Chapter of Midsummer, Episode 5: Welcome to Japan, Ms. Floor Master

I stretched as I continued walking. It was a rather languid stretch, as my body definitely felt heavy.

“Hm... I think I’ll take the day off after all. But I feel like people won’t like it if I take a sick day on a Monday. They’ll probably assume I slept in after partying too hard on the weekend or something.”

I always worried about such things due to being so adjusted to working in a company. That was why I avoided calling in right after days off, and I hardly ever used my paid time off. This meant I wouldn’t get any dirty looks from superiors, but I couldn’t help but worry about these little things as a working member of society.

I felt like I’d changed recently. My colleagues had been telling me that I’d been more cheerful and easier to talk to as of late. I had always worked out of necessity and for the sole purpose of simply making a living, and I wasn’t really the type to make chit-chat. But through my interactions with Marie, Wridra, and the Ichijos, it seemed I was changing little by little. That wasn’t a bad thing, though.

I didn’t have much of a fever, and I still had the documents I’d prepared while Marie was taking a bath the other night. I could get through it with enough effort, so I decided to get ready and head to work. If I still didn’t feel well later, I could take a half day off. I came to this conclusion and started washing my face.

Maybe it was because I washed off with lukewarm water, but I didn’t feel too refreshed.

Strange, because I didn’t look that sick. I stared at my face in the mirror, and that usual, sleepy-looking face stared back at me. Just behind me stood Shirley, looking right at me with a dazed expression. She was semi-transparent as usual, but had a feverish expression on her face. Our eyes met in the reflection, but her eyes had trouble focusing.

Come to think of it, I was a twenty-five-year-old adult here in Japan. From her point of view, I must have looked like I’d suddenly aged ten years. I did speak in a calm, mature manner in the other world too, and this was her first time... seeing me... like...

“Hmmm?!”

Wait a minute.

Wait just a minute. I need to calm down first.

The toothbrush and sink were in front of me, meaning I was in my condo in Japan. That part was for sure. But it seemed it was also true that the ghostly woman was in my home with me.

“Huh? Wha...? What’s going on?”

Seeing my confusion, the woman tilted her head in the mirror. She was holding on to my shoulders with her fingers, her mouth hidden behind me as she stared. But it couldn’t be... This was impossible. I felt my vision blur.

Yes, she was definitely a ghost. And there she was, in my room.

I wondered what people who didn’t believe in ghosts would think. I felt as if Santa had suddenly showed up and said “Good morning.”

Calm down. Breathe, Kazuhiho. Just try to figure out why Shirley is here.

I held my head in my hands, then suddenly remembered something. As I was falling asleep in the dream world, I lost consciousness with my head on her lap.

“Did you follow me here when I fell asleep?”

Shirley nodded hesitantly. I slowly turned around to find her sky blue eyes waiting for me, and she blinked like some sort of small animal. Maybe she felt like she’d done something wrong, because the ends of her eyebrows drooped further and further into a sad expression.

“Oh, um, it’s my fault for not warning you. It was just so comforting being around you is all.”

I wasn’t just saying that to make her feel better. My ability to travel between Japan and the dream world was supposed to be a secret, but I had completely let my guard down in front of Shirley. We had spent time together as friends, so I didn’t expect her to go around telling people about my ability, but I was still far too careless.

Shirley let out a sigh of relief, and I decided something. I would take the day off from work after all.

My body had felt so heavy earlier because I was haunted by Shirley, not because I caught a cold. I wished I was wrong, but that was probably it. If I showed up at work like this, it would only cause a lot of chaos. In that case, I had no choice. I decided to use some of the PTO I had accrued over time. I had to explain things to Marie and Wridra first, but... judging by how Wridra was acting earlier, she must have known already.

I wiped my face with a towel and headed toward the living room.

“Yes, I’m very sorry. I’m not feeling well today... Yes, yes...” I bowed my head deeply, then hung up the phone. Luckily, I didn’t have any urgent matters to attend to, so the chief director approved my time off without issues. I sounded pretty down on the phone, so he probably believed me. He said it was fine as long as I turned in the documents tomorrow, so that was a relief.

I turned around, and Marie was brimming with excitement, while Wridra was still laying in bed. Then, I looked around the room, but Shirley was still floating around on my back.

Marie seemed to realize what was happening, and she tentatively opened her mouth to speak.

“So, is it okay for you to take the day off from work?”

“It’s not great, but I don’t have much of a choice for today. I can’t cause a paranormal phenomenon at the workplace. Well, we have the day off, so let’s celebrate with a meal, everyone.”

With that, I beckoned them all over to the table. I still had leftover vegetable tempura from last night, so I added some tempura bowl style flavoring and placed the ingredients on plates. I then added some onsen-tamago, or soft-boiled eggs with the whites half done, along with some dried seaweed and miso soup.

Marie let out a happy cheer and stood up, then walked over with light steps and hugged me around the chest. Her body felt warm against me, and her purple eyes looked at Shirley behind my back.

“Welcome to our room, Shirley. Today will be a nice day thanks to you.”

Shirley glanced up at the ceiling, looking puzzled, then smiled gently. She may not have understood what the words meant, but she seemed to be enjoying Marie’s air of excitement. I was glad Marie seemed to be happy about my day off, too.

I pulled out some chairs, and everyone took a seat. Wridra stared at me as she also sat down.

“You should know that you would be considered haunted in this current state. It won’t do you much harm, but your vitality will be drained quicker than usual, so be sure to get nutrition often.”

“Huh, I didn’t know that. But I’ve never been haunted before, so I don’t really get it.” Though, there were some things that I came to realize through experience. I got tired more easily like Wridra said, my body felt heavier, and also...

We said our pre-meal greeting, then I ate my vegetable tempura flavored with sweet sauce. Then, I noticed the flavor was surprisingly plain.

“Huh, there’s not a lot of flavor. Did I screw up?”

“Really? I think it’s just right. It’s very tasty,” Marie replied. She proceeded to chew with her cheeks full of food, seemingly satisfied with the meal. The mixture of mirin, soy sauce, and sugar enhanced the taste of the breading, and the others ate their meal with gusto.

“Mmf, white rice is amazing!” Wridra said as she plowed through her food.

Huh, they seemed fine with it. Maybe something was wrong with my taste buds? I took another bite, then realized something. The steady rhythm felt like the heartbeat of a little bird, and a sense of elation spread through my chest.

“Hm? Don’t tell me...”

“Indeed, you are sharing your sense of taste, as well. If Shirley tastes something, it will make your sense of taste that much duller. But eating will nourish her, making your body feel less fatigued.” Wridra pointed at me with her chopsticks, disregarding proper table manners.

That made sense. It was no wonder I couldn’t taste much. Instead, I could feel Shirley thinking, “It’s delicious.” I glanced back, and she had her mouth hidden behind my shoulder, her eyes looking up at me. She looked rather apologetic, which made me wonder if she was feeling apprehensive about inconveniencing me.

“No, no, now that you’re here in Japan, I want you to enjoy it in my stead. All right, let’s keep eating, shall we?” Her expression brightened. Although she couldn’t speak my language, she was very expressive with her emotions, so it was easy to tell what she was thinking.

I could feel a sense of appreciation and joy gushing out from within me each time I took another bite, and I took care to thoroughly chew and savor each grain of rice. She seemed to love the sticky texture and sweetness as I ate.

When I took a bite of a piece of yellow tempura, her cheeks flushed in ecstasy, and the ends of her eyebrows drooped in an inverted V shape. The crispy, yet chewy texture, the subtle sweetness distinct to vegetables, and the traditional Japanese flavoring all seemed to be to her liking.

“Oh, these are called pumpkins. They’re one of the vegetables grown in Japan, and Marie and I have been talking about growing crops together.”

“Yes, that’s right. Aren’t these pumpkins sweet and tasty? We were hoping we could plant some in your forest, Shirley. Could you please let us make a farm on the second floor?”

