#TrainSephy

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Train's & Sephiria's Ambiguous Relationship

Note: this is a post with little to no value for story analysis since my opinions can be bias and paranoia when it comes to this ship. This also gonna be long as hell with many parts so i that don't ram all the info in one place, and it will take a long time before I can write and post all of them.

So as I have re-read the manga to the point it became unhealthy, I can’t help but sensing something is going on between Train and Sephiria. They don’t explicitly show anything, but since the two are both the type to hide their true feelings when it comes to sentimental matters, their seemingly indifferent attitude towards one another (especially Train) just adds more to my suspicion.

Needless to say, Train is certainly a "special existence" to Sephiria. He is the first one she thinks of whenever something happens. While it is unclear if she pays more attention to his ability or him, she definitely does not mean to exploit him in a heartless way. It's true that she care for him a lot more than how it should be normally, to the point that Xiao Li can realize it. However, her organization and her Numbers always seems to worth her prioritizing more than he does, both rationally and emotionally.

It's a bit harder to tell with Train, however, since he ignores everything that has to do with Chronos. But he does trust Sephiria a lot, despite knowing how malnipulative she can be. It's important to remember that malnipulative people are the one of type he hates the most. He doesn't like controlling others or being controlled. He is outwardly doubtful of Rinslet, though not in a hostile way, because she has had some suspiscious attempts in the past. He holds Sephiria in high regards, even calling her captain after he has left. The rank addressing maybe just a slip of the tongue, but it shows how he does not object to her being the one who gives him order that much. His wish to leave mainly stems from the Elders and their rules.

There are hints across the story about how he kinda has a soft spot for her that I will elaborate below.

1. Volume 5:

This is when Sephiria was first introduced. It was shown in the picture here that Train froze on the spot for a short while when he saw her from the window. Since Sven noticed him going to see what��s going on down there and still did not hear him say anything, he had to ask Train about it himself.

While it must partly because he was not expecting her appearance, seeing that often people of her rank would not go to do business personally when it’s not a global-scale significant one, I believe Train’s reaction is still something special. Throughout the manga, Train is rarely taken aback by the presence of anyone, even from his enemies. Prior to Sephiria’s visit, Berze had also come across Train’s gang on the street, yet Train acted quite natural, despite having some secs of reflexive surprise.

In Vol.3, their meeting with Berze:

In Vol.10, their meeting with Echidna and Charden:

With Charden:

With Echidna:

He literally could not care less unless it was about the safety of his friends (Echidna’s case), and if you re-read, the way Berze turned up it’s much more dramatic than Sephiria in Vol.5. However, Train’s usual manner, even just for a short while, slipped only when he saw her. He was definitely well aware that Sephiria did not mean any harm, he knows she is better than that. And-yet-he-still-froze.

Another thing is how Sephiria addressed Eve on their first meeting. Given that she had discovered about Train’s whereabout, I suppose Sephiria would have also done some research on his partners as well, so she probably knew Eve’s name. Nevertheless, Kentaro Yabuki let her call Eve by the exact nickname Train gave her. It was weird, for someone as polite as Sephiria to act so out of courtesy, because up to that point she was a total stranger to the girl. Japanese people do heed the addressing seriously. Similar to Western culture, they will use last name, or must be name in this case (Eve doesn’t have last name), for people they aren’t as close with or superiors. Not to mention Sephiria addresses Train by Heartnet almost the entire series.

During that talk, Sephiria’s purpose for her visit was quite clear. She said that Chronos was intending to rely on the sweepers force to capture Creed and handed them the wanted poster, announcing that the bounty for his head was serious and stuff. With all that information, it is pretty obvious that she was asking Train a favor, seeking his cooperation. Yet, the fact that she was aiming to “use” him still disappointed Train somewhat, even if he could tell that her hands were tied.

