The sun had just begun to climb, casting a faint golden light across the street leading to the station. The air remained cool, the distant rattle of a passing train drifting through the open space.
Tomoe reached the platform earlier than she had intended. Her footsteps made little sound against the tiles as she slowed near the clock and lifted her gaze to it. She adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder, a quiet breath leaving her as her shoulders eased.
"I guess I arrived a bit too early," the words left her under her breath as she looked back toward the tracks, her voice low and unhurried.
As she turned her head, Tomoe caught sight of Tetsuo approaching the station, his figure coming into view less than a minute later. He slowed as he reached her, one hand remaining in his pocket while the other shifted slightly at his side. His gaze settled on her as he stopped a short distance away.
"You're early," his voice carried evenly, without hurry. A plain white T-shirt and black pants hung neatly on his frame, sneakers brushing softly against the platform as he came to a stop.
Tomoe blinked once, then let out a quiet breath that carried a small laugh. Her shoulders loosened as she looked toward him. "I didn't think you'd arrive before ten."
She shifted her weight slightly and reached up, guiding a loose strand of hair back behind her ear before letting her hand fall. "I couldn't sleep well last night," her voice followed, quiet and even. "So I thought I'd leave a bit earlier and wait for you here."
A brief pause settled as her eyes moved toward the empty stretch of platform, then back again. "But… it seems we were thinking the same thing."
A faint vibration brushed against his thigh. Tetsuo paused and slipped his phone from his pocket, his thumb resting briefly against the screen as it lit up. His eyes lowered as he read the message, his expression unchanged.
It's from Usagi, the thought passed through him without any shift in posture.
Usagi: Make sure you say something about what she's wearing. Don't be careless, big brother 😅
He exhaled quietly through his nose and locked the screen, sliding the phone back into his pocket as his gaze lifted toward Tomoe again.
Tetsuo's gaze settled on her without any change in his expression. The light cream cardigan sat neatly over a simple white blouse, the navy skirt falling to her knees. Dark loafers rested squarely on the platform tiles, and the thin frames of her glasses caught the morning light as she shifted.
She noticed his attention and lifted a hand, nudging the bridge of her glasses back into place. "Is there something?" Her voice came out mild, without tension, as she straightened her posture slightly.
His eyes paused on the cardigan for a brief moment before returning to the tracks ahead. "It looks warm," the words followed evenly after a short breath. "It suits you."
Tomoe paused for a moment, her fingers tightening lightly around the strap of her bag. She lowered her gaze and adjusted the edge of her cardigan, smoothing the fabric once before letting her hand fall.
"Thank you," her voice came out quieter than before. "I thought it might be a little cold this morning."
Tetsuo gave a small nod, his expression remaining steady as he shifted his stance. "Since we're already here," his voice followed evenly, "we can spend some time nearby. A café just opened not far from here."
Tomoe adjusted her grip on her bag and stepped in beside him, matching his pace as they turned away from the platform. "Alright," her response came without hesitation, calm and agreeable as she followed his lead toward the exit.
The café was small and carried a gentle warmth, the wooden floor reflecting a faint sheen under the lights. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the sweetness of baked pastries, lingering comfortably in the air.
As they stepped inside, a waitress in a maid outfit approached the entrance, her posture straight and her smile practiced. She inclined her head slightly and gestured toward the seating area, her voice light and clear.
"Welcome. Please choose any seat you like," her hand shifted toward the menus near the counter, "and feel free to order whenever you're ready."
They took a seat by the window, the faint morning light settling across the tabletop and brushing against their hands. Tetsuo leaned back slightly once they were seated, his gaze lowering briefly to the menu before lifting again.
"You can choose whatever you like," his voice followed in an even tone. After a short pause, he added, "I'll cover it."
It feels a little strange… letting my junior pay for me.
Tomoe's gaze moved down the menu, her eyes tracing the printed options without much pause. She stopped at one image and held the page steady, her fingers resting along the edge.
