Persona BLEACHED 3: Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Land of the One-Eyed Dragon 
February 2, 2030 
Early morning in the Naruki residential district. So early that the sun was only just beginning to rise. In front of the Kubo household, Rin and the students were finishing packing their luggage into her own car, a fittingly crimson newer model, and her mother's van, pink in color and bearing pictures of flowers. 
"Okay...that should be that. Good thinking, sharing the luggage. Otherwise we would've had to get creative with fitting it all." Rin said. 
"We ain't out of the woods yet. Still gotta fit Bookie's in there, whenever she shows up." Kat replied. 
"Oh. That's right. She's not here yet. Guess that means we can just drive off since she's late...Keeb, you can drive, right?" Max asked. 
"Th-that won't be necessary, she'll be here in a little bit." Barbara said with a hint of panic. 
"I dunno why you're so scared of her, dude. She's just playing around. I think she might have a thing for ya." Sahir responded. 
"Does her former profession bother you?" Sakuya questioned. 
"C-come on, don't go accusing me of something! I just--" Max protested. 
The Hinotamas' faded red car pulled up. Ibuki stepped out of the passenger's seat. "Morning, nerds. Hope I didn't keep ya waiting." 
"Maxwell was counting the moments." Carrie teased. 
"...!" Max stuttered. 
"Don't deny it, Sparkplug, you can't hide what's inside." Ibuki pulled out her travel bag and handed it off to Max. "Be a lamb and help me out, won't you?" She patted him on the head. 
"Seriously?" he griped. 
"No complaints, Sparky, a hero of justice is always happy to help, right?" Kat questioned. 
Ibuki walked over to the driver's side, where Kaede was. "Let me know when you get there, OK?" she signed. 
"You got it. You take care of yourself too, alright?" Ibuki responded. She moved over to the back where Kanae was seated. "You be good to Mommy while I'm gone, you hear? I'll bring you something cute." 
"Yay~!" the girl exclaimed. 
Ibuki leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. "Love ya, bubblegum." She went back to Kaede. 
"Have fun. Drive safe, and keep me posted. I love you." Kaede signed. 
"Love you too, sis. See you in a week." Ibuki hugged her sister, who waved as she drove away afterwards. Ibuki waved back. 
"The keys to your chariot, Madame Fireball. Please go easy on it." Rin handed her a key. 
"I'll treat it like it's my own." 
"Right, time to take your seats, everyone. We've got a good drive ahead." 
As everyone took to their respective vehicles, Max was tasked with putting Ibuki's bag away, but there was no room in the back of the van. "You've gotta be joking..." 
"Yoo-hoo, Maxieeee." Ibuki called. Every seat inside the van was filled, save for the front passenger side seat. "If you're having a tough time, you could always hold onto it. Pweeeease." She pouted. 
"It's what a gentleman would do, Max-kun." Sakuya said. 
Max exhaled. "This girl's gonna kill me." He took his seat. 
"You're such a good boy, Maxie. We're gonna have a ripper of a time, aren't we?" Ibuki chimed. 
"Ripping ass, maybe." 
Rin took her seat in her car. Rose approached. "Everything safe and functional? Gas tank full?" she inquired. 
"All taken care of." Rin affirmed. 
"Call me as soon as you reach Sendai. I have your classes covered and I'll check in on Ms. Hana often. Please take the time to relax, and send the Mirai clan my love." 
"Will do. Give Shizuka an extra hug from me when she wakes up. I'll bring her back some souvenirs." 
"Keep me up to date. Safe travels, and enjoy yourself fully." The pair kissed. "I love you." 
"I love you, too. Talk to you soon." 
"I'll keep an eye on her for ya, Doc. No worries when KittyKat's on duty." Kat winked. 
"I'll hold you to it, Ms. Kit. Have a lovely time." Rose replied. 
Rin started up the car. "Everyone got your belts on?" 
"Yes, ma'am." Carrie assured, seated in the back next to Natalia, who herself was in the middle next to Kenneth. 
"Ah, almost forgot..." Rin pulled out an apple-shaped air freshener, hanging it from the rear-view mirror. 
"It's honestly adorable how you stick to your theme." Kat commented. 
"I could say the same about you, Ms. Cat-Ear Headphones." Rin winked. 
"Ha, fair enough." 
Rin pulled her car out of the driveway, the van driven by Ibuki following suit. Rose waved farewell, and the group were off. 
They exited Tokyo, and drove onto the Tōhoku Expressway. "This highway goes all the way up to the northernmost tip of the island. A few hours of driving, and Sendai will be right off of the exit." Rin directed. 
"Have you ever been to Sendai, Professor?" Carrie asked. 
"I've been a few times. Sendai has a very popular Tanabata Festival every summer in August. It's a time to wish for good fortune, improved business and the like. I actually made it a point to go before my first semester on the job. I was going to need all the good luck I could ask for..." Rin sheepishly admitted. 
"I'd say whoever was listening clearly heard you." Kat replied. 
"You don't need to be so flattering. Having such a good group of students helps a lot. It's honestly becoming harder to find things to wish for when everything I've wanted has come true already." 
"You could always write 'More money for KittyKat' next time around." 
"Carrie, could you please poke your girlfriend for me?" 
Carrie poked Kat on the shoulder. "Ow, hey, I was just kidding! Jeez." Kat griped. Carrie giggled. 
"Is everything alright back there, Kenneth? I've barely heard a peep from you or..." Rin questioned. 
Kat looked back. "Oooooh, boy." 
