Chapter 45
The cab began to slow as it neared a massive mall nestled in one of Tokyo’s vibrant commercial districts. Kokoro, whose back had been tense the entire ride, finally exhaled a long, quiet sigh. His palms were slightly sweaty, resting awkwardly on his knees. Sitting just a few centimeters away from him was his current mission target—the ever-smiling stepsister, Nakahara Naomi.
He had spent the whole ride glued to the window, eyes avoiding hers like his life depended on it.
Naomi, on the other hand, had her eyes closed for most of the trip—not from exhaustion, but sheer survival. The moment she laid eyes on Kokoro’s ridiculous full-tone white get-up—a plain white shirt, white shorts, and spotless white sneakers—she nearly burst out laughing. She knew herself well. Her laughter was explosive and hard to stop once it started, and laughing right beside a stranger? Unforgivable. So she closed her eyes, head tilted slightly, feigning a nap while fighting giggles inside her chest like an active volcano.
Please don’t make me open my eyes again, she pleaded silently.
As the cab slowed to a gentle halt, both of them sighed—one from tension, the other from restraint.
The elderly cab driver peeked through the partition, his voice as gentle as a grandpa patting your head.
"That’ll be 500 yen, my dears. Quite the peaceful ride, huh?" he chuckled warmly.
Both Naomi and Kokoro nodded in unison like synchronised soldiers desperate to disembark. Wallets came out at the same time in a clumsy rush, the two clearly eager to part ways.
After handing over their yen, Naomi was the first to bolt. The door clicked open with a soft chime, and she slipped out, her long legs already carrying her toward the mall entrance at a brisk pace. Her short messy black hair fluttered slightly as she walked, her white sneakers squeaking faintly against the tiled path.
Kokoro, stunned by how quickly she fled, blinked once before sliding out behind her, muttering under his breath, "Jeez, she’s fast..."
He stood still for a moment, looking up at the structure before him. The mall was absolutely massive, its glass-paneled walls reflecting the Tokyo morning sun like a jewel. Giant LED screens above the doors played vibrant ads: limited edition collabs, ramen challenges, idol group performances. The giant banners outside flapped in the breeze, advertising everything from luxury bags to anime cafés.