While eating, Logan did not forget to explain various common sense. He also reviewed their bus experience in the morning. He tapped his chopsticks on the bowl and told Sumika how to identify the right stop based on their destination.
"For example, if you want to go to the National Library, you'd get off at National XX University and walk from there..."
Hearing this, Sumika tilted her head and asked, "What's a university?"
Logan explained that it was a higher education institution where people studied in preparation for entering society, and that it was also a place where people conveniently found romance.
Sumika's curiosity only deepened, "What does 'finding romance' mean?"
Logan furrowed his brows, sensing that things were not so simple. When Sumika shyly asked if he had ever been in a relationship, Logan fell into deep thought.
In the afternoon, Logan continued taking Sumika around the city, like convenience stores, hospitals, schools, shopping malls. There was simply too much to explain in detail.
Several times, Logan spoke until his mouth was dry, sweating even in the dead of winter. Fortunately, Sumika was intelligent and quick to learn, picking things up rapidly.
By the end, she had become much calmer, and fewer things could elicit a surprised reaction from her.
Daimoku Shrine had rules, since Sumika had just arrived and was now a resident there, she shouldn't return too late. So, after buying a bunch of snacks and daily necessities, and with the sun just beginning to dip on the western horizon, Logan took her back.
To make the most of the trip, they decided to try different modes of transportation. Unfortunately, they were unlucky and happened to meet the rush hour.
Rush hour in the Tokyo metropolitan area was terrifying. As Logan led Sumika into the subway station, the overwhelming crowd, station attendants shouting and running around like they were in a battlefield, and subway cars packed to the brim proved the rumors true.
With no other choice, after waiting through several packed trains with no improvement, they braced themselves and boarded. After a great struggle, they finally squeezed in, only to be mercilessly compressed into a tiny corner by the surging crowd.
"I didn't expect it to be this packed either." Logan gave Sumika an embarrassed smile, "We wandered a bit too far today, looks like we'll be standing for a while."
"It okay." Sumika murmured, clutching the bag full of snacks as she lowered her head.
Seeing her like this, Logan coughed and tactfully looked away.
The two were pressed very close. Logan braced his hands against the subway walls, doing his best to shield Sumika from the rough men and tired office ladies surrounding them.
But there was no escaping this situation, as no matter how refined his combat skills, how exceptional his physical strength, or how advanced his S-Rank Lightning Release Ninjutsu were, none of that mattered here.
The slight sway of the train caused their clothes to rustle against each other, and they could clearly hear each other's breathing, with her soft scent, his steady exhale.
This wasn't intentional, as it was inevitable. Sumika wasn't used to being in such an intimate position, so her heart was racing faster and faster. She could already imagine how red her face must be.
'Why was this ride taking so long? The train had stopped at so many stations, yet the crowd hadn't thinned at all…' Sumika clenched her teeth in frustration. Feeling like time was stretching endlessly, she clutched her plastic bag tightly. Wanting to distract herself from the awkward atmosphere, she casually reached into her snack bag and pulled out a lollipop.
One of the handy and delicious treats she had discovered during their afternoon stroll. They are easy to carry and come in various flavors. Girls always had a weakness for sweets.
In the limited space, Sumika peeled off the wrapper with great difficulty. She's not even looking at Logan, focusing entirely on her task.
Unexpectedly, Logan suddenly made a move at this time. He moved his head and leaned his whole face towards her.
His breath was right there, so very close. Sumika's mind went blank. Frozen, she couldn't react. A flood of embarrassing scenarios she'd read in books flashed through her mind.
'H-here…?'
Logan bit down on the lollipop. But due to the angle, he could only grab the end of it, unable to take the whole candy.
Realizing what was happening, Sumika immediately felt indignant. She yanked the lollipop back and shoved it into her own mouth.
"Ah, what a shame." Logan shamelessly chuckled.
Sumika huffed heavily, turned her head away, and the lollipop puffed her cheek out slightly.
"Well, if you won't share, I've got this." Logan propped himself up and pulled a piece of bubble gum from his pocket, "Hey, don't be mad, watch me do a magic trick."
Logan chewed for a while, and quickly got a feel for it based on the memory he learned when he was a child, then skillfully blew a bubble.
"Oh." Sumika originally didn't want to pay attention to him, but it was the first time she saw that eating could be played like this, so she was still pleasantly surprised.
"Impressive, right? Watch, I'll make an even bigger one."
Any man would take pride in a girl's admiring gaze. Feeling encouraged, Logan got excited, his confidence swelling. He successfully blew an even larger bubble.
However, fate had other plans. The train suddenly jolted, causing the human sea to sway like a field of grass in the wind, right toward Logan.
He was mid-smirk when a strong force hit him. He lost his balance, stumbling forward slightly.
The fruit-flavored bubble pressed right onto Sumika's lips.
"..."
Their eyes met. Logan froze in place.
Sumika's eyes widened.
It felt like time had stopped, though in reality, it was only a fleeting moment.
Then, with a soft pop, the bubble burst.
Amid the rushing subway, in the dim glow of the underground tunnels, the sound lingered.