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“Kyoto station is nice!” Yuji tapped on his phone, taking pictures of Nobara as she posed by an advertisement sign.
Nobara placed a hand on her hip and winked, as the camera flashed. “Good thing it’s not crowded.”
The station was calm at night; quiet compared to the liveliness during the daytime. Only a small crowd waited with them at the train platform.
“Would you two get it together?” Megumi asked.
“Great idea, Megumi! Take a picture of us together!”
“That’s not what I…” Megumi’s hands retreated each time their fingertips brushed with the plastic phone case caught in the middle.
“Do you want to be in the picture?” Yuji grabbed Megumi by his jacket.
Megumi tensed but melted nearly immediately. “Don’t be stupid.”
What a mood killer. Yuji balled his fist full of fabric, it was like Megumi talked in a snide voice to get under his skin. “What’s wrong with pictures?” There wasn’t anything unattractive about Megumi from his clear skin and lean body, but there also wasn’t anything attractive, from his dark blue eyes and wild black hair.
Nobara popped up in front of them with her phone in the air.
Megumi held up a hand, blocking the flash.
“Uh, is it okay for me to share this?” Nobara lowered her phone. “It looks like you’re kissing.” She showed them the picture: Yuji had his fist clutching Megumi’s jacket, pulling their faces close. Megumi’s hand blocked their noses and mouths, feeding the delusion that Nobara busted them doing something scandalous.
“This is why I fucking hate pictures,” Megumi grumbled under his breath. His response didn’t match with the embarrassment on his face. “Everything on social media is fake and edited.”
“Then, you don’t mind if I share it?” Nobara teasingly hovered her hand over the post button.
Megumi glared daggers at her.
“What about you, Yuji?”
Was Megumi that embarrassed to be in a picture with them? Or was he disgusted by the idea of kissing him? His fingers fiddled with the uniform buttons.
“Would you let go of me already?” Megumi gazed down at him.
It took a few moments to notice his fingers were fiddling with buttons on Megumi’s uniform.
The train thundered into the station, brakes screeching to a stop.
Yuji released him, “Hah! I was holding you back so you couldn’t take the window seat!” He took off through the open train doors.
“Wait, we all have to sit together!” Megumi shouted.
Yuji laughed, pushing past the people exiting the train to reach the area they were investigating. The cursed energy didn’t feel strange. He touched the guide rail and it was cold. This part of the train was oddly chilly. He took a seat and slid over to the window.
Nobara smiled and waved at him from outside the train.
Yuji waved back.
“Megumi chased after you.” Nobara mouthed, “I will find him and drag him over if he doesn’t find you first.”
Yuji gave her a thumbs-up as she disappeared into the crowd.
His seat creaked and his heart fluttered. “Megumi, did you miss me that mu—“ He turned to see a teenager with black hair tied up in a ponytail. His eyes were chestnut instead of dark blue, and his face was blemished with a scar on his left cheek. “Sorry, I thought you were my friend.”
“That’s okay.” His voice sounded familiar. “My name is Kokichi.”
“Yuji.” He introduced himself with a grin. “You sound like an old friend!”
Kokichi slowly tilted his head.
“No, I mean...” Crap. Now he felt like a shitty person. “I was saving this spot.”
“For someone more important to you?” Kokichi’s fingers curled, nails digging into the end of the armchair.
Yuji stood up to move.
“No need.” Kokichi’s fingers relaxed; tension felt like it had transferred to Yuji’s chest. “I understand the feeling in your heart now.”
A crushing weight covered his heart. His butt sank into the seat.
“We all have someone special we want to sit by forever.” Kokichi scooted out of the seat and made his way down the aisle. “Be sure to let them know you treasure them.”
Yuji kicked up his legs to cover the span of the seat. He tugged at the collar of his jacket, trying to figure out what was weighing him down.
Nobara stepped into view, “Do you wanna sit by Megumi?”
“Why would you think that?”
“I saw the way you were eyeballing him earlier.” Nobara whispered like it was a secret between them.
It made his skin crawl and chest tighten. He moved his legs as an invitation for her to join him.
“I’m only asking because the three of us might not fit.”
“We’ll fit.” Megumi said from behind her, “It might be a tight squeeze, but Yuji can take it.”
