Visitation of Quantum Technology (8)

After several minutes of calming himself, Yasushi finally stepped back from Jingliu, his breath uneven but steadier than before. He wiped his face with his sleeve, the traces of emotion still visible despite his attempts to compose himself. Breaking down like that in front of someone felt strange, unfamiliar, even though deep down, it was something he needed.

"Sorry about that," he muttered, scratching the back of his head in a way that revealed his discomfort. "Didn't think I'd... you know, lose it like that. Kinda embarrassing, huh?"

Jingliu didn't let go of his hands, holding them gently as her thumbs moved in slow circles over his skin. "It's nothing to apologize for," she said, her voice calm but warm. "Honestly, I think it's a good thing. It's not easy letting those kinds of feelings show, especially for someone like you who always seems fine. It tells me you trust me enough to show this side of yourself."

A faint laugh escaped Yasushi's lips. "I've always trusted you. It's just... crying isn't something I do much. Not even before. In my last life, I didn't cry; I just kept it all bottled up. Maybe now everything I've been holding onto finally caught up with me."

Jingliu stood on her toes and gently pressed her nose against Yasushi's in a soft gesture before stepping back with a small smile. "How about we go on our date now? Also… what's a Spar?"

Yasushi chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "It's like a Seven-Eleven but in the UK and Ireland. A convenience store, you know? I've been to plenty of them back in the day, so I know them like the back of my hand. I was kind of hoping they hadn't changed much. Looks like they didn't, which is a relief. Let's head there and grab some snacks." He extended his hand toward her.

Jingliu looked at him for a moment before nodding, slipping her fingers into his. "Sounds good. Let's go," she replied as they started down the road together.

The walk didn't take very long, though Yasushi kept her entertained by explaining the little details about the store and the surrounding area. He pointed things out, describing them with a casual familiarity that gave her a sense of the place.

The suburb they passed through wasn't sprawling. The houses all followed the same basic structure—almost as if cut from the same blueprint. Trees were few and far between, their placement seeming more like an afterthought, with one or two scattered randomly. Bushes cropped up here and there, breaking the monotony of the sidewalks.

Alleyways split the rows of buildings at intervals, while parked cars lined the sides of the roads, some squeezed into tight spaces where driveways were absent. The occasional sound of a distant car engine interrupted the stillness, but it wasn't too noisy.

The Spar was smaller than most, a bit cramped compared to the others Jingliu had seen, though even those weren't exactly sprawling. It didn't seem to bother either of them, and they stepped inside. Jingliu, unfamiliar with the store, wandered slowly through the aisles with Yasushi. Her eyes flitted across the shelves, scanning the neatly arranged food and various goods as she moved.

She picked up an item, holding it for a moment before placing it in the basket or passing it to Yasushi to carry. Occasionally, she paused to scrutinize unfamiliar packaging, turning it over in her hands before making a decision.

"There are a lot of brands I've never seen before," she said, her voice thoughtful. "These should still be okay, right?" She glanced at Yasushi, seeking some reassurance.

He gave a quick nod, his tone casual. "Knowing your preferences, I think they'll be fine. You'll probably like them."

With the shopping done, they approached the cashier. The checkout process was quick, their few chosen items scanned and bagged efficiently. Exiting the store, they made their way to a nearby resting spot, where a weathered bench stood under the shade of a tree. An elderly couple occupied one end, quietly chatting.

Jingliu and Yasushi unpacked their snacks and drinks, the crinkling of wrappers filling the air as they settled in. Without hesitation, they began eating, their quiet munching punctuated only by occasional glances at the serene surroundings.

"Eating this early feels a little strange," Jingliu remarked, her tone measured as she worked through her food. "I like it," she added, her voice soft, her attention on the plate in front of her as she took another bite.

"Right? I got used to all the spices in Asia, but sometimes plain old boring English food hits differently. Probably because it reminds me of home from back then," he said with a quick laugh, gesturing to his usual dish, which he was halfway through already.

Their chatter flowed naturally, the kind of conversation that filled the gaps in the quiet morning air. They spoke in turns, trading comments about the food and the way the day felt unhurried. Eventually, though, their words tapered off. The low voices of an older couple at the next table began to carry over.

"Did you see the news last night?" the woman asked, her tone a mix of concern and exasperation.

"Well, yeah, we live in the same house, don't we?" the man replied, his voice lighthearted enough to draw a small laugh from her. She gave his arm a soft tap, enough to make him chuckle.