The panel before this one was the one in which Sephiria confirmed that it was totally Chronos’s idea, and it is visible here that Train was a bit amazed by that news. After the realization, he smiled this ‘Oh-so-turns-out-you-only-come-because-Chronos-requires-my-ability-again.’ smile to her. But, what did he expect, like…for real? She had explained the circumstance and obviously did not mean anything else besides business. Optimizing every resource available has always been Chronos’s way, which he knew. Sephiria showing up at his door is enough to tell Chronos wants something from him.

Of course, being an experienced manipulative a** (sorry Sephie it’s true), Sephiria understood how he would feel. She noticed his unease at the offer and changed tactic, striking at his weak spot which is Saya’s death. This is the first time Sephiria tried to manipulate him in the story imo, and she always seemed to get away with it because Train did not wish to conflict with her.

Why saying she was manipulating? The fact that she came with Berze to Train’s place while it was unnecessary was proof. If it was just because she wanted to inform things and allow him time to think on the offer, etc…Berze could have done it alone. The trio met Berze before her, they had seen that he did not pursue bloodshed. It was fine to let him do the job. But being the woman whom he still holds in high regard even now, Sephiria had probably accompanied her deputy to raise the successful rate. She knows that her presence affects him in some ways. It could be said that she played it smart, but it is a kind of manipulation, or persuading strategy, for understatement.

[chronussy-bc]

More TrainSephy content because this blog lacks it! This ship is a lonely place tbh

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Food for TrainSephy shippers!!! Editors keep feeding me drugs fr

[chronussy-bc]

Something for the TrainSephy shippers...

The thing is last night I searched for some info on another Black Cat game called “Black Cat: The Mechanical Angel” (already have some basic things to post but later). As I watched the video about the game, there were a scene where Train kinda roaming around on a yatch to find some clues and found himself lost in a room.

Train: Ah, this room…is this Zipangu style…?

Train: Ah, there is a Kimono here too.

Train’s thoughts: Heh, it’s beautiful-…Moreover, I don’t know what it is…but it smells so good….

In this case, there are two possibilities of what smell Train notice. Maybe it’s something in the room, maybe it’s the fabric softener of the Kimono (he is wondering since he doesn’t know what brand it is). Because he is inspecting the Kimono, I incline to believing it is the latter (or I just like to be delusional).

Train’s thought: Ah, but that girl was wearing a Yukata, not a Kimono… (he thought of Saya for a moment here I think)

And guess who appears?

Sephiria: What’s wrong, Heartnet?

Train: Woahhh! Se-Sephiria? Why are you here?

Sephiria: You’re the one who-….What’s wrong with this room, anyways?

Train: No, no, umm-uh….I thought there was a beautiful Kimono…

Sephiria: This is my room-…didn’t you know that I like Zipangu?

Sephiria: That Kimono is mine too. I see. So you were also interested in Zipangu, weren't you…

*Girl unless you are talking about the food I can swear to you he is not.

Train: Your Kimono....ha! Really....!? And even the room in that hotel!?

Sephiria: Yes. The hotel is also a branch of Chronos. I have my own room there too.

Sephiria: ...? What's the matter, Heartnet? You don't look so good.

Train: Nothing...

*Well, you tell him, Sephy. He not only thought that Kimono was pretty but also smelled good and then found out it belonged to his former boss (￣y▽￣)╭ Ohohoho.....Tbh If I were him, I would die from self-consciousness. Complimenting on the look is one thing but the smell is another. He's lucky he did not say that out loud.

Sephiria: I don't know what happened to you, but if you were distracted during battle...You could lose your life, Heartnet.

Train: Thank you for your advice.

Yeah still translations from apps but I think the meaning is not so different from the originals, since the image quality is good for the apps to scan letters and the conversation is quite simple. Some image has hand-writing, like those with info about The Guardians, and the trans of those are likely to be more inaccurate. But anyways, game like this often let your characters talk to others to gain important clues. Here Train just talked to her to discover how embarrassment could have ended him if he had spoken a few words more.

Sephiria is just as oblivious as she should. Girl was so happy thinking he also shared the same interest in Japanese culture she forgot to ask him why he was there.