CH 105

Chapter 105: Weird Keychains At Service Areas Are Emo!

TL: Akabane

***

There are several criteria for winners in college life. I think the best riajuu are the couples who skip class and have sex all day long. This is a high hurdle. But there is another act that is a modest hurdle. Couples who aren't in a relationship, but are interested in each other, skip class and go on a date away from home. Personally, I think this is more emo. Yes. So, Igarashi and I skipped class and got on the highway to go to Fujiko Ultraland.

"So, you know. When Sato ate the curry bun, she said it was so hot that her tongue went numb! So she got some water from Kato, the guy sitting next to her! You have to be careful with bread, right?"

After we got on the highway, Igarashi just kept talking about her daily life. I was replying to her, giving her a few words, and just relaxing. I did my best to edit it, though.

"Come to think of it, Sato and Kato seem to spend a lot of time together. I think they were together in the cafeteria and the library."

Today Igarashi was wearing a short flared skirt and black pantyhose. So sometimes I glanced at Igarashi's thighs as she sat in the passenger seat.

"That's true, isn't it? Ah...ah...I guess that's how it is. Haha."

Igarashi was beaming with embarrassment. She looked cute with a slight reddish tint on her cheeks.

"Ah, ah. I see."

Probably that Sato and Kato started dating. In college life, you never know what will bring a man and a woman together. Our chit-chat turned into love talk, and we felt a sweet awkwardness. After all, we were skipping class to go on a date. From the world's point of view, it's like a countdown.

"Oh, yeah. The radio changes a lot when you cross a border, doesn't it? Can I turn it on?"

"Oh, yeah. Sure."

Igarashi turned on the radio, surely wanting to change the subject.

--- "The following news. The president of a company that was considered a front company for a designated gang and it's officers, a total of five people, have been murdered. Based on the gunshot wounds, it is presumed that the murderers are the same as those who killed the gang members the other day, but there were no eyewitnesses and the investigation is still in a state of confusion. Next news. A research team from the Imperial Capital University has announced it's participation in a survey of archaeological sites in Turkey..."

"That's disturbing news. Is there anything better?"

Igarashi fiddled with the radio knob and changed the channel.

--- "This is a letter from a man with the radio name Green Guarana Juice. "In the Japanese news, Brazilian names are read in English or romanized, and it makes me feel like I'm finally getting some kind of information. I want more Japanese people to know about Brazil, so I would like to request a bossa nova." I did some research on the program, and it seems that sometimes the translations of Brazilian news words are not so subtle, when they are read in English or romanized! I think it's incumbent on us to be respectful of their culture! Now for the requested song!"

Brazilian music starts playing on the radio. I had imagined it to be cheerful, but it had a somewhat lyrical rhythm to it.

"Samba! You're not the intense one, are you? I didn't know they had sweet rhythms like this."

"Sounds like it. I guess that means Brazilian culture has a lot of depth."

Japanese people only understand Brazilian culture as cheerful and samba-like. But Suo has an image that is somewhat distant from that kind of joviality. That's why I suddenly remembered. I suddenly remembered Mashiba's words, "Be careful of Suo." What on earth did she mean by that?

"Ah! Are you thinking about Suo again? I'm even splitting the gas bill with you!"

"Sorry, sorry. I'm sorry, I was just a little worried. We're not at Fujiko yet, so be safe."

"Hmm? Can I turn my face away?"

"Well, I hope you don't mind. We're almost at the service area, so get yourself in a good mood. I'm sure I'll find something interesting!"

"Really? Well, good luck finding something interesting! I'm counting on you!"

And so we pulled into a service area and chatted about taking a break.

Service areas are interesting places. For some reason, there are Enka cassette tapes for sale, mysterious local lunches, and souvenir-like items. There is no shortage of stories.

"Isn't this interesting?"

"Only boys say that's funny! Hahaha! You're slipping, Tokiwa! Hahahaha!"

I got a little excited when I found a sword with a dragon or a skull wrapped around it in the keychain corner. So I showed it to Igarashi and she just laughed at me.

"How about this then?"

"Eh? What is this? A dark aqua-colored liquid in the water? It's falling like an hourglass? Amazing, right?"

I don't know the official name, but Igarashi is very interested in this mysterious item that looks like an hourglass with colored water, probably of different specific gravity, in the water. She is very happily turning it over and shaking it. I thought about buying it for her. But this girl doesn't like to be treated. So I made a suggestion.

"Igarashi. Buy me this mysterious sword. In exchange, I'll buy you that mysterious water hourglass thingy."

Igarashi smiled and nodded at my suggestion. We left the service area after splitting the cost of the toy, which only a child would appreciate.

Then, after driving for a while from the service area, I got off the highway and arrived at Fujiko Ultraland at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Many cars were parked in the very large parking lot.

"Wow very big parking lot! Haha! I'm starting to feel like I'm having fun!"

Igarashi was excited, even though she had not yet entered the building. I had a feeling that if I left her alone she might get pulled over by a car in the parking lot, so I took her right hand and folded it into my left.

"It's not safe for you to run around. Come with me."

"Yes, I'll go with you. Let's go together. Mm-hmm."

We walk hand in hand through the parking lot.

"Hey, hey, isn't that bike awesome? It looks super strong."

Igarashi pointed to a very large and fast looking bike. The muffler was really scary. It was colored green and yellow and really stood out. I think it looks cool, but personally, I'm not a fan of motorcycles, having been run over by one in a previous world.

"Yes, it looks strong. I bet it's probably ridden by a muscular brother who looks good with a Mohawk or something. Oops."

"A Mohawk, huh? Tokiwa doesn't look good with a Mohawk. I wonder what would look good on Tokiwa. He sometimes has a beard. It's hard to say. Should I shave my head like a man?"

"It's just too much trouble to think about it, isn't it? Well, guys don't have as much variation in hairstyles as girls do. Igarashi doesn't change her hairstyle much."

Igarashi always wears her hair half-up in braids. She sometimes changes her hairstyle, but she never changes this basic style. I didn't mention it in the previous world, but I wondered if she was particular about it. I wondered.

"Nothing. I have to keep my hair like this. Sometimes I take a break, though. Yeah."

Igarashi replied in a voice that sounded as if it was devoid of emotion. Then I looked at her face and realized I had stepped on a land mine. She looked cold and emotionless, like a Noh mask.

"Oh, yeah. Ahaha. Oh, it's almost time to go to the ticket booth. Speaking of which, there's a mascot character here called the Ultra Land Squadron."

"Oh, really? Haha! I wonder if there are any monsters here? Well, I bet they're no scarier than Tokiwa's face, hahaha."

I digress, and Igarashi immediately returns to her usual carefree smile. I didn't know everything about her, even though we were married in the previous world. I was very frustrated by that.

***Author's musings***

I've never had a part-time job before. I'd like to try to get some experience in that area as well.

We are still accepting submissions for summer events, so please write whatever you would like to read in your status report. I will pick them up as I see fit.

The schedule for the next four seasons is

After putting the serious events away, we will continue with only playful events for a while, and then move on to 4.x.

To make it easier to understand, here is what we plan to do:

Serious 1 (Fujiko Ultraland)

↓

Serious 2 (Moo-chan's fake boyfriend)

↓

Serious 3 (？？？？？)

↓

Various comedies (including reader suggestions)

↓

4.x

It looks like this 

So, we're still looking for your summer fun events! Please write to us with any comments you may have!