The world outside the train window was a blur of green and gray, a fleeting smear of trees and sky under a bruised dawn.
Yume sat by the window, his head resting against the cool glass. The gentle clatter of the train on the tracks was a rhythmic lullaby, but his gaze was fixed on the landscape rushing past. A low-lying mist clung to the valleys, and a soft, mournful breeze carried the scent of pine through the open window, ruffling his dark hair and brushing against his cheek. He closed his eyes, a flicker of peace crossing his face as he absorbed the quiet solitude of the moment.
Opposite him, Cana was slumped in her seat, a mug of steaming coffee held loosely in her hand. Unlike her usual self, she wasn't drinking alcohol. The warm aroma of coffee filled their little compartment, a simple comfort in the cool morning air.
Across from them, Levy was lost in a world of her own, a thick book propped open in her lap. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, her lips moving silently as she absorbed every word, occasionally glancing up to enjoy the passing scenery.
Cana had volunteered instantly at the mention of coffee. She'd recently swapped booze for enchanted beans and wasn't about to lose their precious supply.
Levy joined for her expertise with blights and enchantments. With Jet and Droy away, she naturally paired with Cana and Yume, forming a balanced team
A sudden, refreshing gale of wind swept through the slightly open window, ruffling Yume's dark hair. He closed his eyes briefly, tilting his face toward the breeze and savoring the cool touch on his skin, a faint smile on his lips as if it were an old friend. He took a deep breath. The wind carried with it the scent of distant forests, open fields, and the subtle promise of new adventures ahead.
As the train rounded a bend, the sun broke through the clouds, bathing the compartment in a warm golden light.
The light seemed to draw Cana and Levy out of their reverie. Both women blinked against the sudden glow, their eyes naturally drifting toward the boy at the window.
Yume's face was bathed in gold, his sharp features softened by the sunlight. His hair gleamed like strands of ink kissed with amber, his expression tranquil in a way rarely seen. For a moment, it was as if he had been carved into that quiet perfection—untouchable, yet unknowingly captivating.
Levy's breath caught. A flush bloomed on her cheeks as she quickly looked back at her book, though the words blurred into meaningless lines. She bit her lip, fingers curling on the edge of the page, but her eyes betrayed her heart—they flicked back up, lingering helplessly on him.
Even Cana, unshakable Cana, felt her chest tighten. A faint warmth crept into her face, a blush she swiftly smothered by taking a hasty sip of her coffee. The mug shielded her expression, but her eyes lingered on Yume a moment longer than she intended.
When she set the mug down, her gaze slid sideways—and caught Levy still staring.
Ah.
Cana's lips curved into a sly smile. She knew her little friend's not-so-secret fascination well enough. The way Levy's shoulders tensed, how her fingers fidgeted nervously with the page edges, and that dreamy look in her eyes made it all too obvious.
"Oh ho…" Cana murmured, her voice low, her tone drenched in teasing amusement. She propped her chin against her hand, her eyes narrowing with mischief.
Levy flinched slightly at the sound, heat rising to her ears. "W-what?" she whispered, trying—and failing—to sound nonchalant, her gaze still fixed on Yume's sunlit face.
Cana leaned forward a little, her grin widening. "You're drooling."
Levy's eyes snapped wide open, her hand flying to her mouth in mortified panic. "I—I am not!" she whispered harshly, glaring at Cana. Her blush deepened, crimson now.
Cana chuckled, the sound low and rich. She shook her head slowly, enjoying Levy's reaction far too much. "Relax, bookworm. I don't blame you." Her eyes flicked back to Yume, her smile softening just a fraction. "Honestly… who could?"
Levy looked down quickly, gripping her book tighter, but the words lodged in her throat. She couldn't argue. Not really.
Meanwhile, Yume remained still—eyes closed, utterly unaware of the silent war of glances, blushes, and teases unfolding in his sunlit serenity.
***
The train hummed steadily as it cut across the countryside, wheels clattering a rhythm against the rails. Warm sunlight poured in through the compartment window, striping the seats in gold. Outside, rolling fields stretched into green horizons, dotted with farmhouses and wandering clouds.
Yume sat by the window, eyes closed, his breathing calm, as though the gentle sway of the carriage lulled him into meditation. For once, there was no tension, no storm of battle. Just the quiet clickety-clack and the rare peace of travel.
Cana sprawled opposite him, already clutching her flask. But instead of booze, the sharp scent of bitter coffee wafted out each time she took a swig. "I swear," she groaned dramatically, "if Serenity Creek loses those beans, I might actually die. Do you know how impossible it is to survive morning hangovers without their brew?"
