa insisted, as she shifted her phone between her right and left hand, keeping Eri away from obtaining the phone to her possession. "Now, GET OFF ME!" Risa threatened.

"No! Not until you show me what you have in your phone!" Eri replied as she grabbed Risa's pillow and threw it at Risa. That was when she saw the book she has been looking around for and Risa had made clear that she had not seen it.

'Gosh! She saw it! I'm dead!' Risa thought within herself.

"NIIGAKI RISA!" Eri scream out, getting off Risa and picked up the book. "You TOOK my book and you said you did not see it!" With that, she knock Risa's head lightly with the book in her hand. "Meanie!" The excitement of her finding her book had taken over the curiosity of her to know what was in Risa's mobile phone. "Why did you take it anyway?"

Risa struggled to get Eri off her. "Read, if not why do you think I will take it?"

"Read? Since when are you interested? Aren't you the one always complaining about how boring the lesson is and why do you have to take the lesson with me?" Eri raised an eyebrow and looked at Risa cynically from her position. Risa had successfully pushed Eri off herself, with Eri landing at the edge of the bed, just millimetres to fall onto the floor.

"Umm. -" That left Risa speechless. 'Come on Risa! Think of something to shut Eri off! If not she's going give you nights of hell for that!' Risa edged her mind. "Umm. I was thinking that since I'm taking the lessons already, might as well I should study for it? I would not want to waste my money to get a red mark in return."

"Really?" Eri questioned about Risa's response, only half believing in it.

"I'm sure!" Risa added on quickly, to cover up any suspicion that may grow in Eri. "Aren't you going to write your report tonight? Can I borrow your book then?" With that, Risa grabbed the book from Eri and pushed her lightly, causing Eri to fall onto the floor. "Go go go, go and do your report! I promise in will return the book to you soon!"

"Ouch! That hurts, Baka!" Eri cried out as her butt landed on the ground. Eri stood up and slapped Risa and her back. "You deserve this! I hate you!" Eri commented jokingly, before walking towards the study table and grabbed the books she picked out earlier and stomped out of the room, closing the door after her.

Risa let out a sigh of relief and checked her mobile once again. 'Still no reply.' Risa thought sadly.  She dropped the phone back to the bed and open the book, continued from where she had left on. But her mind was not on the book at all. 'She has a beautiful smile. I wish she can smile more.' The sound of vibration interrupted her thoughts. She picked up her phone as immediately.

{Sorry for the late reply, I was taking my shower just now. I'm going to do some volunteer work tomorrow. If you don't mind, you can join me. - Ai}

Risa beamed with joy with the reply she got from Ai. She could not stop smiling. {Of course I don't mind. ^.^ - Risa} 'She replied! I worried too much previously. She sounded quite cool about it.' Risa thought.

{I'll see you 7 am at station. - Ai}

"Yes!" Risa shouted out, celebrating a little. She closed the book and placed it back on the study table. She laid happily on her bed, pulling the covers to her shoulder. 'This is so exciting! I can't wait for tomorrow to come.'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Session 2: Location, Mind's Café at downtown. Got to know Client better. Knew one of her friends, Konno Asami, Found out that one of the reason why Client chose not to take post high school education. 1. Finances. 2. Confidence. Client is very conscious for the fact that she could not speak. Had a mindset that she may be a burden to others. Could be one of the contributing factors why she is unable to speak till this day.

Client show little signs of being Selective Mutism. A little nervous about the new environment, but settled in quickly. Need further follow up.

Eri dropped the pen that she was holding on. "Ah!! I don't know what else to write! I still don't know her well enough." Eri groaned out, running right hand through her  hair, messing them up in the process.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The early morning of late autumn is always freezing. It brought the harsh reality that winter is closing in.  At 645am, Risa stood at the entrance of the station, with her trench coat zipped all the way to her neck, hands stuffed in the pocket of the coat. 'It's freezing. Winter is coming soon.'

