Chapter 2 – Akihabara

Chapter 2: “So, this is where AKIHABARA was.”

I vividly remember what happened that day.

That was the day I visited an airport for the very first time.

Narita International Airport. The enormous building was covered in pristine white marble tiles. For a moment, I just stood there, trying to take everything in. I stared out the window, where countless planes were taking off and settling down into their respective compartments.

So this is the gateway that connects us to foreign countries…

For someone like me, whose only experience with travel consisted of school trips and the occasional family outing nearby, it felt like a portal to another world.

I had come here to welcome a guest from that other world.

Well, yeah. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the one going on a trip. I was just here as a pickup driver of sorts. 

The guest was an exchange student coming from Finland, a country in Northern Europe. Why was I the one picking them up? Because my parents just so happened to be friends with the student’s parents.

However, I only found that out this morning.

Apparently, my mother was supposed to go, but something urgent came up at the last minute, and the task fell to me. To be honest, I didn’t want to do it, but she handed me ten thousand yen and told me that I could keep the change from the travel expenses as pocket money.

It’s basically a part-time job.

The problem was, I didn’t even know what the person looked like.

I peeked into the tote bag my mom had handed me, saying, “Everything you need, like the kid’s info, is alllllll in here.” 

…The only thing that was inside was a small cardboard sign.

*“Welcome to Japan! Eija Pikkarainen,”* 

“…Is this it?”

A so-called welcome board. My mom must have been in such a rush to leave the house that she forgot the most important thing…like a photo of the person that I’m supposed to be looking for. She can be a real scatterbrain sometimes. Actually, scratch that, she’s a scatterbrain most of the time.

More than that… I’m here to pick them up, but where am I supposed to take them? A hotel? Or is it a dorm? A homestay? Another airport?

I checked my messaging app, refreshing it over and over again.

She still hasn’t even opened my messages…

Worst case scenario, I’ll just have to take them back to my place for now…

I let out a sigh and stared at the board again.

“Eija… Pik-ka-rai-nen?”

It’s a funny-sounding name. “Eija!” sounds like a battle cry or something. But based on the last name… for some reason, I can’t help but imagine something yellow and round, shouting “Pika-pika” while shooting off bolts of electricity.

TLN: Pikachu :O

No, that’s not even a human…

Come to think of it, I wasn’t even told if they were a boy or a girl. It’s hard to tell with foreign names. It sounds a little bit feminine, but…

A girl from Northern Europe… My mind automatically conjured up an image of a beautiful, ethereal girl, something like an elf, but reality isn’t usually that kind. Given the name, they might actually be quite round. And besides, I’m not even sure it’s a girl yet.

If it’s a guy, maybe we can hang out together. That wouldn’t be so bad. Having a foreign friend sounds kinda cool, doesn’t it?

As I was lost in thought, a crowd of people began pouring out of the international arrivals gate. It looked like the flight had landed. 

I’m a bit nervous..

I held the welcome board against my chest, slowly glancing over everyone that walked past. As the flow of people increased, my grip on the board tightened.

I’ve seen this in dramas, but I never thought I’d actually be doing it myself.

Businessmen in suits, couples, families, groups of women—they all walked past. There was no sign of anyone who looked like a high schooler traveling alone.

Eventually, the stream of people from the gate dwindled to nothing.

…Huh?

Was that the wrong flight?

I looked up at the electronic display above. Unfortunately, it confirmed that the Finnair flight from Helsinki had arrived right on schedule.

I waited there for a while longer, but there wasn’t a single sign of anyone who fit the description.

Did they miss the flight?

Just as I tilted my head in confusion, the automatic doors slid open, and a single girl stepped out.

“…”

I was speechless.

I could only stare at her, my mouth hanging half-open.

…Is she human?

The question almost slipped out of my mouth.

The girl noticed the welcome board I was holding and started walking toward me.

She wasn’t the round, yellow, beast-like creature I’d imagined.

She was beautiful.

Her beauty was so striking it literally took my breath away.

Long, silver-colored hair streamed cascaded down her back. Soft baby-blue eyes and long eyelashes to match. She had a delicate, small face with soft features and large, expressive eyes, and long, slender legs.

On top of her slender frame, her pale complexion gave her a fragile, almost fleeting aura.

In contrast, her chest seemed… quite impressive. She wore a simple, elegant outfit—a white one-piece dress with a light cardigan. That modest fashion was being thrust upward from beneath with almost violent force. 

An ethereal, beautiful girl from Northern Europe… that didn’t even begin to cover it.

She far exceeded anything my imagination could have conjured.

To put it bluntly, I couldn’t believe we were the same species.

It was like a fantasy elf had just appeared before me. 

Wait, was Narita Airport really a terminal for flights from another world?

This unrealistically beautiful girl stood in front of me and stared at me in silence.

Time passed by slowly, though I don’t exactly remember how long we stood like that. 

“…Moi.”

Moi?

Her voice was quiet, but it was incredibly clear. People use the phrase “like the ringing of a bell” for voices like this, I realized. There was a loveliness that resonated even in that tiny sound.

“…Ah!”

I finally snapped back to my senses, trying to remember the words that I had rehearsed.

But the words wouldn’t come. In a panic, my eyes darted around until I realized I was still holding the board up to my chest.

“Ah… Uh, wel-welcome to Japan.”

I reflexively read the words I saw. As I tucked the board into the tote bag, it finally occurred to me that I should verify who she was.

“A-are you… Eija Pikkarainen?”

For a second, I thought I saw her knit her brows suspiciously.

