This is the problem right here.

“What might be the reason for someone not being able to look at anyone face to face?

If the person does not have Enochlophobia.”

If I had not asked her the question, I would have a peaceful journey.

I hate myself for this.

Few hours back,

At the airport,

All the passengers are in a hurry.

They are walking to and fro, some of them have got their tickets and luggage checked.

Many families and friends have come to see off and pick up their dear ones.

Some individuals visit a custom free shop and buy some imported articles.

The sweepers keep on polishing the floor after every hour.

The passengers are getting notified of everything about their flight through the speaker.

There are many aeroplanes.

Some are buzzing high overhead, some are taking off, and some are landing on the ground.

Many of the individuals are quietly sitting at the waiting desk for the arrival of their aeroplane.

Many foreigners are going to leave and are visiting the country.

The police and the officials of the Excise Department are keeping an eye on every passenger.

They are alert and active.

Some of the passengers are holding magazines, newspapers to pass their time.

"Konnichiwa, Nihon.

It is 10 a.m.

And you are watching NHK news.

I am your news host, Takao Kyoko.

I do hope you are having a good time."

While arranging the papers," First news of the day, according to our sources,

Mr Yamamoto Susumu is going to Thailand for the new game development. It is going to be the first-ever collaboration between any two gaming companies.

We support you, Mr Yamamoto Susumu.

And let us move on to another news."

"Ah, I made into the news.

Thanks, Mom."-Yamamoto Susumu(Susumu means to make progress) talks with himself while working on his laptop.

"Why does she have to make it first news?

She should not have tricked others by showing, as if she was arranging the papers on her hands only to make me into the news.

I do not like being the centre of attention, and she knows that."-Yamamoto Susumu isn't happy with his mom.

"Ah, すみません/Sumimasen (Excuse me)"-A girl speaks with him.

He does not pay attention and keeps on typing.

He fixes his glasses.

She tries to speak in Japanese, "Excuse me, Would you mind me sitting.."

Yamamoto Susumu interrupts her and speaks in Thai, "You can sit over there. I do not like being disturbed while working."

She gets impressed with him, "Oh my, you do know how to speak in Thai?"

Yamamoto Susumu does not chat with her and keeps on working.

She asks him doubtfully, "Wait a minute! How did you know I am a Thai."

Yamamoto Susumu pauses working, as he could not focus any more thanks to her.

"Well, because of your dressing style.

Now would you mind leaving me all alone?

So I can focus on my work."-Yamamoto Susumu replies in Thai.

Yamamoto Susumu openes his laptop and continues his work.

She does not speak any word and sit next to him.

Yamamoto Susumu does not speak even though he was not happily noticing her still sitting near him.

Yamamoto Susumu has not seen her face as he was not interested.

She keeps on staring.

"Hold up, miss."-Susumu replies in Thai after realising she has come very close to him.

*Reminder, they are talking in Thai.*

"I am sorry. If I am disturbing you.

But I will get bored if I do not have someone besides me to talk."-She replies.

"Do you have a cell phone, Miss?"-Susumu asks her face to face.

She answers with a smile, "Yes. Who does not have a cell phone still on these days?"

"Then, miss. Open the cell phone and talk with any of your friends on the list.

You know what? You can video call them too."-Susumu annoyingly replies her.

She replied, "I guess you are an introvert like 60 per cent of Japanese out there.

Anyhow, I have to talk with someone face to face physically.

Therefore, I am going to acquaint myself. My name is Wang Mali, not Malee as Malee means flower and Mali means Jasmine."

Susumu interrupts her again.

"Oh, it is nice to meet you, Miss Malee.

Now would you please leave me alone?"

"It is not Malee.

My name is Mali."-She responds.

"Why are you keep on pestering me?"-Susumu interrogates while facing her.

She does not talk.

She gets nearer.

Susumu gets nervous.

She takes off his glasses.

"What is it?"-Susumu questions her.

