บท 33: Catching a Train

Word count: 1164

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Fujino hurried through the bustling streets of Tokyo, a deep frown etched on his face. To say he was displeased would be an understatement, akin to saying the ocean is wet.

This week was meant to be a straightforward getaway, a chance to unwind and savor the moment, maybe even flirt with a girl or two, especially since his CHA had skyrocketed.

But of course, fate had other plans, throwing him into a mission at the most inconvenient time. What happened to the quest that encouraged him to take a break and enjoy himself?

[Quest failed!

—>Well Deserved Vacation

You've been working yourself to the bone, and even Granny has noticed. It's time to take a break and enjoy a vacation.

Main Objective: Relax and enjoy your time.

Reward: 5000 XP]

He had failed it.

That's right, the instant he received the Mugen Train quest, the previous one was marked as failed, all because he happened to read a newspaper. Something completely out of his control.

'If this is a joke, then kami should count his fucking days.' he continued on his way, indifferent to the people he bumped into or shoved aside.

Before long, he reached the Tokyo train station, one of the capital's most significant hubs. He recalled using this station numerous times in his era, so the stark changes made him stop for a moment.

He jumped over the fence that enclosed the station and walked through the wide open main door. The silence was deafening, with not a single person in sight. 'Well, it seems they aren't open all the time. Perhaps I can locate an office or a ticket booth,'

He scanned the area, his gaze settling on the ticket counter, the light inside was left on. Approaching it, he was pleased to see it completely empty, with a sign reading "Closed."

Then, his eyes caught sight of a small book resting near the window bars. "Bingo!" he exclaimed, moving to the side of the counter to try the door, only to find it locked.

"Of course the door is locked. Why would it be open?" he muttered, feeling frustrated. Life certainly had a way of complicating things. Why couldn't a worker be lazy and forget to lock the door for once?

Looking around to confirm he was alone, he shrugged mentally and turned back to the door. "Alright then, hard way it is, I guess."

He pulled back his fist and punched the door, which flew off its hinges and slammed against the wall, scattering papers and tickets everywhere. Fujino casually stepped into the office, the dim light casting long shadows as he headed straight for the counter.

'Observe.'

[Train Schedule Handbook

Rarity: common

A book containing arrival and departure dates for incoming trains along with maintenance schedules.]

A smile spread across his face; this was just what he needed. He opened the book and began to scan its pages, his finger tracing each entry. "Not that one... not that... wrong date... Hmm... Aha! There it is, Mugen train!"

The book indicated that the Mugen train was undergoing maintenance for a week due to "parts evaluation and repairs." Fujino suspected it might be related to the investigation he had read about, but that wasn't his main concern.

"Departure time: 7:30 PM. Arrival time: 6:00 AM. So, the train is actually coming here?" This posed quite a dilemma. Should he wait for the train's arrival? However, the book indicated there were no scheduled trips for the train, so this could very well be its last journey, as far as he knew.

His other option didn't excite him at all. After a brief pause, he sighed in resignation. 'Looks like it's the hard way then.'

He shut the book and stepped out of the office, only to be greeted by the beam of flashlights. In front of him stood two individuals in dark blue uniforms, likely guards, if he had to guess.

"Stop right there! What were you doing in there, and how did you get in?!" one of the guards shouted, advancing toward him with a baton in hand, looking quite threatening.

Fujino felt no intimidation whatsoever. Why would he? After battling demons for who knows how long, regular humans didn't faze him anymore.

"I was just taking a stroll, thought I'd check this place out. Got a bit bored and decided to peek into the office. I must say, you guys have no sense of style. Hell, you guys don't even have a water fountain in there. Your working conditions are shit. Ever thought about unionizing bef—"

"Enough! It's clear you're just talking nonsense. Come with us to the station quietly, or we'll make you," he said, placing a hand on Fujino's shoulder and roughly attempting to turn him around.

The key word being attempting.

The guard's effort was met with a swift punch to the jaw, sending him crashing to the ground, his jaw dislocated in an instant.

The other guard looked on in shock at his partner's fate. He yelped when he caught Fujino's lazy glance. "You guys really aren't scary, you know? Go find a different job," Fujino said, and with a swift motion, the guard found himself slammed against the wall.

He knelt down to grab the flashlights, tossed them in the air a few times, and flicked them on and off to check their functionality and range. He nodded in satisfaction; they weren't as impressive as the ones from his era, but they would certainly get the job done.

Next, he made his way to the platform where the tracks were located. Stepping aside, he began to change his clothes, putting away his blue kimono and pants in favor of his battle attire, so to speak—a snug black shirt paired with loose white pants.

To be honest, this outfit wasn't really designed for combat; it was more about style. Plus, it reminded him of his favorite anime character, which was a nice bonus.

Once he was dressed, he headed down to the tracks, where the less exciting part of his plan awaited: running.

Knowing the train was approaching and uncertain if it would be to service, he realized this was his final opportunity. With the train coming toward him, he decided his best chance was to run straight at it and meet it halfway.

Suddenly, he heard shouts and the sound of footsteps approaching, accompanied by beams of light. 'Well, time to go.' He took off running.

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Taisho-era secrets!

Following that night, several newspapers began reporting on a black-haired individual who was causing trouble in the community and harassing unsuspecting pedestrians. When news broke about the Tokyo station being broken in, people started linking the intruder to this troublemaker.

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