But by the time I could process it, her face had returned to an icy, expressionless mask.

Was it just my imagination?

After a two or three-second silence, she finally replied.

“Yes.”

That one word made me feel as if I’d just completed some monumental task.

“I-I see. Good. You were late coming out, so I was getting worried.” I forced a smile, trying to look friendly enough to put her at ease.

“I’m Aoi Araga. Our parents are friends. Actually, my mom was supposed to come, but a sudden work thing came up…”

I tried to keep the conversation going, but Eija Pikkarainen gave no reaction.

My smile started to twitch.

Th-this is awkward!

It felt like she was giving me absolutely nothing to work with. Is that how it is? 

“I have no interest in an average-looking guy like you. If there’s a Hero, a Mage, a Dwarf, or a former Demon King, bring them to me. That is all.” 

Is that it? She might be an elf, but she’s clearly an Ice Elf. A gloomy one at that.

Looking at Eija again, I noticed she was carrying a blue suitcase and a shoulder bag slung over her shoulder. The strap crossed her cleavage, emphasizing her already outstanding breasts-so-called “paisura”— a hateful lure guiding my gaze.

I asked Eija, desperately trying to resist the temptation, “Is that all your luggage?”

She nodded, her head bobbing slightly. Maybe she still couldn’t speak Japanese, but she could understand it.

What a relief.

“Well, do you know where you’re going? Have you already booked a hotel? Since you’re an exchange student, I assumed you might be staying in a dorm or with another family. Just tell me where you’re headed, and I’ll take you there.”

However, Eija remained expressionless and just stared at me.

After another long pause, she tilted her head about two or three centimeters.

“?”

Cute…wait.

This is bad! She doesn’t seem to understand me. Should I just take her home after all?

I imagined this transcendentally beautiful girl being in my room.

No way.

She’s stunning, yes. But I’m getting a little sidetracked.

“W-well then, let’s get on the train for now. Oh, I’ll take your bag.”

As soon as I said it, I realized it was a suitcase with wheels, so it wasn’t like I was doing her a huge favor. In fact, a girl might feel uncomfortable handing her belongings over to a man she doesn’t know. But I couldn’t back down now.

If she looks uncomfortable, I’ll just back off. With that thought, I reached out, and she handed the luggage over without any resistance.

…Hm?

For a split second, her pale cheeks looked like they were flushed a faint pink. But she immediately looked away, so I couldn’t be sure.

“Uh… I wonder which way the Skyliner is?” I mumbled to myself as I started walking.

“Huh?”

When I turned around, Eija was standing rooted to the spot, not moving an inch.

She was looking slightly upward. At the end of her gaze was—

“…What is that?”

The massive head of a robot was perched there.

A Gundom…

It’s a popular robot anime series that’s been going on for decades. I was pretty into it back in elementary school. I even built a bunch of their plastic models. Despite being a work of entertainment, it had a serious vibe and realistic world-building. I was obsessed with its cool, adult atmosphere.

There are so many series, each with its own unique charm, and people of all generations enjoy them. You can enjoy it casually, or you can dive into the incredibly deep lore. With the Gundom robot as the centerpiece, there are works that cater to every possible audience.

And it’s not just entertainment. This series was the first thing that made me aware of human relationships and the horror of war. It is undoubtedly one of the anime that represents Japan. It should be a required subject for every Japanese citizen.

In fact, if I could, I’d make it mandatory viewing during immigration for foreigners.

From that perspective, it makes total sense for it to be displayed at the airport arrival gate. Even so, seeing a head larger than a human just sitting there was definitely surreal. Moving my gaze to the side, I saw a sign for the “Narita Anime Deck.”

I see, so it’s a shop designed to showcase Japanese otaku culture. They really went all out on the display, though.

If I were still in elementary school, I would have sprinted inside without hesitation.

I used to really like this stuff… but I drifted away from it once I started middle school.

There were various reasons, but… in the end, I guess I just didn’t have the passion or the “love” required to be a true otaku. If you really love something, it doesn’t matter what anyone says—ah.

No, no! This is no time for that. I just hope Eija isn’t completely put off by this aggressive push of Japanese otaku culture.

“Um, Eija—”

The words died in my throat.

Eija’s face looked like it belonged to a completely different person.

Her eyes were wide, sparkling as she stared at something. Her cheeks were flushed, and her glossy pink lips were slightly parted. A breathy voice escaped them.

“Wow… so AKIHABARA was right here…”

She uttered those mysterious words.

“Um… Eija?”

“Eek!”

…I’m pretty sure she just made a sound like a small animal.

But when Eija turned to face me, her expression was back to that frozen, icy mask.

“What?”

Her voice was pleasant, yet it carried a distinct chill.

“Do you… want to stop by that shop?”

“…”

Her expression didn’t change, but her behavior was bizarre. Her eyes were darting around restlessly, and her hands were making tiny, fidgety movements. It was as if a fierce conflict was raging inside her.

A few seconds later, it seemed the internal debate had reached a conclusion.

“…Not really.”

Eija turned her face away and started walking. I felt a sense of melancholy radiating from her back.

She says that, but she really wants to go in, doesn’t she?

As I thought that, Eija stopped and stole another glance up at the shop. Her face was practically screaming that she didn’t want to leave.

A voice in my head tried to convince me.

It’s not my place to meddle. It’s not like you’ll see her around much.

Just leave. It’s easier that way. Safer. Just do what you were told.

But—

“Hey… do you mind if we stop by for a bit?”

“…Eh?”

“I mean, I actually really like this kind of stuff… and I kind of want to take a look. Is it okay if we go see?”

