They stopped at what Maeko called a rest stop, and Katelina gratefully stumbled inside to stand in awe at the rows of shiny vending machines. She'd never seen so many different beverages and snacks shoved into one place. Maeko cheerfully bought her a pile of cans and packages "for later".
After the respite, the rest of the trip seemed worse. The car was cramped. Katelina's legs ached. The heater was on too high, and the tense silence felt suffocating.
They stopped at last on a quiet side street in one of the seemingly giant cities. The rows of buildings were all alike, ringed in gated concrete walls. Katelina wasn't sure if it was a residential or business area.
"They are houses," Maeko explained as Hikaru opened the door for her. She signaled them to wait and hurried to the gate. Kat