Kenneth was tightened up and peering out the window. Natalia was fast asleep, her head resting on his shoulder. 
"She was out almost as soon as we reached the highway." he said. 
"Poor thing didn't sleep very well last night." Carrie stated. 
"Should we be quiet, then?" Rin whispered. 
"You don't have to worry. When she does fall asleep, she's very sound. You could have a cicada chorus next to her ear and she won't budge. She'll wake up when she wants to." 
"So you get to play pillow for the next few hours." Kat teased. 
"I'm beginning to think you all planned this." Kenneth grumbled. 
Rin had to remain focused on the road, but looked curious. 
"So, anyway..." Kat began, "You said Mr. JoJo is from Sendai, right?" 
"That's right. His clan is based out of the city. Pretty much nothing leaves the port there without their express say-so." Rin answered. 
"I was just wondering, cuz I remember Ms. Hiyoko mentioning that they met in Naruki when they were little." 
"JoJo's family were in Naruki on a business matter. They took Hiyoko back with them to Sendai after he found her, and that's where they stayed for a few years until they left the clan and moved to Naruki. They've been back to Sendai a handful of times since then." 
"Kinda weird, though. Wouldn't the clan be miffed about them leaving?" 
"They explained their decision beforehand. Hiyoko's health was the main factor in leaving that sort of lifestyle. It's why JoJo still has as many connections in Sendai as he does. They actually had their wedding on Mt. Aoba." 
"Ooh, how fancy. With how big their mansion is, I'm gonna guess it wasn't as subtle as yours was." 
"Oh, it was an absolutely beautiful ceremony. The whole castle was filled to the brim with people. Although, seeing so many tattooed men in suits was a little intimidating..." 
Kenneth sat in silence as Rin and Kat continued chatting. "My arm's falling asleep. She's not going to be like this for the entire ride, is she? Laughable. Bloody laughable." he thought. 
"Mmm...so fuzzy, CiCi..." Natalia mumbled in her sleep. Carrie chuckled. 
Not far behind them was the van. Ibuki had the radio on, and was singing along to the song. 
"People all over the world, join in, start a love train, love train~..." 
She prodded Max, trying to get him to sing along, but he remained silent. Most everyone else in the van obliged. 
The song finished. "Wooooo! I don't have to change the station or anything. Gotta love a lady that loves the classics. I swear your Prof has like, the coolest mom." Ibuki said. 
"She's got Prince and Queen CDs just sitting back here. Who even has CDs anymore?!" Sahir questioned. 
"I just love Ms. Hana's spirit. She reminds me of Mama, in a lot of ways. Don't you think so, Maxie?" Barbara asked. 
"That depends, you think she's the bonfire type?" Max responded. 
"I mean...fair." 
"Wanna go over that tale for us, Maxie?" Ibuki asked. 
"Well, when our mom found out that our old man was a cheating piece of garbage, she tossed him out of the house. He gave her a knock in the face on his way out, so she set up a big old bonfire in the backyard and tossed all of his shit in." Max explained. 
"And then she cleansed the house and put in as much Cherokee iconography as she could find. Just to twist the knife some more. It was cathartic." Barbara added. 
"I can maybe see Ms. Hana doing that sort of thing. Maybe sit back in her chair and play some KISS on guitar while everything burns." Sahir said. 
"I think you're getting her confused with my mom." Kibō replied. 
Ibuki glanced at Max, who still seemed wound up. "C'mon, lighten up a little. It's a vacation. Don't gotta be so nervous." she urged. 
"I'm not being nervous." he denied. 
"You're always so serious. It's kinda cute." 
Max froze up. 
"Ha! Seriously, dude, if you're gonna keep freaking out every time I tease you, that's just gonna make me want to keep doing it. I'm making it my mission now. I'm gonna make you relax around me. Then that ferris wheel ride can be extra fun." 
"Fun for you, maybe." 
Back in Rin's car, she and Kat were still deep into discussion. Kenneth was visibly annoyed. "Caroline, if you wouldn't mind...can you please take her off my hands for a while? My arm has gone fully limp." 
"Alright, just gently...easy does it..." Carrie moved Natalia to where she was now leaning on her shoulder. Natalia then wrapped an arm around Carrie's shoulder. 
"Thank you...my body might've forgotten that this arm was there." Kenneth tried moving his arm around to restore feeling. 
"Mmm, CiCi...you smell like lavender..." Natalia grogged. 
"...you did not." Rin stated. 
"I totally did!" Kat replied. 
"You did not actually meet BTS." 
"Swear to God, I did. It was right around when they started blowing up globally. My dad was hosting a Golden Wei reunion party, and he swore to me that he sent them invites. I didn't believe him at first, but at one point Lin gave me this glass of punch. Naturally, she'd put laxatives in the drink, and told me to offer it to whoever I wanted. Because Lin is Lin, you see. So me being a naive seven-year old, I stopped the first dude I saw, and he took the drink. Halfway through it..." 
"Oh, noooo..." 
"...I looked up, and in the most shell-shocked voice you can imagine, I utter '...Jungkook?'." 
"Oh my God..." 
"Yeah. I sent him to the bathroom for like a half-hour. I wanted to diiiiie. Mama and Pops had to issue an apology, and of course when I told them, Lin got grounded for a month. I've never been so embarrassed in my life. Thank every deity out there that it got kept under wraps. I'd still be hearing about it today if it came out!" 
Rin chuckled. "And yet, you're bringing it up right now." 
"Yeah, well, I know you're not the type to go and post about it. I don't trust a lot of people 100%, but I know you're one of the good ones. It's nothing more than that." 