Someone patted Risa's shoulder, causing Risa to turn to the direction of the touch. Ai took out her phone and typed, {Risa-san! Why are you here so early? I thought I said 7 am?}

"Ai-san." Risa puffed out, having difficulty to speak properly in the coldness.

{Let's go into the station first. It's much more warmer inside.} With that, Ai dragged Risa into the train station.

"Thank you. . .I never expect it to be so cold now." Risa quivered a little, disliking the cold in the morning.

{It's always this cold in the morning in this time of the year} Risa watched Ai typed in her mobile from her position, with a small smile forming at the corner of her mouth. Risa smiled as well. {I can see that you do not have the habit of waking up early} Ai finished up with the smile disappearing as she showed Risa. She was unaware that Risa had been watching her all these while.

'Why do I feel like you are always trying to hide your smile?' Risa thought as she observed Ai's action. "I - Yah." Risa blushed with a little in embarrassment at the discovery Ai had made. "I never had the habit of waking early. So even during college, I had to choose all afternoon lessons to prevent myself from missing lessons." Risa answered sheepishly.

{It's alright. It won't stay so cold throughout the day. It will get warmer in the afternoon.} Ai assured.

Risa nodded her head. "I never knew than autumn morning in Tokyo is as cold as that in Kyoto. I always thought the it would be much more warmer since Winter in Tokyo is warmer." Risa pouted.

{It's just the morning, Risa-san. It would be different when afternoon comes.}

"Where are we going today anyway?" Risa asked as the train entered the station. Ai stood up and walked to the edge of the platform. Risa followed after her and stood by her left side.

{You will know when you reach there.}

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Risa!" Eri called out, bitting a piece of toast in her mouth, her right hand holding on her handbag and left knocking her study room door. "Risa, wake up! I'm heading off for work soon. What are you going to do today? And where are we having dinner tonight? Don't forget that we have sign language lesson this evening." Eri continued as she moved towards the coffee table, grabbed the keys that were lying on it and placed it into her handbag.  She then place her handbag on the sofa.

"RISA!" Eri grunted as she stomped towards the study and burst into the study, expecting to find Risa hiding under her covers. "RI-sa?" 'Where had she gone? This must be a miracle. She was actually up before I am.' Eri thought silently in her mind. Brushing that thought away, Eri closed the door of the room. 'I shall call her during lunch time them. She has been acting weird since last night. I wonder what is up with her.' Eri thought silently, seizing her handbag from the coach and exited her apartment.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The train trip to Okutama, the place Ai had in mind, was pretty much a silent one. Even Risa remained unspoken during the whole to the train trip. Ai was seated opposite her, reading one of the medical journal Ami passed her during lunch yesterday. Risa just sat at her seat, watching Ai from her position. Whenever Ai directed her attention to Risa, Risa will always look away, to prevent Ai from noticing that she was reading her.

Risa looked out of the window of the train carriage for a moment. She was captivated  by the  greeneries, the breathtaking beauty of the nature that replaced the tall urban architectures in the city.

{Is it very boring to hang out with me? Since we can't communicate normally with flow?}  Ai typed into her phone, but hesitated. 'Should I show her? I do not want her to accommodate herself to my pace of conversation.'

"You have something to tell me?" Risa asked as she had observed the possible internal inflicts that would be going through Ai's mind by her actions.

Ai nodded her head unconscientiously and with an reluctant hand, she passed the phone to Risa.

Risa blinked her eyes are the statement shown on the phone. 'What makes her think so?' Risa looked up and into Ai violet eyes. Ai took over the phone again. {From yesterday, I can understand that you are a person with a friendly disposition and have lots to say. You seemed quite quiet today. . . Did you regret coming along with me to volunteer today?} With that, Ai stuffed the phone back into Risa's grip and looked away slightly.

"Ai-san?" Risa called out to get Ai to look at her. "It's not boring hanging out with you. Not at all. Even though I may sound noisy, I'm actually a quiet person. I'm only noisy around Eri. She's too much fun to just keep quiet around her." Risa joked, trying to ease the sadness she felt from Ai. "I actually liked hanging out with you. And this is my first time volunteering. My parents never allow me to do these things back home." Risa continued.