“…”

The half-lidded eyes that had seemed so cold until now snapped wide open. 

Whoa, her eyes are huge.

“I knew it…”

Huh? What do you mean, “I knew it”?

“…I… want to see it too.”

Eija answered in a voice like the buzzing of a mosquito, then started walking toward the escalator ahead of me.

Her pace was fast, as if she couldn’t contain her excitement. Then, she walked right past the escalator—wait, what?

“Hey, wait! The escalator is this way!”

“Eh?”

Eija turned around, her cheeks turning bright pink in an instant.

She pressed her lips tight, looked down in embarrassment, and hurried back. She walked right past me without looking up and headed for the escalator.

…Is she incredibly bad with directions?

Oh man. On top of everything else, she’s a klutz? That just makes her even cuter.

I tried my best to keep the grin off my face as I followed Eija onto the escalator. Ah, I completely missed my chance to ask her what she meant by “I knew it”… oh well.

We moved up to the next floor and entered the shop, rolling the suitcase behind us.

“Wow…”

A soft gasp of wonder escaped Eija’s lips.

The shop was larger than I expected, filled with character merchandise from various titles. It ranged from practical goods like stationery to high-quality figures. The genres were broad, too—everything from anime and special effects shows to games and mascot characters. It felt like a concentrated hub of Japanese otaku culture for foreign tourists.

I didn’t recognize some of the more recent works, but there were plenty of famous series based on shonen manga, so even I could enjoy just looking around.

As for Eija—

Her cold expression had vanished, replaced by a bright, beaming smile that made her look like a different person.

“…It’s like a dream.”

She was totally loving this!

She had her fingers laced together, her eyes shining with pure delight.

She left a completely different impression than she had earlier. It was almost like she’d been swapped with someone else.

That smile seemed to transform the very air and scenery around her. It felt like we’d been teleported from a frozen forest to a meadow full of blooming flowers.

Of course, she was cute from the start, but her icy aura had been so overwhelming.

And then there was her expressionless face and her “salt-treatment” attitude that seemed to reject any communication. But now, the vibe was entirely different.

She’d job-changed from an Ice Elf to an Elven Princess. This is bad. My heart is shattered! Annihilated! I’m already dead. A one-turn K.O.

However…

To think she’d be this happy in a specialty otaku shop. Is the “Cool Japan” that’s supposed to be so popular with foreigners actually real? Or maybe she’s just enjoying it in a “tourist” kind of way.

As I was pondering this, Eija suddenly spoke in a tense voice.

“I-is this…!?”

“W-what’s wrong?”

More than anything, seeing Eija so dejected made me want to do something for her. But that was just meddling—pushing unwanted kindness on someone.

I’ve made it a point not to get too deeply involved with people.

For the past few years, I’ve also kept my distance from otaku culture.

I don’t have the right to be an otaku.

Everything in moderation. Keep being normal. Don’t do anything that might earn a bad reputation. Blend in with those around me, with society.

It was the same with this beautiful girl. I was just a substitute because of an emergency, so I just happened to be here by chance. 

Once I got her home, my parents would handle the rest. They’d probably take her to a dorm or a homestay.

Then, my connection to her would be over.

I might never see her again. Even if I did, someone like me wouldn’t be able to get near her. She surely belonged to a community of people fit for a girl of her caliber.

If that was the case, anything I did here was pointless.

“Well, shall we get going?” I said, pulling her suitcase and starting to walk.

“Y-yes…”

Eija followed behind me. As we walked, I spoke up as the thought occurred to me.

“By the way, do you mind if we take a little detour?”

“Eh? Oh, yes… to where?”

“Since we’re here, we might as well see the real AKIHABARA.”

***

After stashing the suitcase in a coin locker at Akihabara Station, we stepped out into the plaza.

“M-moi…! A… Akihabara…” Eija whispered with awe as she stood before the Radio Kaikan building.

“I-it’s amazing! I’m… I’m actually in Akihabara! For real!!” She snapped back to reality when she heard the snickering of people nearby and hid behind my back.

“I-I’m so sorry… I just got a bit… carried away…”

“Huh? I think that much is fine, isn’t it?”

“B-but people are looking. They’re probably whispering things about me. It’s embarrassing… and I’m probably bothering everyone…”

“I don’t think you’re bothering anyone.”

Sure, if she were screaming her head off, she’d be a weirdo, but Eija was basically a tourist. Getting a little hyped up was normal.

“Does it bother you, Oga-kun?”

“I’m fine. I brought you here because I wanted you to be happy. I’d actually be happier if you enjoyed yourself to the fullest.”

Ugh, I just said something incredibly cheesy. Isn’t this way more embarrassing for me?

Well, this is a one-time relationship anyway… if she were something I personally knew or someone I had to keep seeing, there’s no way I could say something so cringey. I guess it’s a “leave your shame at the station” kind of thing? 

Though Eija’s the one traveling, not me…

“Oga…”

For some reason, Eija was looking up at me with a dazed expression.

Walking through Akiba with a girl who looked like an elf was basically a fantasy in itself. It was like a dating sim.

I decided to let myself feel like a video-game protagonist for a fleeting moment. Forgive me for the dramatic lines. I just wanted to enjoy this unrealistic virtual date. I whispered to myself, as if to hypnotize my own mind: *I might never get an opportunity like this again in my life.*

“By the way, I was curious at the airport, too, but what does ‘Moi’ mean?”

“Ah… sorry. ‘Moi’ is a Finnish greeting. It’s like ‘Hello’ or ‘Hi.’”