Rin was touched. "Kat, that's--" Her phone began to ring. "Sorry, give me a second." She pressed the on-screen prompt. "Hey, Sakuya. How are things over there?" 
"Things are going well. Some of us need to use the bathroom, however, so we were going to stop at the rest area a couple of miles ahead. Would that be alright?" Sakuya asked. 
"That's perfectly fine. I think we could all use a moment to get up and stretch. That OK with everyone?" 
The students in the car affirmed as much. "Alright, see you in a few." Rin hung up. 
The two vehicles stopped at a rest stop in a forested area. Most of the group got out, and started stretching. "Ooooh, yep, I'm feeling it now. How much longer do we got?" Ibuki asked. 
"Roughly a couple more hours. We're still on schedule to reach Sendai before noon." Sakuya replied. 
"Hey, what's going on with Nat?" Barbara asked. 
"She's been asleep since we hit the highway. Figured it was best not to wake her up if she doesn't need anything. Just gonna leave the window open for her." Kat replied. 
"Suppose I'll wait here while you all take care of your business." Kenneth stated. 
"Thank you, Kenneth. We'll try to be quick." Rin stated, and the rest of the group entered the building. 
"Wonder if they've got a golden Mickey Mouse statue in here." Max questioned. 
"Why would they have that?" Carrie asked. 
"Doesn't every rest stop?" 
Kenneth was left standing next to the car, Natalia asleep with the window open. "Mmm...CiCi..." she mumbled. 
"There she goes again. How many hours has she spent talking with her cat?" 
"CiCi, I'm so...scared..." 
"Hm?" 
"This statue's gonna be...so beautiful...because Kenny's making it...I don't know...how I'm gonna react..." 
"What is she..." 
"He talks about...how strong I've gotten...but he's changed a lot, too...he's so serious and intelligent...he sees everything like works of art...and I'm just so scared that, when I see how he sees me, that I'll..." 
Kenneth listened closely. 
"I'll tell him...how I've fallen in love with him..." 
It took a moment for the words to register. "What...?" 
Sahir approached. "Ahh, much better! Sorry to keep ya waiting, Kenny, now you can--" 
Kenneth walked past him. "Look after her." 
"Huh, what's the matter? You're looking a little pale." 
"I must've consumed laxatives by accident. I must attend to my bowels." Kenneth hurried away. 
"Wait, when did you--ugh." Sahir glanced at Natalia, who let out a yawn, and opened her eyes. 
"Mmm...where are we...? Oh, hey, Sahir. Where is everyone?" 
"Well good morning, sleepyhead. Everyone's gone to use the bathroom or grab a snack or three. We've still got a couple of hours to go." 
Kat returned. "Um, Kicks? There something wrong with Kenny? He just shuffled past us with this weird look on his face." 
"Dude said his stomach was feeling funny. Not the kinda thing you want to let sit for a few hours." 
"Blech, yeah, no." 
"What, too much info for ya, Madame Bull-Licking?" 
"What's wrong with Kenny?" Natalia asked. 
"Oh, good morning, sunshine. You're like a little bear, you know that? We've spent the last two hours jabbering and you haven't budged an inch. Even your snoring's adorable." Kat replied. 
After a few minutes, Kenneth left the bathroom. As he began to walk away, he bumped into a familiar face. "My apologies, I wasn't--" 
"Sorry, Kenny, I didn't look where I was going." Natalia apologized. 
"O-oh, Natalia. You're awake." 
"Yeah, I heard I was out for a bit. How's your stomach?" 
"Huh? My stomach...?" 
"Yeah, Sahir said you were feeling queasy." Natalia got on her tiptoes to look closer at Kenneth's face. "You're still looking kinda pale. Do you need some medicine?" 
"No, no, I'm alright. I just need some fresh air. If you'll excuse me..." Kenneth hurriedly shuffled out of the building. 
"If you say so..." Natalia giggled. "He's such a weirdo." 
Outside, everyone was back in their seats. Rin was on the phone. "Yes, everyone's good. Still got a while to go. Oh, is Shizuka up? Let me talk to her...good morning, lovebug! How are you..." 
As Carrie waited, there was a knock on the window. She looked up, to see Kenneth staring at her, frightened. She rolled down the window. "Kenneth? Is your stomach alright--" 
"I need you to sit in the middle." 
"Hm? Why is that?" 
"Because I need you to sit in the middle. You have no objections to being next to your best friend, do you?" 
"Of course not, but why--" 
Kenneth got in close, taking note of whether anyone was listening in. "Because I just heard her mumble in her sleep that she's in love with me, and if I spend the rest of this car ride sitting next to her, I may disintegrate on the spot." 
"Oh." It slowly began to sink in. "OH. Oh, dear, that's..." 
The back door opened. "Okay, all finished." Natalia said. 
"Ah, Natalia! If you don't mind, I'd like to sit in the middle from here." Carrie declared. 
"You sure? How come?" 
"Well, you see, you were sleeping on Kenneth's arm for most of the drive here, and he needs the break, especially with his...bowel problems. It's just a precaution." 
"Alright, then. I still get to be with my bestie, either way~." 
Natalia sat down, and Kenneth got in after. Rin finished her phone call. "Alright, everyone situated? Then let's roll." 
Carrie gave a still-nervous Kenneth a concerned look. She took out her phone and messaged him. 
"Will you be alright? Do you have a plan?" 
Kenneth replied. 
"I'm weighing my options." 
With tension building inside the young Brit, the group continued their northern trek.
