Chapter 5: “Going to Odaiba”

Chapter 5: “Going to Odaiba”

“Order up! One Kyun-Kyun Set, one Moe-Moe Omurice, a Puppy-Wuppy Burger, a Teddy-Bear Curry, and a Bunny-Wunny Parfait, please!”

An order came in, but I couldn’t even begin to imagine what the finished products were supposed to look like. I glanced at the menu photos and recipes taped to the wall. 

I see, so that’s what these objects look like, I thought, finally making sense of it.

This is the maid cafe in Akihabara, “Sweet Flavor.” 

Yes, the very same shop I visited with Eija when I first brought her to a maid cafe.

As of today, I’ve gotten a part-time job here. Consequently, I’m currently in the kitchen, washing a never-ending stream of dishes.

As for why I’m working—the answer is simple.

I’m broke.

Even for “otaku activities” with Eija, one needs funds. So, I decided to get a job.

When I told Eija, she immediately insisted, “In that case, I shall do it as well!”

I told her no, naturally feeling uneasy about it, which led to her sulking and saying, “Ouga, you are overprotective.”

Perhaps as an act of defiance, she went out today to do a “sacred site pilgrimage” all by herself.

Honestly, that makes me even more anxious.

But Eija had looked at me with a sharp, determined expression and said:

“I am turning sixteen this year. I can certainly manage a train ride by myself. The Japanese railway staff are very kind, and I can look at maps on the internet!”

With her showing such firm resolve, I couldn’t really say no. In truth, Eija’s time here is limited. Once her study abroad period is over, she has to go back to Finland.

—Eija is going to leave.

“……No. My hands stopped moving.”

Her exchange period is one year. There’s no point in getting depressed about it already. At the very least, I don’t want to think about it right now.

In any case, I can’t let my circumstances waste Eija’s time. It would be the height of irony if the job I took for her sake ended up holding her back.

In exchange, I made her promise—hard—that if she ran into any trouble or got lost, she would call or message me immediately.

And so, today is my debut shift at work. Initially, I thought about doing some daily manual labor, but I happened to see online that Sweet Flavor was looking for kitchen staff, and I applied on a whim.

When I showed up for the interview, Kururi-san saw right through me. “Ah! You’re the boyfriend who came with that super-pretty girl!” 

With both Kururi-san and Shion-san backing me, I was hired on the spot.

So, starting this Saturday, I’m in the kitchen washing dishes. Once I get used to it, I’ll have to handle some simple cooking. That’s a bit of pressure.

“Aoi-kun~♪ Are you doing ruri-right?” Kururi-san walked into the kitchen with a cheerful laugh.

“Yes, somehow… but Kururi-san, I’m surprised you remembered me during the interview. I’d only been here once.”

“That’s easy-ruri♪”

I glanced toward the floor. I couldn’t see it because of the wall, but it was packed. There was even a line forming outside.

“Despite so many customers coming in… your memory is incredible.”

“Ahahaha. Kururin is an idol-ruri. I’ve trained myself to remember the faces of the fans who come to my lives-ruri~!”

“Wait, lives?” I asked, my hands still busy washing plates.

“Wow, did you really apply without knowing anything-ruri? Well, I guess that’s why they were willing to hire a guy, though~”

Kururi-san gave a wry, slightly exasperated smile.

“The stage on the floor isn’t just for decoration-ruri. We do live performances there. Us maids are actually an idol group-ruri~♪”

“What!? Seriously? That’s amazing!”

“Well, actually, I joined an agency because I wanted to be an idol in the first place. But since there isn’t much work yet, I’m doing my best as a maid at the cafe while… working at it-ruri!” She almost slipped back into her normal voice, but remembered her character at the last second.

“Whoa… that’s impressive.”

“Nahaha! Yes, such honesty is good! You should respect Kururin more-ruri!!”

“Hey now. Why are you slacking off?”

Uh-oh. 

Shion-san poked her head into the kitchen. But I hadn’t stopped moving my hands, so I was safe, right?

“Ahaha… just giving the newcomer some guidance…”

“Right, right. More importantly, get back out to the floor. Kururi-chan’s fans are all doing the ‘I’m here!’ appeal.”

