The journey to the neighboring city required taking the outbound Tokaido Line train for nearly an hour, a distance of about fifty-some kilometers to the west.
Originally, Mori Shinra had planned to get off at every stop to check if Sakurajima Mai could be observed, but since the train only stopped for a few minutes, it was simply not feasible.
So, he had to reduce the frequency, getting off every few stations. While waiting for the next train, he would confirm if anyone could see her.
However, even by the time they boarded the last train of the night, they still hadn't met anyone who recognized her. The answers they received were always reactions like 'Huh?', 'Who's that?', or 'I don't know'.
It was late, and with each stop, the number of people on the train gradually dwindled. The noisy chatter in their ears was replaced by the sound of the train running and the broadcast announcements upon arrival.
The two of them sat side-by-side on an empty bench. There was no one else left in their carriage.
"We... have school tomorrow, right?" Mai said suddenly, looking at her phone.
"It's okay to take a day off occasionally."
Shinra was also looking at his phone. After hearing her words, he showed her an email.
The content was simple: a leave of absence request for Monday.
She stared blankly at the phone screen for a while, only snapping out of it after he moved the screen away.
The carriage fell silent once again.
Outside the window, it was pitch black. Only the occasional flashing of a streetlight indicated that the train was moving at high speed.
However, because she couldn't see the scenery outside, she couldn't tell where they were going.
This silence lasted for about ten minutes.
"Mori Shinra."
"Uh-huh?"
"Can you still see me?"
She didn't look at him directly but stared at his eyes through the reflection in the glass.
"Of course. You're very beautiful."
"Can you hear my voice?"
"Of course. It's very pleasant."
"Will you still remember me?"
"Of course. My memory has always been very good. Especially for a beautiful girl like you, who is so good-looking, has such a pleasant voice, and is so famous. I will absolutely never forget."
His words brought a trace of comfort to the uneasy girl.
"The way you say that makes it sound like you wouldn't remember me if I weren't good-looking, my voice wasn't pleasant, and I wasn't famous."
"Why are there so many what-ifs?"
He unceremoniously tapped her on the head, signaling her not to let her imagination run wild.
"If you're feeling uneasy, my shoulder is available. Although it's useless for the current situation, having someone to lean on might at least make you feel a little better."
"I'm not uneasy."
Although she said that, her body still leaned towards him. Their shoulders touched, and they could both feel the warmth coming from the other.
"Yes, yes. The mature Mai-san isn't uneasy. The one who's uneasy is me, the immature boy who is a year younger and afraid of losing her," Shinra retorted with the same stubborn tone.
"I'll punch you."
She heard the teasing in his words and made a fist, pretending to lightly bring it down, only to have it caught by him.
Seeing this, she raised an eyebrow, looking at her hand which was now enveloped by his.
Before she could speak, she heard him say, "What's the plan now?"
"Didn't you say it? After we arrive, we'll find someone to confirm the situation."
"And after that?"
"Find a place to spend the night?" she replied casually, then frowned. "Wasn't I the one who asked this question before? You were so cool when you answered. What's wrong now? Are you scared?"
"A little."
After he said this, he felt the small hand in his palm restlessly pull back, as if trying to break free from his grasp. The warmth from her shoulder also disappeared.
Turning his head, he saw that she had, at some point, shifted her gaze to the side, her face turned away from him. After realizing she couldn't break free from his large hand, she took a deep breath.
"Let..."
"I'm a little scared that you'll hate me for being so presumptuous. If you could formally entrust this matter entirely to me, I would feel a little more at ease."
The 'let go' she was about to say was cut off after the first sound, blocked by his subsequent words. Only then did she realize that he wasn't trying to back down, but rather, after confirming her thoughts one last time, he intended to face this with her.
"..."
"So you really do hate me?"
His tone was a little low, and he looked a little dejected. The hand that had been tightly holding hers also loosened. Now, she only needed to lift her hand to easily pull it away.
"...Cunning."
"What?"
"That way of putting it is far too cunning!"
"I won't deny that."
"Since you dragged me out, you have to take responsibility!"
"I have never run from it."
He opened his right hand and placed it between them, asking once more, "Then, Miss Mai, are you willing to entrust your wish to me?"
"Wishes are a bit too ethereal. But... right now, you're the only one I can rely on, aren't you?"
With that, she placed her left hand on his.
Fingers slid through the gaps, palms met, and their fingers interlaced.
The girl's face was slightly red. She looked out the window, her face turned to the side, without a word.
...
The train arrived at the final station. With the broadcast announcement, the two of them got off the train side-by-side, their hands never separating throughout the process.
"It felt like you were a little reluctant just now, Mai-san."
"To suddenly talk about wishes and such strange things, it's normal to be hesitant, isn't it?"
"Well, anyway, I've gotten the result I wanted, so I won't hold it against you."
"Hmm? Are you dissatisfied with something?"
She raised an eyebrow, her palm squeezing slightly, as if expressing her displeasure.
But besides allowing him to better feel the beauty of her soft hand, this had no punitive effect at all.
"I'm very satisfied. To be able to gain your trust feels like a successful marriage proposal."
"Wh-who would propose to a boy a year younger than them!"
"Haha..."
As they spoke, Shinra had already finished reading the new request and its information in his system. He now had a rough idea of how to deal with the problem surrounding her.
With a solid plan in mind, he returned to his usual self.
Perhaps sensing the change in him, her sense of unease gradually receded, and a feeling of attachment to the person beside her began to quietly grow in her heart.
Of course, the most pressing matter before them now was still finding a place to spend the night.