Unexpected Encounter on the Train
I boarded a JR train for an errand and found myself surrounded by kindergarten children. As I absentmindedly thought about how hard the teachers must have it, I noticed many of the children coughing and wearing masks. Worried about the spread of some virus, I decided to get off at the next station.
The station was JR Maya. Although I knew of its existence, it was my first time on the platform. Hoping I hadn’t been exposed to the virus, I sat on a bench on the platform. In the past, benches at train stations faced the tracks, but recently they are often aligned parallel to the tracks, supposedly to prevent drunk people from falling onto the tracks when they stand up. I'm not sure if that's true.
Anyway, I sat on the bench and checked my phone. It turns out that Mycoplasma infections are currently spreading in Kobe. This risk is inevitable when traveling by train. However, driving would mean paying for parking, which is quite expensive, especially in areas like Sannomiya and Motomachi. Pondering this dilemma, I looked towards the mountains and saw Mt. Rokko.
Always beautiful. The autumn leaves are starting to change colors.