“Hehehe, Kururi Junkies are such cute creatures… Well then, I’m off-ruri~!”

“Okay, service, service!” Shion-san sent Kururi-san off like some kind of teaser for the next episode.

“So, are you okay? Was Kururi-chan teasing you?”

“No, she was actually just checking on me… oh, she told me that she’s an idol and that you guys do lives here.”

“Yeah. But Aoi-kun, you probably won’t be able to see them while you’re working. You can see them if you come as a customer, so make sure to come with your girlfriend again sometime.”

“Haha…”

She’s not my girlfriend, but correcting her seemed like it would lead to a tedious explanation… so for now, I’ll just let the misunderstanding stand.

“Do you stand on the stage too, Shion-san?”

“No. I’m not in the group. I do… different kinds of activities.”

Different?

“Does that mean—”

“Ah, there’s a table that looks like they’ve decided on their order, so I’ll be going. Good luck!” With a flourish of her skirt, Shion-san headed back out to the floor.

I see… everyone isn’t just doing one thing, they’re all working hard in various places.

I returned to my struggle against the ever-piling dishes.

***

“Hm?”

When I checked my phone during my break, I had a message from Eija.

Eija: [Arrived at Odaiba nyutto]

It came with a selfie. The photo had a distinct “I’m not used to this” feel, which only made it cuter. Actually, since the subject matter was so top-tier, she was cute no matter what. No matter how much she struggled, she was nothing but cute.

But what the hell is “nyutto”?

Ouga: [Appearing “nyutto” like a sound effect? An onomatopoeia?]

Eija: [It is “now.” In Finnish, “now” is “nyt” (pronounced nyutto).]

I see! A cute “now”! Saying “~now” feels a bit dated, but—that’s what makes it good.

Eija: [I successfully got off at Aomi Station, which is close to Venus Board! It is amazing, yes? Please praise me!]

Ouga: [That is amazing! Congratulations, congratulations.]

Ugh, I think I’ve been influenced by Shion-san.

Wait…

I felt a sense of wrongness from the photo Eija sent. The surroundings felt a bit…

Eija: [But I cannot seem to find Venus Board? I cannot see the ocean either, nor Big Sight…]

Hmm?

I zoomed in on the photo she sent. It looked like she was in front of a station, and the station name was visible in the background.

Ouga: [That’s not Aomi, it’s Ome!!]

Ome City. That’s the frontier of Tokyo… How did she even manage to get all the way out there?

Eija: [But I did exactly what the transfer guide app told me…]

That’s because you got the Kanji for the destination wrong! You messed up before you even started!

However, to put it another way, she did reach her destination. If so, I see potential. Speaking of potential, the “Beast of Potential”… then she should surely be able to reach the Unihorn standing in Odaiba!

TLN: I think Unicorns in Gundam are known as ‘Beasts of Potential’, which is what Ouga was referring to.

Ouga: [I get it. Search the transfer app exactly as I told you.]

I gave Eija detailed instructions for the transfers. With this, she should definitely be able to reach Odaiba.

And then, two and a half hours later—I got another contact from Eija.

Eija: [I am currently on top of the ocean! The sacred site is getting further and further away!!]

“What did you get on!?”

According to the messages from Eija, it seemed she had boarded a boat.

Damn… I was too naive! I underestimated Eija’s lack of a sense of direction. This is a fatal level of directionlessness! She’s a professional at getting lost.

I wanted to rush to her immediately, but I couldn’t leave for another two hours until my shift ended.

I was so worried about Eija I couldn’t sit still. Suppressing my panic, I worked in silence.

The clock finally hit 5:00 PM.

“Aoi-kun~, good job-ruri. The late shift is here, so you can head out-ruri~!”

“Yes! Excuse me, I’m leaving!!”

I dashed to take off my apron, grabbed my jacket from the locker, and threw it on.

“Fueh? Ah, wait, if you’d like, we could have a welcome par—”

“Thank you for the offer! But, I need to get somewhere quick!!”

As I spoke, I burst through the back exit.

