[It's obvious that Kaede doesn't expect to be remembered. He's said as much, literally, and he isn't trying to be coy or funny about that. On this train he's everyone and no one and that's always been the point, so--he expects it to hold true again now. Still, he's already started this conversation with a mostly-stranger by bringing up the memory of the last one.
So what exactly is he trying to do? He wants to talk to someone who doesn't expect anything of him; his family no longer is and his friends - even the girls, who've no doubt been emailed en masse by now with complaints about the argument he just had - seem to expect more than he ever said he'd give. What he does or doesn't do with himself and his life is no one else's business, and so when he reaches this point and feels bogged down by nags and obligations and disappointments both old and new and personal, he wants to talk to someone who won't want anything from him.
A stranger on a train is the best choice. And here he's picked the one he's talked to before about more than just the weather. It's barely "more," but in his pocket he works the corner of the business card back and forth slightly with his thumb and thinks, it's stupid to think anything of it. He's just saving himself the trouble of coming up with a topic to open with, since there already is one.
He doesn't expect to have made an impression and tells himself he hopes he hasn't, anyway. Everyone and no one - not Kaede, the overlooked, the ever-hassled.
There's a kind of irony in purposely striving for the same thing he hates when he has no say in it, but it's easier. All the background noise of his irritated thoughts and vague ideas about what he's really supposed to be doing are pulled out from under him as soon as his not-so-stranger companion looks at him with recognition.
Yes, I remember you. Some inane chatter about checking for lost items and then, Thank you, again.
His brow furrows at the same time he smiles somewhat uncertainly. He must look more confused about this boring wallet chatter than anything.]
Yeah, have you? That's good. [--and this feels like a weird conversation to be having with someone older than him. Ostensibly at the questioning glances he keeps getting from someone who wants the empty seat he's blocking but really to give him enough pause to change the subject, he turns and takes the seat himself. With a mumbled, Oh, sorry when his leg bumps the other man's. He's too tall for train seats...]
You gave me that card, but I forgot to tell you my name. It's Hajime Kaede.
no subject
So what exactly is he trying to do? He wants to talk to someone who doesn't expect anything of him; his family no longer is and his friends - even the girls, who've no doubt been emailed en masse by now with complaints about the argument he just had - seem to expect more than he ever said he'd give. What he does or doesn't do with himself and his life is no one else's business, and so when he reaches this point and feels bogged down by nags and obligations and disappointments both old and new and personal, he wants to talk to someone who won't want anything from him.
A stranger on a train is the best choice. And here he's picked the one he's talked to before about more than just the weather. It's barely "more," but in his pocket he works the corner of the business card back and forth slightly with his thumb and thinks, it's stupid to think anything of it. He's just saving himself the trouble of coming up with a topic to open with, since there already is one.
He doesn't expect to have made an impression and tells himself he hopes he hasn't, anyway. Everyone and no one - not Kaede, the overlooked, the ever-hassled.
There's a kind of irony in purposely striving for the same thing he hates when he has no say in it, but it's easier. All the background noise of his irritated thoughts and vague ideas about what he's really supposed to be doing are pulled out from under him as soon as his not-so-stranger companion looks at him with recognition.
Yes, I remember you. Some inane chatter about checking for lost items and then, Thank you, again.
His brow furrows at the same time he smiles somewhat uncertainly. He must look more confused about this boring wallet chatter than anything.]
Yeah, have you? That's good. [--and this feels like a weird conversation to be having with someone older than him. Ostensibly at the questioning glances he keeps getting from someone who wants the empty seat he's blocking but really to give him enough pause to change the subject, he turns and takes the seat himself. With a mumbled, Oh, sorry when his leg bumps the other man's. He's too tall for train seats...]
You gave me that card, but I forgot to tell you my name. It's Hajime Kaede.
[He pauses. Considers. Furrows his brow, again.]
Do you always take this train?