“Becky, the American Bad Girl, Vol. 1 — The Fateful Hitchhiker”

Everyday Flight Training and the “Country Town” of Clearlake

Two months had passed since I’d started my new life in the United States, aiming to get my Private Pilot License (PPL).
My first base had been a town called HAYWARD near San Francisco Bay, but now I’d moved farther north to a rural town called CLEARLAKE PEARCE.

It lies about 50 miles north of the vineyards of Napa Valley, with the vast Clearlake spreading out right in front of you.
The town along the lakeshore is peaceful and quiet, but for young people it’s about as boring as it gets.

Still, I didn’t have any time to be bored.

From early morning until late at night, it was the same loop every day: flight training, ground school, and simulator practice.

“I’m going to get that license. No matter what!”

My biggest goal after leaving Japan was to earn my private pilot license in the United States.
That determination was the only thing keeping me going.

However—

Those “ordinary days” were about to be completely transformed by one encounter.

⛽ Post-Flight Wagon Ride — Our Usual Way Home

After finishing flight training, we climbed into our used Plymouth wagon.

Today’s crew was the usual gang.

Behind the wheel sat Sei, the guy we called “the air traffic controller’s nightmare.”

Why that nickname?

Because he was a genius at changing the flight plan on his own.
He’d tweak the controller’s instructions, ignore the instruments, and just fly by his gut.
(Sei didn’t speak English. I was honestly amazed he could go flying solo at all—and that’s when I really started to get interested in him as a person.)

Even so, he always nailed the landing, so the instructors were torn between admiration and migraine.

“Another day, safely done!”

Sei glanced at us in the rearview mirror as he gripped the steering wheel.

I was in the passenger seat, absentmindedly gazing out at the lake.

Back to the trailer, review today’s flight, then prep for tomorrow…

That’s what I was thinking when—

🎯 A Miracle by the Lakeshore — Two Hitchhikers

“Hey, look!”

Suddenly, something caught my eye.

Two girls standing by the road along the lakeshore—hitchhikers.

One was blonde.
Her long hair shimmered golden in the sunlight, tank top and short shorts, her figure so striking you could tell from a distance she had serious presence.

Next to her—

A girl with dark hair.
Well, more precisely, a very dark brown.
She gave off a cool vibe, her gaze behind her sunglasses somehow sharp and piercing.

“Sei, stop the car!!”

⚡ “Stop!” — My Instinct Shouts

“Huh? What’s up?”

Sei, startled, instinctively hit the brakes.

Screeeech—!!

The tires screamed against the asphalt and our wagon came to an abrupt halt.
Everyone inside the car just stared, confused, not yet understanding what had happened.

But my eyes were glued to those two.

🚗 The U-turn that Started the Unordinary

Screech…

On the narrow road along the lake, the wagon slowly began a careful turn.
In the side mirror, I could see the two girls staring curiously at us.

“Sei, can you make a U-turn?”

“Roger that. You mean those two, right?”

Sei flicked the steering wheel and pulled off a smooth U-turn.

🕶️ “Where are you going?” — The Line that Changed Everything

I rolled down the window and called out:

“Where are you goin’?”

The blonde girl flashed a bright, explosive smile.

“CLEARLAKE OAKS!!”

Clearlake Oaks??

I thought about it for a moment, but honestly, it didn’t matter.

“Sei, one more U-turn, please!”

“You’re really gonna pick us up?”

They exchanged looks, their faces a mix of surprise and delight.

💥 Two “Bombs” Climb into the Wagon

“Hi! Where did you say you were going again?”

I called out once more, and this time they walked over without hesitation.

“H~i! Clearlake Oaks. The opposite side of this lake!”

🎉 Enter Becky and Star

“Lucky us!!”

The first to hop in was the blonde.

“I’m Becky. Nice to meet you!”

Becky pulled a stick of gum out of her jeans pocket and gave me a playful wink.

Right after her, another girl slid gracefully into the back seat.

“I’m Star.”

She shook her dark brown hair, took off her sunglasses, and smiled.

Star—even her name made it clear she wasn’t just some ordinary girl.

🕰️ Explosive Banter Inside the Wagon

“How long does it take to get to Clearlake Oaks?”

Becky twisted around in the front seat and asked.

“About thirty minutes, I guess. But around this time of day, the view is insane. The sunset reflects off the lake…”

I explained, maybe sounding a little proud.

“Wow. Then can we make a little detour?”

“A detour? Where to?”

“You said there’s a really great lookout spot, right? I wanna see it.”

I was no match for that smile.

“Okay. I’ll take you there.”

🌟 Star’s Cool, Sharp Eye

Meanwhile, Star in the back seat just quietly watched the scenery go by.

“You’re pretty quiet, Star,” I said, looking back at her.

She spun her sunglasses around her finger and finally spoke.

“Yeah. I’m just checking you guys out. I’m not the type who trusts men I just met.”

Ouch. Sharp.

“But… so far, you don’t look too bad.”

With that, Star let a tiny smile slip across her lips.

🎯 Becky’s Wild Energy vs. Star’s Cool Caution

Inside the wagon, there was this strange tension:
Becky’s upbeat, reckless energy on one side, and Star’s cool, observant attitude on the other.

“Hey, are all Japanese guys serious and straight-laced? Or are there some weird ones like you?”
Becky teased.

“Well, there are guys like me too,” I answered with a grin.

“In that case, tonight might be interesting.”

Becky gave me a meaningful smile.
Right then, Star quietly muttered:

“Don’t let your guard down, Becky.”

🕰️ It Was Supposed to Be Just a 30-Minute Little Adventure…

We were supposed to go straight back to the trailer, review today’s flight, and prepare for tomorrow’s lesson.

But—

Sei said nothing and simply pressed his foot down on the accelerator.

🎯 My Three Goals — And How It All Began

In my head, I had three clear goals:

✅ Get my private pilot license
✅ Get a blonde girlfriend
✅ And…

That third goal was a “secret mission” I hadn’t told anyone about.

I had no way of knowing—

That this encounter would be the trigger that set that third goal into motion.

🎬 Next time, Becky’s outrageous true identity is revealed…!?

— To be continued in Vol. 2!