What is with that adorable greeting? I want to crown it the ‘Best Greeting in the World.’

“I see… It’s cute.”

Squeek!

Eija’s snow-white cheeks flushed bright red. She pressed her palms to them as if trying to cool the heat.

“K-kawaii… Am I… cute?”

“Wait! No, I meant ‘Moi’ was cute—not that you aren’t cute. Wait! You’re actually extremely cute, but with the ‘Moi’ synergy, it’s like a double dose of cuteness—?”

Crap. 

I was panicking and rambling the word “cute” over and over. Every time the word left my mouth, Eija’s head sank lower. At this rate, she was going to fold in half. It looked like steam was literally rising from the top of her head.

Just then, I heard a sharp tsk.

“God, flirting in a place like this…”

“Why does a guy like that get to…”

“Ugh, so annoying… am I in a rom-com?”

Waves of resentment, a mix of jealousy and envy, drifted from the people around us. At this rate, I was going to be treated like a Special Grade Cursed Object.

TLN: Holy Jujutsu Kaisen reference. It’s basically referring to cursed creatures that are born from resentment and fear from humanity.

“E-Eija-san, let’s move on.”

“Y-yes. Lead the way, please.”

I hurried away as if escaping. When I reached Chuo-dori, I realized Eija wasn’t beside me. *Did she get lost already?* I turned around.

TLN: Chuo-dori is referring to a very popular shopping area in Tokyo. 

“I’m… sorry.”

Seeing Eija slowly catching up, I realized our walking speeds were totally different.

No matter how good her proportions were or how long her legs looked, she was petite to begin with. We had different strides. I’d never had to consider something like that before.

“Sorry. I wasn’t being very thoughtful.”

“Hm? About what?”

I just smiled back instead of answering.

“I want to live up to your expectations as much as I can. Is there anywhere specific you want to go?”

Eija looked troubled.

“I’ve always wanted to come to Akihabara, but… if you ask me where in Akihabara…”

That made sense.

“If possible, I’d like to go to your personal recommendations, Oga-san…”

Ugh! She used that tactic!

This was… bad. I figured if she had a place in mind, I could just look it up and lead her there… but when it came to “recommendations,” my ideas were empty.

…Because this was actually my first time in Akihabara, too…

I’d been acting like I was an otaku veteran to look cool in front of a cute girl, but I was a total novice. Forget being a beginner; this was also my Akiba debut.

I’d admired the place since elementary school, but I never had the chance to go back then, and I couldn’t go on my own. By the time I reached middle school and was finally able to make the trip, I’d already distanced myself from otaku culture. 

In other words, my Akiba XP was zero.

Yet, the beautiful Finnish girl before me had eyes sparkling with anticipation.

The pressure!

Sweat started oozing from my pores. Noticing this, Eija’s expression clouded over.

“Um… are you feeling unwell?”

“No, it’s nothing. Let’s go.”

As I turned to walk, something tugged on my sleeve.

I looked back to find Eija pinching my sleeve with a worried look.

“……”

I buckled under the silent pressure.

“To tell the truth… this is my first time in Akihabara, too.”

“Is it?”

Eija blinked repeatedly in surprise.

“Yeah. So even if I wanted to guide you, I don’t really know where to go… Sorry. I’m pretty unreliable.”

She must be disappointed. Just as I thought that—

“Is that so? I’m so glad!”

A massive smile spread across her face.

“Wait… why?”

Eija spoke with genuine joy from the bottom of her heart.

“Because my first time in Akihabara is also your first time in Akihabara, Oga-kun! To think we get to experience our ‘first time’ together… of course I’m happy!!”

“…….”

I was stunned.

To be happy because we were experiencing it together for the first time…

“It’s our first time together!”

“…Wait, don’t shout that out, it sounds bad.”

“Eh? Did I use my Japanese strangely again?!”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

I felt like an idiot for being so tense and trying to act tough.

What was I so worried over? She’s not an elf, she’s an angel.

“Alright, let’s just wander around then! If we see a shop that looks interesting, we’ll duck into every single one!”

“That sounds wonderful!”

Eija nodded with a beaming smile.

What was this?

Unlike before, I couldn’t suppress my excitement. Rather, I didn’t need to anymore.

The streets of Akihabara spreading out before me looked ten times more fun than they had a moment ago.

“Let’s go!”

Together, we dived into our first time in Akihabara.

***

Once we actually started walking, I realized you could enjoy Akihabara even without prior knowledge.

There were so many shops lined up that they practically jumped out at you.

Specialty stores like Toranoana, Melonbooks, and Animate. Figure shops like AmiAmi and Surugaya. Game stores. Rental showcases. PC part shops, and more.

“Whoa! Oga-san, what’s that?!”

“Kyaa~♥ It’s so cute!”

“It’s gacha machines as far as the eye can see!”

“A mountain of doujinshi!! Is every doujinshi in the world gathered here?!”

“They’re selling so many things I don’t recognize!”

“Fuwaaaa… I’ve never seen so many figures…”

Eija frolicked around like a child visiting a theme park for the first time. Seeing her so happy made my own spirits soar.

Walking with Eija, who was moved by every bishojo billboard and maid handing out flyers, something I’d long pushed away and forgotten began to revive in my heart.

I wonder if I used to be like this, too…

“They sell so many doujinshi and manga here! And posters, body pillows, toys, and figures!”

“This place deals in used goods. Limited editions can go for crazy premium prices.”

“Whoa… y-you’re right…”

Eija’s eyes went wide as she stared at doujinshi with price tags in the tens of thousands of yen.

