***
The journey wasn't going as smooth as Max would have liked it to. His feet bounced impatiently in the vintage silver Mazda car. It was of his grandfather, he remembered how he would always take Max around in it. Drifting and speeding at incredible speeds, with him and his grandfather laughing loudly much to his mothers horror.
The corner of Max's mouth twitched at the fond memory.
"Your grandfather actually hated this car." His grandma's voice broke him out of the memory.
His eyes raised in surprise at the statement. "Really? Grandpa always seemed to adore the vehicle." Adore was an understatement. The vehicle was like a special friend. So hearing otherwise, Max was finding it hard to believe.
She scoffed slightly, "Not when he first bought it though." She replied as a slow, reminiscent smile made its way to her face. "When we went to the car dealer and he saw it, he said it was the most hideous thing he had ever seen. He hated it so much that he decided to buy it anywhere."
Max chuckled at the story. That seemed very much like something his grandfather would do.
"You and him are more alike than you realize. Always lunging into things face first without thinking about it."
A bashful expression marred Max's face, he couldn't deny the statement. He was always action first.
Max glanced at the map on the screen of the car. From the little conversation between him and Jiro, she had been on the far end of Shizuoka, approximately…Fujinomiya.
As for where her house is in particular?…well…he'd have to wing it and hopefully find it.
He felt his grandma shake her head at his side. "Really, the likeness of you two is really much. You don't even know where her house is and you jumped at the first opportunity to see her. Teenagers." She shook her head again, baffled at the idea.
His face turned red at the accusation. It had slipped his mind at the moment in all his excitement.
Hopefully they'd still reach…hopefully?
***
The car continued on its slow journey through the city, but soon slowed down at a police checkpoint.
Coming to a stop, the car window rolled down as Eleanor's gaze fixed on the officer, making the man take an involuntary step back.
The man managed to regained his composure after a few moments, at least enough for him to speak, though it still came out a bit shaky. "Ex…Excuse me ma'am, if you aren't aware but there is a city wide lockdown until further notice. So…I'll have to plead with you to please turn back around."
Eleanor just continued to stare at the man with disinterest. "Officer, it has been quite a long day and turning back now would be quite an inefficient waste of my time as precious as it is. So I would implore you to allow me and my grandchild to continue on our journey as it isn't quite far. You wouldn't want us to be disappointed, no?"
The man gulped, though the words themselves were polite, her deamonour seemed anything but that.
"I…I'm sorry to still disappoint, but I'd still implore you to turn back. The lockdown won't…be held for much time. So…" the man's voice seemed to shrink lower and lower with each moment.
Soon another officer, noticing the delay, had stepped up beside the now frightened officer.
This man seemed older and more weathered, he glanced at the woman in the car as she spoke plainly. "Ma'am, as our officer here has said, I'd have to implore you to turn back. With the…incident that happened a few days ago, the roads won't be good." The man explained.
Max's jaw clenched at the explanation. He knew it wouldn't be so simple. He knew he just had to wait for the lockdown to be uplifted and he could see her. But call him childish and immature, seeing her would do Max a whole lot of good at the moment.
The tension, though, was soon broken by shouts. The police men tensed as their hands immediately went to their weapons but eased as it was just their fellow officers.
"What happened?" The senior officer asked.
"Nothing too serious, just caught this girl trying to sneak through the gates." one of them replied.
Max glanced outside buth then his eyes widened at the familiar figure. "Jiro!"
Hearing her name called, Jiro glanced at the ource and so to her eyes widened as well. "Max!"
Well, there were many ways that Max expected to meet Jiro. But this wasn't exactly one of them.
A chuckle broke Max's gaze away from her as his grandma spoke. "Well isn't this an interesting predicament."
***
Max sat as he watched his grandma discuss something with the officers, she showed them a badge as their demeanour immediately changed as they seemed more…obedient. Max didn't know. But it seemed they were allowed to go through as they opened the gate for them.
And so, Jiro climbed into the car as his grandma drove them towards where Jiro's house was.
The car drive was silent. The two sat in an awkward silence.
"I thought I told you not to do anything stupid." Jiro's voice broke the silence as she scolded.
Max chuckled, "I could say the same about you then."
She shook her head at the rebuttal as she punched him lightly. "Knew you were still alive."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you're too much of a dumbass to die." she snorted before speaking again in a softer voice. "I'm…I'm really sorry about your parents."
Max exhaled. "Thanks."
He felt her hug him as he hugged back as well. Though they knew each other were fine over the phone, they was just something better when they met face-to-face.
And so the two childhood friends had finally reunited after the previous disaster.
***