--- 
Sendai, capital of Miyagi prefecture, one of the largest cities north of Tokyo. Known as the 'City of Trees' for the foliage that lined many of the city's roadways. During the summer, most of those trees are decorated with various ornaments, from streamers and paper cranes to fishing nets and ornate trash bags, bearing wishes for luck in health, home and work. 
"...and the city was founded in 1600 by whom?" Rin posed. 
Kenneth was staring out the window. 
"You there, Kenneth?" 
"Hm? Ah, sorry. It was Date Masamune." 
"That's right. Sendai still houses a series of structures and monuments to the Date clan. Masamune and several other members of the clan are enshrined in a mausoleum here. While they were in power, where were they based out of?" 
"That'd be Aoba Castle, right? There's supposed to be a statue of Masamune close to it." Kat answered. 
"That would be it. Much of the castle was destroyed when Sendai was bombed during the Second World War, and then rebuilt years later. The statue of Masamune riding on horseback is one of the city's most famous landmarks." 
As Rin continued speaking, Kenneth silently stared out the window, as the car exited the highway and closed in on the city. Carrie noted his silence, and gave another concerned glance. 
"I hope the history lesson isn't boring you. I am still your teacher, after all. Have to make this just a little educational." Rin stated. 
"No please, keep going. I love hearing everything you've got swimming in that big brain of yours." Kat answered. "I'd love to hear a bit more about this Star Festival you were mentioning. From someone that's actually gone to one." 
"Okay, if you're really interested. So during summer, most of the trees you'll be seeing will be decorated with..." 
Carrie received a text. She looked at her phone, and it was from Natalia. 
"It's like a couple of old nanas chatting over Sunday brunch 😜 lol" 
Carrie giggled. 
Both vehicles soon after turned into the parking garage of a tall, gray-and-blue hotel building. "Ladies and gentleman, we've arrived." Rin said. 
"Merci beaucoup, Professor." both Kat and Carrie said. They giggled in response. 
"Uh-oh, ahehe. They're starting to think alike. Love's a funny thing, huh Kenny?" Natalia asked. 
"Yes. Hilarious." Kenneth deadpanned. 
The others exited the van. "Y'all better give me 5-star reviews across the board." Ibuki said. 
"I'll stretch for 4.5 for having to clutch your bag the whole time." Max uttered. 
"But did you die?" 
As the others got their luggage out, Max clung onto that bag. "Umm, you don't have to keep holding my stuff, dude. We're out of the van, I'm a big girl, I can do it myself." Ibuki stated. 
"Yeah, well, you've been driving for four hours and you're just two weeks removed from your fated duel with Keeb's mom. I can give you a little breather." Max replied. 
Ibuki wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "See, I knew you secretly loved me. Your bro's a real gentleman, Barbie." 
"Mama would give him a talking-to if he wasn't." Barbara replied. 
"Why me?" Max mumbled. 
Meanwhile, Sahir attempted to take Sakuya's luggage. "Sahir-kun, please, I can take it." she said. 
"Wouldn't be the gentlemanly thing to do, would it? I can handle it, no prob!" Sahir retorted. 
"Your last couple of pitch performances would suggest otherwise." Kibō responded. 
"He's right. You haven't lasted even 60 minutes your past few games. I'm worrying that your leg injury might be rearing back up. You shouldn't put so much pressure on it..." Sakuya warned. 
"It's had years to heal by now, I'm fine, really! I can handle a little bit of luggage..." Sahir reached for her bag again, but she grabbed his hand to stop him. 
"Please don't put on the tough man act for me. I've known since New Years that you're not at full strength. You don't have to lure me in with bravado. I'm already convinced. Give me the luggage, and promise me you'll see a doctor as soon as we return home." 
Sahir sighed. "Really can't put anything past you, can I? Alright, you win. I'll try to take it easy." 
"Please do. I love how eager you are to help, but imperiling your own future by reopening old wounds should be out of the question. It's for your own benefit. You'll thank me later." 
"Sure, sure." 
Kibō noted the soured mood. "I hear this hotel's got an onsen next to it." 
Sahir's expression immediately turned. "An onsen, you say?! Get me to that reception desk right now! Oh, please let it be communal..." He went off with a spring in his step. 
"Thank you for that, Ishimaru-kun." Sakuya said. 
"Don't mention it. He was looking like a sad puppy." Kibō replied. 
"Well, since someone's already gotten ahead of themselves..." Rin began, "...I'll go and get started on checking everyone in. I'm sure you all want to relax in those springs, so I'll go and get everything sorted." 
"Sweetness. I'm gonna shrivel up like a raisin. Let's move before Kicks gets us banned." Kat responded. 
--- 
"Ahhhh, man! That's what I'm talking about..." Sahir sat down in the water, where the other boys already were. 
"I've never been so happy to be bathing with other guys before." Max stated. 
"Between the cold and how hectic everything's been, it's what we've needed." Kibō said. 
"Sigh...they just couldn't make it communal, could they? Oh well..." Sahir muttered. 
"Sorry, man. Gonna have to stay a fantasy for now." Max replied. 
"Don't act like you're not bummed about not getting to bathe with Madame Fireball." 
"Shut up." 
"C'mon man, I know you're not oblivious. She's practically begging you to make a move. Even Keeb can see that, and he doesn't know why 'penal' is an innuendo!" 
"I'm not that dense." Kibō replied. "But he's got a point. Ibuki wouldn't be teasing you like she does if she wasn't interested." 
"Says the guy that never picked up that KittyKat was into him." Max retorted. 