…Come to think of it, there was an old book I used to want.

The August issue of NewType from nearly ten years ago. For some reason, that was the only one missing from my collection at home. I’d completely forgotten about it.

TLN: NewType is a monthly japanese magazine that feature anime and mangas. (ニュータイプ, Nyūtaipu)

I couldn’t even remember why that specific issue was missing. I used to think I’d buy it if I ever had the chance, but… at this point… well, whatever.

I was about to head to the magazine corner, but remembering something, I paused.

“Eija, we’ve walked quite a bit now. Are you tired at all?”

“Yes. I’m still fine. Which street should we walk down next?”

Eija looked like she wanted to continue the Akiba expedition forever. However, it was already 2:00 PM. I was getting hungry.

But… eating with a girl? It was a bit late to realize it, but… this was basically a date, wasn’t it?

My first date in my life was an Akiba date. And my partner was a cute European girl I’d just met today…

This is so unrealistic!

What world line am I even in right now?! Am I supposed to go find an old IBM in a junk shop? Is this the choice of Steins;Gate?

TLN: I believe that the characters in Steins;Gate used an IBM in order to manipulate time and change events through different timelines.

If I told the me from this morning about what I would be doing, he’d definitely laugh in my face. Or rather, maybe I’m actually still asleep.

As I pinched my cheeks to make sure that I wasn’t still in bed, Eiji turned and stared at me with a curious expression.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh, just trying to return to reality.”

“?”

“Anyways, aren’t you hungry? Do you want to grab something to eat?”

“Ah… in that case, there is a place I’d like to try…”

“Sure. What kind of place?”

“Um… a maid cafe…”

“……” 

I see! So that’s how it is!

“Um, if it’s difficult, we don’t have to…”

“No, let’s go.”

A quick search online brought up a staggering number of results. I picked a place called “Sweet Flavor” because it had good reviews and was close. Fortunately, we were able to get in without waiting.

“Welcome back, Master! Welcome home, Princ—!” The maid greeting us lost her words the moment she saw Eija.

“Whoa!! You’re so pretty!”

The maid herself was actually quite cute. Pink pigtails and big, bright eyes. She probably had her own fans.

But even a girl like that paled in comparison to Eija.

“Now, now, Kururi-chan. You have to guide the guests to their seats.”

Another maid, who seemed like a senior, stepped up. This one was an older girl with long hair and purple highlights. Her name tag said ‘Shion.’ She definitely gave off the “cool senpai” vibe.

“Okaaaay. Right this way-ruri~♪”

Following her singing voice and strange verbal tic, we were led to a table against the wall. From the moment we entered until we sat down, Eija hadn’t said a word, and her expression hadn’t shifted a millimeter. She’d been all sparkling smiles until just now… but now she looked like she was shrouded in a freezing aura.

A cold sweat broke out on my brow. 

Did I do something wrong?

Once we were seated, I tentatively spoke up.

“Um… Ejya-san? Did you not want to come here?”

“…No. I am enjoying this immensely.”

Wait, really?

Her voice was totally flat, and she looked like she was brooding.

“If no one were watching, I would be rolling around on the floor right now in excitement.”

That much?!

“Have you decided what you’d like-ruri~♪?” Kururi-chan came to take our order.

I looked over the recommended menu spread out on the table. As I was wondering what to get, Eija’s slender white finger tapped the menu.

“Ah, one omurice, coming right up-ruri~♪”

Instant decision!

“And what about the boyfriend-san-ruri?”

Boy—… No, don’t get flustered. She’s in the service industry. This is just lip service. My main concern was whether Eija was offended.

I stole a glance at Eija’s face. She still had that iron mask on. However, her cheeks seemed to be tinted a faint shade of peach… maybe.

“I’ll… have the same.”

“Okaaaay♪ Coming right up-ruri~!”

She danced away with light steps.

“Um… Eija-san, you’re not mad?”

“…Why would I be?”

Because she called us a couple… 

Saying it out loud was too embarrassing. In the end, I couldn’t give her a response.

The omurice arrived, followed by the obligatory ritual of drawing on it. When Eija requested her name, “Eija,” the maid wrote “*EIYA-H!!*” in red ketchup on the yellow eggs. I guess she thought it was a battle cry.

On the other hand, I requested “WELCOME,” and got “*u-e-ru-ka-mu*” in phonetic hiragana. I have a theory that this girl doesn’t know any characters besides hiragana.

This was my first time eating alone with a girl, and so I couldn’t taste a thing. I didn’t even have the mental bandwidth to start a conversation. Combined with Eija’s frozen expression and silence, we finished the meal in a hushed atmosphere and left the shop.

Kururi-chan and Shion-san tried to chat with us toward the end—probably out of concern—but they couldn’t melt the frozen air.

…I shouldn’t have done something so out of character like inviting a girl to a meal. 

As we walked toward the station, I was drowning in regret when I heard Eija let out a deep sigh.

“So that was a maid cafe… The shop was cute, the maids were cute, it was truly wonderful.”

“Huh?”

Startled, I looked at Eija to find her looking up at me with a dreamy smile.

“I had so much fun. Thank you so much for taking me there.”

I really don’t understand Eija. When we were actually inside the shop, she looked so incredibly displeased.

“Uh… you were having fun?”

“Huh?”

Startled, I looked over at Eija. She was looking up at me with a smile so faint it looked like it might melt away.

“Yes. I told you I was savoring the experience… Did I use the wrong Japanese word, perhaps?”

So she was actually being sincere?

