Chapter 123 - Back To Tokyo (1/2)

”You can take a nap if you want, honey,” Tohru James told Yanee.

The two of them were on board the bullet train bound for Tokyo. It was still early in the morning as they decided to take the earliest train at 6:14AM. After they had dinner with the family last night the two of them stayed by the balcony to talk. They discussed mostly about themselves— getting to know each other and the like and didn't realize the time was already late.

Tohru was used to not really sleeping a lot, but Yanee wasn't and she ahdn't been sleeping properly the past few days ergo her panic attacks. This was why he urged her to take a rest once they boarded the train. It would take two hours and twenty minutes for them to reach the capital anyway. She had time to nap.

”Alright,” she agreed without a fuss, and a soft smile curved her lips as she leaned back on the seat and closed her eyes.

As soon as she did, she felt him pull her sideways so she'd rest her head on his shoulders. At first, she tensed up, feeling awkward, but his soothing voice made her stop resisting and rest.

”Just sleep. I'll wake you up when we're near,”Tohru murmured to her and she hummed her agreement as she drifted off to sleep.

She still felt a bit awkward and clumsy around him, but after their talk last night, she could adjust to his presence easier than before. Although she tensed up at the beginning, she was now developing a consciousness to rely on him even just a bit.

Slowly but surely…

True to his words, Tohru stopped being a clingy octopus— at least not as much as before and he seemed to respect her sense of personal space. Even last night after their talk, he quietly sent her to her room and said good night.

Slowly but surely…

Yanee's feelings were comfortable right now and she continued to smile as if in a good dream. The next thing she knew, someone was tickling her nose awake.

”Wake up, honey. We're almost there,” a soft voice murmured as someone tapped her nose.

Yanee scrunched her face as she slowly came awake just in time to hear a soft chuckle near her ear. When she opened her eyes she was still unclear of where she was. But she felt a pressure on the top of her head as someone kissed her there.

”Honey? Are you still booting?” the soft amused voice asked again and normally she'd be in panic upon finding herself sleeping on another person who was not Ami.

Where were her sister's boobies?

But her brain quickly recognized Tohru's voice— well, quicker than normal as she booted slowly usually. Instead of feeling alarmed and lifting her head up, she just hummed as she came awake while still resting against his shoulder.

”I'm awake,” she murmured before slowly lifting her head up.

”We still have ten minutes but I woke you up earlier in case you needed time to really wake up properly,” he teased and she smiled.

Last night, she had told him that when she's tired, it took a while for her to wake up even from naps unless there's an emergency situation. She felt satisfied that he remember that small bit even if it was only mentioned in passing. He really was a very thoughtful person.

Soon, the train stopped and the two of them got off. Tohru didn't use a car so he had a taxi service pick them up. Since it's more than half past eight in the morning, they decided to go to the office immediately.

”Honey, I'll be booking your tickets to Seoul tomorrow morning. Will that be okay? Or do you want to rest and just go to Korea the day after?” he asked.

They already discussed this partially last night. Jena had five days off since she had a bit of an accident and was asked to rest by the doctor. That was the other day so she still had three days free time. The interview wouldn't take long so Yanee still could take a rest.

”I'll be alright to fly tomorrow,” she said.

”Are you sure?” he asked with worry and she chuckled.

”Why are you asking me? You already know I should finish all the interviews as fast as I can,” she reminded him and he sighed.

There was nothing he could say to rebut that since it was true. It was necessary for her to complete the interviews the earliest time possible so she could write the book. Only then he could do his part on the editing and then the marketing of the work to be able to enter the AI Awards for next year.

”I'm sorry,”Tohru suddenly apologized and she raised a brow at him.

”Why are you apologizing? Are you regretting making me join the awards?” she prompted.