I began running towards the station.

No, more importantly, I need to confirm Eija’s current location.

Even when we went to buy furniture, Eija couldn’t explain where she was. This time the difficulty level is even higher, so I have nothing but anxiety.

Just as I was about to call her, a message with a photo arrived from Eija.

Eija: [Ah! I arrived at Odaiba after all!]

The photo showed the Rainbow Bridge.

Eija: [How is that? I can do it by myself too!]

Ouga: [That’s amazing! You did great!]

To be honest, I felt a little lonely, but…

Either the boat she took was bound for Odaiba, or the boat she took from Odaiba went in a circle and came back.

I breathed a sigh of relief—no, I can’t let my guard down yet. I have to hurry.

I passed through the station ticket gate and dashed up to the Tokyo-bound platform. I prayed in my heart for the train to come quickly. After waiting about two minutes, a Keihin-Tohoku Line train entered the station, and I hopped on.

To get to Odaiba, I’ll need to transfer to the Yurikamome at Shimbashi.

Eija: [It really has a stylish atmosphere.]

Ouga: [Well, it is Odaiba. I’m on the train now. I’m heading your way.]

Eija: [Yes. I am near the Ferris wheel. I will be waiting!]

Despite all the twists and turns, it’s quite a feat that she reached her destination. 

You worked hard, Eija. I’ll have to praise her properly when we meet.

As we crossed the Rainbow Bridge, I could see Odaiba through the window. The sunset was beautiful, and the Ferris wheel had started its light-up.

This is… getting to be a really romantic atmosphere, isn’t it? 

My heart started pounding a little.

I got off the Yurikamome at Aomi Station and walked toward the base of the Ferris wheel.

—Wait.

No matter how much I searched, I couldn’t see Eija.

Ouga: [I’m under the Ferris wheel now. Eija, where are you?]

Eija: [I am sorry. While I was waiting, I thought I would go see Big Sight… but I cannot find it.]

What…? Is it even possible to lose sight of  something that big and obvious?

Ouga: [Eija, you are in Odaiba, right?]

Eija: [Yes… I see the ocean. I am walking along the harbor right now… Ah! I see the Gundom! See, I am not mistaken.]

Does that mean she went toward DiverCity?

But… something feels off.

Feeling a strange sense of dissonance, I ran past Venus Board toward DiverCity. The life-size Unihorn Gundom stands there.

But Eija isn’t here either.

What the hell is going on?

Is she seriously in a different timeline or another world—”Wait!”

Hold on.

I looked back at the first photo of the Rainbow Bridge she sent.

No way!

I ran across the pedestrian bridge toward the sea. The Rainbow Bridge appeared before my eyes against the backdrop of the Tokyo night skyline.

I compared it to the photo Eija sent.

—It’s different.

A large suspension bridge, a Ferris wheel, a life-size Gundom—!

“It’s Yokohama!!”

I spun on my heel and ran to the nearest Yurikamome station. I called her while running.

“Eija!”

“Ah, Ouga! Um… I am starting to not know where I am… It feels like maybe this is not Odaiba…”

“I know! You’re in Yokohama!”

“Wh-Whaaaaaat!?”

“I’m coming to get you now, so stay right where you are. What do you see around you?”

“That can’t be… I thought for sure I had managed to come here alone…” Eija’s voice was trembling.

“It’s okay! Don’t worry, I’ve got you!”

“Ouga…”

“Even if we’re apart, we’re together!”

“…Yes.”

“What do you see nearby?”

“Um… it looks like a park here. There is a harbor, a large ship, and… a tower.”

I sprinted up the stairs and, thankfully, a Yurikamome train was arriving just then.

“Got it! I’m hanging up for a bit. Send me a photo of what’s nearby!”

I boarded the Yurikamome and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. When the photo from Eija arrived, I ran an image search.

Yamashita Park.

I immediately checked the transfer app; it looked like I could get there in about an hour.

Ouga: [I’ll be there in an hour.]

Eija: [Yes… I’m sorry.]

Panicking wouldn’t make the train go faster, but I couldn’t help but wish it would.

Go faster!

