This place isn’t a hospital.

  A white, eerily silent space.

  Could it be… a laboratory?

  There was no waiting room, no examination rooms, not even a single nurse. Just stillness.

  I was led to a room labeled “Experimentation Room.”

  It had glass walls. I could feel the eyes watching me.

  …I felt like some kind of animal on display at a zoo.

  "Where is this?"

  "This is the Imperial Metropolis University Institute for Physiology – the Laboratory for Brain and Heart Research."

  "What will happen to MAI?"

  "Unfortunately, she’s in a non-responsive state.

  But her brain is still alive.

  It’s as if… she’s dreaming."

  "Dreaming…?"

  We used to dream together.

  About riding the Galactic Railroad, someday.

  "Now SHIN, you will enter her.

  Only consciously, of course."

  With that, he placed a helmet-shaped device on my head.

  "Now, take a deep breath.

  Feeling calm?"

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "Yes… I feel a little sleepy."

  [Identification Code XX76573: Subject MAI – Nanomachine injection complete.]

  "Professor, subject is ready for synchronization."

  "Very well… SHIN, relax and sleep...

  Yes, good… just like that..."

  Suddenly, my body felt light—like it was floating.

  "Now initiating 'Magokoro Experiment' on Subject XX76573.

  Record all logs."

  The cold voice belonged to Dr. AMAGI, the lead researcher.

  He was also the technical advisor for the government-led Stork Project, and a globally renowned expert in artificial life.

  Standing beside him was the young assistant professor, KENT, still in his early thirties, but already known for his work in brainwave analysis and empathy algorithms.

  "KENT, are you ready?"

  "Yes, professor. Subject's neural impulses are stable.

  Initiating Magokoro Link now."

  Silence fell over the lab.

  And then, the doors to the virtual environment opened.

  "Access initiated."

  [Accessing MAI’s cognitive space… Success. Reproduction rate: 89%.]

  [Memory File No. 5 – “Dream Train” event loading.]

  [Subject SHIN entering REM sleep.]

  "Then, bon voyage…"

  "Hey SHIN, that’s the Galactic Railroad."

  That voice—soft and sweet, unmistakably hers—brought me back.

  "MAI?"

  "You’re weird. We’ve been together this whole time."

  "Wait… You seem a bit older?

  There’s something different about you... like you’ve grown.”

  MAI blushed a little and tugged gently on my sleeve.

  "From here on, I’m getting on that train with you, SHIN."

  "Huh?"

  " You made a promise, remember?

  That we’d ride it together.

  Don’t you remember?"

  "Of course I do."

  [KENT: From here, you two will begin a journey through her memories.]

  [KENT: Her image of the Galactic Railroad was useful, so we used it.]

  So this was MAI’s dream—the world she imagined.

  "Come on then.

  I’ll show you around."

  She said that with a bright smile and skipped ahead toward the station.

  I hurried after her.

  The setting sun poured through the dusty windows...

  A small country train station.

  A rusty clock tower. A faded bench.

  No one else was there.

  Yet the black-glinting locomotive stood out with striking grandeur.

  Far too majestic for this humble station.

  "I’ve dreamed about this train for a long time.

  Coming here with you, SHIN."

  MAI spoke excitedly, her words tumbling out with joy.

  "Sit here. You can see everything from this side."

  "Yeah. It’s perfect."

  Looking around, we were the only passengers.

  If we had ever truly boarded this train, I imagine we’d sit just like this—side by side.

  A whistle blew.

  The train slowly began to move.

  ---

  Meanwhile, at the LABO press center, Dr. AMAGI addressed government officials with fervor.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, it has finally begun.

  We are now live-streaming neural impulses within her brain using nanomachines."

  He pointed to the screen.

  "These impulses are interpreted and visualized by AI."

  Gasps of astonishment spread through the room.

  "We are able to affect her consciousness with the cooperation of her former romantic partner—‘him’.

  They’re currently… on a date."

  From behind thick observation windows, the guests peered in—

  As if they were viewing exhibits at a zoo.

  Society longed for the advent of “gentle” humanoids to support aging care.

  To that end, the digitization of the heart—Magokoro—was an urgent mission.

  And so, our journey began.

  MAI looked at me with a joy that felt like the sun.