If it worked out, she would have gotten to eat all the pumpkins and other vegetables she wanted. Maybe Shirley was picturing a bountiful harvest in her head, because a dreamy expression was clearly visible on her face. She then squeezed her hands into fists and nodded enthusiastically. Strangely, the way she got excited like a child and her cheeks turned rosy when it came to good food seemed like a universal characteristic among girls.

Now that we got our official approval from the master of the forest, Marie’s face lit up with joy. I watched as she raised both hands in joy and let out a “Yay!” in an adorable gesture. She swung her feet in a cheery mood, then extended her palms out to me. I raised my hands to meet hers, and our hands clapped together in a double high-five.

With our meal complete, it was time for us to experiment and satisfy our curiosity.

Marie circled around me in her slippers, staring intently. It seemed rather silly of her as she observed me from various angles, but she wasn’t just fooling around.

“Wow, I can’t see Shirley at all!”

“Huh, so she can’t be seen when she completely merges with my body,” I said.

“Seems so. This must be how she got to Japan from the dream world. Thank you, Shirley. You can come out now.” Shirley popped out of my body and reappeared in the living room, and Marie poked at her curiously. Though, she couldn’t actually touch her, being a ghost and all.

In any case, we now had the option to go out, now that we knew how to hide Shirley. And so, we decided to figure out our destination. There were many forms of entertainment in Japan, but the first candidate was the Japanese garden Shirley seemed so interested in.

“Come to think of it, you two were planning on going to the garden, weren’t you? We could visit Western-style gardens, too. Would you prefer that, or a Japanese one?” I asked.

“I’ve seen those kinds of gardens on TV before. I heard spring and fall were the best seasons to visit them, so I think we missed our window.”

Shirley glanced from one speaker to the next as we conversed, excitement slowly building inside her. As someone who was so closely associated with elements of nature like trees and flowers, a garden could open up a whole new world for her. This was going to be her first time sightseeing through Japan. I had to make sure she would enjoy it to the fullest.

“Then why don’t we take the middle ground and visit a manor that’s a mix of Japanese and Western styles?”

“An excellent idea! The Japanese certainly like to mix cultures together, it seems,” Wridra pointed out, and I couldn’t deny that. The Japanese really did tend to be big on following trends. Blending elements of Japanese and Western cultures was a common thing, and I found it interesting how it resulted in making a new sort of culture in itself. This applied to food, and modifying Western fashion to make it popular overseas was pretty much a daily occurrence.

I sipped some Japanese tea, and I felt an appreciation for its subtle, yet tasty flavor. Wridra was right; my body felt a lot lighter after having a meal. One could say I took a sick day without actually being sick, but I decided not to dwell on it too much.

“Okay, let’s change and get ready to go. Since Shirley’s here to visit, let’s take the car out so we don’t have to rush.”

“Yes, good idea. We can buy some juice at the convenience store and listen to music on the way. Hee hee, it’s not even the weekend, but this is going to be so much fun!” Marie voiced my sentiments exactly. If I could spend a lot of time playing with the girls like this, maybe it wasn’t so bad to fake being sick... No, no, I actually did feel sick earlier, so I didn’t want to consider it faking.

We began to prepare in order to enjoy our day off to the fullest. But I did wonder one thing: how was I supposed to go to the bathroom while being haunted by a ghost?

I turned the steering wheel and slowly pulled out of the parking lot.

Then, strangely, I felt a sensation of fear spreading inside of me. Of course, I was used to driving, so there was nothing scary about driving a car. This meant the emotion wasn’t my own, but instead originated from the one sharing my body. I was haunted by a cute ghost today, after all.

“There’s no need to be afraid, Shirley. This is called a car, and it’s like a horse in the other world.”

“Yes. Kazuhiro-san is mild-mannered, so he drives slowly, too. His driving is so safe that it will make you yawn. Now, which song should I play...?” Strange, I seemed to recall Marie clinging to my arm and screaming at first. It seemed that experience had been wiped from her memory, and she focused on trying to decide which CD to play.

Once she finally made her selection, a single disc was drawn into the CD player. The clock read nine o’clock, and a clear, blue sky and the bright sun could be seen out of the window. The music playing from the speakers was from a movie I had watched with the girls before. The rhythmic drums and melodic piano made me want to tap my feet along with the song. Still, I stayed focused on driving safely.

“Oh, this is that song from that anime movie we watched before, isn’t it? You like it?”

“Of course. I’m a big fan of that director. I can use magic too, but I wonder why I can’t fly...” With that, Marie puffed out her cheeks and leaned back in the passenger seat. I had thought she was joking, but the way she rested her chin in her hand and looked out of the window told me she was serious. Marie could not only use sorcery, but she could control spirits too, so I found it strange that she wanted to fly so badly.

“But we’ve got a flying Magic Stone now,” I reminded her.

“Yes, it was wonderful riding on Roon. But I’d like to fly with my own magic. I’m sure it would be so much fun to soar through the sky.”

Wridra the Arkdragon sat up in the back seat and peered over at us in reaction to Marie’s comment. It had been a while since she last visited, so she had been observing the scenery of Japan with great interest now that it was officially summer.

“Hah, hah, if you wish to fly, I can teach you. You simply create a multi-layered barrier to keep yourself from getting crushed under the pressure, then fly through the sky like a swift wind.”

“Nooo, that’s too realistic. I want something more fantasy-like.” I wanted to point out that Marie was already in the realm of fantasy by nature as an elf.

The conversation was lighthearted like the music, and laughter could be heard in the car throughout the ride. It seemed Shirley was no longer afraid thanks to the cheerful mood.

“Well, we’ve been spending our time like this in Japan for a while now, but I’m sure things will be the same in the other world, too. You’re going to have fun with us, Shirley, so you’d better be prepared,” I said. I noticed her semi-transparent hair flowing in the air, then glanced in the back mirror to find her there. She was still gently holding on to my shoulders, but her expression was quite cheery. Shirley nodded, and I took that to mean she was looking forward to it.

We continued to make our way through Kinshicho Station, then drove straight down the city streets. There were many trucks out in the middle of the weekday, and the Edo River’s levee came into sight as the group had the drinks and ice cream that were purchased at the convenience store.

Marie gestured for me to open my mouth, and the soft serve she gave me was... Nope, still couldn’t taste much. Shirley certainly seemed to enjoy the taste instead, so I was fine with that. I could feel her getting emotionally moved by how unbelievably delicious it was, and it felt like she wanted to jump around with joy, so it was actually pretty entertaining on my end.

Shirley had a habit of emerging when her emotions were heightened, and she came out with her hands trembling and lips pursed, as if she was saying “Mmm!” The other girls laughed happily at her child-like gesture.

“You know, Shirley, this is made from cow’s milk. It’s made by adding sugar and mixing it while chilling it. His grandfather actually has cows of his own,” Marie explained proudly. She was starting to become somewhat of an expert on Japan. Though, ice cream was something that had actually been brought over from the West. Shirley looked at me with admiration, but I hadn’t actually done anything. Maybe I seemed impressive by association through the order of “Ice cream is amazing,” “Cow’s milk is amazing,” “Your grandfather is great for owning cows,” and “You are amazing.” My grandfather was definitely far above me in that sense, though.

“There are animals in Shirley’s forest, too, aren’t there? Maybe we could get some milk from them?” Marie suggested.

“Hm, that forest has not been defiled at all. That may work, but the second floor has not completely stabilized yet. We must avoid killing as much as possible.” We blinked at Wridra’s comment.

Marie turned from her passenger seat, then asked her friend and mentor, “Wait, what do you mean, ‘defiled’?”

“There is no word that means the exact same thing in your language, but it is close to what you may call ‘elemental breakdown.’ During the great war, the world constructed by magic broke down. The magic elements in the world had become far too dense. This is why the ancient constructed world was broken, and its remnants still enshroud the current world. I am certain you recall eating the horribly rancid meat and vegetables there.”

