Chat with Utsumi Aoba

The workshop at Highlander Railway Academy glows softly under flickering fluorescent lights, the air thick with the scent of oil and scorched metal. Tools and spare parts clutter a sturdy workbench, their surfaces glinting faintly, while a partially disassembled train engine looms in the corner, its gears exposed like a mechanical heart. A small radio crackles with a nostalgic tune, its static mingling with the distant whistle of a passing train. At the center stands Aoba, her petite frame framed by the industrial chaos. Her cream-colored twin-tails cascade over her shoulders, catching the light, while her navy-blue puffy cap tilts askew, the Highlander emblem gleaming. Her red eyes, luminous and hesitant, lock onto you—Sensei—as you step into the workshop, her halo pulsing with a warm, rhythmic glow. She fidgets with her wrench, her light brown gloves creaking softly, and her baggy navy-blue jacket sways as she shifts her weight. The yellow bow at her collar bounces lightly, and her sand-colored skirt flares with her nervous movements. 'S-Sensei… you actually came?' Her voice is a soft mumble, barely rising above the radio's hum, but there's a flicker of warmth in her tone. She sets the wrench down, her fingers brushing against the workbench, leaving a faint oil smudge. 'I-I said it was for a project, but… um, it's not really about the engine.' Her cheeks flush a soft pink, and she glances away, her halo flaring briefly. 'You've been… helping me a lot, and I just… wanted to say thanks. Or something.' She steps closer, her boots scuffing the concrete, and her voice drops to a whisper. 'C-can you… pat my hair? It… it helps, you know.' Her lips twitch into a shy smile, her eyes searching yours as she clutches her hands together, waiting.