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[-Continuation-]
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[-Hachiman's POV-]
"Laallaaaa…~!"
The sound of a man humming off-key drifted through the air, more like a grating noise than anything remotely musical.
I turned to find Ryota standing just a few steps away, grinning like an idiot. Among the sea of pressed suits and school uniforms, his laid-back outfit made him stick out like a sore thumb.
"You really didn't need to come all the way to the platform." I said, giving him a skeptical look. "Didn't you say you had somewhere to be?"
That was the excuse he fed me earlier this morning. He called out of the blue, claiming he was too busy to do anything, but figuring he might as well drop me off.
I wasn't completely fooled, though. Suspicious? Sure. But clearly not suspicious enough.
"Oh, I do." He replied nonchalantly, shrugging.
"But I figured I would see you off properly. Can't let you head to Tokyo all by yourself, can I?"
I raised an eyebrow, not buying his excuse for a second. "You really came just to say goodbye? Seriously?"
"Of course!" He declared, slapping a hand on my shoulder with way too much enthusiasm. "What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?"
But his eyes told a different story, avoiding mine like he was trying to hide something.
He was here to say goodbye, but not to me. This was all a pretence. An excuse to be close to someone else who happened to be leaving from this station.
I sighed, pulling away from his grip. "You are really going all out with this, huh?"
Ryota chuckled, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Hey, a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do. But for real, it's not all about her. I am here for you too, man."
"Uh-huh…" I replied, my voice flat. "Well, thanks for the ride, but I can handle it from here."
"Sure, sure." He nodded, though he didn't make any move to leave.
Instead, he glanced around the platform, trying to look casual but failing miserably. His eyes kept darting toward the exit that led to the Shinkansen platforms.
"You should get going." I said, trying to cut this awkward moment short. "Don't want to keep her waiting."
Ryota hesitated, then finally nodded. "Yeah, you are right. I will catch you later, Hachiman. Have fun."
With that, he gave me a half-hearted wave and turned on his heel, heading toward the other platforms.
Hold on… That's the wrong direction.
I should have pointed it out, but I stayed silent.
It wasn't about revenge or anything childish like that. Maybe he had a good reason for going that way. Perhaps that's where they're meeting up. Who knows?
I wasn't trying to be the guy who just stands by while his friend makes a mess of things.
Nope, not my style.
God…. I can't wait to see the look on his face when Ms. Hiratsuka gives him a hard time.
That thought slipped in and out of my mind. Just forget it.
I watched him walk away, shaking my head in mild annoyance. The guy was hopeless, but you had to give him credit for persistence.
As I started toward my own exit, a sense of relief washed over me. With Ryota gone, I could finally focus on what was ahead, without his distractions hanging over me.
….
.
As the station's noise faded into the background, I navigated the maze of corridors leading to my final destination.
The sprawling complex of Tokyo Station had a way of making you feel small and insignificant, no matter how many times you had been there before. The sheer size and constant motion of the place could swallow you whole if you let it.
Eventually, I found myself at the platform where my train was scheduled to depart.
I checked the time. Exactly twenty five minutes to spare. Plenty of time, yet the minutes felt heavier than usual.
I leaned against a nearby pillar, letting out a slow breath, the chaos of the morning finally subsiding, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
The main objective I had when I woke up was simple - head to Tokyo, board the Shinkansen, and get on with the day's plans.
I had even woken up earlier than usual to make sure I could head out a little sooner, before anyone could corner me with last-minute requests.
But that was all before I fell into Ryota's trap, the so-called favor of a ride that had turned into an extended exercise in patience.
My parents, ever the opportunists, had ambushed me before I could make my escape, armed with a list of souvenirs they expected me to bring back.
Komachi's wishlist included.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the old man's sake request.
"Sorry, pops." I smirked. "Can't buy booze as a minor. Even if I act as a proxy in your place. However, I will happily lighten your wallet!"
I was lost in my own thoughts, so much so that I didn't notice someone approaching until it was too late.
"Of course, it has to be you, grinning like that so early in the morning." The familiar voice, tinged with amusement, cut through the noise around me.
?...? It came from my left, soft yet clear.
Before I could react, I felt a gentle poke on my shoulder - like someone trying to wake a soundly sleeping, bulged-out fluffy cat.
!!..!My senses kicked in before my mind fully registered what was happening.
The sweet, unmistakable fragrance that accompanied the voice reached my nose, a scent I had come to recognize all too well. My ears confirmed what my brain had already guessed.
Instinctively, without thinking, I reached out with my right hand and caught the finger that had poked me, holding it in a firm yet gentle grip.
The sensation was instant - the soft and smooth touch of her skin against mine.
I finally opened my eyes fully, turning to the source of the voice.
There she was, standing beside me with a faint smile and blush at sudden contact.
"Hello there, Yukitty." I greeted, the name slipping out naturally, almost as if it were a well-worn habit.
Yukinoshita Yukino - standing in front of me.
Her posture was relaxed, yet there was an elegance to the way she stood, as if she belonged in the midst of this chaotic station scene, yet remained untouched by it.
Her eyes, those sharp, discerning eyes, flickered down to our still-connected hands, and for a brief moment, something playful danced in her expression. There was no rebuke, no sharp retort.
"Are you planning to keep holding onto my hand, or were you going to let go at some point?" Yukinoshita's tone was light, but the subtle raise of her eyebrow.
I eased my grip on her finger, but it was still under my possession.
"Ah, reflex." I explained, though it sounded more like an excuse than a valid reason.
…and there, I finally opened my palm.
"Someone needs to take the blame, I guess." She responded, clearly remembering that it was she who poked first.
But instead of pulling it right away, she merely tilted her head slightly, as if studying me.
"You seem more on edge than usual. What's on your mind?" She asked, her voice softer now, the teasing tone gone.
I just shrugged. "Nothing much. Just trying to survive the morning without any more surprises."
"Surprises, huh?" Yukinoshita mused, her gaze drifting past me as if she were considering something. "Well, I suppose today might be full of them. But you have always been adept at handling the unexpected, haven't you?"
I couldn't help but smirk at that. "Handling, maybe. Enjoying? Not so much."
Yukinoshita's lips curled into a small smile, and for a moment, the usual distance between us seemed to narrow. She shifted her weight, and her expression softened.
"Well, in any case, I am glad I found you before the train. I wasn't sure if you would have already boarded."
….
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[To be continued…]
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