Reina just took note of this in her heart and didn't react much; her attention was quickly drawn to something else: she had to say something to move past this.
"Ah, speaking of which—"
Reina tried to make her tone sound light and natural, but her words still stumbled.
She tried to reorganize her thoughts and, under Rin's calm gaze, finally managed to finish smoothly:
"Rin, why are you here today? Are you meeting a friend?"
As soon as she said it, Reina herself noticed the curiosity mixed in, despite trying to act nonchalant.
She stole a glance at Rin's profile, then quickly looked away, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing her bag strap.
She couldn't help it; she really was a bit curious.
At school, it was fine; although Rin was always elusive during breaks, at least during class, she could always see that quiet white figure in her peripheral vision.
That presence was very light, almost never disturbing anyone, yet surprisingly steady.
But outside of school...
Reina thought back carefully and realized she couldn't recall a single instance of running into Rin outside of school, not even once.
What was Rin going to do? Choosing the train over walking meant her destination was specific, not just a purposeless stroll.
Could it be... to see a partner?
As soon as that thought sprouted in her mind, she crushed it instantly.
She couldn't imagine what Rin's partner would look like.
It must be strange; someone like Rin, who seemed like an elf living deep in the mountains, her partner would probably have to be another elf.
Or a five-hundred-year-old cherry tree? Or the pothos on the classroom windowsill she sometimes touched with her fingertip?
...No, no, what was she thinking!
Reina shook those ridiculous imaginations out of her head.
She must be meeting a friend.
If she didn't have anyone close at school, she must have some close friends outside who she could relax with without maintaining an image; that's only logical!
But thinking of this, for some reason, the image of Rin alone, which she'd glimpsed a few times, surfaced in her mind.
That posture didn't seem lonely, but rather leisurely, like a cat walking in its own territory—composed, self-sufficient, not in a hurry to find a companion.
...She probably has some... right?
"Going home."
Rin's answer was brief and quickly cut off Reina's thoughts which were racing towards something weird.
...Such a mundane, yet completely expected answer.
Wait.
"Is Rin's house... also near this line?" Reina couldn't help but ask.
"Yeah."
Of course not.
Rin answered silently in her heart.
It was just to have a reasonable "on the way" excuse for the future, to create more "coincidences."
"Really..." Reina's voice carried a hint of surprise she couldn't hide, "I've never run into you..."
"Maybe because I leave home a bit earlier than you." Rin made up another excuse on the fly, her tone as casual as if stating an existing fact.
"Is that so..."
That made sense; after all, she and Rin were completely different types.
Looking at the other's usual neat and fresh appearance, leaving half an hour earlier than her seemed quite normal.
If that's the case...
Should she try leaving home earlier in the future?
To keep Rin company or something.
Riding the train alone is indeed quite boring, especially those morning stops; the view outside gets tiring after a while.
If there was someone to talk to... or even if they said nothing, just looking out the window shoulder to shoulder, that would probably feel nice too?
This thought circled in Reina's mind twice, like a coin spinning on the floor.
Before she could decide whether to say it out loud,
"Ding-dong—Next stop,..."
The train announcement pulled her back to reality.
"Ah... my stop..."
Reina stood up straight, her bag strap slipping on her shoulder, and she quickly steadied it.
The words rolled in her throat but she eventually swallowed them back.
Forget it, it's not urgent anyway; she'd say it next time, definitely next time...
She took a deep breath, suppressed her wandering thoughts, and turned to Rin, trying to make her smile look relaxed.
"Well, Rin, I'm off!" She waved, her voice cheerful, "Bye! See ya!"
"Yeah, see ya."
Rin watched the figure trot through the carriage, join the crowd getting off, and disappear outside the open doors.
Click, the soft sound of the doors closing.
The platform breeze brushed the girl's hair.
Reina's figure flickered in the crowd, then was stretched into a blur by the accelerating window view, finally disappearing into the street scene.
Rin looked away.
The carriage returned to its previous silence.
[Treasure Rin's looks are still top-tier; that profile looking at the scenery, I'm taking a screenshot for my wallpaper.]
[To be honest, indeed.]
[This episode is almost over... time flies.]
[Treasure Rin's screen time is clearly increasing; I told you, a Character Model this good couldn't just be a passing side character.]
[I noticed her the first time the protagonist met her; back then I said she'd definitely be a major character, but you guys didn't believe me, even said I was Feng Fei-ing.]
[Permission to return to base!]
...Hmm?
Is the camera still on me?
Rin was slightly taken aback.
Oh, almost forgot.
She's now a proper major supporting character with her own solo shots.
In that case...
She lowered her eyelids slightly.
Perfect, this episode is almost over.
In anime, those ten or so seconds before the ending theme starts are the golden time to leave an impression.
No need for long lines or intense emotional outbursts.
Just a perfectly timed "hook" that seems confusing on its own but feels like it hides a thousand words.
Make the audience daze for a moment to easily boost the discussion rate, and incidentally... start the second step of her plan.
So, Rin tilted her head slightly, letting the light from outside fill her eyes at this angle.
Her lips pursed slightly, as if thinking about something, or just lost in her own world.
"Are you the same?"
Her voice was very soft, like a casual mutter to herself, or a sigh heard by no one.
After saying this, Rin spoke no more, simply turning her gaze back out the window, letting the bullet chat descend into chaos.
[???]
[What do you mean "Are you the same?" Say it clearly!]
[How am I going to survive this week? Tell me how to survive this week—]
[Ms. Rin, you've turned bad. You weren't like this before (crying).]
[Holy—why did it cut off here—!!!]