We were dumbstruck, hearing the truth of the ancient world unravel so unexpectedly. This was of great interest to me, who wanted to enjoy everything that the world had to offer, and to Marie, who wanted to learn everything there was to know about it.

Marie and I looked at each other, blinking, and then she asked the Arkdragon what was on her mind. “Wridra, could you tell us something? What happened to that world...?”

“Hm. I can, but its records are left within the ancient labyrinth, as well. It will surely be more enjoyable for you to read through the texts with your own eyes.”

We couldn’t argue with that. The ancient, sleeping labyrinth was still shrouded in mystery. Once we conquered those unknown lands, its ancient secrets would be revealed to us. We would be the only ones to know the story that no one else in that world knew about.

The ancestors of Mewi the Neko once lived in that desert oasis. How had the ancient labyrinth full of Magic Stones come to be, so far beneath the surface? And why were its gates being opened now?

When I first saw the massive hole in the ground that seemingly led into the abyss, I was sure I felt the breath of the ancients from its depths. I was dying to know the story of what had happened so long ago. The Age of Magic, and the Age of Night... I wanted to learn of the events that had taken place in history. I glanced over at Marie, and the determination was emanating from her body. Maybe I had the same expression on my own face. She placed her small hand on me, and her skin was sweaty, perhaps from the summer humidity.

“Let’s conquer the ancient labyrinth together,” she said.

“Yeah, let’s. I was going to even before Wridra told us about this, but I’m dying to find out its secrets now.”

We clasped our hands together, and I found that her grip was surprisingly strong. But it was no wonder, considering she was a woman who had learned so much magic through independent study, and had learned under the tutelage of the Arkdragon. No partner could have been more reliable than her, and I knew that clearing the labyrinth with her was entirely possible as long as we had each other.

Meanwhile, Shirley watched us with a strangely forlorn expression on her face. She was close enough to reach us with an outstretched hand, but it was like she was in a separate, distant world.

It wasn’t until later that she would find out why.

§

I closed the car door and started walking around the parking lot with the others.

It was still early morning, but the asphalt was hot from baking in the sun, and the ultraviolet rays felt like needles against my skin. Marie walked along the road with light steps, clad in a white dress and the straw hat she had bought because it was “summery.”

“Ah, so hot! Japan’s heat is just so humid,” she said.

“Indeed. Arilai is hotter, but the dry heat does not bother me as much. Though, my body temperature as a cat was abnormally high. This is far more manageable in comparison.” Wridra was lightly dressed in just a tank top, hot pants, and boots that went up to her knees. Sweat glistened on her skin under the sunlight.

The air was thick with heat and humidity, and the cicadas singing all around us painted the very picture of summer. We all complained about the heat as we climbed up the gently inclined slope. We were in a parking lot by the bed of the Edo River, and a path where one could walk their dog or enjoy a stroll awaited us ahead.

The trees planted all along the path provided shade on the way, and as we kept going, the serenely flowing Edo River came into view. Seeing it glimmering in the sun, Marie narrowed her purple eyes into a smile.

“Ah, a river! There’s so much greenery around here, too.” It was still as hot as ever, but it somehow felt a bit cooler with the water in front of us. Maybe Shirley wasn’t used to seeing such well-maintained land, because I could feel her heart thumping harder.

“I know it’s hot, but we’ll get to our destination if we keep walking a bit farther,” I said.

“This heat is appropriate for the summer. I quite like it. You children should go out into the sun more, rather than being cooped up in your room or underground labyrinths.”

With that, Wridra stretched out her limbs, seemingly enjoying the bright sunlight. Though, she lived underground herself, and it wasn’t very convincing when one considered how pale her skin was.

Just then, Marie returned from her look around the area and squeezed my hand as she usually did. Our fingers were slightly sweaty as they wrapped around each other, and we began walking side-by-side. Her white dress was brilliant in the sunlight, and it didn’t cover much of her pale skin. She placed a hand on her straw hat, and there was an expression of delight on her face as she looked up at me.

“So, where are we heading now?” she asked.

“Well, there are several Japanese gardens around, but we’re going to a place where we can feel the Taisho romanticism the most. It’s a building that was built during a time of this country called the Taisho period.” With that, I pointed to a sign that showed the path leading to “Yamamoto-tei.” It was a registered tangible cultural property of Katsushika Ward, and was full of the distinct air of the Taisho period. This was my first time visiting too, and I was looking forward to experiencing it with Marie and Wridra.

As we walked along the road, an old-fashioned brick wall came into view. The gentle curve outlined the exterior of the premises, emphasizing the sheer size of the Yamamoto-tei property. The singing cicadas only made the heat more noticeable at first, but the view of the building made the sound feel somewhat nostalgic.

We continued walking in silence, and then the Japanese word “semishigure,” which referred to a chorus of cicadas singing like a rainy shower, came to mind. I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of countless cicadas, and I felt the summer heat fade away from my thoughts. I mentioned it out loud since we still had time until we reached our destination. Wridra closed her eyes for a moment, then confidently turned to me as if she had it all figured out.

“Hm, I see.”

“Oh? Did you figure something out, Wridra? I still haven’t reached that point yet.” She was about the same height as me, and the entire length of her long, slender legs was plainly visible in her hot pants. The draconian had the figure of a supermodel, and my eyes were naturally drawn to her, having seen her for the first time in a while. Her straight, lustrous hair swayed as she turned her head and smiled at me alluringly.

“Indeed, this is a type of self-hypnosis. You can trick your own senses by overwriting them with a skill. Hah, hah, this is but child’s play for me.”

Yup, she was totally off the mark. I gave up on explaining and just returned her smile instead. The sense of Japanese elegance known as “wabi-sabi” was hard to describe in words, so I opted to just have them experience it in person.

We turned the corner, and Yamamoto-tei finally came into view. The entrance was as big as a storehouse, and the pine trees peeking over the walls and the various design elements certainly had a touch of Japanese beauty to it.

“Wow, the tile roof is very Japanese! Is this an aristocrat’s manor or something?”

“Something like that. These gates are designed like those of traditional samurai residences. It was made during the Taisho period, during a time of civilization and enlightenment, so there are Western architecture elements mixed in, too.”

The group collectively made an impressed noise, looking all around as we passed through the gate. The sunlight softened when we entered the shade, and I let out a sigh of relief at being out of the heat. I had visited several noble mansions in the other world, but this was my first time seeing one in Japan.

As soon as we entered, a Japanese-style garden awaited us. Pine and azaleas were planted in a slight curve, and each of them were trimmed in a cute, round shape. Beyond those was the main building, which was positively brimming with Taisei romanticism with its fusion of Japanese and Western design. The sound of cicadas felt distant as we became immersed in the atmosphere of sheer tasteful elegance, and we all raised our voices at once.

“Wow, wow, amazing! There are so many trees here, but the scenery is so peaceful!”

“Unlike Western designs, they use trees and soil as walling. I think that’s why the houses and plants blend together so naturally. Yeah, I really like this place.” I could feel my heart beating stronger even as I spoke.

Shirley was seeing the same sight as me through my body. Marie walked up to me and urged me to hurry as she tugged on my hand, and the softness of her skin made my heart soar further.

I came to realize that Shirley, who had no physical body and was bound to the second floor for so long, had never had a friend to pull her hand along like this. I could feel my senses focusing on my fingertips, and the overwhelming scent of greenery made Shirley grow even more elated.

I placed a hand on my thumping heart and thought, “I’m happy for you.”

Then, I felt as if she nodded back.

Marie, who had a good appreciation of Japanese elegance already, was full of excitement as she led us toward the main building.

Now, the building belonging to a noble house from the Taisho period was full of surprises. There was a rickshaw at the entrance, and beyond it was a tatami room with an impressive drawing featured on the folding screen.

