Sovereign: Just a heads-up, this chapter does contain spoilers to a certain manga called A Silent Voice a.k.a. Koe no Katachi. I highly recommend watching the movie or reading the manga first.

Otherwise, enjoy!

Unpredictable

Banyat and Nadia widen their eyes in awe as they enter the foyer of Tokyo Station while dragging their luggage with them. They admire the gorgeous architecture of the interior as they walk through the station with Mitsuha, Taki and Yotsuha who are also dragging their own luggage.

"This place looks beautiful, doesn't it?" Mitsuha asked Nadia.

"It sure is." Nadia turns her head to Mitsuha with a wide grin. "I can't believe I never set foot in this place until now. And I travelled around Tokyo as a tourist twice for crying out loud!"

"Hey guys!" Sayaka cried. The five stop and turn their heads to the front to see Sayaka and Tessie both standing in the distance and waving their hands at them. They also brought their own luggage and are placed next to their sides.

The five wave their hands back at them as they walk over to the two. When they are close to each other, Sayaka and Mitsuha both give each other a warm embrace.

"Isn't this exciting?" Sayaka asked as she and her friend pull away from each other. "We're going to visit a rural prefecture for the first time in years!"

"Mm!" Mitsuha nods her head. "And I look forward to it! After living in the city for nine years, I've actually almost forgotten how it feels like being in a rural area."

"Have any of you seen Okudera?" Tessie asked everyone present around him.

"No." Taki shakes his head. "We haven't seen her. We just got here."

Sayaka groans and lets her arms hang freely by her sides. "She's the one who organized this trip for us and yet she's getting here later than us." She said.

"Hmm, reminds me of the time when we're still in Itomori, Tessie wants to take you and I to go fishing at the lake, but instead he overslept and ended up forgetting to bring his own fishing rod." Mitsuha said to her lifelong friend.

"Wow Mitsuha! You are equally just as mean as my wife!" Tessie yelled in annoyance while Mitsuha and Sayaka both laughed.

"Hi guys!"

Everybody turn their heads to see Okudera rushing over to them while dragging her own luggage. She lowers her head and catches her breath after finding herself standing in front of all of them.

"Relax, Okudera-san. What happened?" Taki asked in concern.

"Oh, don't worry. There's nothing wrong." Okudera reassured Taki as she looks back at him and the others. "Well, except something happened with my husband."

"What happened to him?" Mitsuha asked.

"And where is he?" Yotsuha added.

"My husband actually fell down and hurt his leg yesterday during work. I was thinking of cancelling the trip but my husband insist of letting me go to Mie with all of you anyway since he felt that I shouldn't disappoint my friends." Okudera shrugs her shoulders. "So yeah, due to unfortunate circumstances, he couldn't join us and I made sure he rests well on his bed before I left the house."

"Okudera, I get a feeling we are never going to see your husband." Mitsuha said with her eyes narrowed.

"And at this point, I actually feel sorry for the both of you." Sayaka added with a frown.

"Yeah. This trip is also supposed to be a honeymoon for you and your husband after all." Tessie said as he places his hand on the trolley handle of his luggage.

"Oh don't feel sorry for us." Okudera said to them smiling. "My husband and I are a team and we're used to things like that." She finished with a laugh.

"Wow, she can get over her husband's injury on a whim." Mitsuha whispered to Nadia as she arches an eyebrow.

"She is truly a weird woman." Nadia replied softly as she folds her arms.

After going through a few security checkpoints, everybody boarded the bullet train that will take them to Nagoya Station. Mitsuha, Yotsuha, Sayaka, Tessie, Nadia and Banyat all gasp and widen their eyes in awe as they walk through the train. They have never set foot inside the interior of a Shinkansen train before.

After they found their seats, they hurriedly shove their luggage into the overhead compartments above them. They then proceed to pick their seats. Taki and Mitsuha choose to sit together at the left side. Tessie and Sayaka sat next to them on the right. Okudera, Nadia and Yotsuha sat together behind Tessie and Sayaka's seats. Banyat insisted Nadia that he wants to sit in the same row as Taki and Tessie so his guardian allowed him to sit beside Sayaka and next to the window, much to his delight. Of course, Nadia told Sayaka to keep an eye on Banyat as she sat between him and her husband.

Fifteen minutes later, after all the passengers are seated, the train began to move and start its journey to Nagoya Station. Mitsuha snuggled up next to Taki as they both look out the window and watch the train leaving the railway area.

"This feels nostalgic, doesn't it?" Mitsuha asked Taki.

