The rhythmic sound of the shaking train echoed in her ears.
It was a very fast, unsettling sound.
Yet, listening to it, she felt a sense of peace in her heart.
Her Guitar rested between her legs, her cloth bag in her lap, Bocchi sat primly on the train seat.
From afar, her pink long hair, pink tracksuit, and small figure looked extremely cute.
But up close, her gloomy aura and wary gaze gave the impression of pushing people away.
On the seat, Bocchi's gaze was lost in thought, looking at the delicate texture of the canvas bag in her lap, as if contemplating something important.
After a long while,
She suddenly snapped back to reality, nervously pulling at her collar and sniffing. She didn't know what scent she smelled, but her gaze lowered as if in disappointment.
Then, her eyes slowly moved to her shoulder.
After much hesitation, she looked around and, seeing no one was paying attention to her,
She raised her arm and lowered her head to sniff the spot on her shoulder that still seemed to carry warmth, revealing an expression of curiosity and unsatisfied longing. Soon, she inhaled deeply again, pressing her cheek against the smooth, cool fabric of her tracksuit.
She showed a radiant expression, hugging her shoulders and excitedly twisting her waist.
A moment later, she came back to her senses, slapping her cheeks hard with both hands.
Finally, she thought of something else, and her expression became calm.
Inside the clattering but quiet train, she hesitated, muttering to herself, "Did I... do very well?"
She doubted in her heart.
Could this level really be considered doing well?
This was probably just barely getting past the water flea, not even reaching the starting line of a human.
But to what extent would it be considered doing well?
To Kita-chan's extent?
She felt she could never achieve that.
Progress, effort, what were they, ultimately?
Although she was very happy, Bocchi still remembered her nervousness when facing customers. Next time, and the time after, would doing well be enough?
She looked up at the lights on the train, the dazzling pure white lights, and after a few seconds, she felt uncomfortable looking at them.
Hayato... she silently repeated his name in her heart.
It was as if various things were gathering and merging in her chest, then slowly extending, making her intensely want to be close to someone.
It was different from the fleeting feeling of liking someone.
Once she paid attention to it, she couldn't tolerate being alone anymore.
This feeling seemed to have started tonight, yet it also felt like it had been there for a long time, giving her a sense of it being unique.
She reviewed his actions, his expressions, in her mind.
The more she thought, the more things gathered in her chest, yet the calmer she became, but her thoughts became difficult to keep calm.
"What should I do...?"
The girl let out a troubled sound on the train... "I'm home."
Hayato greeted his family.
At the end of the straight hallway, the sound of slippers on the stairs echoed.
Tap, tap, a few sounds, and coming down the stair corner was Shizuka, still holding a broom.
Seeing Hayato enter, she welcomed him, "Welcome home, Hayato, are you hungry? Do you want me to cook something?"
Hayato changed into his house slippers, looked at his mother on the stairs, and dramatically wiped away a tear.
"I wasn't that hungry, but since my supreme mother asks, I can only say, Mom, I'll love whatever you cook."
Shizuka's face hardened when she heard him, and she asked, "Hungry or not hungry?"
"Hungry."
"Good." Shizuka swept the dust from the steps into the dustpan, then prepared to come down.
But Hayato walked over and reached for the broom.
"Is there anywhere else that hasn't been swept?"
"If you're hungry, don't work anymore." Shizuka stopped Hayato.
"It's fine, I want to prove that I'm more useful than that man who, after coming home, just eats, then sits on the sofa watching TV, and can't even win the remote control from his daughter."
Hayato almost said it by name.
Then, an angry shout came from the living room.
"I can hear you!"
Shizuka chuckled, handed the broom to Hayato, then lightly patted Hayato's head with a small complaint.
After telling him what still needed sweeping, she walked down the stairs and turned towards the kitchen.
When Hayato finished sweeping and walked into the living room, he saw his father sitting alone at the dining table, with a bottle of wine and a small wine glass in front of him.
Hayato greeted him.
"Good evening, Dad, are you hungry too?"
"You made me angry." Jinpei gave him a heavy look.
Hayato smiled.
"So, it turns into: coming home to eat and watch TV, losing the remote to his daughter, and being so angered by his son that he eats another big bowl of rice."
"You brat!"
Just as Jinpei was about to get angry, he saw Hayato pick up the wine to fill his glass, then naturally sat down opposite him.
Hayato asked.
"You're in a bad mood today, what happened at the company?"
Jinpei was startled, then sighed.
"Just that same old trivial stuff."
"Tell me about it."
"It's nothing."
The wine glass was picked up, a small sip was taken, and then it was put down.
It made a 'da' sound on the table.
"If you don't want to do it anymore, I have ways to earn some money, so you won't have to worry about your retirement."
"Don't you dare do anything illegal."
"Relax, it's through legitimate channels."
"Forget it, as long as you don't take my pension money later."
"You should ask your daughter about that."
The wine glass was picked up and emptied in one gulp.
"No more drinking, no more drinking, let's eat supper."
"Eat!" Hayato exclaimed loudly, "Mom, is it ready? Two gluttons are waiting for food."
"Coming!"
...The two men were eating noodles at the dining table, and Shizuka sat beside them, as if realizing it belatedly, keeping them company.
"Slow down."
Shizuka watched them slurping noisily and said worriedly.
Hayato's speed of slurping noodles didn't decrease at all, he even managed to speak in between.
"Mom's cooking is delicious, the noodles even have the magnet of love infused, making me eat faster and faster."
Jinpei looked up, his expression blank, as if saying, 'What kind of saucy talk do you say to my wife all day?'
The man's thoughts quickly went through his mind, then he asked teasingly.
"Where's your harem, you brat? You haven't made it onto the list of girls most hated by the entire school, have you?"
"No one would make a list for people they hate, right...?"
Hayato was helpless; when did his dad start speaking in such a sophisticated manner?
He continued.
"Within a month, I will definitely bring her back!"
Jinpei said, "Alright, I'll check on the girlfriend rental app then."
Suddenly, Hayato gasped, straightened his body abruptly, sitting upright and eating his noodles steadily, neither too fast nor too slow.
Jinpei:???
Then he turned his head and saw Shizuka with a calm expression beside him.
Immediately, cold sweat poured down his face like water wrung from a rag.
And at this critical moment.
Hayato's phone rang.
He opened his phone.
In Line, Bochi sent a message.
"I'm home."
Hayato was a little surprised; it seemed much faster than he had expected.
Could it be that girl ran all the way after getting off the train?
He replied.
"Thanks, I'm relieved. See you tomorrow then."
Bochi: "Mm, see you tomorrow."
Hayato turned off his phone.
"Male or female?" Jinpei asked hastily, relieved to have escaped.
"A very cute girl, you know."
Hayato was triumphant.
His mother's eyes lit up, and she asked eagerly.
"When will you bring her to see us, and don't do anything strange to her."
Hayato thought for a moment, bringing her back... given Bochi's current state, it would surely be a tragedy.
He waved his hand.
"Don't rush, and relax, how could I do anything strange?"
The master and mistress of the Ishikawa Family heard his words and both showed very uneasy expressions.