Taking My Girlfriend to Meet My Parents, Part 2.

2007/01/04 20:14

At the end of the year.

At a time when a certain major djinshi event was being held in a certain convention center.

I was nowhere to be found at that center; I was at the airport.

—Taking my girlfriend to America so that I could show her to my parents.

Y-KO:

… Sightosheeingu… for four deizu…

Y-ko stood at my side, nervously clutching her passport.

As this was her first trip out of the country, she was slightly spooked about the ordeal.

… To be honest,

I felt much the same way on my first trip overseas,

so I could understand her anxiety.

ME:	… There’s still a bit of time to kill… Want to check out the duty-free shops?
Y-KO:	Hmm? Sure. Actually, what I’d really like to do is master the sentences I need to rattle off in order to get through immigration!

Y-ko stared fiercely at the sample statements she had printed up from the Internet.

Aww, isn’t that cute?

Actually, it seems like she’s more nervous about the immigration check upon landing than about meeting my parents…

Well, I understand how she feels.

Plus, it’s not like she has anything to be anxious about with my folks.

Y-KO:	… Hey! What are you smirking about?!
ME:	I’m trying to burn this scene into my memory, because I’ve never seen you so nervous about anything before.
Y-KO:	Oh, yuck! You are such a creep!
ME:	It’ll be fine.
Y-KO:	Thanks for the consolation!
ME:	Plus, if they have to interrogate us in separate rooms, you do have the right to request an interpreter.
Y-KO:	Okay, never mind, that sounds more like a threat than a consolation!

Ooh, what a glare.

… In fact, I might be forgiven for thinking it was a dead serious glare.

Two hours later.

We filed into an airplane with an American airline company’s name painted in gaudy colors on its outside and searched through the spacious cabin for our seats.

… Ah, there they are.

Yes, good old economy class.

Compact? Cozy? Let’s call it out for what it is—cramped.

Y-KO:	Is this it? Oh, wow… All the people here are Americans.
ME:	Makes sense. They probably want to spend the holidays at home.

We stored our bags in the overhead bins and sat down.

Y-KO:	… Why couldn’t your parents come back to Japan for the holidays instead?
ME:	Well, it’s too late for that now…
	Hey, are you feeling okay? You don’t look so good.
Y-KO:	… Okay, I didn’t tell you this before… but this is my first time on an airplane!
ME:	What?! Really?!
Y-KO:	I think I’m a little freaked out about this…
ME:	I can see why… But you’ll be fine once we get in the air.
Y-KO:	… W-will you hold my hand?
ME:	… Huh? Well, sure, I don’t mind…

Baby, when you hesitantly ask me to do something like that, well…

It gives me a nervous thrill completely different from the kind you usually send running down my spine.

—I felt a squeeze.

She had grabbed my left hand.

Y-KO:	… If we fall and crash, I’ll step on you until the moment we die!
ME:	Not only is that a terrible thing to think about, we’ll die before you have time to step on me.
Y-KO:	Then I’ll step on you before we crash.
ME:	Why?!
Y-KO:	Stress release. Take that!
ME:	Ouch!

This is so unfair!

Plus, that was so not a “step”! That was a kick!

Not to mention, how did it take me this long to realize that she really likes stomping on me?

Y-KO:	There, I’m feeling a bit better now.
ME:	… It was worth being stomped on.
Y-KO:	You know what? Next time you should get some bumpy warts installed on your foot.
ME:	Why? So you can release stress and get a foot massage at the same time?!
Y-KO:	You know, you have a really weird and lame ability to shout in a low voice.
ME:	Don’t call it lame!
Y-KO:	Fine, it’s spectacularly lame.
ME:	That just makes it sound worse!

Suddenly, an announcement in English rang through the cabin,

drowning out our silly bickering.

Looks like the flight is about to begin.

At my side, Y-ko affixed her seat belt, looking determined and serious.

… A little too grave, my dear.

I understand how you’re feeling, though.

The voice in English spoke up again, announcing the expected arrival time.

ME:	……
Y-KO:	……
ME:	……
Y-KO:	…… I can’t tell what he’s saying…
ME:	Well, that’s no surprise.
Y-KO:	…… Translate for me…

… Whoa.

This time she pleaded with tears in her eyes.

… It was such a rare sight, I felt a tug at my heart.

Y-KO:

Please? Will you? All the staff are Americans, so I have no one else to rely on…

Wow!

Y-ko acting honest and straightforward for once!

What’s gotten into her?

Y-KO:	Please?… Please.
ME:	Well, sure… But you know they’ll announce the same thing in Japanese next, right?
Y-KO:	……
ME:	……
Y-KO:	…… Huh?
ME:	They have a Japanese announcement, too.
Y-KO:	… Wh-what? They’re also going to tell us the same stuff in Japanese?
ME:	Well, sure. The flight’s leaving from Japan. Of course they’re going to announce that stuff for us.
Y-KO:	……

ME:	Oh, and by the way, they’ll always have a flight attendant who can speak Japanese.
Y-KO:	Really?!
ME:	Why would I lie about that?
Y-KO:	… Sheesh! There’s nothing to be afraid of, then!
ME:	There isn’t?
Y-KO:	Yeah, I’ll be completely fine!
ME:	So I don’t have to hold your hand anymore?
Y-KO:	… Actually, you do.
ME:	……… Pardon?
Y-KO:	… This engine noise is kind of scaring me, so I don’t want to let go.
ME:	…… That’s very honest of you.
Y-KO:	Good. I was worried you might refuse to hold my hand anymore.

… Aww, hell!

Why does she keep acting so timid and helpless?!

It’s so different from normal!

I don’t get it, but it sure is cute!

… I thought, as the plane sped up.

And then,

the moment of liftoff.

Y-KO:

……!

—Squeeze.

The pressure on my left hand grew even firmer.

… Come on.

—Really, what’s the big deal?

Are you trying to moe me to death?