“Ah, a picture of hanashobu! Look, Wridra, remember they were blooming all around the garden we visited?”

“Oho, this is quite well done. Such beautiful use of purple and white. It appears the Japanese favor a distinct type of brush stroke. Quite tasteful. I like it.” I had to agree with Wridra’s assessment. It didn’t have the same showiness as Western styles, but the usage of vivid colors was quite enjoyable in Japanese art. The brush strokes seemed somewhat flat at first glance, but it could be interpreted as the direction of artistic beauty that was used in art from that era.

“How do I put this...? It just hits you the same way as when you look at a real flower.”

“Maybe striking pictures like these were popular. Japan has a unique culture as an island country, and even famous painters overseas have learned from the techniques here. Though, I’m sure the other way around is way more common.” Perhaps that was why it was so interesting. If Japan had been a part of a bigger continent all this time, its culture probably would have become the same as other countries in no time.

We couldn’t see it up close because of the enclosure in the way, but I took pictures of Marie and Wridra happily striking peace signs. The shutter went off with a snap, and the combination of the traditional Japanese background, a girl that was as pretty as a fairy, and the black-haired beauty drew a lot of attention, and the other visitors were also taking pictures for some reason. It made me happy seeing them look so delighted. I wanted to take a picture of Shirley too, but it probably would have caused issues if a ghost showed up in a photo.

Marie returned with light steps and naturally wrapped her arms around mine, then looked up at me with those bright eyes.

“Say, these Japanese houses are so wonderful, but why are there so few buildings? They’re so peaceful and nice to spend time in. It’s a shame, really.”

“Because of the spread of Western architecture, and because they started designing the buildings so they can fit more people on limited land. Though, there are some people who rebuild old houses and live in those.” There were times when people came here from overseas, realized the draw of Japan, and ended up living here, too. I explained this to Marie, but she made a face as if she didn’t really understand.

I figured it would be easier to just go inside and have her experience it rather than explain with words. And so, we decided to go inside the building together. But we all reeled back when we saw the price of entry at the reception desk.

“No way! 100 yen?!”

“How lax. Much like Kazuhiro’s sleepy face,” Wridra said.

Wait... does that mean my face is only worth about 100 yen? I could feel Shirley giggling inside me, but I pointed at the menu without being deterred.

“Let’s have some tea while we look at the garden. Can you all pick out some snacks and something to drink?” I’d heard that women loved sweets, and it seemed there was some truth to that. Wridra and Marie immediately moved their faces closer to the menu to figure out which one they wanted. Yup, it seemed my girlfriend had completely forgotten about her diet.

Marie tugged on my hand and pointed at a picture of matcha.

“Hey, what is this green thing? The color is so pretty.”

“Ah, that’s matcha tea. It has a natural sweetness and a distinct, bold flavor. Since we’re here, why don’t you try it with some Japanese confectionaries?” I replied.

Marie’s eyes lit up with excitement, and she tapped the ground several times with her feet before saying, “I’ll take the matcha, please,” with a determined look on her face. The person taking the order seemed a bit surprised by the fluent Japanese coming from someone with her facial features. The aged woman blushed, but shook her head and returned to her customer service face.

“Yes, a matcha tea and confectionaries set. What would you two like to order?”

“Hm, zenzai with shiratama... Interesting. Ah, I know. Kazuhiro, how would you like to enjoy half of this dessert with me? Hah, hah, quite a brilliant idea, no?” The Arkdragon smiled cheerfully as she made her suggestion, but I could only picture her eating both of our portions completely. A bead of sweat rolled down my head. I was a bit troubled by the feeling of Shirley’s presence nodding inside me, but I thought about it for a moment and decided to take the offer. Sad to say, my reasoning for accepting it was that I figured Wridra wouldn’t do anything too mean to our guest visiting for the first time.

“Okay, let’s do that. Then, I’ll take one more order of the matcha and confectionaries set, and a zenzai with shiratama for her.”

“Thank you. Please take a seat wherever you’d like.” The attendant had a satisfied look on her face, as if she had witnessed a treat, and guided us to a room in the back with jaunty steps. And so, we were off to a wonderful place where we could get a good view of the Taisho period garden.

As soon as we arrived at the guest room with a view of the garden, we all stood frozen in place.

The garden could be seen on the other side of the corridor through the wide-open doors, and it felt like the true essence of Japan. Before us were some azalea that had been trimmed in a round shape, some smooth, rounded rocks, and layers of greenery like pines near the water.

It was arranged so the lower plants were placed in the front, gradually sloping upward with the taller trees in the back. I could faintly see some stone lanterns, which seemed to represent the harmony between man and nature. The girls forgot to breathe as they stared in awe at the fantastical world before them.

“Ah...! Ah! The greenery is like a painting come to life! This is the very meaning of the word ‘fantastic’! Japanese gardens truly are fantastic!” Marie exclaimed.

“It is splendid, indeed. So this is the place of relaxation that brings about all harmony in the world. To think I am just now realizing this upon arriving here...” I honestly didn’t even think she was being overdramatic. I could feel the raw emotion and elation overflowing from Shirley.

I had a feeling this was the first time the ladies had seen such a harmonious arrangement of greenery. Greenery that was managed by humans usually tended to have a vague sense of loneliness to it. But there was such beauty in the view before us that we could almost feel the plants breathing. It was no wonder this architecture had been around since the Taisho period. Even an amateur like me could sense that the people from back then had a different sort of outlook on the world.

“Now, let’s take a seat and take our time enjoying the view. Oh, the tatami smells nice.” I ran my hand over the tatami mats, and they made me feel a sense of nostalgia. I crossed my legs and sat down next to the table, taking in a deep breath. The chill air flowed in through the open window. Luckily, there weren’t too many people around, and it felt as if we had gone to some rural country somewhere.

The black-haired woman sitting cross-legged in front of me had a somewhat blank look on her face as she opened her mouth to speak.

“Hm, hm, this is nice, indeed. The good thing about these places is that one can truly spread their wings in peace.”

“It’s so wonderful. I could gaze at it all day. It even made the heat slip my mind completely.” Marie had a dreamy expression on her face as she also sat down. I could understand why they were so impressed. Even I was beginning to daydream about what it would be like if I lived in a house like this. Waking up in the morning and eating breakfast with this view, which surely changed completely as the weather changed to rain, wind, or snow. Such a life was something most modern folks could only dream of.

The thumping heartbeat I was feeling didn’t seem to quiet down at all. I wondered what sort of expression Shirley had, now that she realized there was a whole new world she had never known. For some reason, I was dying to see the face of the woman who managed and nurtured nature with such love.

“How strange. Zera and Puseri’s manor is much more spacious, but this garden somehow feels just as abundant. In terms of atmosphere, this place feels much deeper, if that makes sense,” Marie said.

“Yes, I must agree. This entire garden was prepared specifically for this resting place. The way they use the space here feels incredibly luxurious to me,” Wridra replied. As they continued their conversation, something just as luxurious appeared before us. A woman dressed in a Japanese-style outfit walked down the corridor with a tray in her hand, bowed, then began handing out the tea and snacks.

The sound of the four-legged tray being placed on the table snapped the girls out of their reverie, and then they were surprised by the colorful snacks and tea placed before them. Though, the young attendant was probably just as surprised. My foreign-looking companions bowed politely and thanked her with fluent Japanese, so I couldn’t blame her for staring back with her mouth agape.

“Aha ha, I’m sorry. I completely assumed you were tourists.”

The young girl with her hair tied back flashed a carefree smile. She was young enough to be a student that was working part-time during summer vacation.

“Please enjoy. Feel free to call me if you need anything.” She shyly hid her mouth with the tray and hurried away, and Marie and I couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing such youthful energy was making me feel cheerful... Wait, I was starting to sound like an old man.