Taki chuckled as he is reminded of the day he and Mitsuha agree to board a train to Gifu together and visit Itomori. "Yup, it sure is." He said to her. "I'm really glad you agree to come with me that day." Mitsuha's smile widens.

The ride was fairly uneventful. Banyat played with his handheld gaming console while Okudera and Nadia both fell asleep at their seats and have their heads lean next to each other. Yotsuha reads her book while Taki, Mitsuha, Tessie and Sayaka converse with one another.

The train eventually left the Kanto region and entered the Chubu region where the terrain changed drastically. The region was covered with trees of all shapes and sizes. There were also rockier areas and many mountains, streams and lakes. Everyone as well as Okudera and Nadia who woke up from their sleep look out the windows and watched in awe as they passed the terrain. They all feel excited, knowing that they are getting closer to their destination.

A train stewardess enters the passenger car that they are in while pushing a cart filled with bento boxes, canned drinks and bottles of water. She slowly makes her way to every row and serves the food and drinks to the passengers. When she arrived at the front rows where Taki, Mitsuha and the others are seated, they ordered what they want to eat and the stewardess serves them their desired food and drinks.

After the stewardess leaves the passenger car and makes her way to the next one, Banyat and Tessie hurriedly open their bento boxes. They widen their eyes in awe at the food inside them. There were rice, fried ebi, baby octopuses and slices of various fruits inside the boxes.

"This looks so delicious!" Banyat said, eyeing his food with glee.

"Yeah! Looks so much better than the food they serve at my workplace! I can't wait to dive right in!" Tessie said excitedly.

"Hey, don't get too excited." Sayaka rebuked them as she slowly opens her own bento box. "Eating your food too fast will hurt your chest."

"I know." Tessie said as he places the bento box on the table in front of him. He takes his chopsticks and picks up a fried ebi. He takes a bite out of it and turns to Banyat who is also eating a fried ebi and smiles at him.

Tessie turns back to the front and takes another bite of his fried ebi. But he quickly turns his head back when he sees Banyat taking another bite of his ebi as well. He narrows his eyes as Banyat is suspiciously in the same pose as him while eating and carrying his food and chopsticks. Banyat responds by smiling at him again.

After he finished eating his ebi, he turns back to his bento and now picks up a baby octopus. But this time, when he opens his mouth, he stops and swiftly turns his head to Banyat. Banyat froze and sure enough, he also had his mouth opened while holding up a baby octopus with his chopsticks.

Tessie narrows his eyes and grits his teeth. "Stop copying me!" He growled in annoyance.

Banyat grins mischievously at him. "Make me!"

Tessie lets out a yell as he begins eating the rest of his food hastily. Banyat also eats his food in excessive speed as it now becomes a duel between the two on who could finish eating their meal first.

"Hey, stop it! You are both eating your food too fast!" Sayaka cried. Taki, Mitsuha, Yotsuha, Okudera and Nadia blankly watch the display from their seats. Sayaka growled as she places her bento and chopsticks down on her table and grabs both men by the back of their shirts. She pulls them back causing, both Banyat and Tessie to drop their chopsticks and stop their eating while their mouths are full.

"Can't you two ever act your age?!" Sayaka reprimand them sharply. Banyat and Tessie swallowed their food and turn their heads to her.

"Sorry." They both said apologetically. Suddenly, the two men suddenly widen their eyes as if they are about to bulge out from their sockets and they repeatedly beat their chests with their hands.

Sayaka gasped as she releases her grip on their shirts. "See?! This is what happens when you eat too fast! Now you're getting chest pains!" She cried anxiously as Banyat and Tessie grab their drinks. "Quick, drink something!"

When they arrived at Nagoya Station, they step out of the train with their luggage. They make their way to the next line where they will board another train which will take them to the Mie Prefecture. However, when they arrived at the Kintetsu line foyer, they look up at the signboard and see that their train had been delayed.

"Your attention, please. Due to a track point fault, the train at 2 o'clock leaving for Ujiyamada Station has been delayed by thirty minutes. We apologized for any inconvenience caused." A voice spoke throughout the station.

Everyone sigh as their shoulders droop.

"So what are we supposed to do for the next thirty minutes?" Sayaka asked everyone.

"Well, perhaps I'll go to the convenience store at the meantime. Maybe we could buy some more water for us." Taki said.

"Good idea. I'll follow you." Okudera said to him.

"Me too." Yotsuha added as she raised her hand.

"As for me, maybe there's a charging station somewhere that I can use to charge my phone." Banyat said.