“What do you mean by—!” Yuji groaned as Megumi shoved into him.
“You don’t mind sitting near the aisle do you?” Megumi gestured to the empty spot next to him.
“I’ll be fine. Thanks.” Nobara sat beside them.
“Okay?” Megumi whispered into Yuji’s ear. His voice was gentle, almost damn near sweet as his hand rested on Yuji’s thigh. “It’s not too much is it?”
Yuji was growing to know Megumi’s touch better than even his own skin. “Too much for who? You’re the one who doesn’t like to be close to people!”
“I’m making an exception.” Megumi sat on the hump between the two designated seats. His back would be aching after the train hit a few bumps.
“Only for me?”
“When you get tired don’t use me as a headrest.” Megumi flicked Yuji on the forehead. “Rest on the cold glass you crave so much.”
Yuji tried to flick him back.
Megumi maneuvered in his seat.
“Get over here!”
“Yuji, we’re in public.”
“You flicked me!” Yuji reached over to flick him again.
Megumi grabbed Yuji’s hand.
“If you wanted to hold my hand so badly, you could have just asked.” Yuji slipped his fingers between Megumi’s, locking them together.
“Is that what you think?” Megumi’s grip tightened a fraction.
“In a test of strength, you can’t beat me.”
“I already did.” Megumi smirked. “That’s why you’re clinging to me.”
Yuji’s gaze fell to Megumi’s lips. Them. Kissing. Suddenly, it was all he could imagine with their faces so close.
An announcement rang through the speakers, “Please stand clear of the doors.” The doors locked and the train hissed. “Next stop is Shibuya station.”
“Isn’t that Miwa?” Nobara gestured to her.
“H-hey!” Miwa awkwardly waved upon noticing them.
“Nice to see you! What are you up to?”
“Oh me?” Miwa met her reflection in the window, blushing cheeks, and a meek smile. “I’m here on a date.”
“Lucky!”
“Maybe you’ll find your beloved on this train ride too.”
“I wish!” Nobara complained. “I hope we get this stupid mission done quickly!”
“Mission?” Miwa stopped walking down the aisle.
“Haven’t you heard the rumor? This train is cursed. Some people who ride it die of a heart attack before reaching Shibuya station.” Nobara explained, “We came here to exorcise the curse!”
“Can’t let that happen.” Miwa gulped her grip on the sword on her hip tightened.
“Yeah, we can’t risk people dying! I’m surprised the rumor hasn’t been a hot topic at the Kyoto school.”
“Well, we’re not that strong anyway,” Miwa mumbled bashfully.
Yuji leaned past Megumi, to wave and grin.
“Sit back, idiot,” Megumi grumbled. “You’re the one who wanted the window seat.”
“Simple domain,” Miwa muttered, her thumb flicking the hilt of her sword up for a second before sinking into the holder. “Is my only technique and it’s weak on its own.”
The rush of cursed energy jolted Yuji in his seat. His cheeks crashed against Megumi’s making their noses rub together.
Megumi’s face flushed, his arms extending to shove Yuji away. “What the hell is your problem?”
“Sorry! That was a…” His voice trailed off, “Didn’t you feel that?”
“All I felt was the heat of your skin on my own!” Megumi whispered harshly.
A shadow of darkness cascaded the train clattering under the bridge. Darkness entered the light to reveal Miwa left them to find her seat.
Yuji rubbed his cheek in confusion. Maybe Megumi’s face was flushed because of the impact? He checked his face in the window. Above his mirrored reflection was a heart-shaped countdown.
“The view is pretty.” Nobara hummed.
The countdown ticked: 14:44, 14:43… Had the timer started at 15 minutes?
“Do you see a timer outside the window?” Yuji croaked.
“Timer?”
“Yeah,” Megumi confirmed. “The curse started.” He rose to his feet. “Let’s ask if anyone else noticed anything strange after crossing the bridge.”
Nobara and Yuji followed Megumi’s lead. According to the intel, the curse randomly affected people. The people who were affected reported having extreme chest pain and visions of seeing their beloved die horrifically.
“Excuse me, miss.” Yuji asked a young woman, “Have you seen anything strange on this train?”