However, the train proceeded exactly on schedule. I transferred at Shimbashi and Yokohama, then got off at Motomachi-Chukagai. Yamashita Park was right there.

I ran.

Bursting into the park, I reflexively shouted her name.

“Eija!!”

A white silhouette sitting on a bench stood up.

A lost girl.

A lost girl with tears shimmering in her blue eyes.

In that moment—

A distant memory suddenly flashed through my mind.

Back then, too—it was just like this—

“…Ouga.”

“Eija!”

I ran toward her. Eija also started running toward me.

“Ouga!”

Eija dove into my chest.

I—opened my arms and held her tight.

“You did great. You worked hard, Eija.”

“I did not… I didn’t do great at all. I failed. After all… I could not do anything by myself…”

Eija said so in a tearful voice.

The hands she had wrapped around my back were trembling. She hadn’t known where she was, all alone, and she must have been so—

The depth of her loneliness reaches me.

Eija’s soft, warm body clings to mine. Strangely, I feel neither embarrassment nor tension.

Only one thing wells up inside me: a powerful urge to be there for this girl.

“…I feel the same way.”

“Eh?”

I tighten my grip slightly on her back.

“I can’t do this alone, either. For three years, I couldn’t say I liked what I liked. I lived in fear of what others thought, shrinking away from the world. But!” 

I pull back and look into Eija’s tear-streaked eyes. 

“But when I’m with you, Eija, I’m not afraid.”

“With… me?”

“Doing otaku stuff with you… I haven’t felt like this in three years… no, it might be the first time. It’s so much better than doing it alone… and because I’ve been doing it alone for so long, this is just so much fun!”

“Ouga…”

“But… I wondered if I was just hitching a ride on your momentum. If my ‘love’ wasn’t real, and I was just stealing your excitement and pretending it was mine. I was worried about that—”

“T-That’s not true! Your ‘love‘ is real, Ouga! It’s because of your heat—that fiery passion for the things you love—that the flame spread to my own heart! That’s why I—”

Eija was crying, yet she showed me a smile that was truly beautiful.

“I was able to stay true to what I ‘loved’ all those years, even when I was alone.”

A fuzzy memory overlaps with her face.

That girl… she was crying, too.

“Eija… are you that girl from…?” Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, Eija nodded.

“Yes… you remembered.”

In that moment, something inside me clicked into place with a definitive snap.

How long ago had it been?

I think it was the early years of elementary school. I went to the park where I always played, and there was a girl I didn’t recognize. Wearing a white dress and a white hat. Her hair was tucked under the hat, so I couldn’t see it, but her eyes were… different.

Her eyes were brimming with tears, and she was trembling with anxiety.

I don’t remember clearly if we played together after that. I have a vague memory of a man who seemed to be her father coming to take her away.

“Back then… I was lost.”

Eija lowered her eyes bashfully.

“It was my first time in a foreign country. I got separated from my parents, and I was shivering with fear. Then you, Ouga… you came to save me.”

I did?

“Yes. You asked my name, and you realized I was the child of the people who were supposed to visit your house.”

“Wait, what?! You’ve been to my house before?!”

“Yes. I wanted to explain that I’d come to your house to say hello… but my Japanese wasn’t very good back then…”

With nostalgic eyes, Eija looked down at her hands as if she were holding something precious.

“When I was in trouble and about to cry, you pulled a magazine out of your bag and showed it to me. And then, using all sorts of gestures, you talked so passionately, so fervently, about how interesting it was.”

“I… I did that?”

What the hell was my younger self doing, talking ears off a girl who was lost in a foreign country and didn’t even speak the language? Yeah, that total inability to read the room… I guess I can’t blame people for laughing behind my back and calling me names.

“Even if I couldn’t speak, I could understand and read a little, so I knew what you were trying to say. And those colorful, beautiful pages, those cute characters, the visuals of that exciting world… it was more charming than any book I had ever owned. More than anything, your passion rubbed off on me. I grew to really ‘love’ the series featured in that book.”

“That magazine… was it by any chance…”

The August issue of NeoType?

