The next morning, faint dawn light cast a soft golden glow over Shibuya Station's steel framework.
Accompanied by the rhythmic, sleep-inducing scrape of wheels against the tracks, the train glided smoothly into the station.
Inside the carriage, Yukimura Suzune lifted her gaze from her literature book, her cool eyes instinctively sweeping over her surroundings.
She did not spot that familiar figure.
She turned to look outside, searching the sparse morning crowd for a while, but still found nothing.
"He took leave yesterday, and he hasn't shown up today either..."
"Could he really be sick, and not getting any better?"
Just as the thought surfaced, it was interrupted by the opening train doors and a small commotion.
"Ruri, the train's here. Big brother is heading off now."
"Mhm! Be careful on the way!"
A clear male voice and a girl's crisp reply reached her ears.
Yukimura Suzune instinctively looked toward the voices and happened to see Natsume Chikage waving goodbye to a very cute-looking girl before stepping into the carriage.
His complexion was fair and healthy, and his stride was steady. He did not look ill in the slightest.
Natsume Chikage entered the somewhat crowded carriage. Seeing no empty seats with a sweep of his eyes, he found a spot by the door as usual and naturally pulled out his phone.
His fingers flew across the screen as he immersed himself completely in his own creative world, clearly not noticing Yukimura Suzune standing beside him at all.
After a moment of silence, Yukimura Suzune withdrew her gaze, reopened the literary novel in her hands, and resumed reading it attentively as usual.
The train slowly started moving, the carriage swaying gently as it headed toward Hibiya.
Some time later.
The train arrived at Hibiya Station on schedule.
The doors opened, and a