The Fourth Class Is Modern Chinese (Continued)

Yukino, seated at the far left of the row, let out a satisfied breath and spoke softly. Sitting beside her, I felt quite full myself and nodded in agreement.

Though the sun had already begun to set, the bright daylight from earlier still seemed to linger around us. Combined with the rhythmic swaying of the train, it was comfortable enough that once I relaxed, my head began to droop and I felt like dozing off.

Just as I was getting comfortably sleepy, the train gave a loud jolt and lurched violently, sending my upper body tilting to one side.

Carried by inertia, my left arm bumped into Yukino's right shoulder. Her body stiffened as well, and she glanced over at me.

"Ah, sorry."

"It's fine..."

After I apologized, Yukino shook her head and immediately lowered her gaze to the hands resting in her lap.

Then the train gradually picked up speed, clattering along the tracks. Yukino's quiet words were swallowed up by the noise.

"Can you use it at a time like this too?"

"What?"

Even when I asked, Yukino lightly shook her head to say it was nothing, then smiled as though she intended to keep it secret.

Perhaps because we were nearing a station, the train began to slow, creating a pull in the opposite direction.

Our bodies instinctively adjusted to keep our balance, bringing Yukino's shoulder closer to mine again. We bumped into each other... I started to pull my arm back.

At that moment, Yukino cautiously raised her right hand.

"Y-Yay..."

Her voice was so quiet it was almost impossible to hear.

O-Oh...

I gave a vague nod and responded in an equally indistinct voice, but I had no idea what Yukino was trying to do.

What was with her all of a sudden...? Then it