After Shirogane finished preparing, he pulled out his phone and quickly searched for directions to Itomori.
'Hmm, it's kind of far...' he thought, frowning slightly. 'But I really need to discuss some important things with Mitsuha... including setting some ground rules about this body-switching mess and the incoming comet.'
Realizing there was a direct train line that would eventually get him close to Itomori, Shirogane decided to go for it. He made his way to the station, boarded the train, and settled into a window seat.
As the train rolled through the countryside, Shirogane found himself mesmerized by the scenery. Endless fields of golden rice paddies stretched into the distance, bordered by lush, green mountains. Tiny traditional houses dotted the landscape, and small shrines peeked out from the trees. The air outside looked clean and fresh, the sky a bright, endless blue.
'Wow... this place is stunning,' Shirogane thought, quickly pulling out his phone to snap a few photos. 'I should sketch this later. Maybe frame it too.'
Just as he was admiring the view, a small sniffle caught his attention. Across the aisle, a little girl sat alone, holding a worn kendama — a traditional Japanese toy with a ball attached to a string. Her tiny hands fidgeted with it, trying to land the ball on the cup, but she kept missing.
Concerned, Shirogane leaned over. "Hey, are you okay?"
The girl wiped her eyes and nodded shyly. "I just... wanted to see the city. But... my mom's too busy to come with me."
"You came all by yourself?" Shirogane asked, slightly alarmed. "You don't know where this train stops?"
The girl shook her head. "I've been going back and forth since morning..."
Shirogane struggled to hold back a laugh. 'Kids are really something else,' he mused, smiling.
Then, spotting the kendama in her hands, he smirked mischievously. "Hey, how about this... let's make a bet."
The girl's eyes lit up curiously.
"If I win," Shirogane said, crossing his arms dramatically, "I'll leave you on the train and pretend I never met you!"
The girl gasped, horrified.
"But if you win," he grinned, crouching down to her level, "I'll make sure you get home safe, like a proper Onii-chan should."
"You're on!" she declared fiercely, gripping her kendama like it was a weapon.
They squared off in the aisle of the nearly empty train. Shirogane took a pretend fighter's stance, while the girl held her kendama high.
"Three... two... one... go!"
The girl launched into a flurry of movements, swinging the ball and trying to catch it on the spike. Shirogane dodged side to side, pretending to evade invisible attacks. Passengers nearby turned to watch, some chuckling at the impromptu performance.
The girl missed the catch and the ball bounced off the seat. Shirogane seized the moment and dramatically pretended to "counterattack" by ruffling her hair.
"Take that!" he said heroically.
"No fair!" she squealed, laughing as she tried again.
Finally, after an intense thirty seconds, the ball landed perfectly onto the spike. She lifted it high in triumph.
"I win!" she shouted.
Shirogane clutched his chest, pretending to be mortally wounded. "Gah... I've been defeated... by the legendary kendama master..."
Keeping his word, he knelt down beside her and offered his hand. "As promised, your Onii-chan will now personally escort you home."
The girl giggled and took his hand, swinging it back and forth happily as the train continued to rumble toward Itomori.
Shirogane couldn't help but smile. 'Man, today's been full of surprises... and it's only going to get crazier.'
While the train gently rocked along the tracks, Shirogane chuckled softly to himself as he watched the girl play with her toy — kendama, the kind you'd expect to find sold at a countryside festival.
Curious, he leaned forward, resting his arms casually on his knees.
"By the way," he asked, giving her a friendly smile, "what's your name?"
The girl blinked up at him, seemingly surprised by the question. Then she smiled shyly and hugged the toy tighter to her chest.
"I'm Yui!" she said proudly.
"Yui-chan, huh?" Shirogane nodded approvingly. "Nice name. I'm Shirogane. You can call me... let's see..." he paused dramatically, tapping his chin. "Super Onii-chan!"
Yui giggled at his silly title.
Feeling a little playful, Shirogane grinned and added, "Well then, Yui-chan. As your self-declared Super Onii-chan, it's my sworn duty to protect you until you get home safe."
He struck a fake heroic pose, pretending to show off invisible muscles, causing Yui to burst out laughing.
Their easy banter made the train ride even more pleasant, the countryside scenery flashing by outside the window as they sped towards Itomori.
As the train gently came to a halt at the small Itomori Station, Shirogane and Yui stepped onto the platform. The fresh country air immediately hit him — crisp, earthy, and filled with the scent of distant flowers.
"So," Shirogane said, crouching slightly to meet Yui's gaze, "where do you live?"
Yui pointed eagerly. "That way! It's not far!"
"Alright then," Shirogane smiled. "Lead the way, Captain."
They began their short journey through the town, weaving past small shops, rustic houses with wooden frames, and vending machines that looked a few decades old. Everywhere he looked, Shirogane felt a sense of quiet beauty — laundry fluttering gently from balconies, old bicycles parked along the road, the occasional temple bell ringing faintly in the distance.
'Man... it's like stepping into a painting,' Shirogane thought, slowing down for a moment to take it all in. The mountains surrounding the town seemed almost to embrace it, protecting it from the outside world.
But as they walked, he couldn't help but notice something else — the stares.
Old ladies paused mid-sweep with their brooms, glancing curiously at him. Shopkeepers leaned slightly over their counters to get a better look. A group of school kids passing by whispered excitedly, stealing glances in his direction.
He felt like he was sticking out like a sore thumb.
'I guess... I don't exactly blend in,' Shirogane thought, glancing down at his clean white sneakers and crisp city clothes. Compared to the locals' simpler, earth-toned outfits, he might as well have had a neon sign over his head that said "outsider."
Still, whenever they passed someone, Shirogane made sure to bow slightly and offer a polite, "Good afternoon."
The townspeople, after their initial surprise, smiled warmly and returned the greeting. Some of the older women even chuckled behind their hands.
"Your big brother sure is fancy," one of them whispered to Yui as they passed.
Yui puffed up proudly. "He's super cool!"
Hearing that, Shirogane gave a small laugh, feeling oddly honored. 'Guess I'm officially an honorary Onii-chan now.'
They continued along a narrow, winding path that eventually led into a more residential area. Traditional homes lined the streets, their gardens blooming with colorful flowers. Here and there, stray cats lounged lazily under the sun.
Shirogane found himself smiling without even realizing it. Despite the attention, there was something... peaceful about Itomori. Something pure.
'Even if she longed for Tokyo, a part of her heart never left Itomori.' he mused, glancing around.
After a few more minutes, Yui pointed excitedly to a modest two-story house with sliding doors and a small torii gate at the entrance.
"That's my home!"
"Alright, mission complete," Shirogane said with a grin, giving her a mock salute. "Onii-chan, safely delivered you!"
Yui giggled, bowing politely before scampering inside. An older woman — probably her grandmother — peeked out, gave Shirogane a curious but kind look, and nodded in thanks.
With a satisfied sigh, Shirogane turned back toward the town center.
'Now then... time to find Mitsuha.'