Chapter 2: How to Hide a 21st-Century Girl in a Utopian Institute

Yuto’s heart was racing as he locked his office door, turning back to find Nanami reclining in his chair with her feet propped up on his desk, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. She looked far too comfortable in his workspace, considering she was a time anomaly from two centuries ago.

“So,” Nanami purred, leaning back even further in his chair, “what’s the plan, Mr. Accidental Time Travel Guide?”

Yuto scratched the back of his neck, trying to keep his cool. “The plan is… for you to stay as invisible as possible until I figure out a way to get you back to the past without either of us ending up in a containment cell.”

She raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. “Containment cell? Kinky.”

Yuto’s face went red, and he sputtered, “N-No! That’s not… It’s for… temporal decontamination!”

“Hmm…” Nanami looked him up and down, eyes dancing with amusement. “So, you’ve already got me locked up in here. Are you some kind of time-traveling jailer? Should I be scared?”

He cleared his throat, desperately trying to ignore the fact that she was staring at him like he was some exotic animal. “I’m trying to keep you safe, okay? You can’t just wander around! The rift police would lose it if they saw you here.”

Nanami’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “The rift police? You mean you’ve got actual time cops? Now I have to meet them!”

“No, you really, really don’t,” Yuto said, leaning forward with a look of desperation. “If they find you, they’ll lock you up for ‘temporal decontamination,’ which is… not fun.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she replied, crossing her legs in his chair with an exaggerated sigh. “A futuristic prison cell, mysterious time-traveling jailer… could be kinda fun.”

Yuto felt his face heating up, and he forced himself to look away, trying to keep his composure. “I-It’s nothing like that! And I’m not a jailer! I’m a… a researcher! Now, could you please take this seriously?”

She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand as she looked up at him with a teasing smile. “Alright, Mr. Researcher. Tell me, what exactly are we supposed to do until you come up with a plan?”

“First off, we need to get you to blend in,” Yuto said, trying to stay focused. “That hoodie and jeans aren’t going to work in 2187. You’re basically a walking history lesson right now.”

“Oh?” Nanami stretched her arms above her head, giving him a sly look. “Guess you’ll have to give me a whole new look, then. Maybe something… futuristic? A little space-age chic?”

Yuto swallowed, flustered, and desperately avoided her gaze. “I-I think I have some clothing from the costume department that could work. Just… wait here, and don’t touch anything!”

He turned to his AI companion, Chrono, who was hovering nearby and watching with barely concealed amusement. “Chrono, any chance you can set up some kind of privacy lock? I need her to stay hidden.”

Chrono’s glowing eyes blinked in mock innocence. “Oh, I’m very focused on your ‘privacy’ needs, Yuto. Believe me, this is the most entertaining study session I’ve seen in a long time.”

Yuto rolled his eyes and sighed. “Great. Glad to see you’re enjoying this.”

As he dug through a storage closet filled with old costumes and period-accurate clothing, he heard Nanami hum behind him. “You know, it’s pretty impressive. You’ve got an entire closet of costumes. Almost like you were waiting to bring a girl back to your office for a dress-up party.”

Yuto felt his face go red again. “W-Waiting? N-No! This is for… for historical simulations!”

“Uh-huh.” She strolled over to the closet, brushing up against him as she peered inside. He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks, and he suddenly found himself hyperaware of her closeness. “So, which one of these ‘simulations’ involves a cute girl from the past?”

“I-It’s not like that!” he stammered, flailing for something to hand her. He finally grabbed a sleek, fitted jumpsuit that matched the standard fashion of 2187. “Just… try this one on. It should help you blend in better.”

She took the jumpsuit, holding it up with a curious look. “So, this is what everyone wears in the future? Kind of tight, don’t you think?”

Yuto coughed, feeling his face heat up again. “It’s, uh… it’s designed for comfort and functionality.”

“Hmm, if you say so,” Nanami said, smirking as she slipped behind a room divider to change. Yuto tried to keep his mind focused on his next steps, but he couldn’t shake the mental image of Nanami in that jumpsuit. He shook his head, mentally reprimanding himself. Focus, Yuto. This is a time-travel crisis, not… whatever you’re thinking!

After a minute, Nanami stepped out from behind the divider, adjusting the sleeves of the jumpsuit. She did a slow turn, examining herself in a nearby mirror. “Not bad,” she said, giving him a wink. “Though it feels a bit… snug.”

Yuto’s face was practically on fire as he tried to keep his gaze fixed on the floor. “It looks… fine. Perfectly fine. Now we can go to the Temporal Cafe without anyone suspecting you’re from the past.”

“Great!” she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the door before he could object. “Let’s go, Mr. Accidental Time Travel Guide!”

Later, at the Temporal Cafe…

The Temporal Cafe was bustling with students and staff, all enjoying holographic simulations of different historical periods. Yuto kept his head down, leading Nanami to a quiet corner table. He was praying no one would recognize him—or her.

Nanami’s eyes sparkled as she took in the room, watching holographic images of ancient cities, alien landscapes, and even 20th-century diners flash between tables. “Whoa,” she whispered. “It’s like a history theme park!”

“Exactly,” Yuto said. “People come here to experience simulations of past cultures. Just… please don’t touch anything.”

“Relax!” she said, rolling her eyes. “I’ll be careful. I’m not a child, you know.”

At that moment, a waiter arrived with two drinks. “Complimentary samples from the 21st century,” he announced with a smile. “Enjoy!”

Nanami took a sip, wrinkling her nose. “Ugh! This is what you guys think 21st-century coffee was like? It tastes like watered-down dirt.”

Yuto chuckled, finally relaxing a bit. “Well, it is historically accurate, for better or worse.”

Nanami laughed, setting the cup down. “Guess the future doesn’t have all the answers after all.”

Just then, Yuto’s heart froze as he spotted Hana entering the cafe, her sharp gaze scanning the room. He ducked behind a holographic display, pulling Nanami with him. “Nanami! Hide! My coworker’s here!”

“Who? Miss Perfect Priss from earlier?” Nanami asked, clearly delighted by the drama.

“Yes! She’s… very observant. If she sees you, we’re in trouble!”

Nanami grinned, leaning closer to him and whispering, “Ooh, forbidden rendezvous. You sure know how to show a girl a good time.”

“This isn’t a date!” Yuto protested, flustered.

“Could’ve fooled me,” she teased, her voice barely a whisper. She leaned in even closer, her lips practically brushing his ear. “I bet this ‘prissy’ coworker wouldn’t approve of you sneaking around with a girl from another time, huh?”

Yuto gulped, trying not to let his mind wander. “Let’s just… try to keep quiet.”

Hana walked by their table, pausing as she glanced around, her eyes lingering on the corner where they hid. Yuto held his breath, praying she’d keep walking.

After a long, tense moment, she finally turned and walked away. Yuto let out a sigh of relief, slumping in his seat. Nanami laughed quietly, nudging him with her elbow.

“Guess we make a pretty good team, huh?” she whispered.

“More like a disaster waiting to happen,” Yuto muttered, his face still red as he tried to regain his composure. But despite the chaos, he couldn’t help feeling a strange thrill. Having Nanami here, even if it was dangerous, was starting to make life… interesting.