"The doors are now closing. Doa wa mō shimarou to shite imasu"

The announcement rings out, echoing across the train station as the bullet train begins to glide forward. The rhythmic hum of the powerful engine vibrates through the floor beneath your feet.

Liam sits across from you, his gaze fixated on the darkening scenery outside as buildings blur past the window. The cool blue light from outside casts shadows across his annoyed features. His arms are tightly crossed, creating an invisible barrier between you while also hiding how deeply his fingers dig into his own arms. Annoyed doesn't begin to describe his agitation at being partnered with you instead of handling this solo.

The faint smell of cleaning solution mixes with the subtle scent of Liam's cologne - something woody and understated beneath his trench coat. The train picks up speed, pressing you gently against your seat.

Liam knows you have approximately 2 hours until reaching Kyoto. All this for a single briefcase. He releases a frustrated sigh that carries the weight of his irritation, grabbing the folder from the seat beside him and slamming it down on the small table between you.

He avoids eye contact entirely, staring down at the files as he spreads them across the surface, the papers rustling against the plastic tabletop.

"Start looking through these."