Amidst the bustling noise of the station, I turned back and spoke.
"Hey, Kuro. How long are you planning to keep staring at the ticket gate? Let's head to the platform."
"Oh, right! Mmm, machines are just so fascinating. I'm really looking forward to riding this Shinkansen you mentioned, too!"
Even though it was a weekday afternoon, the Shinkansen Transfer Gate of a major station was naturally crowded with people coming and going. Kuro and I walked through the throng, our hands firmly entwined.
Dressed in a white camisole-style dress paired with a black jacket and dark brown shorts, Kuro looked like a breathtakingly beautiful girl even without my personal bias. However, the people passing by didn't stop to stare or even turn their heads.
It seemed that Recognition Inhibition Magic was just as effective in this world as it was in hers.
"Look, look, Kaito-kun! There's a shop selling lunch boxes!"
"Ekiben, huh... The journey on the Shinkansen is quite long, so why don't we buy something for the trip?"
"Really!? Mmm, they all look delicious. I can't decide!"
"I know the feeling, but we don't have much time until departure, so try to pick something quickly."
The word "overjoyed" suited the current Kuro perfectly. Seeing her display a level of childish excitement that matched her appearance felt quite fresh to me.
Then again, almost everything in this world was brand new to her, so her reaction was only natural. It reminded me of how I felt when I first arrived in her world, and a heartwarming sensation welled up inside me. Kuro, who had taught me so many things back then, must have felt the same way I did now.
That was right—Kuro and I were currently on a trip to Japan, the world where I used to live.
It had all started with Kuro’s sudden declaration: "Let's go on a trip to Kaito-kun's world!" It wasn't unusual for her to say something out of the blue, but I had still been immensely surprised at first.
Specifically, I had worried that no matter how powerful Kuro was—or perhaps because she was so powerful—her presence in my original world would cause problems.
However, it turned out that Kuro had made a bet with Eden-san for a One-month Pair Trip with Me. Since she won, the trip was officially sanctioned by Eden-san, the God of the World.
I had plenty I wanted to say about the situation, like why a trip with me was being used as a gambling stake without my consent, or how the thought of spending a whole month alone with Eden-san was far too terrifying to contemplate.
But looking at Kuro’s joyful smile... it was strange how easily I could feel like this was all perfectly fine.
The benefits of full support from Eden-san, the creator of this world, were staggering. Kuro's family register had been prepared as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and I had been given a shockingly large amount of money for our travel expenses. Thanks to that, I could enjoy the trip with Kuro without any reservations. Putting aside the fact that I had been made a prize in a bet without my knowledge, I felt truly grateful to Eden-san.
Kuro had said that as long as she could have fun with me, the specific sightseeing didn't matter much, but since we were here, I wanted to take her to various places.
And so, we were currently on the Shinkansen, heading for Okayama. The reason I had chosen Okayama was simple: it was the only other prefecture I felt capable of guiding someone through.
I had my pride, too. Since this was a trip with my cute lover, I wanted to lead her properly.
Okayama was my mother's hometown, and she had taken me there several times when I was a child. Since it had been a long time, my memories were a bit fuzzy, but I remembered the famous tourist spots well enough that it should be fine.
If worst came to worst, I could use the smartphone Eden-san had secretly provided for me to quietly look things up without Kuro noticing.
After we finished buying our Ekiben, we moved to the platform and boarded the Green Car. I had ridden the Shinkansen many times before, but this was my first time in a Green Seat.
If it had been just me, a Standard Car would have been fine, but I wanted Kuro to have the most comfortable trip possible. Since Eden-san had given me a bankbook with a balance that made me doubt my eyes, I had decided to splurge.
I suppose it was wrong to expect a God to have a common sense regarding money, though.
We could have easily afforded first class on a plane, but I had chosen the Shinkansen so we could enjoy the passing scenery during the journey.
"Oohhh! Amazing! It’s amazing, Kaito-kun! Such a huge lump of iron is actually moving!"
"Ahaha, I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Though the speed might be a bit underwhelming for you, Kuro."
"That’s not true at all, this is really fun! Oh, look, look! There’s a big tower!"
Watching Kuro look out the window at the landscape with such delight was truly adorable, and a smile naturally surfaced on my face. Fortunately, the Green Car was nearly empty—in fact, we were the only ones in this carriage, so I didn't have to worry about our excitement disturbing anyone else.
Now that I was actually experiencing it, the service in the Green Car was impressive. The seats were large and soft, there were magazines provided, and there were even footrests. We were even given wet towels by the staff. The amenities were incredibly comprehensive; it really was an excellent seat.
"Kuro, we haven't had lunch yet, so why don't we eat our Ekiben?"
"Yeah!"
The timing felt right, so we decided to open our lunch boxes.
I had bought a bento called Gyuniku Domannaka, which was packed with a generous amount of Yonezawa Beef crumbles. The beef went perfectly with the rice; it was delicious.
Kuro had chosen the "Established Taste: Tokyo Bento." It was a luxurious box with a wide variety of ingredients, and it looked extremely appetizing. Especially the salmon Pickled in Sake Lees... that looked like it would taste amazing.
As I was thinking that, Kuro noticed my gaze and flashed a bright smile.
"Do you want a bite, Kaito-kun? It's really good."
"Is it okay? Then, just one bite..."
"Sure. Here, say 'ahhh'."
"...The flavor has soaked in perfectly. It’s really delicious."
"Right!?"
After letting Kuro try a bite of my beef crumble bento in return, we continued our casual conversation while we ate.
"By the way, Kuro... you're surprisingly good with chopsticks."
"Ah, well, the breakfasts at my house are Washoku, after all. I use them all the time."
"Ah, I see... Noin-san's influence, right?"
"Yeah. But this Kasuzuke is a flavor I've never tried before. I’ll remember the taste and teach Noin how to make it when I get back."
One moment she was frolicking like a child, and the next, she showed the side of a mother thinking of her family. I had always thought that was Kuro's greatest charm.
Being with her was so much fun, yet it made me feel incredibly at ease at the same time.
Probably—no, without a doubt—this trip was going to be a lively and wonderful experience.