“Strange?” The woman pulled out her earbuds. “Like what?”
“Anything out of the ordinary when looking through the window?”
The woman glanced out the window at the city lights and high-rise buildings. “No. But you can ask my fiance.” She tapped on the shoulder of the man who was sleeping beside her.
“Hmm?” the man snorted.
“This kid asked if you see anything strange out the window.”
The man tiredly shook his head.
“Thanks for your time.” Yuji said, moving away to the next group of people.
“I already asked them.” Nobara came up beside him. “They said all was well.”
“You get any reason for them traveling to Shibuya?”
“She is traveling with her two young kids, apparently her lover works in Shibuya so they’re visiting for the holidays.”
“Are we sure the curse only affects this train?” Yuji stole a look out the window, the timer counting down from 9:34. “How come nobody sees it but Megumi and I?”
“The intricate details don’t matter. If it is a time-constrained curse there might be certain conditions to break it.” Nobara reassured him. “We need to learn that part.”
“Where did Megumi go?”
“Are you worried about him?”
“No!”
“Guess I won’t tell you where he went then.”
Yuji stiffened, the weight on his heart spread to his arms and legs. “He told you where he went?”
“You sound jealous.” Nobara paused as if waiting for him to rebuke the remark. “He told me so I can tell you.”
Megumi’s voice rang through the air, “WITH THIS TREASURE I SUMMON--!”
“Yuji!” Nobara tried to stop him from sinking into the shadows.
“What’s happening to me?” Yuji rasped as darkness clouded his vision.
For a few seconds, the world was nothing but sounds. His world was black and gray until a flash bolt of electricity rewired his senses.
“Do you know what it’s like to be useless to save someone you love?” Miwa put a hand over her heart. “Such an awful feeling.”
Yuji’s breath caught in his throat, “Miwa?” She seemed to have appeared from thin air.
Miwa withdrew her sword, slashing at Megumi yelling hysterically.
“Yuji, what the hell are you doing here? I summoned Mahoraga!” Megumi grit his teeth.
“What am I doing? You pulled me through the shadows!” Yuji snapped.
Megumi grabbed Yuji by the collar, dragging him to safety as Miwa’s slash shattered a window in the train car.
“Doing this, I could finally be useful to him.” Miwa smiled, softly. “We live our happily ever after and help others obtain theirs as well.”
“Him?”
Kokichi stepped out of the shattered glass.
Yuji never felt more confused, “Megumi, are they…?”
“This train’s curse.” Megumi nodded.
Kokichi stepped behind Miwa, hugging her. “She informed me that you all knew me as Mechamaru in my past life.”
“How can this be?” Yuji shakily took a step back. “I thought the traitor was—“
“He is dead.” Kokichi clarified. “That useless heap of metal isn’t worth the scrap the higher-ups melted it down for.” His fingers stroked through Miwa’s hair. “This body can feel.” He guided it to his nose, “This body can smell.” He nuzzled a kiss on her head. “I can comfort the one I love.”
That gentleness. That kindness. That voice! THE VOICE WAS DRIVING HIM CRAZY. Yuji slammed his hand over his ears. The Mechamaru, he knew…”The Mechamaru who helped us in Shibuya would never do this! He didn’t want his friends to get hurt!”
Kokichi held Miwa’s hand like she was the most precious thing in the world.
Miwa hummed as if savoring the sensation.
“He acts all the same but he’s not.” Megumi got his hands in position to summon Mahoraga. “Stop falling for a curse’s delusions.”
“Acts the same?” Miwa challenged, ready to rebuke the remark but Kokichi pressed a finger against her lips.
“Not everyone will understand our love.” Kokichi spoke gently, “That’s okay. That is what makes it ours.”
Miwa smiled shakily as if his voice soothed all her fears. “Such a shame.”
“Why isn’t it working?” Megumi grumbled.
Yuji kept peeling the shadows off him, sticky and goey, clasping on to his ankles and elbows. “I can’t fight like this, Megumi!”
The connection train car door slid open and Nobara stepped inside. “Yuji! I finally found you!” She must have noticed him still entangled in the shadows, “Megumi!”
“Nobara, watch out for Miwa! She is apart of the train's curse!” Megumi warned.
