Chapter 11: karaoke

It was decided that we would take the Yamanote Line southwards and switch stations to the Oedo Subway line to Roppongi. I've heard of Roppongi but I didn't know exactly where it was, it was The place to be to have fun, especially for University students like us. The group was visibly excited now, they were planning on what clubs to visit and booking karaoke rooms. Karaoke was a staple for nightlife, no night of clubbing would be complete without singing your heart out before dancing at super clubs, It was one way of breaking the Ice.

I had a hard time joining in the conversation with the group, The discussion was about the places in Tokyo, something which I had little knowledge about, even Akari seemed distant and busy with talking to the guys from Todai.

"Let's make a playlist first, What songs would we sing?" Said Akari to the group, handing out a sheet of paper and a pen.

Everyone ignored the pen, everyone was busy talking about the songs they would sing and Akari was overwhelmed by the suggestions. I tried to think of the popular songs first so everyone can sing along.

"My songs would be, Kisike by green, Chiisana koi no uta by Mongol and heavy rotation," I suggested to Akari in a louder voice so others can agree or comment of my choice of songs before we go to the Karaoke club, I didn't want to be standing out because I was the only one who liked singing the song.

"You're from Fukuoka?" Said the girl from Todai beside me, " I recognized the dialect, I'm from Fukuoka too" extending her hand for a handshake.

I was surprised that she had caught my dialect. I tried my best to sound neutral, I didn't want the extra attention that was given to someone from the province especially from someone who was from Tokyo but she was the first person from Fukuoka I've talked to in a while. I accepted her handshake.

"Call me Kanna Yuzuki" She was warmly returning my handshake."I'm from Minami-ku."

"Itsuki Yamagata, Jonan-ku" I was smiling when I replied, I was glad I had someone who could relate to where I was from.

"Do you miss how warm it was in Fukuoka at this time of year?" Kanna clutched her arms as she said.

"Yes it was unusually cold in Tokyo yesterday, and I miss Hakata Ramen so much" I was replying with Nostalgia in my mind, Ramen from Tokyo cannot compare to what we have in Fukuoka.

"I tried looking for Hakata Issou in Tokyo but I was never able to find one." Kanna said as she drank her steamy Cappuccino.

I could tell she was enjoying our conversation, I could feel that we already had our own little bubble from the rest of the company. It felt like I connected with Kanna.

We lost track of the group's conversation, we were busy laughing and speaking our dialects which made everyone else in the group curious about our conversation.

"We have a pair of love doves over here!" Akari was pushing me closer to Kanna, and Kana didn't mind at all and in fact, Kanna was pushing me back to Akari, she thought Akari and I were a couple because we held hands when she saw us. It was fun, I thought, being surrounded by my new friends. The golden time of my youth.