The Chuo Line train was half-full.
Kaito sat near the window and watched tunnel lights slide across the glass in uneven flashes.
Reflections came and went over the dark surface, his face, the rows of seats behind him, advertisements above the doors.
He was thinking about very little.
An assignment deadline.
Whether the ramen place near Kasuga Park was still doing the cold weather special.
Whether Hiro had actually meant the thing about visiting again or was just being annoying on principle.
His phone buzzed.
Mei: Boyfriend. let's have dinner 🙂 i made a reservation
A location pin followed immediately after.
Kaito opened it.
Restaurant.
Nice exterior. Warm lighting. Expensive enough that the plating in the preview photos looked deliberate.
Near Kasuga Park.
One stop before his own.
He typed back.
We already had a date today.
The typing bubble appeared almost instantly.
Mei: i know 🙂
Mei: i wanted another one
Kaito looked at that for a second.
