Monday morning carried a calm golden light after days of rain. The Tokyo sky was soft blue, and the streets smelled faintly of sunlight and wet pavement.
Yukino sat inside the train with her university friends, Momo, Mayumi, and a few others, all holding picnic baskets and chatting about their field trip. Honoka sat on her lap as usual, legs swinging, a small red ribbon tied in her hair, humming quietly to herself.
Even after everything that had happened, mornings felt peaceful again, warm and real. Still, a quiet flutter stirred inside Yukino's chest.
Momo leaned closer with a grin."Yuki," she whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, "you keep looking at the door every thirty seconds. Are you waiting for your future husband again?"
"M-Momo!" Yukino's face turned red. "It's not like that. I'm just watching the stations go by."
"Oh sure," another girl teased, laughing. "Stations that look like tall, dark-haired men?"
The group burst into laughter. Even Honoka tilted her head curiously, looking up at her sister."Onee-chan," she asked softly, "who's your husband?"
"Honoka!" Yukino squeaked, covering her face as everyone around chuckled. "He's not, it's not!"
Honoka giggled, swaying happily in her lap, unaware of her sister's embarrassment.
Then came the familiar chime, the one Yukino's heart always recognized before the doors even opened.Next stop, Shinjuku Line, Car 3.
The air shifted.A light gust brushed through the carriage as the doors slid open.
And there he was.
Ken.
He wore a black yukata that shimmered like ink in the morning light. The wooden geta under his feet clicked softly against the floor. His hair, neatly pushed back, gleamed deep charcoal, and his calm face turned heads. His blue eyes carried a quiet confidence that seemed to make time slow down.
He didn't need to speak. Just standing there made everyone hold their breath.
Momo froze mid-sentence. "What the— Yukino, that's him?"
Mayumi, the gyaru with bright nails and honey-colored hair, leaned forward in awe. "Holy… Yukino, you never told us your train guy looked like this. If you don't make a move, I will."
Yukino's jaw dropped. "Mayumi!"
Momo fanned herself. "Forget field day. I've seen heaven."
Another friend sighed. "If he looks this good on a Monday morning, imagine him in a suit."
"Stop it," Yukino hissed, her hands trembling with embarrassment and something else she couldn't name.
Before she could speak again, a small voice called out."Ken-niisan!"
Honoka slid down from Yukino's lap, her shoes tapping the floor as she ran across the aisle with her arms stretched wide.
Ken's expression softened instantly. He crouched and caught her gently in his arms."Konichiwa, Honoka-chan," he said warmly. "You look happy this morning."
Honoka giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Because Ken-niisan came."
He smiled faintly, the kind of quiet smile that seemed to light up everything around him. "Then I'm glad I did."
When he sat down, Honoka stayed on his lap, holding Panda-san close. The girls across the seats went silent for a moment, then sighed in unison.
Mayumi whispered to Momo, "If she doesn't date him, I'm applying for adoption just to get close."
Yukino buried her face in her hands. "I can hear you."
Ken looked up, amused. "Good morning, Yukino-san," he said softly.
Yukino's voice caught before she managed to reply. "Good morning, Ken-san. You look different today."
Ken raised an eyebrow. "Different?"
Momo grinned. "She means dangerously handsome."
"MOMO!"
Ken laughed quietly, the sound calm and teasing. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Yukino groaned, covering her face again. "Why are you all like this?"
But even through the teasing, warmth spread in her chest. The sight of him smiling, Honoka laughing in his arms, and the sunlight glinting on his yukata made the world fade away for a moment.
She forgot the noise, the laughter, even the train itself. She just smiled to herself, her heart quiet and steady, moving with his.
The train rattled softly, sunlight flickering through the glass in warm golden patches.
Ken sat quietly with Honoka on his lap as she played with the edge of his sleeve. Everything felt peaceful until Mayumi stood up with a grin that promised trouble.
"Mind if I sit here?" she asked, already sitting beside Ken before anyone could stop her.
Yukino blinked. "Mayumi, what are you—"
"Shh, Yuki," Mayumi whispered, smiling. "I just want to meet the mysterious man who makes you stare at train doors every morning."
Ken blinked, startled. "Ah, good morning," he said politely, straightening and adjusting Honoka in his lap.
"Good morning, Ken-san," Mayumi said sweetly. "You look very calm for someone surrounded by girls this early."
Ken's expression flickered slightly. "I suppose I've never been surrounded by this many before."
Momo laughed from across the aisle. "He's dying inside. Look at him."
Yukino folded her arms, red-faced. "Momo, stop narrating."
Mayumi tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned forward. "So tell me, Ken-san, are you dating anyone?"
The train fell silent.
Yukino almost dropped her bag. "Mayumi!"
Ken blinked twice, caught off guard. "That's a very direct question, isn't it?"
Mayumi smiled. "I'm a very direct person."
Honoka looked up, curious. "Dating? What's dating?"
Yukino froze. "Honoka, don't say that word."
Momo nearly fell off her seat laughing. "This is perfect."
Ken tried to recover, glancing briefly at Yukino, whose face was as red as a stoplight, then back at Mayumi. He sighed and smiled a little. "Maybe," he said softly. "I am."
Mayumi leaned closer. "Oh? Maybe? With who?"
Ken's gaze shifted toward Yukino.
The whole carriage gasped.
Yukino froze, her hands flying up. "He's joking. Don't listen to him."
Ken smiled faintly. "Maybe I am."
Mayumi smirked. "I'll take that as a hands-off warning then."
Momo grinned. "Too late. Yuki already marked her territory with that blush."
"MOMO!" Yukino groaned, hiding her face again.
Honoka, still unaware, said proudly, "Ken-niisan belongs to Onee-chan and me."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Ken brushed Honoka's hair gently. "That's right, Honoka-chan. You're both very important to me."
Yukino peeked from behind her hands, her heart racing. "Don't say things like that so casually," she muttered.
The next station chime rang through the train. Ken stood, holding Honoka easily in his arms, calm once again.
"It was nice meeting your friends, Yukino-san," he said, bowing slightly.
Mayumi sighed. "You're too polite. It's killing me."
Ken smiled faintly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
As he stepped off at his stop, Yukino sank into her seat, pressing her hands to her warm cheeks while her friends surrounded her, grinning.
Momo whispered, "Yuki, if that man ever disappears again, I'm taking the morning train myself."
Yukino groaned. "I need new friends."
But even as they laughed and teased, she couldn't stop smiling. For a moment, their world had felt light again — full of warmth, laughter, and something quietly close to love.