When the train arrived at the next station, Chii brought Sumire away with her. And to reduce the attention we had drawn to ourselves, I guided Hana by hand and stepped out of the train first before reentering a different car.
Fortunately, she’s still in a tamed state as if her fangs were pulled out. It became easy for me to move with her without worrying about her attempts to steal me.
But thinking about our situation from an outsider’s perspective, we probably looked like a couple who’s going home together.
Hana hadn’t realized that yet and I had no reason to tell her about it. I found it not the right time to make my own move either. Since their meeting would be about their ‘friendship’ that only Chii and Hifumi acknowledge, I better give Hana a moment of peace where she could come to terms with it in her mind.
And with that, for the next twenty minutes or so, the two of us spent the time in silence.