Tokyo Rendezvous

He boards the Tohoku Shinkansen line at Sendai, making his way to his reserved Gran Class seat. The faint hum of the train fills the cabin, but it’s her voice—a soft, melodic cadence—that draws his attention first. Before he even sees her, he spots a slender ankle draped in Louboutins, the signature red sole flashing briefly.

Sliding his bag into the compartment, he takes the seat beside her. Anna is mid-conversation on her phone, her posture elegant yet relaxed.

“Yes, darling,” she says smoothly, her tone warm yet practiced. “I’ll be back Monday evening. Good luck with your conference. No, no, don’t worry about me—I’ll be fine.” She ends the call with a click, the glow of her screen fading as she powers down her mobile.

“Our first weekend,” he murmurs, brushing aside the dark curtain of her hair to kiss the curve of her neck. The faintest trace of her perfume lingers in the air—jasmine and something deeper. “This calls for a celebration.”

Anna turns to him, her lips curving into a knowing smile. “I think so too,” she says, resting her head against his shoulder, her fingers lightly grazing his sleeve. “We have a reservation at the Ritz-Carlton.”

“Ah, perfect,” he replies, his voice low and laced with mischief. Reaching into his bag, he pulls out a sleek black gift box and holds it out to her. “I thought you might like something special for dinner.”

Her eyes light up, a flicker of curiosity and amusement crossing her face. She takes the box, running her fingertips over its smooth surface.

Outside, the train gathers speed, the world beyond the window blurring into streaks of green and grey as they race toward Tokyo.