"Dude. Low blow. That's not even important now. And last I checked, you were the one that broke it off." 
"Stupidly, I might add." Sahir chimed in. 
"And you're never gonna let me forget it." Max grumbled. 
"You're the one that brought it up!" 
"Hey, Kenneth. You've been pretty quiet." Kibō noted. 
"Have I?" Kenneth responded. 
"Yeah dude, I would've expected a bit of snark by now. Your gut still bothering you?" Sahir asked. 
"My stomach is of no concern for now." 
"So what's your beef? I thought a history nut like you would've been going nuts about this place." Max stated. 
"My mind is a million miles away from here. I'm concerned about...the sculpture. And what reaction it's going to illicit." 
"Why's that? You wouldn't have let it be shown publicly if there was a problem with it." Sahir questioned. 
"I have the utmost confidence in my work, don't get me wrong. My dilemma is how the subject is going to react to it." 
"You mean Nat." Kibō stated. 
Kenneth sighed. "Alright. I shouldn't dance around it any more than I have. My behavior since we got down at the rest stop wasn't due to stomach pains. When I was standing guard by Natalia, I overheard her talking in her sleep. And in the midst of her rambling...she let it slip that she is in love. With me." 
"Wuuuuuuut!" Sahir exclaimed. 
"Shush! Do you want the entire prefecture to know about it?" 
"No wonder you've been flipping out. What are you gonna do about it?" Max asked. 
"I have no idea. From what I overheard her saying, she might not be able to hold back her feelings once she sees the sculpture. I don't know how I'll respond to it." 
"How do you feel about her?" Kibō asked. 
"...my brain and my heart are telling me two very different things. My brain tells me that to reciprocate would be to admit that my parents were successful in their efforts to...'correct' me. That my own feelings have betrayed my efforts to live as I want." 
"And what about your heart?" 
"....." 
"My advice, dude? Forget what your folks would think. You haven't magically stopped liking guys, have you?" Sahir asked. 
"Last I checked, no." 
"You realize that KittyKat and Teach go both ways, yeah? Like, that's a thing?" 
"I'm fully aware." 
"Well I don't see what the problem is. Your heart wants what it wants. My old man would probably tear me in half if he knew about Saku's secret. Doesn't bother me none. It's one person's opinion. Saku's who I wanna be with. So if you feel a certain way, you should follow that. Your folks treated you like garbage, anyway. Why care about what they think?" 
"....." 
"And one more thing. Nat's the biggest sweetheart in the world. If she's really got a thing for ya, you don't say no to that. Just something to think about." 
Max and Kibō both blinked. "Who are you?" Max questioned. 
"That was...actually good advice. Are you feeling alright?" Kibō asked. 
"Y'all really think I'm a moron, huh?" Sahir sighed. 
"I don't know what's more terrifying. The woes of the heart...or him being right about something." Kenneth thought. 
Over in the women's pool, the girls sat in tranquility. "Oh yeah, that's the ticket. Every ache and pain just poofs away." Ibuki said. 
"Have you still been feeling the effects of the fight, Hinotama-san?" Sakuya asked. 
"Not gonna lie, just a bit. Kyoko-sama hits like a dump truck. I could hardly stand at the end of it. I can use every hot bath I can get." 
"I hear ya there, girlfriend. All the Metaverse-ing we do is exhausting. Ditto with all of our schoolwork. Just getting a quiet moment to relax and enjoy each other's company goes a long way." Kat said. 
Carrie sat on the edge of the pool. "Slow and steady approach, Care?" Natalia asked. 
"Mmhmm. Once my body's gotten used to the heat, my back should be okay for submerging." Carrie affirmed. 
Kat put an arm around Carrie's ankle. "You're trying to heat up, you say? Purrrr..." Kat nuzzled up to it. 
"S-stop it, there's such a thing as too much heat, Kitten...!" Carrie blushed. 
"Don't act like it's not what you wanted." Barbara giggled. 
The sound of footsteps came from behind the girls. "Everyone seems pretty rested and lively. There room for one more?" 
"Hm?" Kat looked up. "Hey, Prof! I didn't think you'd make it down." 
"I was actually planning on giving the city a little tour, but once I called up Rose and let slip that you all were in the onsen, she was very, let's say, insistent that I pay it a visit." Rin explained. 
"You're not the type to sit still and relax easily, are ya, Prof?" Ibuki asked. 
"So I've been told." Rin stepped into the water. "Ahhh...it has been a while since I've dipped into a hot spring. I'm feeling better already." 
"Perfect medicine for She Who Wears the World on Her Shoulders." Barbara said. 
"I wouldn't really go that far, but I appreciate the moment of luxury." 
Carrie took notice of the scarring on Rin's arms. "Do they still hurt, Professor?" 
"Hm? Oh...no, they've long since closed up. They stung for the first year. A lot. But now they're just a reminder of my worst mistake. Though, after I accidentally tipped off the one that nearly killed Mom, I might have to re-examine which one is worse." Rin scolded herself. "Even when I relax, I can't stop thinking about the painful parts. I really am a bundle of stress." 
"Exactly why we're taking this week off. Honestly, you need it more than we do. And Doc would give us all the Stare of Disappointment if we let you stress out. And about the scars, I'll tell ya what I told Care. I see 'em as a sign of strength. You survived something terrible, and now you've got an awesome life. 'What doesn't kill you' and all that." Kat responded. 
"Yeah...you're right. Sorry if me heaping all of my troubles on you all gets overwhelming." 
"Prof, we're sitting in a pool wearing nothing but towels. Being open and honest is a given at this point." 