Reality glitched the couple transferred to nothing but a reflection in the window.
Ba-thump. Ba-thump. Yuji gripped his heart. A sharp pain filled his chest.
“Are you okay?” Nobara rubbed his back.
Yuji couldn’t even choke out a lie of reassurance. “My chest felt heavy after I met Kokichi on the train. I saw him earlier, before you saw Miwa.”
“Damn it! Damn it!” Megumi slammed his fist on the window. “ We have to find them!” He thundered.
“Megumi, relax. You'll scare the other passengers.” Yuji wheezed.
“You’re cursed!” Megumi spun around like a madman. “If we don’t find them before this train reaches Shibuya station you’ll die!”
Hearing the statement spoken aloud brought reality to their grave circumstance. The timer in the window was at 5 minutes.
“Are we sure it’s a deadly curse?” Nobara asked, guiding Yuji to a seat. “It’s more like the curse tied you both together.”
Megumi looked at his hand with a pinch between his brows.
“I saw it. You tried to summon a shikagami but Yuji was dragged through instead. The only thing I can think of that is similar between Yuji and the shikagami is they both protect you.”
Yuji tried to think about his first interaction with Kokichi. “Kokichi said something about treasure.”
“What if Megumi’s shadows reacted because of the word?” Nobara suggested.
“That’s not true!” Megumi blurted, “I make a hand sign and envision what I want to summon. It…I…” He fixed the thick hood of his sweatshirt to shadow his face a bit more, “I know what my treasure looks like.”
“Fine,” Nobara sighed, “I will go search the train for any sign of them or clues.”
“You take the front, I’ll take the back.” Megumi said.
“No, you’ll sit with Yuji. You’re cursed too.” Nobara scolded Megumi, forcing him to rest.
“Even more reason to be fighting.” Megumi complained.
Yuji placed a hand on top of Megumi’s resting on their shared armrest. “Doesn’t it feel better this way?”
“I feel like crap.” Megumi knocked his head against the window, squeezing his eyes shut.
“You were sitting on the hump earlier, this part was digging into your back.” Yuji knocked his knuckles against the armrest. “Sitting next to me should feel better now.”
“Sitting next to you never felt bad.” Megumi grumbled as Nobara got further and further away.
“Thank you.” Yuji looked at their interlocked hands and smiled, “For letting me be the exception. Even for getting mad and sad on my behalf.”
“Who wouldn’t?” Megumi’s eyes fluttered, looking at Yuji, with the same longing Kokichi had for Miwa.
“A lot of people.” Yuji cast his gaze at the strangers on the train. Some were curious about what was happening and others focused on their phone or laptop. “My grandpa said it takes a lot for someone to feel things for someone else. It means they care.”
“I can’t lose you like how I lost my big sister.” Megumi swallowed thickly, his voice wavering. “Curses keep taking everyone I—I…I...” A reckoning flickered on his face.
Yuji forced the armrest up, he placed Megumi’s hands on his sides.
Megumi squeezed and lifted—Yuji ended up in his lap— sharing one chair. “Careful, it might break.” He murmured into Yuji’s neck.
“Nope!” Yuji bounced up and down, “It’s safe and secure like our future together.”
Megumi’s mouth met Yuji’s, silencing the rest of his words with moans. His lips were soft, his tongue was hot, his nails dug into him.
Yuji melted in Megumi’s lap. Better than any window seat because he saw more than he ever could outside: a beautiful person locking lips with him. His eyes fluttered shut as he leaned into the kiss, deepening it.
Megumi sucked on Yuji’s bottom lip and nuzzled their noses together. He took more and more like Yuji was his to explore. “No more running away.” He rasped.
“I won’t.”
“You’re mine.”
Yuji licked the thin strand of spit connecting their lips. His eyes fluttered open to see their reflection in the window, the timer disappeared.
“And I’m yours.” Megumi promised with another kiss.
“We’ll have each other.” Yuji cupped Megumi’s face. He directed it towards the window. “Look! No more countdown! We broke the curse!”
Megumi placed a hand over Yuji’s chest, feeling the beat of his heart. “How do you feel?”
“Much better!” Yuji jumped to his feet.
