Car number 7 looked far more luxurious than Hannah had imagined. The train in this world was like a blend of Victorian-era Orient Express and futuristic technology.
"Wow, these seats are so soft," Hannah commented with an amazed tone. She reclined completely into the seat.
Kazuki sat beside her, their pair of seats facing toward the train tracks. In front of them was a small table made of polished mahogany that gleamed, with a small table lamp emitting a soft golden light. The table was equipped with a button to call attendants and cup holders designed to prevent drinks from spilling even when the train shook.
"I never would have thought that trains like this existed in this world too," Hannah continued while observing her surroundings with sparkling eyes. "This seems to be quite a strange other world."
Kazuki nodded slowly, "I think you're right," he said after a moment. "There are many similarities to our original world, from food to other things. It doesn't feel like we're in a completely foreign world."
"Excuse me, would you like to order something?"
Hannah and Kazuki turned simultaneously, surprised by an arrival they hadn't noticed. Next to their table stood a young woman in an elegant train attendant uniform—a maroon blazer with gold embroidery along the edges, a knee-length pencil skirt, and a small hat tilted gracefully above her neatly pinned hair.
"Huh?" They both looked surprised, making the attendant smile understandingly.
"Haha, is this your first time on this train?" the attendant asked kindly. Her pale white skin contrasted with her ruby-red lips. Her unusual purple eyes twinkled with amusement at the reaction of the two young passengers before her. "Here, look, you can order whatever is in this."
She handed over a thin, metal-framed tablet with a softly glowing screen.
Kazuki took the tablet and read it carefully. The screen displayed various food and drink items, from light snacks to appetizing main courses. Holographic images of food rotated elegantly.
"What would you like to order?" asked Kazuki, offering the tablet to Hannah.
The girl observed the menu options with amazement. There were familiar foods like sandwiches and pasta, but also some foreign dishes with strange names like "Crystalberry Glowfizz" and "Grilled Dragon with Emerald Sauce."
"Uhh, I'll just have chocolate water and chocolate bread," Hannah finally answered, choosing the safest and most familiar options. "I'm not really that hungry anyway."
Considering they had just had pizza for breakfast at the hotel, Hannah indeed wasn't urgently hungry. Besides, she wasn't yet sure if the exotic foods on the menu would suit her taste or even her digestive system.
"Then I'll have the same," said Kazuki with a brief nod. "I'm not very hungry either." He turned to the attendant who was still waiting patiently. "We'll order bread and chocolate water."
The attendant smiled. "Very well, your order will arrive in a few minutes," she said in a professional tone. After that, the woman walked straight ahead to serve other passengers.
Hannah observed how the attendant moved gracefully along the narrow corridor.
"Really similar to our original world, isn't it?" she commented.
"You're right," Kazuki answered quietly. He stared out the window, watching the increasingly rapid changes in the landscape. The urban areas had completely disappeared, replaced by vast dense forest with tall trees.
◇◇◇
"Enjoy your meal," said the attendant, bowing politely before leaving again.
Hannah stared at the dish before her with wide eyes. "Is this... their version of 'chocolate bread'?" she whispered in amazement.
Kazuki raised his glass, carefully examining the shimmering liquid in it. "It seems the culinary standards in this world are a bit different," he commented flatly.
Hesitantly, Hannah took the chocolate bread and bit into it slightly. The explosion of flavor on her tongue nearly made her moan—a perfect combination of a bread texture that was crispy outside but soft inside, with rich yet not overly sweet melted chocolate, and subtle hints of exotic spices she couldn't identify.
"This is... incredible," she said after swallowing her first bite, her eyes half-closed enjoying the taste.
Kazuki tried his drink, and although his expression remained as flat as usual, there was a faint flash of appreciation in his eyes. "The drink isn't bad either," he commented briefly.
They enjoyed their food in silence as the train continued at a constant speed. The scenery outside the window changed again—the silver forest had now been replaced by vast grasslands with tall, colorful plants swaying in the wind.
Suddenly the entire train shook violently, nearly causing her to tumble from her seat. The glasses on their table fell and rolled, their contents spilling onto the luxurious carpet.
"What was that?!" Hannah exclaimed in shock, holding onto the edge of the table to maintain her balance.
A second shake, harder than before, was followed by a deafening sound from outside the train. The lights inside the carriage flickered before going out completely.
"Something's happening," Kazuki hissed.
The emergency announcement system sounded with a crackling voice: "Attention to all passengers, please remain calm and stay in your seats. We are experiencing minor technical difficulties. Security personnel will arrive shortly to ensure your safety."
However, from the commotion and panicked screams beginning to be heard from other carriages...
"What's happening!"