"Open and honest, huh..." Natalia uttered under her breath. Carrie looked on, pensive. 
"So what's our plan for the day, Prof?" Ibuki asked. 
"Well, once we're done here, I think we can all use some lunch. After that, I'm sure everyone has their own idea of what they want to do, so I'm fine with letting you all go off on your own." Rin replied. 
"For real?" Kat questioned. 
"Absolutely. I trust you all to be responsible. We have the rest of today to enjoy the city. I was planning on visiting Aoba Castle, myself, but I know everyone has their own idea of fun, so we can split up and reunite for dinner. There's one thing on the menu we can't leave Sendai without having..." 
"BEEF TONGUE AHOY!" Ibuki exclaimed. 
--- 
After a relaxing bath, the group reconvened in front of the hotel. "Now that we're all properly soothed, time to explore our surroundings. If anyone's interested, I'll be taking a stroll over to Mt. Aoba to visit the castle. Otherwise, you all are free to go through the city at your leisure. Be smart about it, and make sure you're back here by 6." Rin instructed. 
"We are gonna get in so much trouble." Ibuki chimed. 
"We're gonna turn this place upside-down, right, boys?!" Sahir put his arms around Kibō and Kenneth. 
"I'd prefer staying out of prison, thank you." Kenneth replied. 
"Ditto." Kibō added. 
"Smart decisions, everyone. Any incidents would make their way back to Naruki fairly quickly. The only thing I want to report to your families is that you were on your best behavior. Now go and enjoy the city the One-Eyed Dragon built. Responsibly." Rin urged. 
With that final instruction, the group divided up, and began to explore Sendai on their own.
--- 
"Here it is. Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium." Sakuya looked on in wonderment. 
"Soon as I saw there was an aquarium here, I knew exactly where we'd be headed." Sahir scratched his head. 
"Saku really digs her fish, doesn't she?" Ibuki asked. 
"Over 300 species of marine life are housed here! How many mammals do you think there are?" Sakuya gasped while looking through the pamphlet she was holding. "THEY HAVE A SEA LION SHOW! Do you think they do meet-ups?! I just have to hear their barks up close and boop their little noses!" 
"S-slow down, Saku, you're gonna pass out before we even go in--yikes!" Sahir couldn't get his whole thought out before Sakuya began pulling him along. 
"Come on, come on, the sea puppies aren't going to cuddle themselves!" 
"Okay, okay! Ease up a little, you're the one worried about my leg--!" 
"Ummm..." Ibuki looked on. "Is that even the same girl?" She followed them inside. 
Upon entering the building, the first thing that could be seen was a video screen, projecting various aspects of life around the ocean. "The first floor is dedicated to the seas surrounding Japan. The second floor has more exotic species, along with a show featuring dolphins and sea lioooooons...!" Sakuya explained. "And you can meet up with them and pet theeeeeem!" 
Ibuki grabbed her by the shoulders. "Girl, you are ready to just fly on out of here, aren't you?" 
Sakuya calmed down. "I'm so sorry. I just get so excited thinking about them..." 
"Yeah, I can see that! Don't get me wrong, they're cute, but you're going a little overboard with the squee-ing. Most of the time you're so dang serious, I start to think you might be a robot." 
"It all goes back to my upbringing. After years of abuse from my father, I was cut off from the outside world and most of the comforts of normal life. Everything about me fell...stagnant, I suppose. The one connection I still had to normal life was a birthday gift from my mother. A plush toy of a seal. The one beacon of hope I had left. When I look at something like that, I start to feel like a normal person again. I'm sorry if it seems extreme." 
Sahir put his arms around Sakuya. "Let's make ya super-duper normal today, then. You've got some sea noses to boop." 
"We're gonna drown you in normal." Ibuki added. 
"Thank you, you two. I like the sound of that." Sakuya grabbed both of them by the hand. "Let's go see what Mother Ocean has to offer!" She tugged them both along. 
"Well that didn't take much--ah!" Ibuki uttered. 
The trio followed the path, reaching a gigantic water tank filled with a variety of marine life. Sakuya looked on, mesmerized. 
"Whoa...would you look at that..." Sahir uttered. 
"It's like they cut a piece of the ocean out and dropped it here..." Ibuki said. 
"So many schooling fish...and there's a ray...and those are hammerheads...is that a pygmy whale?" Sakuya pointed out. 
"How do they keep sharks in here with the smaller fish? Don't they, you know...eat them?" Ibuki asked. 
"The keepers feed them enough that it minimizes incidents. And many of the schooling fish here wouldn't be the usual prey items. There are unfortunate exceptions though. Oh, there's a blue shark! Those are notoriously hard to house in captivity. They rarely last longer than a year before they either have to be released, or pass away. Actually, this aquarium housed the longest lived captive blue shark. It lived here for over two years before it died." 
"How come they don't last long?" Sahir questioned. 
"A number of factors. Smaller ones may end up being predated by larger species like the hammerheads or tigers. The shape of the tank could also factor in. Sharks are constantly moving, so it's inevitable that they would bump into the glass or parts of the enclosure. Those injuries could lead to infections. Many sharks are also migratory animals with very demanding diets, so keeping them in an enclosed space just isn't feasible. It's a shame. They're such misunderstood creatures. Getting to see them as they really are is such a valuable opportunity." 
"I'm gonna guess 'Jaws' isn't your favorite movie of all time." Ibuki joked. 
"That would be a resounding 'no'." 
