Lumen found it strange.
He was terrified of forming connections with people, and he had no idea how to deal with an [old acquaintance from the past] like this. More importantly, the shrine maiden was always so understanding, never bringing up anything that would make him afraid.
Lumen grew even more uneasy.
What kind of relationship had he and the shrine maiden had in the past?
As he pondered that question, the car's speed unknowingly broke sixty miles per hour. That was practically dangerous driving. Realizing this in time, Lumen drew a nervous breath and slowly reduced his speed below sixty.
"Scared?"
Hoshino reassured him. "You can speed up. I'm here."
"Is that okay?"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
Lumen raised the speed to sixty-five. His face was full of tension, and his hands gripping the steering wheel were incredibly stiff. They had even begun to tremble nervously.
Is that really necessary?
Hoshino wanted to say that, but she knew she had never experienced a life restarting whenever she was injured. She had no right to comment. For someone like Lumen, raising the speed to sixty-five was already an enormous act of defiance.
"Why do you keep traveling everywhere?"
Hoshino asked.
Whenever he had to think about and answer a question, Lumen slowed the car down. It was almost instinctive.
That question...
Lumen suddenly turned around, gave her a quick glance, then immediately looked back at the road.
"Have you asked me that before?"
"No. This is the first time we've spoken. Did you forget?"
"..."
This constant consideration was truly unpleasant. After thinking it over briefly, Lumen answered, "If I stay in one place for too long, I'll inevitably form bonds with people. I rather dislike relationships that naturally develop like that."
"That really is your style."
Hoshino nodded.
Because