{Really?}

"Hmmm hmmm" Risa sounded in response. "So I should thank you Ai-san for giving me this chance to volunteer." Risa ended with a genuine smile, which successful influenced Ai.

{You're welcome. Risa-san.} Ai typed.

"So, where are we stopping?" Risa asked.

{Okutama.}

"Where is this place? I have not heard of this place before." Risa questioned curiously.

{It's a small town located at the western part of Tokyo. You will love the place, I think.} 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You have reach the mailbox of Niigaki Risa and this means that I am currently busy and unable to answer your call. If you have something that you need to tell me, please try calling me at a later time. If not you can also chose to leave a message behind. But please be sure that you name yourself properly. Thank you." Eri growled loudly at the mail box message. 'Again? What important stuff are you doing, Niigaki Risa, that you can't pick up my call. Baka.'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the two of them got off the train and was welcomed by the small but buzzing town. The mountainous view surrounding the four side of the town had capture Risa's heart. 'This is the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. It's feels so relax to be here.'

They continued walking pass the shop houses and further away, until there were little urban structures surround them. It was just the mother nature and two of them. Soon after, Risa noticed a cottage surrounded by low wooden fences appearing as they strode closer. That was when Ai began to increase the size of her steps and began running forward. Risa continued her pace.

(Tadaima) Ai signed as she ran forward, hugging a middle aged lady who was standing at the door of the cottage.

Risa read Ai's sign and found it familiar. 'I have definitely read it somewhere yesterday.' Risa thought. She closed her eyes and willed herself to remember where had she read it from and what did it meant. 'It meant Tadaima. That's 'I'm home'. Risa opened her eyes at that realisation. ' Is this Ai's house? But she said that she's here to volunteer. Isn't it weird for someone to say that she's volunteering when she's just going back home and help?' Risa was confused.

"Okaierinasai, Ai-chan." The middle aged women welcomed. Her voice was gentle and loving, just like how Risa felt about her mother's voice.

Risa walked closer to the door of the cottage. That was when she had discovered the small sign that hung loosely on the fences. 'Children's Home' Risa read. 'This is an orphanage. She said I'm home. Does that meant that Ai-san is an orphan?' Risa was surprised. 'And yesterday she actually tried to comfort me when I spoke about my family problems. She does not have hers and she did not bitter into it and tried to encourage me about the situation. I should be ashamed of my own self' She  reflected in her mind as she continued walking closer, in a very slow pace, still unable to get through the astonishment, until she got beside Ai.

"Konnichiwa." The lady greeted, bowing down.

"Konnichiwa." Risa returned, doing the same actions, as a form of respect to someone senior to her.

(Baa-san, this is my friend, Niigaki Risa.) That was what Ai managed to finish signing, before she was dragged away by a group of excited young children. (Chotto.) Ai signed to the children, but apparent to Risa, they were all so thrilled to see Ai that they would not bother her objections of being pulled away. (Gomen!) Ai finally signed towards Risa, praying inwardly that Risa would understand what she had signed.

Risa just stared at the disappearing sight of Ai, feeling lost for the first time, in this place that she had not been in her life. 'What should I do?'

"Risa-kun?" The lady called out.

"Hai!" Risa turned around immediately to face the lady, bowing a little.

"You do not have to be so formal with me. You can call me Baa-san, just like how Ai always call me. If not you can call me by my name, Abe."  Abe introduced herself.

"Hai, Abe-san" Risa felt comfortable with the second option given to her.

"Come along." Abe motioned Risa to move to her side. "I will show you around."

Risa nodded her head and paced towards Abe and together, they entered the cottage where Abe showed Ai the sleeping quarters, the dining room,  the toilets, and playroom area.

"Ai-chan said that you're her friend. I'm surprised." Abe started the conversation.

"Why is Abe-san surprised?" Risa was confused. 'Isn't it normal for someone to have a friend or some friends? She's weird.'  That was the impression Risa got from the statement Abe had made.