“It was the August issue of NeoType, the one you had just bought at the bookstore. Then, my father came to get me… and I was whisked away while still holding the magazine.”

So that’s what happened…

“I thought we were going to your house next, but it seems we had spent more time in the park than expected… and they said we couldn’t be late for our flight…”

“Then, is that August issue still in Finland?”

Eija looked down, her expression saddened.

“I’m sorry… my father burned it.”

Ah.

“The time you told me about before… when your things were thrown away.”

“I’m so, so sorry…”

“Why are you apologizing, Eija?”

I put my hands on her shoulders. She looked up into my eyes.

“Eija, you’re my benefactor.”

“Eh? No, I’m the one… Ouga, you gave me something to ‘love,’ and I—”

“But I had almost forgotten that ‘love.’ If you hadn’t come here, I might have spent my life doing nothing, feeling nothing, just wasting away.”

It was true. Thanks to Eija coming here, my passion for the things I love have reignited.

Eija shook her head.

“That ‘love’ was something I received from you. So, what you received was a gift from your past self.”

From my past self, huh?

The old me was innocent, pure, and straightforward about the things I liked.

I was simple and passionate.

Now, I spend all my time gauging everyone else’s reactions, terrified of being judged, and ultimately doing nothing.

I’m just exhausted.

I’ve been spending my days with a sense of resignation, acting like I’m enlightened. I act like I understand the world and human relationships, but I never put any of it to use.

How did I turn into a guy like this?

I couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

But there was a sense of emptiness that was never filled.

That’s why I was drawn to Eija.

Eija brought back the “past me” that lived inside her—the me that used to shine.

The “love” I was on the verge of losing has returned to my heart once more.

I couldn’t help but show a small smile.

Then, let’s make the most out of the time we have.

“Alright! We’ve come all this way! Let’s go pay our respects to that life-sized Gundom up close!”

When I said that, Eija’s face lit up.

“Yes! I’ll follow you anywhere, Ouga!”

“It’s a bit different from the pilgrimage I had planned, but Imperial Capital Yokohama appears in all sorts of works, like Milky Sherlock and Bungo Straight Punch! This is definitely a holy land pilgrimage!!”

TLN: Tantei Opera Milky Holmes and Bungou Stray Dogs both have scenes in Yokohama.

“No way! Those are all titles I don’t know!”

“Indeed! Milky is a semi-insane gag anime, and Bungo, as the name suggests, is a high-energy supernatural battle show where literary giants from history talk with their fists! Both of them are completely crazy (and I mean that as a compliment)!”

“What a terrifying city… Yokohama!”

“But first, the Gundom! That thing… it moves!”

“Then it’s basically the real thing!!”

The Moving Gundom performance happens several times a day. We barely made it in time for the final show of the day, and we successfully managed to see the life-sized Gundom in motion.

“I-It’s incredible! It’s so incredible that it’s just… incredible! I don’t know how to say it!”

“Yeah! Holy crap! Sci-fi has become reality! The future is now, zura!”

Our vocabularies had both gone missing. But the feeling got across. That was enough.

After that, we went up into the Dock Tower, the maintenance structure next to the life-sized Gundom.

From there, we could see the Yokohama nightscape stretching out past the giant Gundom’s head.

“It’s a hell of a view.”

“Hehe.”

Eija chuckled as if she found something funny.

“What is it?”

“It’s just like when we reunited.”

Come to think of it, our reunion at Narita Airport happened under the watchful gaze of a giant Gundom head, too.

“We sure are having a lot of Gundom moments…”

“Ahahaha!”

She laughed with pure, heartfelt joy.

“It feels more like a gag than a touching reunion.”

“That’s not true. Isn’t he the perfect matchmaker for us?”

The wind blew, fluttering Eija’s silver hair.

As the sun went down, her fair skin looked even more beautiful.

Her sparkling blue eyes were fixed on me.

She hadn’t lost an ounce of the beauty she’d had since we met again at Narita.

Since that very moment, she’s had my heart.

But now, it isn’t just that.

Eija Pikkalainen—her existence, her will, her heart, her upbringing—has become irreplaceable to me.