“N-no, it’s just… you looked kind of bored, or maybe grumpy. I thought for sure I’d done something to offend you and you were mad.”

“Oh…”

A shadow of sadness crossed Eija’s face.

“W-what’s wrong?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

We kept walking in a strangely awkward silence. Was it because I was preoccupied wondering if she was okay? Before I knew it, we’d walked past the station and ended up at Manseibashi Bridge.

The sun had set, its evening glow reflecting off the surface of the water. The lamps at the foot of the bridge were glowing a soft yellow.

“Ah, sorry. We walked a bit too far. We have to head back…”

I tried to turn around immediately, but Eija stood still with a look of intense contemplation. Her eyes were fixed on the flowing river.

“Is something bothering you?”

“I really am… pathetic.”

Huh? Why was this girl speaking such nonsense?

“Even though you did so much for me… I made you feel like I wasn’t having fun. I’m just so disappointed in myself…”

“Hold on, what are you talking about? I didn’t think… I was actually worried that I had upset you somehow.”

Eija shook her head, her silver hair swaying left and right.

“I… I’m not good at talking to people.”

“You’re not?”

“I can’t make eye contact when I speak… and to begin with, I get so nervous I can’t even get the words out.”

So that was why she ignored the maid when they tried to talk to her?

“They say that an average Finn looks at their own toes when they talk to someone. A social Finn looks at the other person’s toes… or so the saying goes.”

That’s pretty extreme.

“I’m at an even worse level… earlier, when the maid spoke to me, I felt like I had to jump off a building just to find the courage to reply.”

Suicidal levels of anxiety…

“While I was busy thinking about what she’d think of my answer, or if I’d say something wrong… the conversation was already over.”

Ah… okay, I can actually kind of relate to that.

“It’s not just strangers. Even with people I know, if we’re stuck in an elevator together, the pressure is immense. I just can’t stand it.”

“I-I see… That sounds really tough.”

“And I’m bad with crowds, too… on buses or trains, if I have to sit right next to someone, it feels the same as if the vehicle were packed to maximum capacity…”

“Oh, right… ah. We sat next to each other on the train ride here… so that’s why…”

Eija waved her hands frantically.

“N-no, that’s not it! I’m bad with people, but you’re different, Oga…”

“Different?”

“You have the same hobbies as me. You’re like a comrade, or… someone of the same species…”

Ah, I see. The “otaku” trait. That thing where you feel like the distance between you has vanished the moment you realize you share an interest.

I’m currently a far cry from being an otaku, though…bBut if that’s why she’s able to talk to me normally, maybe I don’t need to go out of my way to correct her… wait, hold on.

“But if that’s the case, almost everyone walking around Akiba is an otaku, right? Shouldn’t that be fine? I think the maid was even trying to start some otaku-talk with you.”

“That was… well, while we were walking earlier, I was too excited about my first time in Akihabara… and I was so absorbed in what was right in front of me… that I couldn’t see the other customers. Besides, just because someone is an otaku doesn’t mean I’m automatically okay with them…”

Now I’m really getting confused.

Why is she okay with me then? Is it that thing where she’s fine because she doesn’t see me as a romantic interest?

If Eija is bad with “people,” does that mean I’m not even being perceived as a person? Does this mean I’m No Longer Human?! Am I Osamu Dazai?! If so, I’d rather be the detective version of Dazai—anyway, jokes aside. 

TLN: Bungou Stray Dogs reference!

I’d selfishly assumed that because she’s a foreigner, she’d be open with people, but it really varies by individual.

“You’re different, Oga… in fact, I feel more secure when I’m with… ah!”

Eija clapped a hand over her mouth as if she’d made a slip of the tongue, then bowed her head in a panic.

“S-sorry… I just called you ‘Oga’ without a title. That’s rude, isn’t it? I should be adding ‘-kun’…”

Never mind that, I feel like she was about to say something much more interesting…

“I don’t mind at all. Actually, if anything, I prefer it without the title.”

“Eh? Why?”

“It feels like the distance is shorter… like we’re closer friends…”

What am I saying? It’s embarrassing to say stuff like that…. but hey, we’re only going to be together for a few more hours anyway, so I might as well go for it!

“In exchange, is it okay if I just call you ‘Eija’?”

“Hau…”

For some reason, Eija’s beautiful eyes went all dreamy and soft.

“E-Eija?”

When I called her name, she snapped to attention as if suddenly waking up.

“Y-yes! I… I am inexperienced, but… I look forward to being in your care!”

Then she gave me a deep, formal bow.

“Ahaha… you make it sound like we’re getting married.”

“M-m-mar… married?!”

Eija’s pale cheeks turned a bright crimson. She pressed her palms to her face as if trying to cool the heat.

“D-did you just… was that a p-p-proposal in Japanese just now?!”

“More like, that’s what I imagine a woman says when she accepts a proposal.”

Eija let out a breathless, wordless “Hauuuu” and writhed in embarrassment.

“I-I learned my Japanese from manga and anime, so it might be a bit strange…”

“Not at all. I think your Japanese is amazing. I’m hopeless at English, so I really respect anyone who can speak a foreign language that well.”

“N-no… I only worked so hard because I wanted to come to Japan no matter what…”

“Is your love for Japan really because of the otaku culture?”

“Yes. I admire traditional Japanese culture too, but I wanted to save my ‘otaku activities’ for when I was in Japan…”

She just dropped a real power-word there. Hearing “otaku activities” come out of the mouth of a girl who looks like an elf creates quite the cognitive dissonance. But because she’s so pretty, I could almost imagine her doing running or strength training while shouting, “Ota! Katsu!”