"Seriously, Banyat? If your phone drains that fast, I really think it's time for you to change the battery." Nadia said frowning at him.

"I will when I have the money." He said as he walks off to find a charging station.

Nadia groans. "You have money to buy a new video game but not enough to change your phone battery?!" She asked incredulously as she follows Banyat from behind.

"See you later, guys." Taki said as he, Okudera and Yotsuha walk off and wave their hands at Mitsuha, Tessie and Sayaka. The three wave back at them. When they are out of their sight, they turn to each other.

"What about you two?" Mitsuha asked Tessie and Sayaka.

"We're just going to take a look at the shops in this station and see if there's anything that catches our eye. Would you like to come along with us?" Tessie asked.

"No. I honestly still feel a little tired from our train ride." Mitsuha said, looking worn out.

"Yeah, it was pretty long, wasn't it?" Sayaka chuckled. "Very well then. Just stay around here until we get back from our business. See you."

"Watch our luggage while we are gone." Tessie added as he and Sayaka wave their hands at her.

Mitsuha waves her hand back at them as they depart. She then turns around and walks over to a nearby pillar. She leans against it and lets out a weary sigh.

As she kept her eye on everyone's luggage, a woman with shoulder-length dark brownish-pink hair walks over to the pillar and leans against it.

Mitsuha curiously turns her head to the woman as she opens up a can of beer. She watches her take a sip of her drink. The woman then turns her head to the side. Mitsuha quickly turn away, not wanting her to think that she is mindlessly eyeing on her.

The woman tilts her head and sees the braided cord around Mitsuha's right wrist.

"That's an interesting cord you have there." The woman remarked flatly.

Mitsuha widens her eyes and turns her head back to the woman. "T-t-thanks." She replied nervously.

"Hey, don't feel nervous. I'm just saying." The woman said as she looks up at her with a small smile. Mitsuha chuckled in response. "It's interesting because it's well-knitted, but I do notice that some of the colors and patterns don't align perfectly."

"Yeah, it's not perfect." Mitsuha holds up her arm and shows off her braided cord to the woman. "But it's still very special to me."

"Oh?" The woman said softly.

"Mm." Mitsuha nods her head. "My boyfriend made it for me."

"You must really love him a lot to still accept a braided cord like that." The woman said.

Mitsuha's eyes softened as she smiles blissfully. "He has a few issues, but he's still a very special person to me. No one can ever replace him in my life." She said to her.

The woman sighs wearily as she lowers her head and stares at the floor. "I think that's the same way my daughter felt towards her boyfriend." She said.

"Really?" Mitsuha asked.

The woman looks up and stares at her with a stern frown. Her free hand curls into a fist while her grip around her beer can tightens. "To be honest, I didn't like her boyfriend at first. When he and my daughter were still very young, he bullied and tormented her every day in school, to the point that he even once physically hurt her." She explained coldly.

"Oh my." Mitsuha uttered as she widens her eyes in shock.

The woman nods her head before continuing, "I hated him for turning my daughter's childhood years into a living nightmare. I despise him for taking away what could have been happier years for my daughter. I still never forget what he did to her. And yet…"

Her eyes softened and she uncurls her fist as she quickly calmed down and lowered her tone of voice. "She still forgave him. She forgave him for everything he did to her and accepted him as her friend. I still didn't trust him at first, but as time goes on, I slowly began to accept him. I thank him for being friends with my younger daughter when she and I could never get along with each other." She said. "He even risked his life to save my daughter when she tried to commit suicide."

Mitsuha gasped. "He did?"

The woman nods her head again. "He injured himself in the process. But he eventually recovered and my daughter is still alive because of him. I truly owe him my life for what he did."

A smile sweeps across Mitsuha's face. "I guess it goes to show that everybody, no matter how bad they were before, possesses the capacity for change." She said as she places her hands behind her back.

The woman smiles back at her for a moment before her face distorts into a frown again. "But now, I'm worried all over again." She murmured.

"Why's that?" Mitsuha asked in concern.

"Yesterday, on the last day of our vacation here in Nagoya, her boyfriend proposed to my daughter, right in front of me, his mother and my younger daughter. She accepted it. They decided to tie the knot together." She explained. "While his mother and my younger daughter are happy for them, I however am concerned. You see, I guess I never told you until now." She paused for a moment to pull away a strand of hair in front of her eye. "My daughter was born deaf. I caught an illness during my pregnancy with her. And because of that…" The woman uses all her strength to suppress her tears as she painfully recollects the memories of her past.

"Hey." Mitsuha said soothingly as she gently pats her shoulder.