"Then… if that's alright," her voice came out measured as she lifted her eyes briefly, "I'll have this chocolate sundae." A short pause followed as she looked back at the picture. "The one with the cherry on top."
The waitress shifted her attention toward Tetsuo, pen held loosely between her fingers as she waited. "And for you?" Her posture remained attentive, eyes focused on him.
He barely glanced at the menu, his hands resting still on the table. "Water is fine," his reply came without pause, his tone flat and unembellished.
A brief silence followed. The waitress's smile tightened as she leaned back slightly, her head tilting a fraction. "Just that?".
He gave a short nod, his gaze steady. "Yes."
The waitress straightened and lowered her head in a small bow, her pen tapping once against the pad before she turned away. "I'll bring that out shortly." Her footsteps softened as she moved back toward the counter, the sounds of the café filling in behind her.
Once she was out of earshot, Tomoe shifted in her seat and looked across the table at him, her brows drawing together slightly. "Why didn't you order anything?" Her fingers rested against the edge of the menu as she spoke. "You could've tried one of their desserts, at least."
"It's fine..." his voice followed without emphasis. After a brief pause, he added, "I'm not really into sweets."
A few minutes passed before the waitress returned, her steps light against the wooden floor as she approached their table. She placed a tall glass of water in front of Tetsuo, condensation already gathering along the sides, then carefully set the sundae down before Tomoe, the layers neat and untouched.
Tomoe drew her hands together briefly, her posture straightening as she looked down at it. "I'll try it now," her voice carried a quiet note of anticipation. She lifted the spoon, paused for a moment, then took a small bite.
Her shoulders eased as she swallowed. "It's really good," the words came out softly as she glanced down at the glass again. "Better than I expected."
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as she took another spoonful, her movements unhurried. Across from her, Tetsuo remained still, his gaze resting on her without comment, his expression calm as the low murmur of the café continued around them.
The cool air of the late morning. Tetsuo moved ahead at an even pace, guiding her through a quieter stretch of town. The street noise thinned as they passed between buildings, until an old library came into view, set modestly between two newer structures.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted. The smell of aged paper mixed with polished wood as the door closed behind them.
Tomoe slowed just inside the entrance, her steps stopping as her gaze lifted toward the shelves stretching deeper into the building. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the space around her. "I didn't know a place like this was here," the words left her quietly, her voice carrying a note of genuine surprise as she continued to look around.
Tetsuo drew in a quiet breath, his posture remaining relaxed. "Yeah," the response came evenly. "I don't remember much," he continued after a short pause, his eyes returning to the interior of the library. "But I do remember this place from when I was a kid. I only moved back here recently."
The smell of old paper lingered in the air, faint and familiar. For a brief moment, his awareness slipped. The shelves felt taller than they should have. The floor seemed colder beneath his feet.
Movement passed around him—voices nearby but unclear, footsteps crossing behind him, the soft sound of pages being turned. When he tried to focus, the people never fully came into view, their faces refusing to settle in his mind.
A narrow ladder rested against one of the shelves. He remembered climbing it carefully, one step at a time, his fingers tightening around the worn rails as they creaked under his weight. From higher up, the books felt heavy in his hands. Their spines brushed against his arms as he pulled them free, the sounds below fading as his attention narrowed.
One figure remained clear. His younger sister stood near the counter, smaller than he remembered himself being at the time. Her posture was still, her expression neutral. She wasn't smiling, and she wasn't upset. Her eyes stayed on him, steady and watchful, as if making sure he didn't go too far or lose sight of her.
The memory ended without warning. Tetsuo blinked once, and the present returned.
Tomoe acknowledged it with a brief pause. "I see."
"Go ahead. You can read whatever you want," his voice remained even. After a brief pause, he added, "We're not in a rush."
Two hours passed quietly. The library was silent except for the occasional sound of pages turning. Tomoe seemed absorbed, her expression soft and focused. Tetsuo sat nearby, unreadable, occasionally glancing toward her.