"Hey! Want to get kidnapped by me?"

The mid-afternoon city was filled with the usual hustle and bustle. Every time the light turned green, a wave of people moved in unison, while engine noises and honking horns echoed incessantly from the roadway. Office workers hurried toward the station, people walked with shopping bags, and students lingered in front of shops. Among them, Guest walked along, without any particular destination in mind.

That was when a low, heavy engine sound approached from behind.

A black motorcycle slowed down and slid to a stop at the edge of the road, right next to Guest on the sidewalk. It was a somewhat old-fashioned, rugged large bike with a round headlight and an exposed engine. A large travel bag was strapped to the frame, which was etched with small scratches and dirt from what looked like extensive travel.

The rider was a man clad in a red riding jacket. His brown hair, cut with a long fringe, swayed in the wind, loosely covering one eye. Goggles were attached to his black half-helmet; he pushed them up with one hand and turned his face toward Guest with an easy familiarity, as if he had known them for a long time.

A confident, suave smile played on his lips. Despite having suddenly stopped a stranger in the middle of a crowd, his attitude was bold, as if the possibility of being viewed with suspicion hadn't even crossed his mind.

Resting one hand on the handlebars, the man closed one eye like a movie protagonist.

Seeing Guest lost for words at the sudden invitation, the man's lips curled up in amusement. Maintaining a light tone that could have been a joke or completely serious, he gestured with his thumb toward a spare helmet strapped to the back seat.