“I see… It’s really impressive that you can take action for the things you love, even if it means doing things you’re not good at.”

I mean, she’s studying abroad. I don’t have that kind of resolve. I was someone whose always worrying about how other people perceive me.

Eija looked up at me with moist eyes.

“You’re kind… Oga.”

“Huh? I just said what I thought.”

“I’m glad I met you, Oga.”

This is bad.

I’m getting incredibly embarrassed.

“I-it’s getting dark, so let’s get going. For now, we’re going to my house!”

“Yes!”

We headed to the station, transferred trains, and finally made it home.

Once she sat down, the exhaustion must have hit her; Eija fell fast asleep, leaning against my shoulder.

Even though we’d just been talking about her personal space issues, here she was, breathing peacefully at zero distance. She really is a mystery.

And me? I was stiff as a board. I mean, she smelled amazing, she was soft and warm, and her weight against me felt… no, thinking that makes me a creep.

But I can’t help it! It did feel good! I stayed frozen in place, not moving a muscle until we reached our stop.

***

By the time the sun had completely set, I finally brought Eija back to my house.

Partway through, I’d started thinking of my house as the final destination, but on second thought, that wasn’t right. I still had to take Eija to her actual lodging.

When I asked my mother, who had returned home before us, she made a grim face. “Well, you see… things have gotten a bit complicated.”

“Complicated? What happened?”

“I haven’t been able to get in touch with her host family for a while. It wasn’t getting us anywhere, so I went there today.”

“Is that what the ‘urgent business’ was? And?”

“They fled in the night.”

“Wait, what?!”

Apparently, they were a well-to-do family that ran a company, but according to the neighbors, the business had failed. Their car had been gone for a week, and no one had seen the residents.

“Eija…”

Eija stood there, her face expressionless. It wasn’t her usual icy look, but the look of someone completely stunned.

“So, we can’t find a new host family on such short notice. Everyone thinks it’s best if she goes back to Finland for now. The school and Eija’s parents are saying the same thing.”

“Doesn’t the school have a dorm?”

“Your high school doesn’t have a dorm, does it?”

“She was supposed to go to my school?!” Dammit, Mr. Komiyama. My homeroom teacher hadn’t said a single word about that!”

“So that’s how it is. We’ll let her stay here for tonight. Oh, and I’ll take care of the flight arrangements too.”

Calling it “returning home for now” sounded nice, but wasn’t it basically just a cancellation? Eija opened her lips as if to say something.

“B-but… I… finally, after all this effort…”

Her eyes darted around as if searching for words. Suddenly, our eyes met. She looked like she was about to burst into tears. Even if she couldn’t put it into words, her eyes were screaming: ‘I don’t want to go back.’

However, Eija bit her lip and looked down.

“…I understand.”

“It’s settled then. You’re a good kid, Eija.”

A “good kid.” Did that just mean a girl who listens well and doesn’t talk back? A girl who does whatever adults tell her?

Eija, why don’t you say how you really feel? You came all the way to Japan, didn’t you?

For someone like Eija, who is shy and bad at talking to strangers, studying abroad in Japan must have been many times harder than for anyone else. It must have been terrifying. I don’t know how many obstacles she had to overcome to make this happen, but I can imagine it was no small feat.

Anyone would be scared to challenge an unknown world all alone. 

If someone asked me, “Do you want to study abroad?” what would I do? I might have some fun fantasies about it, but in the end, I wouldn’t go.

A long vacation would be fine, but studying abroad is different. I’d fail at the very first stage: learning the language well enough to live there. A homestay would be impossible too. Even if it were within Japan, staying in the home of a family I didn’t know sounds exhausting. And doing that abroad? 

Absolutely not. School life sounds even worse. Getting lectured in a foreign language sounds like a nightmare. If there were a lot of other Japanese students, I might manage, but then we’d just end up sticking together the whole time. There’d be no point in studying abroad.

Just imagining it—living all alone among people of a different race, with a different language, different customs, and different common sense—sounds agonizing. And yet, this small, slender girl is trying to do exactly that. And with social skills that border on a phobia, no less.

She really is amazing. I want to help someone as amazing as her—I want to help Eija.

“…Mom. Why don’t we let her stay here?”

“Eh?”

Eija and Mom both froze, their eyes wide. After a moment, Mom looked away with a troubled expression.

“You can’t just say that out of the blue…”

“My sister’s old room is empty, isn’t it?”

My older sister is seven years older than me. She graduated from university this year and started living on her own, so her room is vacant. It’s currently being used as a storage room now, though.

“But your father was saying he wanted to turn that room into a study.”

“He doesn’t even read books, does he? If he’s just going to lounge around and drink, the living room is fine. I think letting a student use it is a much better use of the space.”

“Well, you might just want to live with a cute girl, but it’s a lot of work, you know.”

“Like what?”

“It costs money, we don’t know Finnish, we have different lifestyles…”

I immediately looked up homestay costs on my phone.

“It looks like there are paid options. Eija, do you know what the conditions were?”

Perhaps because I’d suddenly turned the conversation to her, Eija replied flusteredly.

“Y-yes… um, the condition was that I would pay the homestay fees.”

Mom’s expression shifted slightly.

“Oh, is that so?”

“And as you just heard, Eija is fluent in Japanese.”

“Hmm… but the lifestyles are different…”

“Isn’t learning about those different cultures and lifestyles the whole point of studying abroad? Right, Eija?”

Eija nodded silently, over and over.