“Good.” Megumi stood beside him. “Let’s join Nobara to exorcise this curse.”
A series of clanging and shouts came from the train deck. They took off running toward the sounds. Yuji slid open the emergency exit and stepped outside. Nobara was on the train's roof, firing nails at Kokichi and Miwa.
“The two love birds joined the party!” Miwa greeted them cheerfully.
“Sorry, Miwa.” Yuji activated divergent fists. “I don’t care how compassionate your curse is. Forcing someone to confess their feelings isn’t right.”
“Huh?” Miwa drew her sword, “Doesn’t it feel like a weight is lifted off your chest?”
“People should build up their courage and confidence to confess their love!”
Kokichi slid his foot to Yuji’s face. “Don’t talk to my girl like that.”
“Urk!” Yuji barely blocked.
“Apologize.” Kokichi bombarded Yuji with punches.
Yuji dodged, throwing a few punches back.
“Yuji, get down!” Megumi commanded.
Yuji ducked as the demon dog leaped over him, attacking Kokichi.
“Idiot!” Kokichi hissed.
“Don’t talk to my boyfriend like that.” Megumi warned. “I’m the only one who can call him that.”
Nails whizzed past them wedging into Kokicki’s skin.
“Kokichi!” Miwa tossed him her sword.
Kokichi grabbed it, swinging it to fend off Yuji’s and Megumi’s attacks. Yuji threw punches, and Megumi used his shadow technique to jump from different locations, his shikigami bombarding Miwa.
“Move!” Kokichi tried to break free. “I have to protect my beloved!”
“You should have thought about that before trying to kill people.” Megumi chided.
“I did it all for her! She is all I have in this life!” Kokichi recklessly swung Miwa’s sword. “And in my past life!”
Yuji jumped away to avoid the blade. His punch changed trajectory, sending a shockwave rattling the guardrails off the end of the deck.
“Good job, boys!” Nobara threw down her straw doll. “You distracted them long enough!” She hammered a nail into the doll. “Reina--”
Miwa snatched the doll before the cursed energy transferred. She hugged it close and jumped off the roof to the patio. “Follow me, babe!” She grabbed Kokichi’s hand.
“Mii…mii..miwa…” Kokichi sputtered with embarrassment. “Gave me…a…a pet name?”
“That’s what lovers do, silly!” Miwa flashed him a genuine smile. Even at this moment, she was happy to be with her beloved. Their hands connected more than their bodies-- it connected their hearts.
The couple dashed through the emergency exit. Nobara jumped after them, just as the train screeched to a stop at Shibuya station.
“Velocity is such a bitch.” Nobara cursed under her breath, grasping guardrails that were no longer there.
Yuji and Megumi quickly latched onto Nobara, tugging her to safety.
“What were you thinking?” Megumi barked.
“Yeah! What if she would have pushed you?” Yuji scolded.
“I don’t know. I guess for a moment, I understood her. Them?” Nobara murmured, gazing between the two of them. “Love makes you do stupid things.”
“Why are you looking at us saying that?” Megumi asked.
“Yuji.” Nobara sighed, dusting off her skirt. “You don’t want to exorcise this curse. I can see it in your actions. You only want to talk to them and so do I.”
Megumi’s brow twitched, “Is that true?”
“I’m not cursed anymore.” Yuji patted Megumi’s back, “Let’s find another way to deal with them.”
Megumi knocked his hand away, “A curse is a curse is a curse. Especially a timed one. They don’t feel emotions.”
“Then what have we been seeing this entire time?” Nobara challenged. “Kokichi is more than a low-level curse, he is a special grade.”
“That is why I wanted to summon Mahoraga.”
“And that didn’t work. This curse was created by combined cursed techniques.”
Megumi inhaled sharply, frustration etched on his face.
Yuji knew this would be hard for Megumi. A similar curse took his big sister away, so the emotions that Megumi felt right now were indescribable to him and Nobara. But this time, “I’ll always be here for you, Megumi. No matter what you decide.”
“We need to kill them.” Megumi said as calm and reasonable as ever. “I know how painful it is living without the person you love most in the world, killing both of them would be merciful.”
Yuji reached out to touch Megumi but paused.