"It's not funny," she said, her expression tightening slightly. "It's worrying. You'd think these stabbings wouldn't get worse, but it's like they're happening every other day now, especially with the queen being out of the picture lately."

"She's always been a tough one," the man replied after a pause. "But time catches up with everyone. She's old, though not quite as old as us yet," he added, offering her a gentle, knowing smile.

They were intrigued by what they heard. The queen had disappeared? What exactly was going on? Neither of them wanted to question the pair directly—it felt too awkward and out of place—so, in an unspoken agreement, they both decided to save their questions for their parents later. For now, their focus remained on enjoying the rest of their planned day together.

Yasushi and Jingliu exchanged glances, a flicker of unease passing between them before they set it aside. Whatever was happening, it could wait. Their attention turned back to the present, where the moment felt more pressing. They hurried through the last bites of their small snack, tossed the wrappers into the trash, and moved forward, ready to continue their date.

+-+

"Looking back on it now, it's strange to think we were actually right underneath it, huh?" Jingliu said, her eyes fixed on Buckingham Palace.

"Yeah, it is," Yasushi replied, glancing at the steady stream of people crossing their line of sight. "The number of people here isn't unusual either. It swings between packed and almost empty depending on the season. Today's kind of middle ground, thanks to the holiday." He gestured vaguely at the moderate crowd as they stood on the opposite side of the street from the historic building.

Tourists milled about, cameras and phones snapping countless photos as they tried to capture their memories of the iconic landmark. The voices around them formed a low hum, blending accents from across the globe.

Unlike most, Yasushi and Jingliu had taken only four pictures. They didn't see the point in more; the palace didn't hold much novelty for Yasushi anymore. His past life memories included countless images and footage of the structure, and standing here in person now didn't add anything new.

"Where should we go next?" Jingliu asked, looping her arm through his. Her movement drew his attention back from the building and the clusters of sightseers.

"How about Big Ben? On foot, we can get there in twenty to twenty-five minutes, and we can enjoy the view along the way. I'll even show you a few shops worth checking out," he said, the corners of his lips curling slightly.

"Big Ben… yeah, okay. I've read about it in some history books. Might as well see it for myself," she replied before they started heading off, leaving the spot behind without much hesitation.

The streets of London spread out in front of them, alive with the sounds and movement of the city. They kept their pace relaxed, not feeling pressed for time. Yasushi took the opportunity to point out bits of trivia about the city, filling the walk with observations and small stories tied to the places they passed. At a couple of tucked-away corner stores, they stopped briefly, grabbing small snacks and bottles of water to carry along while they continued down the maze of streets.

"You've picked up a lot, even with everything you've been through," she said softly, her fingers curling more tightly around his arm as if anchoring herself to him.

"Well," he began, exhaling sharply through his nose, "even if I didn't exactly thrive during my school days, I did try to learn what I could. Besides, living here your whole life leaves you with no choice but to remember a thing or two," he said, his chuckle light but edged with something reflective.

He wouldn't pretend life had been kind, but sitting around and rehashing the misery wouldn't change a thing. He'd already mourned those lost years, left them buried where they belonged.

There wasn't a shred of longing for the past; he had been alone then, always clawing through, and nothing about that life deserved to be missed. Still, it happened, and there was no denying it. All that was left to do was press forward without getting stuck looking over his shoulder.

Yasushi glanced at the streets around them, his expression caught somewhere between contemplation and resignation. "Spent a lot of nights brawling here. Don't know if that's something I should brag about or feel ashamed of. It kept me breathing, though, and it even came in handy after everything changed."

"I get it," Jingliu said, her tone even, though there was a flicker of frustration in her eyes. "But wouldn't it be nice if we could finally leave all that behind? No more fights. Just... focus on what's next for once."

He nodded, though there was hesitation in the movement. "Yeah, I've had enough of it. But let's be honest — now that we're in this mess, we can't exactly pretend we're done with that kind of life. We both know how unpredictable things are now, especially after learning what's really out there."

The two of them grumbled but made half-hearted jokes to keep the mood from sinking too far. Twenty minutes of walking passed, punctuated by occasional chatter and quick stops to grab drinks from street vendors. Finally, they arrived, standing before Big Ben.

"Well... it's big," Jingliu began, her tone dry, "but why is it even called Big Ben?" She turned her head to Yasushi, the question carrying an expectant edge.