“But with a boy her age in the house, I wonder what the other side would say…”

“Trust me on that. She’s the daughter of your and Dad’s acquaintances; I’m not going to do anything weird. Besides, can’t they just lock the door? I’m not sure what you’re worried about.”

“Hmm…” Mom groaned, crossing her arms.

“If we do something about it, Eija can go to school as planned. Are you going to abandon a girl who loves Japan and worked so hard to get here? My parents aren’t that cold-hearted, are they?”

“You certainly have a sly way of putting things…”

“I just want to be able to respect my parents. Eija’s love for Japan is the real deal. I realized that when I went to pick her up today. It’s not just ‘Cool Japan’ or anime—”

Eija tugged on my sleeve.

She was looking up at me with pleading eyes. What was it? Was she trying to tell me that was enough?

At that moment, Mom let out a long sigh.

“I suppose it can’t be helped… Fine, talk it over with your father when he gets home.”

With that, she disappeared into the kitchen.

“Yes!”

I instinctively pumped my fist.

“Eija, I think Dad will be easier to convince than Mom. We’ve basically won. That’s great—”

Large tears began to spill from Eija’s eyes.

While her face remained frozen, the tears rolled down her cheeks.

“E-Eija!”

Oh no, what? What happened? What should I do?

I could do nothing but panic.

“…Thank you.”

Eija covered her face with both hands and spoke in a trembling voice.

“I knew it… Oga, you really are… my hero…”

What?! A word I never expected just came out!

“Y-you’re exaggerating.”

It would be cool if I could say something confident like “I have arrived!”, …but I’m not that guy.

Still, it didn’t feel bad. Honestly, I was happy.

But—

From my perspective, Eija, someone who can stay true to the things she loves despite what others might think, is the one who seems much more dazzling.

She doesn’t know it… but I aspire to be like her.

If there’s anything I can do for her from now on—those tears were more than enough to make me resolve to do just that.

                ***

Interlude : ~My First Night~

This is from Eija’s perspective*

I am sleeping in Japan right now.

Not in a regular bed, but in a futon laid out on the floor.

Moonlight streaming through the window. It’s the same moon that I’ve always seen, yet it feels different. 

Strange…

More than anything, the fact that I’m in Japan is strange.

And sleeping in another person’s house, no less.

It really feels like a dream.

A miraculous coincidence.

But this dream had a time limit.

One year.

I want to do as much as I can during that time.

I can’t let my guard down.

The people in this house are acquaintances of my parents.

There would be problems if they decided to send me back home.

But—!

“If it’s Ogre… he’ll be on my side…”

                 ***

Goddess Daily Troubles Consultation [Amatsuma Gaia / Gojikuraibu]

TLN: This is a V-Tuber stream.

Eeeh, worship me~. This is Amatsuma Gaia, fourth generation of Gojikuraibu.

Are all my believers doing well?

Golden Cold [We’ve been waiting!]

Elvanza [Otsu~]

Lower Believer [Matetayo~]

I’ve been a bit busy lately, so it’s been a while since my casual livestream, right? It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

Eh? Yeah.

Gaia-sama is seventeen and an active high school student, so I’m busy with various things~, hmm?

Kukkoro [Isn’t Gaia a goddess?]

Add -sama, you forehead-bump bastard!!

Oh, yeah. Right, I’m a goddess. A goddess. Pay attention to that. Worship me properly.

I’m just temporarily living as a high school girl to hide in this world. To observe humans.

I’ve had a bunch of things going on lately. Today I got assigned to annoying work again. Like, why me, you know? Let someone else do it.

Ah, but I can really feel that other humans have these kinds of worries too. Well, they’re trivial worries from a goddess’s perspective.

Nyanya [Is the worry about school studying?]

Strong-Flavored Seasoned Egg [Bad grades?]

Dorudoru [Dropout www]

Hey! Don’t mess with me!? Gaia is smart and an honor student.

General Affairs [Is it sexual harassment from your boss?]

Handsome Commander [I’ll heal you]

Elvanza [Unpaid overtime?]

Well, there’s something like overtime~… Hey! I told you I’m a high school girl!

I’m fresh and youthful here. Why do you want to make me some tired salaryman?

But well, I am tired. Heal me. Heal the goddess…

I want to be healed by a cute girl after all.

R’lyeh [I’m tired too]

TK6034 [What’s your type?]

Horny Bunny [Boobs?] 

13cm [Boobs]

Hey hey, you guys, is that all you think about!

Yeah. The goddess likes boobs, okay? See, I’m the goddess of earth and fertility, right?

When I see a girl with splendid breasts, I just… want to touch them. I want to squeeze them. Seriously!

Elvanza [Demon lord of sexual harassment!]

Tekeli-li […]

Don’t call the goddess a demon lord! But I’m a goddess, so it’s okay if I touch, right?

Yeah, boobs are nice. Sigh… I want to squeeze boobs… Huh? Right right, this was a consultation. I forgot.

Umm, the first one is…

Sakura [A student girl will be homestaying with us. But I don’t know what to do. I want to be kind, but she’s a girl, and being too reserved isn’t good either, right?]

Sakura is a cherry-blossom-like name~. But you’re not a fake, are you? Eh? Sakura, see, means someone planted to attract customers. In indecent terms, it’s a shill.

Don’t worry! The goddess doesn’t say vulgar things. 

I vent by reading eromanga. It’s totally fine.

Wait a minute… what the hell, you! A female student homestay? What is this, a light novel? An eroge?

Did you get reincarnated or something!

You better not be living in a fantasy or delusional world!

If this is reality, switch places with me!