Megumi noticed Yuji’s hesitation. “What? You don’t like me when I’m mean?”
“No, I still like you.” Not liking Megumi wasn’t something Yuji had thought of, there wasn’t a switch to turn on and off his emotions. “I don’t like how it feels, because I know what kind of person you are.”
Megumi stared at his reflection through the window, as if he didn’t know who he was from time to time.
“You want to be the kind of person who makes your big sister happy. It’s that kindness that I fell for.” The more Yuji watched Miwa and Kokichi, the more he knew they were inseparable. “How you look on the outside or present yourself to others doesn’t matter to me!”
Megumi looked ready to kiss Yuji. “You’re the kind one.” He confessed, quietly.
Yuji couldn’t stop smiling. He leaned closer to Megumi, expecting a peck on the cheek. His desire was cut short by Nobara tapping them.
“You two gave me an idea!” Nobara slipped her hammer into its holder. “Get them to do what their hearts desire.”
Nobara led the search; Yuji and Megumi trailed behind her. The train was less crowded, many people had exited at the newly rebuilt Shibuya station. There were many seats to choose but Miwa and Kokichi were in the same spot.
Hers and his special spot…also Yuji’s and Megumi’s special spot by the window. No wonder the train car felt cold with all the cursed energy resonating from there.
“No more tears.” Kokichi thumbed away the tears from Miwa’s face. “You’re too beautiful to cry.”
“I don’t want you to leave me again. My heart can’t take it!” Miwa sniffled.
“I won’t say goodbye again.”
“Promise?”
Kokichi kissed her wet cheek.
“Alone we’re weak, but together…” Miwa’s determination didn’t match her expression, her brow firm and bottom lip between her teeth. She huffed, defeatedly resting her head on Kokichi’s shoulder.
Kokichi rested his head against hers.
“Miwa!” Yuji’s loudness made the couple give their attention to them. “We aren’t here to fight.”
Kokichi rose to battle as if he didn’t believe him.
“We plan to report to the higher-ups that the rumor about the curse was falsely reported. Because you’re both going to change the curse!” Nobara snapped her fingers, dispelling the straw doll technique.
“How so?” Miwa peeked out from behind Kokichi.
Nobara used her phone to post the picture they took at Kyoto station. She read the caption aloud, “The curse of the midnight train to Shibuya. Rumor has it that if you ride the train with your crush, the love in your heart will no longer be chained down, unlock it with a kiss.”
“Sounds like a happily ever after fairy tale.” Miwa gasped in awe. “But how will people have the courage to confess their feelings without seeing who they treasure suffer?”
“If someone doesn’t know what type of person their crush is, then no feelings for them should exist. That will be the loophole for your curse instead of killing them.”
“I like that idea.” Kokichi relaxed by Miwa’s side, throwing an arm around her. “They still have the opportunity to feel love. And nobody gets hurt.”
Love was painful, but it shouldn’t have to be. Even if the heart and mind forget, the body remembered in nerve ending and memory.
“I’m trusting you both.” Megumi returned his shikigami to the shadows. “Don’t make me regret it.”
“Thanks, man.” Kokichi smirked, “I hope you enjoy your happiness, too.”
Megumi bashfully covered his mouth and turned his head, “What does that mean?”
“Umm…” Nobara cleared her throat, “Aren’t you two a thing now?”
Yuji and Megumi pulled Nobara into a group hug.
“Yes, we’re a thing and you being with us isn’t gonna change.” Yuji promised.
“Won’t me being around be awkward?” Nobara asked.
“No way!” Yuji shook his head, “We’ll hang out with you. We’ll go on dates with just the two of us. Right, Megumi?”
“Dates?” Megumi babbled as if his brain was making the sudden revelation. “Alone with Yuji…all to myself. I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”
“You better get ready!” Nobara scoffed.
“I don’t have any date night ideas.”
“Me, neither!” Yuji snuggled close to Nobara and smiled. “If only a social media trendsetter could tell us cool spots to visit.”
Nobara mirrored his smile. “When you both get into arguments don’t expect me to choose a side.”
“Of course not, you’ll be our voice of reason.” Megumi smiled to match his friends. “You’re the only person who can understand our love.”