“Ah, this green is so beautiful, too. And the pink confectionaries are so cute.” Marie reached for the matcha tea, which was an unusual sight for her.

Just then, I heard the sound of a wind chime from somewhere. It was somewhat reminiscent of the term “semishigure” that came to mind earlier. Before I knew it, the summer heat had become a part of the atmosphere, and it seemed to me that Marie was beginning to understand how to enjoy the moment.

She stared at the glass in her hand. The matcha was a vivid green, and she knew it was an unfamiliar smell after the first whiff. She then placed her lips on it and took a sip. The refreshing bitterness took her by surprise, and her eyes widened at the faint sweetness that followed.

“The fragrance passes through my nose afterward... Hmm, that smells nice. It’s a mature, refined flavor. The fresh tea leaves leave a distinct aftertaste.” Marie furrowed her brows and squirmed a bit. The smooth, yet robust flavor of the tea leaves wasn’t something that could be easily replicated at home. Or maybe I just tended not to buy them, but they were normally sold in supermarkets.

“Matcha is really popular overseas, too. You might understand why when you try one of the confectionaries.” Upon hearing my advice, Marie glanced at the pink confectionary on the small plate before her. She picked up the small knife and cut the sweets into smaller bits, then ate it. The velvety sweetness hit her first, and then she took a sip of the matcha as recommended...

“Mmm, so elegant! Wait, the sweetness is melting away in the tea! Ah, such extravagance... It’s delicious. I could definitely get used to this.” Elves had a strong sense of taste and smell. She could not only enjoy the sweetness, but also the fragrance passing through her nose, giving her quite the lavish eating experience. Marie leaned on my shoulder as if she was going to melt next to me. I then whispered the words of temptation into her ear.

“It’s been popular as a dessert because of how well it goes with sweets. I know you love ice cream, Marie, but I don’t think you’ve tried it with matcha yet.”

“What? That’s a thing in Japan?! No, it can’t be. I’m sure such opulence is forbidden in ice cream. We have no choice but to buy some later so I can see for myself!” Marie’s eyes widened, and she spoke with such a flustered tone that I burst out laughing.

Her face was really close. She was adorable to boot, and she took my pinky on her own and forced me to promise her that we would indeed get some matcha ice cream later. It really wasn’t fair, and it affirmed just how cute girls could be in my mind.

“This is dangerous. After tasting this, I’m starting to worry if I’ll still be able to enjoy tea in Arilai, which was my one and only treat there.”

“I think you should enjoy all sorts of different kinds of tea. Oh, I should try some of mine, too.” I could feel Shirley getting antsy about getting a taste, so I hurriedly picked up my own glass. I had a habit of taking things slow just so I could enjoy Marie’s reactions.

My lips pressed against the cold glass, and I took a sip of the tea. I didn’t really taste much of it, but Shirley must have liked the smooth texture and bold flavor of the tea, followed by its subdued sweetness. I couldn’t move for some time, as her emotional reaction to the delicious taste was a bit overwhelming.

The flavor of the seemingly healthy matcha tea grew even stronger after passing through one’s throat. There was even a hint of the fragrance in Marie’s breath as she exhaled, and we appreciated the moment as we took sips and breathed out in silence. I dreamily glanced outside to find the peaceful view of the Japanese garden. This really was almost too good to be true. I was feeling a bit guilty about taking a vacation, but I almost completely forgot about that guilt as I immersed myself in the view.

This was kind of nice. I felt like I was starting to develop a taste for spending time in peace and quiet like this. I always thought this was a hobby for the elderly, but I was starting to feel as if I could make this into a habit.

“Mmf, Japanese desserts are a class above the rest,” Wridra said, obviously loving the sweetness of her shiratama zenzai, a treat consisting of soup made with azuki beans with rice-flour dumplings inside. The spoon hung out of her mouth as she savored the sweetness of the azuki beans, a happy smile spreading across her face.

She often plowed through her food with vigor, but tended to take her time when it came to dessert. She squeezed her eyes shut in bliss, and furrows formed between her well-shaped eyebrows. Her lips parted, and she exhaled alluringly. There was a certain sexiness in the simplest of gestures when it came to this woman.

She slowly worked her way through her precious dessert, and then her obsidian eyes turned toward me. The zenzai was thrust toward me, which I took to mean she wanted to trade.

I was feeling a bit self-conscious about using the spoon that was just in her mouth... Still, I could feel that Shirley was eager to try it, so I had no choice. I tentatively picked it up, then I felt a tug on my shirt. I thought I was going to get scolded, but Marie shyly placed a finger over her mouth and looked up at me.

“Say, Kazuhiro-san. Um, do you think I could get a taste of that when you’re done?”

“Sure, of course. Just give me one minute.” I scooped up some of the zenzai and put it in my mouth at once. The chewy texture and subtle sweetness was thoroughly satisfying... though, it was Shirley that got to experience it. Wridra was drinking tea and taking a bite of the sweets, completely unfazed, so it seemed there was no reason for me to be embarrassed. Well, we were close friends, after all.

“Here you go, Marie. I think this will go nicely with the tea, too.”

“Yes, thank... you...” Marie froze as she took the bowl in her hand. I stared at her, confused, then she stared at the spoon, her face gradually turning pink.

The change was quite noticeable due to her normally pale complexion. She then glanced at my face and back several times... and I had to admit, I was starting to feel conscious about it, too. How strange, I thought, considering we were already in a relationship and had kissed several times already.

“Hah, hah, what is the matter, Mariabelle? Your face appears to be red,” Wridra pointed out.

“I-It’s nothing...! There’s nothing unusual about this at all! Hey, if you could stop staring at me and turn away...” Well, this was embarrassing. The way her eyebrows were raised in frustration with her face bright red was almost too much. She pinched me under my armpit, and I managed to look away to get through the moment. Shirley’s heart was fluttering too, which only made things worse.

I was painfully aware of her spoon clattering awkwardly... Why were we making each other sweat like this in the middle of summer...?

I felt Wridra’s foot forcefully kick my thigh under the table. Oh, Wridra, why is your face so emotionless right now...?

Now, it was time to move on and get back to enjoying the charm of the Taisho period. Though, to be honest, I mainly just wanted to get away from this situation.

One of the features of this building was that one could not only enjoy the Japanese garden, but also the Western architectural elements here. After seeing the essence of Japanese beauty, we walked down the corridor a bit to an orthodox Western room. I remembered that this corner had Western-style outer walls when I’d seen it from the outside. Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight of the tranquil stove and patterned brown sofas around the table.

“Oh, it’s such a snug little room, but it’s so bright and lovely. Maybe because there are so many windows?”

“It is quite serene here. I would love to show this place to aristocrats who love wastefully spacious designs full of gaudy decorations.” The mosaic floors and white lime plaster ceiling, which was quite rare for its time, had a distinct air of the Taisho period to it. The group stared, transfixed, at the room with a coziness in its design that was often favored by the Japanese. However, there was an unusual keenness in Wridra’s eyes. She observed her surroundings with a discerning look, as if she was trying to memorize everything from the stained glass windows to the patterns on the walls.

Could it be that she was plotting something? Come to think of it, Wridra mentioned that she was helping around on the second floor, so maybe this was related. As I considered this thought, Marie, who was still staring at the room, turned to face me.

“Hey, don’t you think it would be nice to quietly read books here? I wasn’t really interested in furniture before, but I think I have a new appreciation for it now.”

“Oh, right. I was thinking that it would be nice to have a sofa. If you also like them, we should visit a furniture store some time soon.” A smile spread across Marie’s face like a flower blooming before my eyes. She was likely able to visualize our new living space thanks to seeing the layout here in person. But there was a limit to my bonus, so I had to consider my budget for our trip to the sea.