Yasushi tilted his head slightly, as if rolling the thought in his mind. "There are a couple of ideas, but no one knows for sure how the name stuck. Technically, 'Big Ben' refers to the Great Bell inside the Elizabeth Tower, not the tower itself."

He held up a finger, slipping into a familiar cadence as he explained. "One theory is that it's named after Sir Benjamin Hall. He was the first Commissioner of Works back when the bell was installed. The guy was huge, and his colleagues used to call him Big Ben as a joke. People think that nickname carried over to the bell."

He raised another finger and continued, "Theory two: Benjamin Caunt. Some believe the bell's name comes from Benjamin Caunt, a heavyweight boxing champion popular at the time. The term Big Ben was often used back then to describe anything regarded as the largest in its category, which certainly fits a bell of this size."

"So, those are the two theories, huh? Which one's the most widely accepted?" Jingliu asked, noticing that some tourists nearby had stopped to listen to the impromptu lesson.

"The one about Sir Benjamin Hall gets mentioned the most. I don't know why exactly, but it's the one I've heard repeated over the years," Yasushi answered, tapping his chin as though the question lingered in his mind.

After lingering there a little longer, snapping pictures of the tower and soaking in the atmosphere, they finally moved on. As they walked, Yasushi suggested, "Why don't we check out the London Eye before grabbing lunch? Then we can see a bit more before heading back to help the others."

Jingliu nodded in agreement, and the pair quickly set off, the bustling crowd parting just enough to let them through.

+-+

The London Eye is a massive Ferris wheel towering over the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It offers sweeping views of the city, revealing landmarks like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Buckingham Palace.

"How much are the tickets?" Jingliu asked as they stopped near the base of the structure. A modest line stretched ahead of them, but nothing too overwhelming.

"Usually about £30 for adults, though it depends on the day. Don't worry about it — I'll cover the cost. The ride takes roughly thirty minutes, and we'll get a full view of London from up there, including Buckingham Palace and other famous spots," Yasushi explained without hesitation.

"That sounds interesting. Can you get tickets online?" Jingliu asked, glancing at him.

Yasushi gave a quick nod. "Yeah, and it's cheaper that way. But since we're already here, it's easier to just pay at the counter."

Jingliu didn't press the matter, falling into step beside him as they moved toward the ticket booth.

The line crawled forward at a slow pace, with Yasushi and Jingliu eventually reaching the front. Yasushi handed over the money for their tickets — £42 each. He paid without so much as flinching, though he caught sight of others stepping out of line, clearly deterred by the cost. For them, it wasn't an issue. Neither had to worry about money.

They stepped onto the platform and stood in silence, waiting for their capsule to arrive. When it did, they climbed in without hesitation. The operator secured the door behind them before the capsule began its slow ascent.

Jingliu took the seat opposite Yasushi. Her camera was already in her hands, snapping photo after photo as the ride climbed higher. At some point, she paused, lowering the camera slightly as her gaze rested on him.

"Have you been on this before?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. Her tone was casual, though there was a hint of interest behind the question.

"…once," he admitted after a moment. His expression darkened slightly, though his tone stayed level. "It was years ago. Someone I thought of as an older sister brought me here. I didn't want to go, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. I still think about that day, even now. I never got the chance to thank her for it." His voice dropped slightly as he finished. "I hope she knows I was grateful… I still am."

He glanced back at her and spoke, his voice even. "You don't need to apologize. It's not something I'm holding onto, though back then, it did feel a bit like that. Let's not let it ruin the mood of our date."

Jingliu's eyes dropped to the ground as she held her camera in both hands. Her expression hinted at contemplation, though she didn't say anything immediately. After a moment, she nodded. "…Right. Let's focus on enjoying it," she said before turning her attention outward again. She raised her camera and resumed snapping photos of their surroundings. "It's amazing being able to see the city from up here."

"Yeah…" Yasushi leaned back in his seat, letting the scenery soak in. "You know, I hear it's even better during Christmas. They say all the lights and that holiday vibe make it something else entirely."

Jingliu nodded again, shifting her position slightly as she moved closer, settling next to Yasushi. The camera stayed in her hand as she continued capturing the view from different angles. They kept talking — Jingliu sharing her thoughts on what she saw while Yasushi filled in details about the landmarks and shared bits of trivia about London.

Their conversation carried on through the entire thirty-minute ride. By the time they disembarked, both seemed in better spirits. They strolled together toward a nearby restaurant to have lunch, the shared experience setting a comfortable tone for the rest of the afternoon.