Because of her, I was able to reclaim the feeling of being earnest about the things I love.

And I want her to stay by my side from now on.

That’s why I want to be her strength, too.

So she can do what she wants to do. So she can become who she wants to be.

“Eija…”

I take a step closer to her. We’re close enough to embrace.

“…Ouga.”

Eija looks up at me, her eyes moist.

Eija, I—you—

“…By the way, a matchmaker is someone who helps a couple get married, right?”

“…Huh?”

Eija’s face turned bright red in an instant.

“Hawawawaaaaaaa?! W-Was that what it meant?! Wah!”

Even the way she flails her arms around uselessly is cute.

Yeah, I really love this girl.

I’ve thought girls were cute before, and I’ve had crushes.

But this feeling is the same, yet completely different.

I feel like, for the first time, I finally understand what it means to love someone.

I don’t know if this is a “first experience” we’re sharing together.

But I prayed that it was.

Eija Pikkalainen.

***

~ On the Train Home ~

Eija’s Perspective*

After seeing the Gundom, the two of us walked through the streets of Yokohama, ate dinner in Chinatown, and boarded the train home.

Ouga is so smooth with the transfers… even in a place he’s never been, he leads me without getting lost.

That’s why I can follow him with peace of mind.

We sat side-by-side on the train.

Just that simple thing makes me so happy.

When we watch anime in Ouga’s room, our bodies are often pressed together, but when we’re just sitting next to each other doing nothing, I feel his presence even more.

I steal a glance at Ouga; his eyes are closed, and his head is drooping slightly.

It’s the first time I’ve seen him sleeping.

It makes sense. He was at work earlier today and must be exhausted, and after that, he ran all over the place searching for me.

Ouga…

Looking at his sleeping face, something uncontrollable wells up from deep within my chest. My heart aches.

I love you.

I love you so much.

I want to tell him.

But I don’t have that kind of courage yet.

I want to be able to tell people how I feel, too.

To express my “love.”

Until I can do that, I’ll keep this feeling tucked away in my heart.

But—

I wish this feeling was a first experience for both of us.

***

Goddess Gaia’s Troubleshooting Stream [Gaia Amatsuma / Gojikuni Live]

Worship me! It’s the fourth-gen member of Gojikuni Live, the Earth Goddess, Gaia Amatsuma! 

How’re my believers doing today?”

Golden Cold: [GAIA-SAMA!]

General Affairs Dept: [We’ve been waiting]

Kukkoro: [Useless Goddess!!]

You brat… keep mocking me and I’ll crush you. 

No matter how much you ask, I’m not doing any water tricks. I can’t. It’s not in my specs.

TLN: Konosuba reference!!!

Ah! I can’t make water, but I did go to the ocean. Or like, the harbor?

Your Goddess went to Yokohama the other day. Man, Yokohama really is stylish, isn’t it? A Goddess in a city like that… peak fashion!”

Sakura: [I went too—]

Mecha-Rabbit: [Where’d you go?]

R’lyeh: [I’m tired]

Minato Mirai, the art museum… academic stuff, right? Your Goddess is top-tier, after all! Because I’m a Goddess. I wanted to touch some art. It almost made me want to draw something myself. Actually, your Goddess likes drawing quite a bit.”

Elvan Throne: [I wanna see]

Seasoned Egg (Extra Salt): [Wanna see, wanna see]

Horny Bunny: [Draw something lewd]

33cm: [Boobs]

I’m less of an Earth Goddess and more of a Beauty Goddess, right? I’m art myself, but I also create art. I guess I’ll just have to be the Goddess of Beauty and Art too. I feel like I could be the official mascot for the Agency for Cultural Affairs, you know?

Oh, and also! I saw that thing.

The Gundom.

The life-sized moving one!

Man, it was seriously incredible. Did anyone else go see it?”

Horny Bunny: [I came]

Sakura: [Hand raised]

Elvan Throne: [Yup]

Tekeli-li: […]

Ah, looks like a lot of you went. It’s only for a limited time, so you gotta go while you can. I’m busy, but I’m glad I went.

Plus…

I got to see something pretty interesting, too.