It just came to mind that it was Monday, so Kaoruko, the woman who lived in the same condo as me, wasn’t working today. Maybe I’ll reach out to her later and talk about the trip if she’s free. Preoccupied by this thought, I had completely forgotten to ask Wridra about her strange behavior earlier.

Marie and Wridra stretched their limbs as we left.

Although they looked completely different, their demeanor and expressions were so similar that they looked like sisters to me. If this hadn’t been Japan, Shirley probably would have fit right in with them, too. Seeing how an Arkdragon and elf could get along so well, a former floor master being among them wouldn’t have made too much of a difference.

Having enjoyed our time at Yamamoto-tei to the fullest, we said goodbye to the young attendant from earlier and stepped outside. A bright, blue sky awaited us, and it was all the more satisfying now that the rainy season had passed. The heat had settled down a bit, and we felt a sense of refreshment that was different from what we had felt when we arrived at Yamamoto-tei.

“Ohh, that was so nice! I would love to visit more old buildings like this every once in a while,” Marie said.

“Yes, I felt the very essence of elegance in this incredibly fruitful visit. But, to think the entrance fee was a mere 100 yen. I feel as if this could throw off my sense of monetary value.” Cultural properties that were protected by the region did tend to be like that. I figured they were priced so low to encourage people to visit as many times as they wanted. They had done some major repairs recently, so maybe that was where they had put all of their revenue.

“All right, let’s take a picture. How would you two rate Yamamoto-tei?”

“Hee hee, 100 points for 100 yen!” I didn’t expect Marie to tell a dad joke like that.

There was a moment of silence. Wridra clutched her sides as she burst out laughing at the absurdity of it. Marie turned red, and I captured the moment in a photo. Even Shirley couldn’t hold in her laughter, and it seemed they were all conspiring to make me crack a huge smile.

I was glad to see that everyone seemed to be thoroughly satisfied with our little journey experiencing Japanese elegance and gardens.

§

We entered a back alley through the main street, and the heat softened slightly as we moved away from the sunlight.

There were few people walking around, perhaps because it was mid-day on a Monday, and many of the people out on the streets seemed to be the older crowd.

The woman walking directly in front of me had swaying black hair extending down to her hips, the fabric of her clothes sticking to her pale skin from the sweat. Her shoulder bones were visible, and her hot pants seemed to accentuate her long, slender legs and her rear as it bounced with each step.

“It seems the mood is beginning to change. I smell a scent that is distinct to Asia.”

“There are a lot of temples around here. I think I heard that they have history that spans back to the beginning of the Edo period,” I replied, and Wridra smiled bewitchingly. She really was a strangely youthful and attractive woman. Just watching her walk with her hands behind her back and humming cheerfully made me feel like I was lucky to be here.

Wridra was an Arkdragon: a being that was capable of controlling magic beyond human comprehension. But during our raids on the ancient labyrinth, she took on the role of a tank for our party. Well, to be more precise, she was more like Marie’s bodyguard. I couldn’t even imagine the destruction she could reign upon her opponents if she really wanted to. To be honest, I didn’t even want to picture what it would be like if a monstrous being that was over level 1,000 went on a rampage. Though, I had heard this was only one of her seven cores, so her level was greatly suppressed while she was with us in this form.

Now, Wridra was right about the mood around us beginning to change. This was my first time walking through the street of Shibamata Taishakuten in Katsushika Ward, but I could sense the distinct air of refinement even as a Japanese person.

A stone enclosure indicating the temple’s premises was to our right, and I saw someone looking around with great curiosity. It was Mariabelle, her beautiful eyes shining with wonder and her smile as adorable as a child’s. She wrapped her arms around my elbow, looked at me with her amethyst eyes, and parted her full lips to speak.

“I like the simple, yet imposing presence. It’s like a giant tree. They like putting flashy gold and silver ornaments in the churches in the other world, but I think this is far more elegant.”

“I agree. I don’t really visit churches very much, but churches seem to be really prosperous,” I replied.

“That’s because they exploit people for so much money. I much prefer the more tranquil alternative.” I couldn’t bring myself to tell her they made pretty good money in this world, too. More importantly, she pressed further for my agreement, and I couldn’t help but be conscious of her slight mounds pushing against me.

“Cease your flirting and lead the way. I cannot focus with that delicious scent wafting this way from who-knows-where.”

“I think you should be able to find it with your sense of smell alone, Wridra. We’re almost there,” I replied, but I was honestly feeling a bit anxious. The emotion wasn’t actually coming from me, but from Shirley, the second floor master that was haunting my body. Her heart had been beating like an alarm bell, and I felt her sense of fear every time the temple came into view. That was why I had been trying to walk around the far edge of the street as much as possible, but...

“By the way, Wridra, do ghosts happen to be afraid of temples, by any chance?”

“Hm? Ah, you are worried about Shirley. I am not too familiar with the customs of this land, but as they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Now that she has entered this land, she must follow the rules of this world. Even I cannot normally take on my dragon form.”

“Normally”? Does that mean she could turn into a dragon here in Tokyo under abnormal circumstances? I didn’t really want to think about it, and there were times when I couldn’t read Wridra by means of what humans considered common sense.

In any case, it seemed Wridra was trying to tell me that Shirley was afraid of temples because she was following the rules of this world. She was a ghost, after all, and she definitely didn’t want to get sent to the afterlife.

“Oh my, that is worrying. Then maybe we should go home for the day?” Marie said.

“No, it should not affect her as long as she does not enter the premises. And although she fears it, I doubt it would truly send her to the afterlife.” I wondered what Wridra meant by that. Marie and I tilted our heads in confusion, and Wridra looked at us as if she was addressing her students. Her silky black hair danced in the wind, and she pressed a pointer finger against my chest.

“Even if her soul is put to rest here, her true self does not exist here. I suspect she would simply return to the hall in the second floor of the labyrinth, where she came from.”

“Oh, I get it. Hmm, does that mean Shirley can’t die, kind of like me while I’m in the dream world?” I could sense the bewilderment emanating from Shirley. I couldn’t see her visibly while haunted by her, but she was probably staring at me wide-eyed with those sky blue eyes. I could visualize her blank, innocent-looking expression, and I felt the tension being released from my shoulders. She may not have looked it, but she was once the terrifying floor master of the second floor, and I couldn’t help but think of the chaos that would ensue if she were to unleash her full power in Japan. But there was no sense in thinking about this too deeply, and we weren’t even heading to the temple in the first place.

“Oh, there it is. I heard it was within walking distance from Yamamoto-tei, but it really is close.”

We arrived at the entrance of Shibamata Taishakuten, and there was a lively shopping district before us. The stores had an old-fashioned style to them, as if they were part of a movie set, and I could hear a surprised “Ah!” and “Oh!” coming from the others. We had just experienced the wonder of the Taisho period, but it was time for us to see the shopping district that had a history spanning back to the start of the Showa period next. Remnants of old Japan could still be seen in the approach, giving a retro vibe that provided a contrast to the visiting tourists.

The young elf and black-haired beauty blinked their eyes.

“Ah! Such an elegant shopping district! Oh, that appetizing aroma... Yes, yes, you have guided us to a good place, indeed! I commend you, Kitase!”

Wridra must have really liked the shopping district, considering the fact that she pulled me in for an embrace and patted my head, to my surprise. But her breasts were pressing right up against me, so I needed her to pull away for my own good.

“Oh, oh, I love that sour-sweet scent!” Wridra exclaimed.

“They must be making some senbei rice crackers. This is my first time here too, but it’s so lively with all the food vendors everywhere. It’s right about time for lunch, so I thought it would be nice to stop by here.” I glanced at the clock, and it was a little past the time we usually would have eaten lunch. It seemed we’d lost track of time while we took our time sightseeing. Nobody opposed my suggestion, of course. In fact, they turned to me full of eagerness for the upcoming meal.

