Toshi and Aiko sat side by side on the sleek, silver seats of the metro, the faint hum of the train filling the air as it sped down the illuminated tracks. The cityscape blurred into streaks of light beyond the wide windows, a contrast to the stillness between them.
Toshi adjusted the sleeves of his light blue, full-sleeved t-shirt, his gaze flickering toward Aiko. She was dressed casually in a t-shirt and shorts, her hands resting on her lap, fingers fidgeting slightly, betraying her unease.
"So, you've never been to Liora?" Toshi asked, breaking the silence. His tone was light, but there was a curious undertone, as if he found the thought almost impossible.
Aiko shook her head, her lips curving into a small, sheepish smile. "No. I can't even remember the last time I went outside Arden." Her voice carried a mix of wistfulness and apprehension, like someone recalling a distant dream.
"You'll love it," Toshi said, his own smile soft but more assured. "Liora is beautiful—filled with nature. It's nothing like Arden. The air feels different, fresher. You'll see." His words hung in the space between them, full of quiet optimism.
Aiko glanced out the window at the endless neon glow of Arden's towering skyline. "Nature, huh? It's hard to imagine." Her voice was thoughtful, tinged with disbelief, as if she couldn't quite grasp what he described.
The train rumbled steadily along, the rhythmic clatter of the tracks a steady heartbeat to their conversation. Beyond the window, the horizon began to change, the towering buildings giving way to open fields and the faint silhouette of distant hills.
Toshi leaned back slightly, observing her reaction. "It's not just the place—it's the feeling. When you're there, it's like... the world breathes differently."
Aiko turned to look at him, her brows knitting slightly. "You make it sound like it's magical or something."
"It kind of is," Toshi replied, his eyes glinting with a mix of nostalgia and excitement.
As the train surged forward, carrying them closer to Liora, the tension in the air shifted—Aiko's guarded demeanor softening just enough to show a flicker of curiosity. The journey ahead seemed to hold promises of something more than just a change in scenery.