Chapter 235: Chance Encounter on the Train
Around three in the afternoon, Kouya bid farewell to the miko and left the quiet shrine grounds. The faint scent of incense and the echo of the priestess’s voice still lingered in his mind as he walked down the stone steps toward the station.
The train ride back to his neighborhood took about half an hour, long enough for his thoughts to drift. He leaned against the rail at the platform, watching the rhythmic arrival of the carriages before stepping inside.
Because it was the weekend, the train was busier than usual—parents guiding children with balloons and toys, couples whispering softly, and a few students laughing about weekend plans. The hum of conversation mixed with the rhythmic clatter of wheels against tracks, creating a strangely comforting chaos.
Kouya was fortunate to spot an empty seat near the window. He sat down quietly. While others scrolled through their phones or napped with headphones on, he simply turned his gaze outward. Buildings and trees slipped by in a blur of color. He wasn’t looking at anything in particular—just letting the movement calm him.
As the train rolled closer to the city center, more passengers squeezed in. Bags brushed against his shoulder, voices overlapped, and the air grew warmer.
At the next stop, a familiar silhouette entered his field of vision.
Her figure was easy to recognize even in a crowd—lively posture, confident stride. When she turned slightly, the afternoon light caught her face: violet eyes bright as gemstones, thin lips curved with quiet composure, and soft hair tied neatly at the back, glimmering like strands of silk.
It was Vigne.
Perhaps because of the early summer warmth, she wore a sky-blue shirt printed with a cartoon character, simple and cute in a childish way, paired with a tea-brown skirt that swayed just above her knees. White sneakers peeked beneath the hem, and her white stockings highlighted the smoothness of her legs. The look was casual yet charmingly clean.
Her eyes wandered through the carriage until they landed on Kouya. She blinked, clearly surprised, and hesitated—should she greet him? But before she could decide, his voice came calmly:
“Why are you getting on here?”
Vigne walked closer, grasping the handrail beside him. “I saw a supermarket nearby was having a sale on cat food,” she said softly, a hint of embarrassment in her tone. “So… I came to buy some.”
Kouya raised an eyebrow. “You came all this way just for cat food?”
Those two cats must feel blessed to have such a diligent caretaker. He couldn’t help but think even he didn’t receive that much dedication.
“Cat food is good for a cat’s health,” Vigne explained earnestly. “It’s balanced—much better than leftovers.”
Kouya chuckled lightly. “Didn’t the old lady have plenty stocked up?”
“That’s different,” Vigne said, pressing her lips together. “It doesn’t feel right to use hers. Besides, I earned some money from my part-time job, so I wanted to buy it myself.”
“You could just make me a bento instead,” Kouya teased.
Her face immediately turned pink. “Make it yourself!” she snapped quietly. The idea of people seeing her constantly making him lunch was too embarrassing to imagine.
Still, the corner of her mouth twitched, betraying a smile she tried to hide.
“What about you?” she asked, glancing at his clothes. “You didn’t even change.”
Kouya looked down at his uniform. He hadn’t changed since yesterday—after returning the blue-eyed hatchling, he’d gone straight to Chiba Shrine. “I finished a commission late last night,” he said. “Stayed there until morning.”
He spoke matter-of-factly, with no attempt to conceal it.
Vigne puffed her cheeks slightly, clearly displeased but unsure why. “You really never rest, do you?” she muttered, then quickly changed the topic. “By the way, how are Ai and Natsu?”
“They’re learning something called ‘The Self-Cultivation of a Maid,’” Kouya said flatly.
Vigne blinked. “That sounds… odd. What is it?”
“Basically, those two—who think eating three apples a day is the height of happiness—want to become proper maids to repay the kindness of being taken in.”
The image of the two bunny girls in maid outfits made Vigne smile despite herself. “That must look adorable.”
“I just thought it looked silly,” Kouya said with a shrug.
She frowned. “Don’t say that.”
The train lurched slightly, causing Vigne to sway. Kouya steadied her instinctively.
“Want to sit down?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” she said quickly.
“Then at least let me hold your bag.”
“It’s not heavy…” she protested, but his silent expression didn’t change. She sighed and handed it to him. Though light, the small kindness made her cheeks warm.
The two talked quietly as the train rattled on. They spoke about nothing important—school, errands, random things—but the easy rhythm of their voices filled the time pleasantly.
At the next stop, the crowd thickened again. Someone stumbled and bumped into Vigne, forcing her backward. A warm hand caught hers before she could lose balance.
Kouya had stood, pulling her gently upright. “Sit,” he said simply.
Her heart skipped a beat. Blushing, she nodded and sat down. “Thanks…”
He smiled faintly. “Just make me that bento next time. Cafeteria food’s terrible.”
“The chef does fine,” she said, pouting. “But… maybe I’ll bring you one next week.”
She turned toward the window, pretending to watch the scenery, only to see her reflection smiling faintly—eyes soft, lips curved upward—the same expression from that photo booth picture they’d taken together. Flustered, she looked away and smoothed her skirt, lowering her gaze.
Even that shy motion made her seem irresistibly gentle.
Time passed quickly. The train slowed, brakes squealing, and they arrived at the station near their apartment complex.
Stepping out onto the platform, the air felt different—humid, heavy, and still. “Alright,” Vigne said, tightening her grip on her bag. “You go home. I’ll head back too.”
Before Kouya could reply, a gust of cold wind swept through, carrying the metallic scent of rain. The clouds had gathered thickly above, dark and swollen.
A moment later, the first raindrops fell, cool and sharp.
“It’s raining already,” Vigne murmured, rummaging through her bag. “Good thing I brought my umbrella—” She stopped, her eyes flicking toward him. “You didn’t bring one, did you?”
Kouya shook his head. “Didn’t think I’d need it.”
“Figures,” she said softly, half teasing. “It looks like a passing shower. Let’s wait somewhere dry.”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
She opened the umbrella and held it over both of them. Their shoulders brushed slightly as they walked together toward a nearby overhang. The soft patter of rain surrounded them, muffling the world into quiet isolation.
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