“Now, can you two decide where we should eat?” I asked, and they cheerfully shouted, “Yeah!” in unison with raised fists. Marie and Wridra were always so fun and energetic together, and it made me feel more joyful just watching them.

And so, we looked around the quaint vendors as we weaved our way through the crowds of visitors. From kuzumochi, to dango, to Western-style dorayaki, all sorts of attractive shops enticed the girls who had just learned of the subtle yet delicious taste of Japanese confectionaries.

Marie tugged on my arm, and I was brought before a long-established dango shop. The aroma of mochi rice being cooked on metal plates, which were specifically designed for these Japanese dumplings, seemed to have drawn in the elf girl’s keen sense of smell. A wrinkled old man awaited us, and he smiled widely upon our arrival.

“Hey there, why don’t ya try some of these with that adorable foreign lady at that table over there?”

I had to admit, I had some apprehension about eating sweets before lunch. Right as I was about to discuss what the ladies wanted to do... I noticed they were walking over to the old man as if they were hypnotized. We had only taken a few steps into the shopping district, and they had already given in to temptation.

Left with no choice, I snuck up behind Marie and whispered to her.

“You might get kind of full if you eat sweets before lunch, don’t you think?”

“Urgh, I can’t have that. But it smells so good... Maybe just a little?” She squeezed my shirt and looked up at me sadly. With those pleading, teary eyes directed right at me, I couldn’t help but feel a strong urge to give her what she wanted. Not only that, but I could feel Shirley’s mental pleading too, and it was like I was watching a puppy making sad, whining noises. It was too cute to handle. I almost felt like curling up in a ball right then and there.

“Yes, I will order some dango. Which one tastes the best?” Wridra said.

“Hey, wait! I want some, too!”

I couldn’t help but exclaim, “What?!” at Wridra’s sudden and casual betrayal. Not only that, but Marie immediately moved away from me to get her share, which left me feeling incredibly sad.

“Our mugwort-flavored ones are really good. Don’t worry. As you can see, there are dango shops all over this place, so they’re small, which lets you walk around and try a bunch of different kinds.” The old man smiled kindly, and I reluctantly opened my wallet.

I had no choice this time. But considering that we were about to have lunch... No, Wridra’s stomach was virtually limitless, so I just had to make sure to stop Marie from getting sucked into her pace.

I silently set my resolve not to lose on every one of these exchanges. It seemed the path to our lunch would be a long and treacherous one.

I had found that just watching the girls happily chew dango was rather entertaining. We sat in a shaded area in long chairs near the dango shop, Marie and Wridra’s cheeks full of the mugwort-flavored Japanese dumplings.

Maybe this feeling of appreciation I felt was thanks to the shopping district itself. The muted stone pavement, the old-fashioned signs written in kanji, and the rows of lively vendors... Beyond it all was the two-story Shibamata Taishakuten in all its glory.

“Mm, how fantastic. All they did was put some wood together, but it ended up with such a dignified appearance... It is quite attractive, indeed.” Wridra observed the view as she pulled her last piece of dango from its skewer.

Many sightseers walked in front of us, but the Japanese proverb “dango over flowers” came to mind as Marie continued to enjoy the sweet taste of her treat with a wide smile on her face.

“Mm, delicious! What do you think this refreshing flavor is?”

“That’s probably the yomogi, or Japanese mugwort. They do call them mugwort dango, after all.” Marie chewed the squishy dango with red bean paste and smiled blissfully. But Shirley was urging me to hurry and eat my own, so I decided to dig into the mugwort dango myself.

I noticed a looming shadow, and I looked over to find the old man from the stall smiling at us. It seemed there weren’t as many customers around during this time of day.

“How about this heat, huh? Here’s some complimentary drinks for you folks. Cool off here for as long as ya want.”

“Oh, thank you!” Ice clinked in glass cups as they were filled with green tea. The residents of the dream world seemed to have gotten used to Japanese tea by now. Marie placed her straw hat beside her and gladly accepted a glass.

“Sir, these dango are delicious.”

“Aha ha, you’re making me blush here. And the other young lady over there, drink some of this and take your time enjoying the food. I have plenty more if you want seconds.” Wridra’s black hair swayed as she smiled in response to the old man’s invitation. Maybe she herself knew that she was prettier when she didn’t say anything. She folded her freely exposed legs and accepted her glass with a bewitching smile, and the old man’s wrinkled face turned pink. He laughed off his embarrassment and wiped his face with a towel as he returned to his stall.

“Hah, hah, ‘young lady,’ he says. It does indeed make me feel as if I am young again.” Wridra was clearly in a good mood, smiling widely as she put her lips to her glass. Ice clinked in her glass as the refreshing green tea passed through her throat. She looked up to find the vast expanse of the summery blue sky above. The wind had picked up somewhat, which helped chill the heat from her body. Her eyes narrowed happily, which reminded me of a certain black cat that was always around.

Wridra turned around with a cool expression.

“Hm. I feel as if I finally understand summer in Japan.”

“Me too! It’s peaceful, but there’s a certain charm to it. Even the heat feels like part of the fun.”

It seemed Shirley was having fun just watching these two getting so excited, because I could feel her joy as her host.

But I did wonder about one thing. We had spent the whole day together so far, but I felt something reminiscent of a slight sense of loneliness from her. It was akin to someone crying quietly, like a lost child that was being left behind.

It’s okay.

I rubbed my own arm and expressed the simple words to her. Don’t worry. I wanted her to know that there was nothing to be afraid of. Maybe because I was her host... No, this was something that only I understood.

“Because I’m just like you.” I uttered the words quietly enough so no one could hear. An emotion of surprise radiated from the depths of my body, like the sound of a ringing bell.

Shirley had been bound to the second floor, all alone for a long, long time. There was only one thing she could be afraid of now: the fear of being alone again. Even more so when one considered the fact that she was immortal.

That’s why I can somewhat understand how you feel. When I was a child, I was all alone in a place where no one else was around. With no one to talk to, the fences looked like a jail cell in my eyes. I remembered my breath was pure white as I exhaled, and I was constantly rubbing my hands together so they wouldn’t go numb. Knowing what it felt like to be alone for so long, I truly feared my current lifestyle vanishing someday. I’ve always thought, “What if I go back to how things were back then?”

That was why I wanted to tell her again, “It’s okay.”

I would never just disappear, and the young woman smiling and asking, “Isn’t it delicious?” was incredibly kind. Wridra, who sat just past her, was actually very caring, and she often fussed over us to make sure we were okay. And we’ll be growing crops together soon, right?

Her heart beat once in response, and I thought I heard her quietly say, “Yes.” The heartbeat steadily increased in pace, an emotion other than the fear I felt earlier taking over. It was as if she was excitedly waiting for the day of a school trip, and I could visualize her covering her lips to hide her quickening breaths.

Unfortunately, that was all I could tell her for now. One day, I wanted to help her so she could feel truly relieved from the bottom of her heart. But for now, she would have to take her time and enjoy the moments we had now. And so, I took a bite of the last piece of mugwort dango. The dango topped with red bean paste was so soft that it stretched as my teeth sank in and pulled.

All I could enjoy was the texture as I chewed and it brushed against my tongue. I couldn’t sense its flavor or smell with Shirley haunting me, but that wasn’t so bad, knowing that she was having fun.

We all moved in closer to each other.

Wridra demanded I get even closer and pulled me in by the waist, and I nearly stumbled over.

“Feeling shy, are you? How adorable,” she said, and I grew even more flustered with her face so close to mine. I mean, I was a man, after all.

The old man holding up the camera smiled warmly as he watched us.

“Okay, say cheese!” he said. I put up a peace sign awkwardly, and I heard the sound of the shutter snapping. Wridra, who was standing in the center like the main character of some story, stomped over to the old man with her grip still on my waist. She flipped over the smartphone to find our commemorative picture there, and the Arkdragon stared into the screen.

“Kitase, are you closing your eyes here? You look as if you are about to vanish like a ghost.”