"Even without glasses on, you are still not my type."-Mali replies and put back his glasses.

Yamamoto Susumu fixes his posture.

He asks, "Are you trying to recreate the scene from Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii/ Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku(it's an anime)?"

"Oh, it seems we've found a topic.

So, why do not we begin to talk about some recent anime?"- Wang Mali offers.

"No, thanks."-Yamamoto Susume returns her offer.

Mali tries to speak with him but suddenly,

The loudspeaker, "All Nippon Airways 5955 operated by Thai Airways International

BOEING 777-300ER to Thailand is now ready for boarding, with all the passengers for this flight proceed to gate no 42."

"Oh, it seems I have to take a leave."-Yamamoto happily answers her.

"Wait, I am also boarding on the same plane.

Let us go together."-Mali replies.

"Why does she have to be attending the same flight as I am?

Could not she travel to another country?"-Yamamoto smiles while having such thoughts and leaves together.

It took me more than three hours to complete it as I have never focused much on the surroundings so, it was inconvenient for me.

So, I look into many sources from google to make it easier.

I hope this chapter did catch your attention.

Re edited on 12th December; I have re-edited the chapter by adding question and monologue of the Male lead to catch your attention, I hope I was successful.

See you in next chapter.

To be continued.

After boarding,

Yamamoto Susumu is happy.

In Japanese language,

"Phew, now I do not have to see that Mali or Malee, eh, whatever her name was."

He sits in his seat and stretches his arms.

"Have you missed me?

I will be there soon."-Susumu talks with himself thinking of someone.

About thirty minutes ago,

Susumu and Mali are onto boarding but, she gets stopped.

As her luggage weight was above 30 kg,

which is over the limit.

They stop her.

Yamamoto Susumu, without looking back he runs away.

Present time,

"What a fool!"-Yamamoto Susumu describes Mali.

Yamamoto Susumu looks here and there.

He sees many people around them chatting with each other.

Most of them are strangers to each other before a few minutes ago.

He looks to his left.

"When will these people arrive?

The plane is going to board by any minute soon.

Hurry up, Misters or, you two will miss your flight."-Yamamoto Susumu talks while holding a random magazine.

He leans back, takes the magazine at the same level of his face and keeps it there.

Shortly after, he hears the sound of someone shoes approaching him.

Slowly the sound passes over from his seat.

"He is not the one then."-Susumu talks with himself.

He again hears the sound approaching him.

The footsteps stop just next to him.

In Thai language, the person communicates," Hello sir, would you mind if I ask for your help?"

Susumu pulls the magazine down and sees Mali.

He stands in shock and, in the process, he banged his skull.

"Aw, ouch."-Susumu yells.

Mali chuckles.

'Easy, Mister."-Mali replies.

"Why are you here?"-Susumu asks while touching his head.

"Because*paused* this is my seat."-She replies.

"Let me take a look."-Susumu quickly grabs the ticket from her hand.

She was the person who was going to sit next to him for 8 hours.

He did not talk much and helped her.

He has admitted lost with his luck against Mali.

After that,

They sit in their seats.

Shortly after, they heard a sound.

It was for a safety demonstration.

"สวัสดี

S̄wạs̄dī (which means Hi)."

Then, the air hostess begins to show them a safety demonstration.

All of the passengers carefully listen to their instructions.

After the safety demonstration,

Mali tries to talk with him.

"So, what is your purpose of your for visiting Thailand?"-Mali asks.

Susumu scratches his hair and looks at her with a forced smile.

"I am going there as a tourist."-He lies.

"Oh, then let me help you."-Mali tries to help him but, he stops her.

"I will look for it myself.

Thanks for helping me."-Susumu replies.

But still, Mali tries to find a way to grab his attention.

Just after 10 minutes, he got fade up.

"Okay, miss. I will talk with you for the whole flight if you can answer this question."-Susumu replied.

"What if I could not?"-She asks innocently.

"Well, if you can not answer it, then you won't talk with me during the whole flight."-Susumu informs her.

