Ch 73:Weird Girl from the Train

Two weeks had passed since I arrived in this world, and I had to admit—I was enjoying it. The peaceful and somewhat chaotic blend of different anime worlds made things interesting, but at the same time, nothing seemed too out of place. It was as if these characters had always belonged here, living their lives naturally without questioning the randomness of their existence.

I had settled into a routine. My mornings were spent working at Yukihira Restaurant, where I honed my cooking skills under Jōichirō's guidance. The man was a cooking prodigy, and even though I had my Master Chef skill, there was something refreshing about learning the art of cuisine from someone so passionate about it. He even started letting me handle customers on my own, which, to my surprise, felt pretty fulfilling.

After work, I would ride my bike around Tokyo, exploring different areas while keeping an eye out for familiar faces. And in the evenings, I would head to Gotō's band practice, where I not only listened to their music but also picked up a thing or two about playing instruments. Bocchi, true to her character, was awkward as hell, but once she started playing, she was a completely different person. It was honestly impressive.

Through my random wandering around the city, I had come across quite a few familiar characters from various anime.

One time, while passing by a basketball court, I saw a tall, red-haired guy arguing with his teammates. It didn't take long for me to recognize him—Hanamichi Sakuragi from Slam Dunk. Apparently, in this world, he had actually made it to the Nationals and was now one of the rising stars in high school basketball. Seeing him train reminded me of the anime's ending, which had left his future open-ended. But here, it seemed like he was doing well.

Then there was Hanako Koyanagi from Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku. I spotted her at an anime merch store, having a heated discussion with the cashier over a limited-edition figurine. The sheer intensity in her eyes as she haggled was terrifying, and I decided not to get involved. Still, it was interesting to see that otakus existed in this mixed world as well.

Another familiar face I ran into was Tooru Ishikawa, the green-haired guy from Horimiya. He was hanging out with his usual friend group at a café, talking about some school event. It was strange seeing them in real life rather than in an anime setting, but at the same time, they fit right in with the city's normal flow.

But the most surprising encounter was when I saw Nagisa Furukawa from Clannad. She was walking down the street with her gentle smile, looking completely healthy and full of life. Seeing her like that made me pause. If this world was truly a mix of different anime realities, did that mean her tragic fate in Clannad wouldn't happen here? I hoped so. She deserved happiness.

As I continued to explore, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this world had more surprises waiting for me. After all, if such random characters were all living here, then who knew who else I'd run into next?

---

Parking my bike outside a cozy-looking café, I decided to take a break. The weather was nice, and a cup of coffee sounded perfect. Pushing open the door, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods greeted me. The place had a warm, welcoming atmosphere, with soft chatter filling the air as customers enjoyed their drinks.

I walked inside, glancing around for an empty seat. And that's when I saw her.

The same girl from the train.

She was sitting by the window, a cup of tea in front of her, flipping through a book with that same unreadable expression. It was as if she had an invisible wall around her, keeping the world at arm's length.

And just like last time, my gaze lingered a second too long.

Fate—or maybe just my terrible luck—decided to make things even more awkward.

As if sensing my stare, she slowly looked up, her deep, intelligent eyes locking onto mine. For a brief moment, there was no reaction. Then, a knowing smirk curled at her lips.

"…You again."

I blinked. Well, this was awkward.

"You know," she continued, resting her chin on her hand. "At this point, I'm starting to think you're following me."

I raised my hands in surrender, chuckling. "Pure coincidence, I swear. Or maybe the universe just wants us to keep running into each other."

Her smirk didn't fade, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. She gestured to the empty seat across from her. "Since fate seems so insistent, you might as well take a seat."

I didn't need to be told twice. Sliding into the chair, I gave her a curious look. "Since we keep running into each other, I should probably introduce myself properly. Arthur Wayne."

She closed her book, tapping a finger against the cover. "Kasumigaoka Utaha."

Ah. So that's why she looked familiar. Saekano, huh? I should have watched that I only remembered her from the poster.

Still, I played along, pretending not to recognize the name. "Nice to meet you, Kasumigaoka-san. Any chance the universe is trying to tell us something?"

She raised an eyebrow, lips quirking in a teasing smile. "Who knows? Maybe it just wants to entertain me with your awkward staring."

I groaned. "You're not going to let that go, are you?"

"Nope."

Great. I had a feeling this wasn't the last time I'd be teased about it.

Arthur leaned back in his seat, ordering a coffee from the passing waiter before turning his attention back to Utaha. She had gone back to flipping through her book, but he could tell she was still aware of him.

"So, Kasumigaoka-san," he started, watching as she turned a page. "What are you reading?"

She didn't look up. "A novel."

He smirked. "No kidding. I meant, what's it about?"

Utaha finally glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "It's about an unfortunate soul who keeps running into the same stranger over and over. Eventually, he realizes it's fate… or just really bad luck."

Arthur chuckled, shaking his head. "I see. Sounds like a masterpiece in the making."

"I'd say it depends on how the stranger reacts to fate's interference," she replied, closing her book with a soft thud. "And whether he chooses to play along or not."

