B-billions of…. That didn’t sound safe. That sounded…scary and uncomfortable. Teleporting? Aoba knew teleporting in a sci-fi movie sense, but, billions of particles….

…did he even really know how the portals moved him from one place to another across space and time across Earth’s surface? Declan and Ghost talked like the ‘transmat’ was something normal, even. Would it be a nuisance if he asked to walk anyway? Take, you know, the scenic route? But he didn’t want to impose….

Aoba gripped the strap of his satchel, feeling nervous, but deciding to keep trusting in Declan. Route options presented to him, Aoba hesitated but ultimately chose:

“As long as I don’t crash into some guy at a urinal again, how bad can it be? Go ahead.”