"Not in that way, Risa-san." Abe understood Risa's confusion. "I mean that I was surprised that she brought her friend here. You are the second friend of hers I have met before. " Abe held Risa's hand in a motherly way.

"Oh. . . I see . . ."

"So how long have you known Ai-chan? I haven't heard of your name from her before. Not until today." Abe asked gently as they continued walking around the premise.

"Well, we met a month ago, but I only actually got to know more of her yesterday." Risa answered truthfully.

Abe widen her eyes at the information thrown to her. "This is getting interesting."

"Hmmm?" Once again, Risa expressed her confusion.

"I guess my Ai-chan is growing up really fast out there. Do you what does it mean that she has brought you here, especially only knowing you for only a day?" Abe analysed the situation for Risa.

"What does that meant?" Risa asked, still not getting what Abe was trying to imply in her sentence.

"She really trust you a lot." Abe finished.

'She trust in me a lot?' Risa self questioned herself.

That conversation happened when the two of them arrived at the study room, where Ai was sitting beside a young girl, and speaking to her through sign language. "You saw the little girl Ai-chan is conversing with?" Abe asked. Risa directed her attention to where Abe had directed her to. "Her name is Miyuki. She has the same psychological disorder as Ai-chan."

"Psychological disorder?" Risa repeated.

"It's speech disorder, classified under psychological disorder. Ai-chan was the first case we had." Abe continued.

[Flashback]

"Abe-san" The policeman who picked little Ai off the street arrived at the doors if the orphanage. "We have found her off the streets alone, 4 am in the morning. Currently, we can’t find any identifications on her, nor match her with any reported lost kid. My supervisor ordered me to send her." He continued as he held Ai on his right hand. "Onegaishimasu." With that, he left Ai in the hands of Abe.

"Konnichiwa." Abe greeted. Little Ai looked away from Abe. "What's your name, little girl?" Ai walked away from her to the counter, picked a pen and paper and wrote 'Ai' on it. Abe followed closely behind her. "Ai-chan." Abe read out while Ai looked up to Abe with tears in her eyes. "What's wrong, Ai-chan? Why are you crying?" Little Ai closed her eyes and shook her head stubbornly.

[End of Flashback]

"That was the first time I saw Ai-chan" Abe recalled. "She never told me what's her last name. I assume that she don't remember what's her last name as well. Takahashi was the last name that I gave her." Abe continued as Risa continue listening attentively. "She never spoke in the first half a year when she came here. I thought she was just nervous. But as time passed, I thought she might be mute, that was when I've decided to bring her to see a doctor. The doctor ran tests on her, and it came out that her vocal cords are all well. They referred me to a psychologist instead. That was how I knew about this disorder. Selective Mutism." Abe finished.

'You mean Ai-san can talk? So that's the reason why Ai-san is visiting Eri?' Risa digested the information thrown to her.

"Thankfully, for Miyuki, she's starting to get better, now being about to speak selectively to people. When she first came, she spoke to no one, just like how Ai-chan was used to be. It's all Ai-chan's effort that made Miyuki to be able to speak .She's one of the very few that Miyuki would want to speak to." Abe continued. "And I wish there will be this day, someone who be able to fill in Ai-chan position in Miyuki's case, and Ai-chan can really put down the stone she carries in herself and speak for the first time." Abe tried to sound as hopeful as she could as she looked towards Risa, who looked overwhelmed by the truth behind Ai.

Ai felt their presence in the study room. She looked up and smile genuinely at the both of them before turning back to Miyuki.

"Abe-san, is - is there anything that I can help?" Risa asked, remembering her purpose here today. To volunteer.

"Yes, there is."  Abe smiled.

"What  is that?" Risa continued asking.

"To make them smile, to make them feel happy." Abe finished.

"That's gonna be an easy task for me." Risa stated with a playful smirk on her face. She turned towards the children in the study. "Hey come on kids! Those who have done with your work, I have a little present for you! Let's go play . . . . TAG!"