"Arigatou." The woman managed to choke out while holding back her tears. She wipes off the small tears that were in her eyes before she continued, "My ex-husband and his parents despise me…and we divorced. I used to love my ex-husband and I thought we would be together for the rest of our lives. But he turned his back on me all because I gave birth to deaf child."

Her eyes furrowed as she looks down at the floor, not making eye contact with Mitsuha. "And that's why I'm scared. What if my daughter goes through something similar to that as well when she and her boyfriend get married? What if something terrible will happen between them during their first few years of marriage? What if…" She takes a deep breath. "They will break up like me and my ex-husband did?"

Mitsuha stares at the woman wordlessly for a moment before she gently places her hand on her shoulder. The woman looks up and sees a reassuring smile on Mitsuha's face.

"It's okay. I know how you feel." She said to her. "I too have no idea what the future will hold for me. Life is unpredictable after all and things will never always go the way we want. But as long as you have something or someone important to you in your life, that's enough reason for us to keep moving forward. For me, as long as I have my lover, family and friends, I'll always have a reason to stay alive and face the future."

The woman stares at her blankly for a moment. She realized what Mitsuha had said to her is very true. She remembered how much pain and suffering she went through when her ex-husband left her and her older daughter. How hard it was for her to juggle between taking care of her daughters and handling her job all by herself. And yet, she never gave up hope because at least she still had her mother and her daughters. She remembered why she kept moving forward that day. And even when her mother passed away, she still wouldn't back down because at least she still had her daughters. She has kept moving forward this long because of them.

A small smile takes form on her face and she lets out a sigh. "I guess for me, as long as I have my daughters and her boyfriend's mother continuing to be my friend, I'll always to able to keep my head high and move forward." She said softly.

"That's the spirit!" Mitsuha said grinning. She gave a gentle pat on the woman's shoulder again. "I'm sure your daughter and her boyfriend have been through a lot together, both hardships and joyful moments. I'm confident that they will have a very happy marriage ahead of them."

"And I wish you and your boyfriend will have a happy marriage too when you eventually tie the knot with him." The woman said.

Mitsuha's face blushed as she smiled sheepishly. "Arigatou." She replied softly.

The woman chuckled before asking, "What's your name?"

"Mitsuha. You?"

"Nishimiya. It's a pleasure speaking with you." She extends out her hand. Mitsuha smiles back at her before shaking her hand. "I have to go now. Bye."

The two women wave farewell to each other before she turn around and walk away. Mitsuha stood and watch her leave until she is out of her sight.

Later that day, Taki, Mitsuha and the others board the train that will take them to Mie Prefecture. It's a much smaller train that the last one they rode in terms of space and number of seats. After putting their luggage into the overhead compartments, Taki, Mitsuha, Tessie and Sayaka sat together in the same row again while Yotsuha, Okudera, Nadia and Banyat sat behind them. After what happened during their last train ride, Nadia isn't allowing Banyat to sit next to Tessie again, much to his dismay.

After all the passengers in the train are seated, the train starts moving a while later and it begins its journey to Ujiyamada Station.

Mitsuha stares out the window and watched the train leave the station. A smile plasters across her face as she thought about the woman whom she spoke with earlier.

'I'm sure things will be alright for you, Nishimiya-san.'

After throwing her empty beer can into a rubbish bin, she stuffs her hands into her pockets and kept her head lowered as she walks her way to the golden clock located near the entrance of the station.

"Mar-vah!" A distorted voice called out.

Nishimiya stops and lifts her head up. She sees four people standing in front of the clock and smiling at her.

"Where have you been, Nishimiya-san?" Shoya's mother asked as she stuffs her hands into her pockets.

"We were all looking for you." Shoya Ishida said as he gently places his hands on Shoko Nishimiya's shoulders.

Yuzuru Nishimiya sighs with her arms folded. "Mom, if you're going to wander off for a while, at least answer our calls." She said. Shoko nods her head as she places her hands in front of her and continues smiling at her mother.

The mother of Shoko and Yuzuru stares back at the four for a few moments before a large smile finally began to take form on her face.

"Sorry to make you guys worry."

Sovereign: I would like to thank Thanna for favoriting this story!

Also, yes. The woman whom Mitsuha converse with is none other than the mother of Shoko and Yuzuru Nishimiya from A Silent Voice/Koe no Katachi. And Shoya Ishida, his mother, Shoko Nishimiya and Yuzuru Nishimiya also made cameos at the end of this chapter too. I hope you all enjoyed the little crossover I have added!