Today I missed my train to work. It wasn’t too bad because I always have this backup train I can take, but then I should walk faster on my way from station to the factory. So I pulled up my sleeves, set up my i-Pod with quick music and rushed taking over the slow businessmen that don’t need to worry about being late because they are probably managers.

I was walking taking advantage of my long legs when I noticed that there was a fast businessman in front of me. He was moving quite fast even though he was quite small and skinny (and I’m the one who’s saying it).

Over his bald head he was wearing these big headphones, and that seemed to be the source of his energy. He was holding a big black suitcase, like the ones mafia men usually tie with handcuffs. I had him a few meters ahead and was striving to catch him. 

We reached the fifteen meter slope we always have to climb and he was still on the lead. The surprising thing is that while going up this slope I noticed that he was walking on the small floor bricks that are on the edge of the pavement. This was more dangerous than what it seems since just in the edge of these bricks there is a canal for the water all along the pavement, so if he missed he would at least get wet or twist an ankle.

 The bastard was challenging me… like boasting for his leadership. That was too much for my Basque pride ：－）

So I decided to take action. It would be fun to play with this sneaky little Japanese on my way to boring work. Just before this slope I used my gai-jin invulnerability to make a shortcut walking on the road and taking over him, for which I had to boost while going up (tiring). So I started walking just in front of him (since I knew that he was walking on those sidewalk bricks) and started lowering my pace. On the one hand I was tired by taking over him and walking up, but the truth is that I just wanted to see what he’d do in that situation. I could feel him coming close to me, just behind me. I was just on his way and I was lowering down his rhythm; I could feel his frustration growing. I knew he wasn’t going to push me or anything, come on, he’s Japanese. The only solution would be to get off the sidewalk bricks and take me over. But he didn’t it seemed that I wan the first round.

Then we got to the top of the slope and I perfectly knew that he’d try to leave me behind so I turned to overdrive and rushed. He followed me closely but as we were walking on a narrow bridge, doing “slalom” amongst slower businessmen I didn’t leave him any space. Oh yes! Second round seems to be mine.

When we got out of the bridge he used a special technique: he actually started jogging! I don’t know if it was fair… I would’ve waved him the black flag. Fortunately there were two schoolgirls five meters ahead who would lower his pace again. He reached the slope down and started strolling forward swinging his suitcase dangerously. This was my opportunity, since I have longer step and can take more than one stair at the same time. But when I was approaching him again he hopped and started jogging down. Quite dangerous again since this way is usually quite slippery but he didn’t fall (unfortunately).

Oh, he had cheated twice. I finally gave up. I was already sweating before even starting to work so I decided to take it easy. I could follow him with my stare, dodging businessmen few meters away. Suddenly he started stretching his arms and swinging them while he was walking. Then he started walking lifting up his knees too much. And in the end, in the last street we have to walk before getting to the factory, he was walking with exaggeratingly big strolls. I think he wanted to get the Guinnes record for walking along that street using the least steps. It was so funny because no one seemed to care. That is a good thing about Japan, no matter what you do, no one cares or no one would look at you in a weird way.

I might miss my train on purpose tomorrow… I’d like to take the second round…

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