The platform buzzed with soft chatter, suitcases rolling across concrete and the hum of the arriving train in the distance. A cool wind swept through the Hokkaido railway station as the group gathered near the benches—waiting.
Celica stood near Yumi, both glancing at the station clock. Sol crossed his arms while Shin tossed snacks into his mouth, pretending not to care. King leaned casually against a pillar, Amelia standing beside him, fingers scrolling through her phone. Hiroshi and Saki talked quietly, and Arisu scolded Moi and Akira for making too much noise.
"Where are they?" Izumi muttered.
"They better not miss the train," Sol added, checking his watch.
Just then, two figures emerged from the far side of the station—Ryker and Aisa, walking side by side.
Aisa was smiling, clutching her phone like it held the universe. Ryker walked with his usual calm, hands in his coat pockets, his breath visible in the cold air.
"Why did you want my number?" he asked, glancing sideways.
Aisa looked forward, pretending to be casual.
"No reason… We're friends, right? Friends exchange numbers."
Ryker raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He didn't mind. In fact… he smiled—just a little.
The group noticed them.
"There they are!" Yumi pointed. "Finally."
"Hey, they look kinda cute together," she added, grinning.
"They've always looked good together," Celica said softly, watching the two with a knowing smile. "Ryker and Aisa… made for each other."
Aisa's cheeks turned red as she caught the words—and Ryker didn't comment, which only made her heart skip.
"You're late," Sol said as the train's whistle echoed.
"Train's almost here!"
"Yaa, don't panic," Ryker replied coolly. "We made it."
The train arrived with a soft rumble, doors opening with a hiss of warm air. One by one, they boarded—laughing, talking, teasing.
Aisa glanced at her phone again, Ryker's name saved in her contacts.
It wasn't just a number.
It was a beginning.
And as the train rolled out of snowy Hokkaido, carrying them home, something gentle had begun to bloom—quietly, steadily—between cold silence and warm smiles.
The train rolled through snow-draped landscapes, the countryside slowly shifting from white to green as the hours passed. Inside, warmth filled the compartments—both from the heaters and the people within.
Ryker sat by the window, his chin resting on his hand as he watched the world blur by. Across from him, Aisa sat quietly, her legs tucked under the seat, occasionally glancing at her phone… then at him.
He hadn't said much since they boarded.
But somehow, silence with Ryker was never uncomfortable.
In the other cabin, Yumi and Celica were chatting with Izumi and Saki, comparing pictures from the trip. Sol leaned against the wall, headphones in, while King and Amelia sat near the back, sharing snacks.
Moi, Arisu, Hiroshi, and Akira had taken over a table seat and were deep into a card game, laughter erupting every few minutes.
It wasn't just a trip that had ended.
Something had changed.
The train hissed and sighed as it pulled into the Tokyo station, its final stop. The doors slid open with a familiar chime, releasing a gust of warmth from inside and the weary but cheerful group of travelers who had just returned from Hokkaido.
One by one, they stepped off the train—bags in hand, laughter still echoing from shared memories, and a sense of something peaceful lingering in their hearts.
Ryker stretched as his boots touched the platform. The icy winds of the north had faded, replaced by Tokyo's milder breeze. But the cold hadn't left him completely—it lingered in his chest like a ghost… until a quiet presence beside him chased it away.
Aisa walked silently by his side, eyes soft, glowing with something more than just the city's afternoon light. She looked… lighter. Happier. Braver.
Up ahead, Sol clapped his hands together, exhaling with a grin.
"All right. Back to reality."
Yumi groaned dramatically. "Boo… I wanted at least one more day. One more hot spring!"
"We'll have another trip," Celica said with a teasing wink. "Next time, maybe the beach."
The group laughed and began splitting off—some calling rides, others walking together toward the exit gates. Yet amid the noise, the chatter, the slow parting of friends back to their everyday lives, Aisa stayed close to Ryker.
She hesitated just a step behind him, then spoke softly.
"Hey… thanks."
Ryker turned slightly, one brow raised. "For what?"
Aisa's fingers curled around the strap of her shoulder bag.
"For not ignoring me on this trip."
He studied her for a second—then the corner of his mouth tugged upward.
"I'd be crazy to ignore you."
It was simple. Honest.
Aisa's smile in return wasn't big or dramatic, but it reached her eyes and stayed there like a quiet fire.
She held up her phone briefly, then tucked it to her chest.
"I'll text you later."
With that, she turned and walked away, melting into the moving crowd. But Ryker didn't move. Not yet. He watched her until she vanished down the steps, the red string charm still in his pocket.
People brushed past him. The world kept moving.
And yet, he felt still—centered for the first time in a long while.
Then he finally turned, stepping out of the station into the heart of Tokyo. The familiar streets, neon lights, and background hum of city life greeted him like an old rhythm.
But today, it all felt… a little different.
As if—for once—he wasn't walking alone.
Taxis came and went, headlights gliding like silent ghosts through the soft glow of early evening. The station slowly emptied, its earlier energy dissolving into a quiet lull. With bags slung over shoulders and hearts just a little fuller, the group broke apart into smaller clusters, each drifting back toward the rhythm of Tokyo life.
Sol and Yumi shared a cab, still locked in their endless debate over who had won the most snowball fights. Their laughter trailed down the street long after the door shut.
From another taxi window, Celica waved dramatically. Inside with her were Izumi and Saki, already deep in conversation about planning the next getaway—somewhere with sun and sand this time.
Shin walked off with King and Amelia, the three of them cracking one last shared joke. Amelia laughed, her breath puffing out in the cold as Shin gave his signature smug grin.
Ryker and Aisa took their time.
They walked together beneath a quiet row of streetlights, shadows stretching long beside them. Tokyo buzzed around them again—the hum of cars, snippets of conversation, the occasional flicker of a passing train. After Hokkaido's snow-wrapped silence, it felt like slipping back into an old song.
Aisa pulled her coat tighter, not from the cold—but to hold onto the memory of warmth. Of closeness.
They reached her apartment building. She turned, her hand lingering on the strap of her bag, her eyes catching his in the amber light.
"So…" she began softly, "I'll see you tomorrow?"
Ryker nodded. "Yeah. Message me."
She smiled. "Thanks again. For… everything."
He shrugged gently, avoiding her gaze but not her presence. "I didn't do much."
But she didn't argue. She just looked at him for a moment longer, as if memorizing this version of him—calm, quiet, not running anymore.
Then she stepped inside, the door closing behind her with a soft click.
Ryker remained there for a moment, hands in his pockets, watching the faint reflection of lights in the window. Then he turned, his steps unhurried as he made his way back through the city.
For once, no destination had ever felt more like home.
His key turned in the lock. The door opened with a familiar creak. Bag dropped to the floor. Shoes kicked off lazily.
The silence inside wasn't heavy tonight. It was peaceful.
He sat on the edge of his bed, leaning back slightly, eyes wandering across the darkened room.
His phone buzzed.
Aisa:
"Hey… sweet dreams, Ryker."
He stared at the screen for a moment.
And smiled.