The trio moved through the first floor, highlighting numerous facets of the sea surrounding Japan. Eventually they ended up in a section dedicated to deep-sea marine life. Ibuki and Sahir both stared into a tank featuring long, dull pink fish. "The heck are these things supposed to be?" he questioned. 
"'Inshore hagfish'. Doesn't look like it's gonna be winning any beauty contests." Ibuki added. 
"Hagfish are closely related to lampreys. They're the only animals on the planet that have skulls, but no spines. They also excrete a mucus-like substance that helps them escape from danger." Sakuya explained. 
"Blech, gross! I can't imagine the thing that'd try to eat one of these." 
"From what I understand, some parts of Japan do cultivate and eat hagfish. Other than that, they're actually popular food items in Korea." 
Sahir envisioned a cartoon version of Kat in her cat form, happily bouncing around with a hagfish in her mouth. 
"The sign next to the tank also mentions that its skin can be dried and used to make clothing." Sakuya continued. 
Ibuki had her own vision of a cartoon Natalia working on a sweater, proudly picking it up to reveal it to be constructed entirely from hagfish, put together like a jigsaw puzzle. 
She and Sahir gave each other looks. "Let's move on. We have a whole other floor to explore." Sakuya issued. 
"Nice rhyme, Saku." Ibuki chimed. 
The three made their way to the top floor, where the exotic fauna were exhibited. They stopped in the European section, where Sahir gazed inside of a tank containing sturgeon. "Hoo, look at the scales on these bad boys. I'd be freaking if I had one of these on a line." 
"Their size is rather impressive. Many theorize that sightings of lake monsters throughout Europe are likely oversized--" Sakuya stopped. 
"Saku?" Ibuki questioned. 
"Ah...aaaaaah..." Sakuya caught sight of one exhibit in particular, of a small island structure in the middle of a pool. The exhibit was home to numerous small, black-bodied mammals. "SEEEEEAAAAALS!" 
"Uh-oh." 
Sakuya bounded over to the viewing area. "Look at them! So squishy and fuzzy! Hiiiii!" She waved to the resting animals. 
"You and your sea doggos." Sahir sighed. 
"Lake." 
"Huh?" 
"These are Baikal seals. They're only found in Lake Baikal in Russia. The only seal species in the world to live exclusively in fresh water. That lake is hundreds of miles inland, so nobody knows how the seals ended up there. But one thing is certain..." Sakuya's eyes lit up. "They're just as huggable as their saltwater cousins!" 
"You're not far off in that department, Saku." Ibuki uttered. 
A while after, the three wound up in the African section. "Finally, a little slice of home!" Sahir said. 
Ibuki looked at one enclosure, where a chameleon was hanging on a branch. "Hey, how's it going?" 
The lizard, as its species was apt to do, looked around in different directions. 
"Hey, look at me when I'm talking to you!" 
The lizard began changing colors to blend in with the branch. 
"Now that's just rude! Don't ignore someone when they're talking to you!" 
Sahir took a glance into the fish tank, where a large, sharp-toothed fish was dwelling. "Now there's a face only a mother can love." 
"What in the world is that?" Sakuya asked. 
"Ho-ho, the marine encyclopedia left this one out, did it? This pretty bloke is a tigerfish. Nasty things, these. Those teeth aren't just for show. Some people think they're possessed by evil spirits, but I mean, look at that mug! Don't you just wanna take it home and give it a hug?" 
"Ah, yes. Very, very cute." 
"Sheesh, you have these things in your rivers?" Ibuki asked. 
"On top of everything else, right? Boat rides aren't exactly comfortable back home. You've got these things swimming around, you've got crocodiles, some of our rivers have sharks, you've got hi--" 
"Sahir-kun?" Sakuya questioned. 
"You've got...other things. That are big and scary...heh. Uh, hey, wanna go check out the American exhibit? I read that they've got dolphins..." Sahir nervously walked away. 
"What's gotten into him?" Ibuki asked. 
"I believe he was about to say 'hippo'. He had a very traumatic experience where a hippo chased after him. He avoided a bite, but in the process he injured his leg so badly that it took him out of football for over a year. Even now, I'm worried about it affecting him." Sakuya answered. 
"Damn. So that's why you weren't letting him take your luggage. I've only seen one or two pictures of those things, but I can't imagine staring one in the face. Maaaaybe staring at dolphins is better for his mind." 
"Agreed. Just don't mention that whales and dolphins are the closest living relatives to hippos." 
"Eek." 
With the tour of the facility close to completion, the trio took the opportunity to attend the dolphin and sea lion show. It took every ounce of strength she had for Ibuki to keep Sakuya from running out to hug the whiskered sea creatures. The girl got her chance afterwards, however, with a gleeful meet-up with a brown fur seal. Sahir filmed the entire encounter for posterity. 
After somehow separating Sakuya from the animal, the trio made their way to the gift shop. "Hmm...what would Kanae-chan like..." Ibuki looked over a shelf full of plushes. 
"Yo!" Sahir called out. Ibuki looked over, and he was holding a plush of a giant red spider crab. "SpongeBoy, me Bob! Ar-ar-ar-ar-ar-ar!" he said with a pirate-esque voice. 
Ibuki snickered. "You dumbass, hehe..." 
"Maxie's not the only one that can do impressions!" 
"Made me lose my train of thought...I'll grab the dolphin, I guess..." 
Sahir then grabbed a plush of an octopus, then spoke in a nasally voice. "Everybody's an idiot except for me!" 
Ibuki couldn't restrain her laughter. 
Sakuya perused the shelves, and picked out a medium-sized plush of a gray seal. She giggled. 
