"Just follow my lead, do whatever I do, got it?"
"Understood."
…
"Wow!"
To ensure a proper learning experience, Logan meticulously followed every step of the bus-waiting process. He sat upright on the wooden bench, hands neatly resting on his lap. Seeing this, Sumika mimicked him exactly, sitting properly beside him. She quickly entered a focused state, her posture so solemn that it was as if she were awaiting divine revelation.
Passersby and fellow bus riders occasionally cast strange glances at the two statuesque figures. Logan himself was tempted to say something, turning to observe his 'student', but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to disrupt Sumika's serious demeanor.
Soon, the bus rumbled toward them with a noisy clatter. When it came to a neat stop right in front of them, without even slightly exceeding the designated stopping line, Sumika couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Wow!"
Following Logan's instructions, she inserted the coins he had given her and stepped onto the bus. The sight of the packed vehicle, people either seated or standing, forming a dense crowd that almost filled her vision, made her gasp softly.
"Why is it so… packed?"
Several people turned at the sound of her voice, making Logan's lips twitch. He forced a polite smile in response.
The bus was indeed quite full, though not to the point of leaving no room to stand. After hesitating for a moment, Logan pulled Sumika further inside, "Because this is public transportation. It's cheap, so lots of people use it."
Just as they reached the back, a couple of passengers got up to leave. Logan quickly snagged the newly vacated seats.
Sitting beside him, Sumika patted her flushed cheeks and folded her hands neatly on her lap. She had started to realize that her constant exclamations were drawing unnecessary attention.
She turned to look at Logan, just in time to meet his embarrassed gaze. Her eyes grew determined as she clenched her fists in resolve, "Hattori-kun, don't worry! I'll stay calm from now on."
"…That's good to hear."
Most of the other passengers, being busy adults, either dozed off, listened to music, or played on their phones. Sumika sat quietly for a while, but the peculiar atmosphere inside the bus, the way all these strangers coexisted in complete silence, fascinated her.
After observing for a bit, she couldn't resist leaning forward to get a closer look at the small rectangular devices almost everyone was holding... It was already too late when Logan noticed it.
"Wow!"
Moving images! The screen changed as fingers swiped across it, revealing what seemed like an infinite number of spaces hidden within. Sumika's eyes widened in shock, and she covered her mouth in awe.
Now, everyone on the bus was looking at them.
"..."
Logan had a whole speech prepared to explain things, but this was just the beginning... He gave Sumika a serious glare.
But after a few seconds of facing large, watery eyes, he changed tactics and turned to glare sternly at the onlookers instead.
…
They only stayed on the bus for three stops. Though there was still some distance to the shopping district, Logan decided not to push their luck.
Even though Sumika now looked composed while admiring the passing scenery, he wasn't taking any chances.
As they stepped onto the pedestrian street, the true vibrancy of the city came into focus. Sumika's curiosity was boundless. It was restrained during her first few days due to the circumstances, but now, it was fully unleashed.
"Hattori-kun, what's that store playing music at the entrance? And why is everyone inside wearing something over their ears?"
"That's a music shop. They rent and sell various songs."
"Hattori-kun, there's a bear over there!"
"That's just a person in a costume..."
"Hattori-kun, why does this store have a sign that says 'No entry for those under 18'?"
"..."
"Let's go somewhere else."
At the entrance of the adult products store, Logan grabbed Hoshino Sumika's hand and took a step forward, ready to leave.
However, Sumika simply smiled as she looked at their intertwined hands. Instead of pulling away, she gave his hand a playful shake and curiously asked: "Why aren't we allowed in? Tell me."
Gone was the girl who had spent years in high positions, accustomed to Capital's polite yet guarded social interactions. Now, with her mask removed, she was finally allowing herself to experience youthful curiosity without restraint.
This was the kind of reaction Logan had hoped for, but priorities were priorities. There was absolutely no way he was going to explain the existence of adult videos to her.
Seeing Logan shake his head in refusal, Sumika pouted, her eyes darting mischievously. Without warning, she yanked her hand free, lifted the black curtain and suddenly got in.
"Hey, Sumika..." Logan's eyes widened. He glanced at the store's entrance, where a plain, official-looking notice was posted. The words were formal, technical, and utterly euphemistic… exactly the kind that would get censored in conversation.
Just as he was about to rush in after her…
Whoosh!
The curtain flew open again, and Sumika bolted out at an even faster speed than she had gone in. Her face was burning red, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Logan stared at her and opened his mouth to say something, but he didn't know what to say.
Sumika closed her eyes shyly, visibly struggling with the internal conflict raging within her. When she opened them again, she seemed much calmer.
"L-let's go." She mumbled, before marching off ahead.
Logan scratched the back of his head, finding her reaction oddly amusing as he followed along.
Apparently, Sumika's accidental glimpse into a 'new world' had left a significant impact. For the rest of their walk, she was noticeably quieter, obediently strolling beside him. Logan stole a few glances at her, now dying of curiosity himself, 'Just what had she seen in there?'
…
By lunchtime, Sumika's energy had returned at the sight of a variety of unfamiliar yet enticing dishes. Logan chose a moderately priced restaurant, mainly to teach her the general process of ordering food and paying with a card.
Since mobile payments weren't as widespread here as back home, there was no need to teach her the scan-and-pay method just yet.
Sumika's bank card had been issued alongside her identification documents, though it had no money in it. Of course, Logan had been saving up for his trip to Japan for quite some time, but he hadn't actually spent much of his savings yet, so transferring funds to Sumika was no issue. His hand didn't even tremble as he made the transaction.
"This is so good." Sumika scooped up a spoonful of ice cream, hesitating at the cold sensation before breaking into a delighted expression as the sweet taste melted in her mouth. She closed her eyes in bliss, "I want to eat this every day from now on."
Logan looked at Sumika enjoying herself like a kitten and couldn't help but laugh. Thinking of something, he suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice with mock seriousness: "Tastes good, right? This stuff is really expensive. Most middle-class families can't afford it."
"Wait, really?" Sumika had also seen the menu when ordering earlier, but her concept of money here was still vague.
Upon hearing what Logan said, she immediately became nervous. She stared at the small cup of ice cream in front of her like it was some rare treasure, "This is unbelievable… In that case, I guess I can only eat it once a week… no, once a month."
Logan nodded solemnly as if calculating a household budget, playing along with an air of exaggerated seriousness. But before long, he couldn't hold it in… he ducked his head and burst into laughter.
A few minutes later, when Sumika finally learned the truth, she puffed up her cheeks in frustration.
To express her indignation, she slammed her hand on the table and, mimicking Logan's earlier tone, dramatically called out, "Waiter, another cup, please!"