“No, they’re open. That’s just how my face looks.”

I almost wanted to cry. This was the cruel reality of photos. I was forced to face the dramatic difference between me and the beautiful ladies I was with. Yes, I had become painfully aware of the fact that, while there was light in this world, there was also darkness to match. Suddenly, Wridra seemed to notice something and began swiping through other pictures, pausing a moment before speaking.

“Perhaps this is my imagination, but it seems to me that the effort you put into these photos vary quite a bit. Only half of me appears in these pictures. Look, you can only see my peace sign in this one,” she pointed out.

“Hm? Yeah, that happens sometimes. Probably because I’m not too used to taking pictures yet. It was just recently that I started going on trips and sightseeing.” I laughed as I replied, but the look in Wridra’s eyes grew sharper. I could tell she didn’t trust my words at all, and she reminded me of a cat intimidating its opponent, which was scaring me a bit.

“Oho, then I do wonder why all of Marie’s pictures are taken so perfectly! This is quite the conundrum, just as much as your sleepy-looking face! This one of me as the black cat is especially terrible. The picture is not even in focus! It is blurrier than your face! Look!”

“That can’t... You’re right. I wonder why it looks so bad...” Realization hit me as I replied, and Wridra stared at me as if she didn’t believe me in the slightest. Yeah, if a monster could turn into a pair of glaring eyes, hers were probably what it would have looked like.

“Y-You... Do you not think this favoritism is far too much? Seeing how blatant it is, I actually worry for your future. Do you truly understand what is going on here?” Wridra’s shoulders trembled as spoke. But I really didn’t have any ill intentions, so I had no idea what to say.

Wridra was overreacting. I just wasn’t good at taking pictures. I turned around to seek Marie’s support, but she was covering her face with both hands, and I couldn’t even see her expression. As I wondered what was wrong with her, I heard the old man’s laughter nearby.

“You ladies certainly are full of life. I’m glad to see you all seem to be having fun sightseeing.” He laughed kindly, and I bowed my head in a hurry. I apologized for being so noisy, but he patted my shoulder, completely unconcerned.

“Young man, it’s hot today, so be sure to stay hydrated.”

“The food was delicious. Thank you.”

“Yes, come back again!” We waved goodbye at the old man and finally resumed our walk through the shopping district. And yet, I couldn’t turn around because I could still feel Wridra glaring at me.

Well, we had come to get breakfast, and we’d lost to the temptation of dango right off the bat. As this thought came to mind, I heard something that I couldn’t believe.

“Hmm, which treat to enjoy next...?”

What...?!

I was shocked by the words that came out of Wridra’s mouth. I could tell she wasn’t joking around as she glanced around her surroundings, her black hair swaying. She was being serious. She had seriously forgotten about finding a place to eat lunch. It was rare for me to lose my composure, but my voice was trembling slightly as I spoke.

“Wridra? You haven’t forgotten about our mission of picking a place to eat by any chance, have you?”

“Hm? No, of course I have not. I am the great Arkdragon, after all. However... hm, I smell something sweet...” She sniffed around with her finely-shaped nose, but we had only walked a few meters from the last stall... Even the old man from earlier was looking at us strangely.

Oh, I know. Marie should back me up here.

Her stomach capacity was different from Wridra, and she surely would have wanted to avoid getting too full to eat lunch. Considering how intelligent she was, she would surely understand.

I turned to Marie, full of hope, then found myself at a loss for words when I found her staring passionately at a souvenir shop. I followed her gaze to rows of indigo-dyed pieces of cloth that seemed to feature family crests from all around Japan.

“Say, what are those old-fashioned symbols?”

“Come on, Marie. Wridra is walking off by herself,” I said to her in a fluster as I started to lose the black-haired beauty in the crowd. It seemed Shirley was the only one on my side here, because I could feel a similar panic from her. Though, she was haunting my body, so she was completely powerless as an ally.

Then, I finally remembered. Wridra was wandering off on her own, but she didn’t have a wallet. That meant she would have to come back even if I didn’t chase after her, and we wouldn’t have to eat any sweets. With that in mind, I decided to answer Marie’s question.

“That’s a family crest. They’re like emblems that represent your bloodline or household. There are some drawn on those flags over there, too.” Marie’s eyes brightened at my response.

Apparently, family crests were an extremely attractive concept for residents of the fantasy world. They featured geometrical designs with flowers, plants, and even dango as motifs. Marie was completely enamored by how charming they were.

While I was giving my explanation, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to find Wridra had reappeared, but my eyes bulged when I noticed what she was holding.

What, dorayaki?! How’d she get that without money?

“I was staring for some time, and then I received it for free. Here, we shall divide it among us.”

“Oh, it’s browned so nicely! Mm, such a gentle, inviting smell!”

Wait, don’t tell me she...

I turned to the stall Wridra was pointing at, and I was surprised again to find a worker standing there with hearts in his eyes. Boy, beautiful women had it good. If I did the same thing, I probably would have been treated like a nuisance and shooed away.

As I watched the other two eat, I felt a cold sweat run down my back. I was starting to worry about Marie’s stomach.

How’d this happen? I thought we were just talking about dieting not too long ago...

Then, the very thing I was worried about came true.

It was impossible for the girls to endure in the middle of a shopping district full of tempting aromas. Cream-filled dorayaki, sweet potatoes, and roasted potato yokan... Dango in particular had all sorts of flavors, like sesame and mitarashi, so it was brutal how much one could eat without getting bored. Marie’s stomach grew completely full as she continued munching on food throughout our walk around the shopping district.

Then, she found it. It was a traditional tempura restaurant that smelled of freshly fried batter and had a Showa style appearance. Passersby even stopped in the streets to turn around as they noticed the inviting smell of sesame oil. Marie stood in the middle of the crowd at a loss for words.

The dango skewer she had been holding fell to the floor.

“Ah...” Judging by the look on her face, it seemed she just remembered our mission to find a place to eat lunch. She rubbed her stomach, then slowly turned toward me. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked to be on the verge of crying, but the sauce on her lips made her look even sadder.

“A-Ahh...”

“Hold it together, Marie. You shouldn’t force yourself to eat if you’re full.” I wiped her lip with a handkerchief, and she wrapped her arms around me. Normally, I would have been flustered about the soft sensation of her lips, but all I could say in this case was “What did I tell you?”

Marie trembled in frustration, her voice breaking with emotion.

“What a terrible trick devised against me... I love tempura so much! The shrimp looks so delicious, but I’m so full that my stomach could burst! Ah, I’m so sad that I could cry!” I rubbed her back consolingly, but it was kind of a surreal moment with the noise of tempura frying in the background. The worker at the restaurant was watching us with a confused look, too.

I continued patting Marie’s back, then noticed Wridra trying to get my attention.

“I can still eat plenty,” she gestured, but all I could do was shake my head no. Wridra looked shocked, but we had failed our mission, so there would obviously be no reward.

But I would have felt bad if it just ended on such a sad note. We had gone out of our way to enjoy the sights of Japan, and Shirley had been holding back this whole time.

“Why don’t we have tempura bowls for dinner, then? It might not be as good as the kind served here, but would you be okay with that, Marie?” I whispered it into her ear, and she immediately straightened up.

Her colorful, purple eyes were wide with happiness, and she threw her arms around my neck lovingly. She rubbed her soft cheek against me, then whispered, “That’s why I like you,” and I felt my temperature rise a bit. Though, it was hard to tell whether it was me she really liked, or the tempura bowls.

“Look, there are desserts made with crushed ice over there. It appears to be called, ‘shaved ice.’”

“So that’s what you want for dinner, right, Wridra?” I asked with a smile on my face, and she vigorously shook her head from side to side.

In any case...

Ah... she couldn’t resist sweets after all...

Such were my thoughts as I led Marie by the hand and we made our way back home.