Levy giggled from her seat beside Yume. "You're hopeless. First alcohol, now coffee. Next thing we know, you'll be addicted to tea."
"Blasphemy!" Cana gasped, placing a hand to her chest with exaggerated horror. "Tea is for prim ladies and librarians. Coffee is a warrior's drink. Right, Yume?"
For a moment, Yume didn't answer. Then, with the faintest curve of his lips, he opened one eye and replied softly, "I drink water."
Both girls blinked at him before bursting into laughter. The rare deadpan delivery caught them off guard.
"That's your answer to everything," Cana teased, kicking his boot lightly. "Water can't fix a blight, you know."
Levy leaned forward, her tone gentler. "Still, he's right. It's good he's here. The mission needs precision and restraint, and…well, that's not exactly Fairy Tail's strong suit."
Cana smirked. "Hey, I can be restrained. Sometimes."
"Like the time you accidentally set fire to an inn's carpet because you were trying to roast marshmallows indoors?" Levy shot back playfully.
"That was one time!" Cana protested, cheeks coloring, though the grin never left her face.
Yume finally let out a low chuckle, the sound rare but warm. "One time too many."
The three of them dissolved into laughter, the sound mingling with the steady clatter of the train and the soothing sway of the ride. For a fleeting moment, it felt less like a mission and more like friends on a casual trip.
***
The train car's rhythmic sway was a lullaby against the setting sun. Cana declared, gesturing with her half-empty coffee glass, "The best kind of vacation requires no planning. Just pick a spot on the map and go."
Levy, with a book, peeked over the spine with a skeptical smile. "That's how you end up in a town like Silent Hill, Cana."
"Well, maybe," Yume said, resting his chin on a hand while watching the treeline blur. "But at least there'd be a good story, right?"
Cana raised her glass in a toast. The compartment's golden light made everything seem safe and cozy. They were friends on an adventure, heading to the coast for a long-promised vacation. Laughter came easily, with conversations flowing from old college memories to future plans.
Yet a chill, distinct from the train's air conditioning, seemed to seep in.
The wheels clattered on the tracks in their familiar rhythm—until it shifted. The beat stumbled, just for a second, like the train had passed over something jagged. Then came a faint sound, high-pitched and grating, like nails dragging across metal.
"Did you guys hear that?" Levy asked, lowering her book.
"Hear what?" Yume turned from the window.
"Just a weird screeching sound," she said. "Like metal on metal. Probably nothing."
Cana scoffed playfully. "See? This is why you need a spontaneous vacation. Stop worrying about every little thing."
Outside, the scenery changed. Warm, green fields gave way to a dense forest, the trees spindly and stripped by shadow, their branches curled like skeletal claws against the twilight sky.
"The trees look a little… uninviting," Levy observed.
"It's just the light," Cana replied, but her gaze lingered longer than she meant it to.
Then, without warning, her cup slipped from her hand. It struck the floor, not with a sharp shatter, but with a dull crack. A thin, spiderweb fracture spread across the porcelain. Cana forced a laugh, waving it off as cheap craftsmanship, but the lines in the cup seemed to crawl outward, like veins of bad luck.
Yume's eyes flicked up. The clock above their seats had frozen—1:13. Its hands crooked at odd angles, resembling skeletal fingers splayed in mockery of the time. He checked his watch. 6:42. Still ticking normally. Yet the train's clock remained motionless, its cracked glass face glinting in the dimming light.
He turned back to the window. The forest pressed closer now, shadows twisting between the trunks. A murder of crows erupted from the canopy, wheeling through the sky. But their formation was wrong—too deliberate, too precise. They moved in a shape that almost resembled an eye. And it was staring at the train.
Yume blinked. The birds scattered.
The lights inside flickered once.
Conversation trailed off, laughter drying into silence. Even Cana had stopped fidgeting with her fractured cup.
The train plunged into a dark, narrow tunnel.
The temperature dropped sharply, a biting chill pressing against the skin as the compartment's comforting light dimmed.As if the tunnel walls pressed too close.
For the first time, none of them spoke.
The warmth of the sun, the gold of the carriage—all of it was swallowed by black. The air thickened with silent warning.
The train surged forward into unknown, shadowed territory, and the adventure ahead promised far more than warmth and laughter
End of chapter.
Author's note:-
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Spider-Man: Legacy of the First Hokage