Arthur met her gaze, amused by the way she turned their situation into a playful narrative. He could tell she was testing him, trying to gauge his reactions. Well, two could play that game.

"Then I guess I should make sure the story has an interesting twist, shouldn't I?" he mused. "Otherwise, wouldn't want it to be too predictable."

Utaha's smirk widened. "Good answer."

The waiter arrived, placing his coffee on the table. Arthur took a sip, letting the warmth settle in before shifting the conversation.

"So, Kasumigaoka-san, what brings you to this café? Do you come here often?"

She sighed dramatically, resting her cheek on her hand. "That's such a cliché question, Arthur-kun. You might as well ask me if I believe in love at first sight."

Arthur laughed. "I'll save that one for our third encounter, then."

Utaha hummed in amusement, then finally answered. "I come here to write. It's quieter than most places, and the coffee isn't terrible."

"Ah, so you're a writer."

She raised an eyebrow. "Surprised?"

"Not really. You seem like the type."

Utaha tapped her book thoughtfully. "And what type is that?"

Arthur grinned. "The one who enjoys weaving words into something interesting. Maybe with a little bit of sarcasm on the side."

Utaha chuckled, shaking her head. "You're sharper than you look, Arthur-kun."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Arthur took another sip of his coffee, enjoying the comfortable atmosphere of the café. Utaha had gone back to her book, but her occasional glances told him she was still aware of his presence.

After a moment, she closed her book again, placing it on the table with a soft sigh. "Alright, Arthur-kun. Since you seem so interested in me, it's only fair I ask about you."

Arthur smirked. "Oh? You're interested in me now?"

Utaha rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself. I just find you… curious."

"Well, that's a step up from completely ignoring me," he mused, setting his cup down. "What do you want to know?"

Utaha rested her chin on her hand, her eyes sharp and analyzing. "You don't seem like a local. You don't act like a tourist either. So, who exactly is Arthur Wayne?"

Arthur leaned back in his chair, pretending to think. "A wandering soul in search of good coffee and interesting conversations."

She scoffed. "How vague. What's your job?"

"Currently? I work part-time at Yukihira's restaurant."

That actually made her raise an eyebrow. "You? Cooking?"

Arthur chuckled. "I take that as a challenge. You don't think I can cook?"

"I just have a hard time picturing you as a chef," Utaha admitted. "You seem more like the type to… I don't know, get dragged into weird situations."

Arthur laughed at that. "You have no idea how accurate that is."

Utaha smirked. "And yet, here you are. So, are you any good?"

Arthur shrugged. "I'd like to think so. You should come by and see for yourself."

She tapped her fingers against her book, considering. "I just might."

Arthur watched her, curious himself. He had met a lot of people since arriving in this world, but Utaha had a way of keeping him entertained. Their conversations felt natural, like a game of verbal chess where each move was met with an equally sharp response.

"You know," Arthur said, "I think I enjoy talking to you, Kasumigaoka-san."

Utaha smiled, a little amused. "Oh? What a coincidence. I was just thinking that you might be tolerable company."

Arthur chuckled. "I'll take that as high praise."

---

As their conversation continued, Arthur found himself genuinely enjoying Utaha's company. She was sharp, witty, and had a natural way of keeping the conversation engaging.

"So, Arthur-kun," Utaha leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "Are you planning to stay in Tokyo long-term? Or is this just another stop on your 'wandering soul' journey?"

Arthur smirked. "Hard to say. I go where life takes me."

Utaha narrowed her eyes playfully. "That's a suspiciously evasive answer."

Arthur chuckled. "Alright, fine. I actually like it here. The city has a nice atmosphere, the food is great, and I've met some interesting people."

"Flatterer." Utaha smirked. "But I'll allow it."

Arthur took a sip of his coffee, studying her. "And what about you? What brings the great Kasumigaoka Utaha to a café all alone?"

"Ah, you see, I was on a very important mission," she said dramatically, flipping her hair. "A mission to avoid certain individuals pestering me about my writing deadlines."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "I see. So you're a fugitive?"

"Exactly." She nodded solemnly. "It's a high-risk lifestyle, but someone has to do it."

Arthur grinned. "And what are you writing, if I may ask?"

Utaha tapped the cover of her book. "A new novel. Something different from my usual work."

Arthur leaned in slightly. "Oh? What's it about?"

She paused, then smirked. "If you're that curious, I suppose I could let you read an early draft."

Arthur pretended to consider. "Hmm, I don't know. I wouldn't want to be burdened with knowing your genius too soon."

Utaha chuckled. "You say that now, but once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down."

"I'll take your word for it." Arthur leaned back, watching her with amusement.

The conversation carried on effortlessly, and before they knew it, the sky outside had started to darken.

Utaha stretched. "Well, as much fun as this has been, I should probably get going before my editor tracks me down."

Arthur smirked. "Need an escape route?"

"Tempting, but I think I can handle it." She stood up, gathering her things. "I'll see you around, Arthur-kun."

Arthur nodded. "Looking forward to it, Kasumigaoka-san."

With that, she walked out of the café, leaving Arthur sitting there, sipping the last of his coffee.

"Well," he muttered to himself. "That was interesting."

---Note

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