After a while,

"I- I accept."-Mali replies.

"Then listen to the question carefully,

What might be the reason for someone not being able to look at anyone face to face?"-Susumu asks.

"It is easy.

I can effortlessly answer it.

But before I answer your question, I want you to write the answer on a piece of paper. So, you will not be able to cheat as I think you will."-Mali informs him.

"Okay."-Susumu replies.

He writes on a paper and tears the part.

"Take it but do not open it before you answer it."-Susumu replied while giving her the paper.

She grabs it and answers, "It might be because the person might not have washed his face properly."

As soon as he hears her answer, he begins to laugh like crazy.

Mali could not believe her answer was wrong.

She quickly opens the paper.

To be continued..

So,

What might be the answer to the question?

She grabs it and answers, "It might be because the person might not have washed his face properly."

As soon as he hears her answer, he begins to laugh like crazy.

Mali could not believe her answer was wrong.

She quickly opens the paper.

Susumu takes it away.

"What happened?

Why did you take it away?"-Mali asks.

"You lost your chance.

Now, let me sleep."-Susumu replies.

"There is no need to hide it.

I know my answer is the one you wrote in the note."-Mali replies confidently.

"How are you so sure about it?"-Susumu asks.

"I am just sure."-She lies.

Five minutes before,

Susumu wrote the answer with his left hand, tears the part from it,

and gives it back to her.

He has left the magazine open.

While holding the piece,

she peeked at the magazine and saw clearly on the next page what he had written,

As he had written the answer, holding the pen with a grip.

Right back to the present time,

Yamamoto judges, "Sigh, my trick didn't work on her."

"Okay, you won."-He responds.

"Yeah, I won."-She exclaims.

"Shh! Do not make a noise."-Susumu orders her.

"Okay.

So, Let us start with your introduction as I have already introduced myself to you."-Mali suggests to Susumu.

"My name is Yamamoto Susumu.

About my introduction,

I am a person who likes animals more than humans.."-Susumu introduce himself.

"Hi, Mr Yamamoto.

Why are you travelling to Thailand?"-Mali asks.

"Does not she read the news?"-Yamamoto mumbles.

"I am travelling because of work."-Yamamoto answers her while looking at her.

"Hmm, I do not think so."-Mali speaks aloud.

"Why?"-Yamamoto asks her.

"It was just my gut feeling."-Mali answers back immediately.

Yamamoto Susumu did not exchange a word for a while.

"I do not think I should be telling you this but, I do not believe we'll meet again.

So, let me tell you the real reason."-Susumu replies.

Mali nods in excitement.

"But you might laugh after hearing my real reason."-Susumu hesitates.

"Do not worry I, will not laugh.

It's pretty hard for me to laugh.

I promise you."-Mali assures him.

"I am visiting Thailand because of a girl I met on the internet.

But we have seen each other photos."

Susumu puts a hand in his side pocket and takes out an old functioning phone,

"I went to many troubles fixing this.

Just two days ago, I made this phone functional.

It had been unfunctional for eight years.

After eight years, I was able to see her face again."

Mali interrupts, "Woah! Hold on, mister.

Why go through this extensive trouble when you could have just gone to any social media platform for searching for her?

I assume, if you guys have exchanged pictures then, you assuredly have exchanged each other names."

Yamamoto Susumu stays calm and answers, "I got frightened that she would see me as a stalker if I go search for her.

More importantly, at that time, I wanted to understand if the feeling I had. Will it stay like this even after eight years as I had promised?

If I do not search for her on the internet?

I know I would have easily searched for her but, I wanted to test my feeling.

And it looks like I was right about my feeling towards her."

Mali apologizes,

"I am sorry for hurting your feeling.

I guarantee you, you truly loved her."

Susumu interrupts, "It was not out of love which, contain me from searching for her on the internet.

The feeling which I had for her was not even more than liking, ultimately, it was far away from having a feeling of love."