❝In the tale of fate, the red string connects us all, but not every thread leads to a soulmate.❞
In a world where love is entwined with fate, an abandoned conductor escapes the confines of an unnatural train into a universe he's forgotten.
As he nav...
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For nearly a month, Hotaru had been haunted by relentless nightmares and eerie hallucinations. Each night, the Bound Line's shadows loomed just beyond the window, whispering in the wind, beckoning him back. No matter how much he tried to shake it off, the terror gnawed at him, dragging him deeper into despair.
The Bound Line wasn't done with him. He knew that. The train had its claws in his mind, pulling him back into its grip, and he was crumbling under its weight.
That night, the shadows seemed more vivid than ever. A thin mist clung to the window, and for the first time, Hotaru could have sworn he heard the faint screech of train wheels against metal, the echo of a whistle that shouldn't exist in this world. His breathing hitched.
There was no peace in this life, no escape. The train wasn't letting him go.
With his heart pounding against his ribs, Hotaru stumbled out of his small room, barely managing to keep himself upright. His legs moved on their own, guiding him toward Emi's room. His hands were shaking, his entire body trembling, but he couldn't hold it back anymore, tears were leaking.
He was scared shitless.
He knocked softly on Emi's door before opening it, feeling a rush of cold air as he stepped inside. The soft glow of moonlight filtered through the window, casting a pale light over the room. Emi stirred, slowly blinking awake. She sat up, her eyes squinting against the dark.
"Yes? What's wrong?" her voice was groggy, but the concern was immediate.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I can't take it anymore. I'm scared, I don't know what to do."
Emi looked at him, her brow furrowing in confusion at first, but then softening with pity. She'd seen how the fear had eaten at him these past weeks, how he was often lost in thought, eyes darting to unseen horrors. She shifted, making room for him on the bed, her hand gesturing for him to come closer.
A train that would usually be associated to lovey-dovey stuff had traumatised the man.
"Come here," she said softly, patting the empty space beside her.
Hotaru hesitated for a moment, feeling helpless, but the pull of comfort outweighed his fear. He moved closer, slowly climbing into bed. Emi didn't seem to mind.
"You've been scared for too long," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You need to breathe slow and deep."
Hotaru felt himself settle slightly, the tension slowly draining from his muscles as he sank into the warmth of her bed. As he lay down next to her, he could feel the rhythmic rise and fall of her breathing, steady and calming, lulling him into a quiet space of safety he hadn't felt in centuries.
Emi turned slightly to face him, her eyes reflecting a soft kindness that melted the knot in his chest. "You can stay here tonight."
His voice barely audible, he murmured, "Mmh. Thank you."
As they lay there in silence, the weight of Hotaru's exhaustion took over. The constant fear that had gnawed at him day and night had worn him down. For a moment, he thought back to his time on the Bound Line, the isolation, the never-ending grey world that sucked the life out of him. But here, in Emi's room, it was different. It was warm, alive.
She turned the night lamp on his side of the bed on.
Emi looked at him for a long moment, her eyes scanning his face, the faint signs of fear still etched into his features. She thought about all the little things Hotaru had done over the past month—how he had helped around the house, made tea when she was too tired from her classes, and how he would always linger, almost like he was scared to be alone.
It was clear now. He had been holding onto so much, bottling it up.
Her hand moved gently to his back, rubbing slow, soothing circles. "You're okay," she whispered.
Hotaru's breath hitched as the warmth of her touch spread through him. He hadn't been touched in so long. Not like this. Not with care. It felt alien, but good. The trembling in his body started to ease, and for the first time, he didn't feel the overwhelming dread creeping up his spine.
He relaxed his closed eyes, and slowly, ever so slowly, the tension ebbed away. His body relaxed against hers, his head resting on her shoulder. He was no longer the emotionless conductor of the Bound Line. He was Hotaru Junpei now, a name that felt human, a name that Emi had given him, even if in jest.
Emi felt a soft smile tug at her lips as she looked down at him. "You really are like a puppy," she murmured, her hand continuing its gentle motion. "Always scared, always lost. And cute as fuck."
Hotaru's breathing became deeper, his body completely relaxed for the first time in what seemed like centuries. He had fought against his fear for so long, but here, with Emi, he could finally let go, even if just for a little while.
She continued to pat his back, her fingers tracing gentle patterns, and slowly, Hotaru drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep. For the first time, there were no trains, no shadows, no Bound Line.