The three paid for their respective purchases, and departed shortly after. "Well, that was a hoot. Who knew hanging with nerds could be fun?" Ibuki joked. 
"Hey, nerds are cool nowadays, what are you talking about?" Sahir answered. 
"Hehe." Sakuya giggled. 
"I'll take that to mean that you had a normalizing time." Ibuki stated. 
"I had a magical time. If the trip ended today, I'd be completely satisfied. I got to hug a sea lion!" 
"Yep, you did. For a long, long time." Sahir said. 
"Thought we'd need a crowbar to pry you off of it." Ibuki added. 
"I got to indulge in the things I love with dear friends. I never thought I'd be able to say that." Sakuya embraced Ibuki. Then, she turned to Sahir, and gave him a kiss. "Thank you for the lovely day. Let's go see if the others are back yet." 
Sakuya walked away with a bounce to her step. "You sly dog, you." Ibuki elbowed Sahir. 
"And all I had to do was get a dirty look from some dolphins." Sahir joked. 
"Well you heard the lady, let's see if it's beef tongue time!" 
"Gonna be ordering a side of hagfish with that, Madame Fireball?" 
"Bleeeech."
--- 
Outside of the main city, atop a steep hill, sat Aoba Castle, the former headquarters of the Date clan. Destroyed and rebuilt several times over its four centuries of existence, part of its former space was now home to the city museum. 
Near the castle grounds stood the imposing visage of the city's founding warlord, Date Masamune. Sitting on horseback, the legendary warrior was garbed in armor, a crescent moon shape adorning his helmet, his right eye shut. 
As he looked upon the city he founded, a lone figure gazed upon his stone structure in silence. 
"....." Kenneth observed. 
"A mighty and imposing image, isn't it?" 
"Caroline. You came here alone?" 
Carrie approached. "I did. The others decided to tour around the shops, but I wanted to see how you were doing. Didn't the Professor come this way?" 
"She did. She wanted to look through the botanical gardens before seeing the castle proper." 
"Exactly what you'd expect from the heiress to a botanical clan. Just as I expected you to sprint over here first. He cuts a very distinctive figure, does he not?" 
"That he does. To be immortalized in stone, to look upon this ground you founded for all eternity...I can think of no greater honor than that. There was a saying I heard recently, that artists are the true givers of immortality. Generations to come will see your vision. History will be molded by it. How you see your subject is how the world will see it. So you must be strong of vision." 
Carrie giggled. "There's the Kenneth I've come to know. All you needed was a bit of stonework to bring you back to your senses." 
"You would think so, and yet...my mind is still racing. Ultimately I want people to see my work and see what I see. But beyond that, the reaction I'm waiting for is the one I fear most. Will she love it? And if so...am I prepared for her reaction?" 
"She'll love it. I'm positive of that. Ever since you told her about your plans for this, I've felt a different sort of warmth from her. She sees this as important. She wouldn't want her friend to come all the way from Bruges if she didn't. I think she's already set it in her mind that she'll love it. Because..." 
"Because I'm the one that made it. She...uttered as much." 
"...do you love her?" 
"...! Rather direct, aren't we?" 
"You need to be honest. If she confesses to you and you aren't prepared to respond, it will leave her feeling horrible and you not much better. You've made her your muse. Is it purely out of reverence? Or is your heart telling you something else?" 
"Hrmmm..." 
"Lord Masamune is staring right at you. Are you going to lie in his presence?" 
"Wha--don't bring the warlord into this! He has no bearing on any of it!" 
"Just tell me, Kenneth. Do you love Natalia?" 
".....it's quite difficult not to." 
"So say it." 
"Agh...to hell with it. To hell with what others might think. I do. I...love her. I can't fear saying those words when I know for certain that those are her feelings, as well. I don't know if someone like me could make her happy, but..." 
Carrie put a hand on his shoulder. "You already have. She's tried so hard to change herself, and you seeing that has made all the difference. I can't wait to see the fruits of your labor, and how she'll react. Try to keep your mind at ease until then." 
"...heh." 
"What's so funny?" 
"You and Katherine have a knack for saying the right thing at the right moments. It wouldn't surprise me if she was hiding in the bushes watching us right now." 
"She almost did. I told her I would handle it. She needed some bonding time with Barbara and the others. Much as she would like to, she can't solve everybody's problems on her own." 
"Suppose that's where having a genius girlfriend comes in handy." 
"I'm far from a genius." 
"Your class standing speaks to the contrary. Regardless, thank you for the prodding. Now all I need is an ample distraction until the moment of truth arrives." 
"There's plenty of museums around here to choose from. Shall we go together?" 
"Of course. Let me see where the closest one--" 
"AH-CHOO!" A woman's sneezing sounded out nearby. 
Both students looked confused. "Ah...gesundheit?" Kenneth uttered. 
Rin stepped out from behind the statue. "Professor? How long have you been standing there?" Carrie asked. 
"Since just before you asked Kenneth how he felt. Sorry, I was going to say something, but I didn't want to interrupt. You seemed to be handling it just fine, so I was going to leave it alone. My sinuses had other ideas." Rin replied. 
"So...do you have any advice to offer?" Kenneth asked. 
"Nothing that Carrie didn't cover herself. Honestly, I'm probably not the best person to ask. I did take a decade to confess to Rose, after all. I still get flustered whenever I talk about romantic subjects. I probably looked like a creep standing there listening in. Don't mind me." 
"No no, it's fine. Where were you headed?" Carrie asked. 
"Mom told me about a botanical garden managed by Tōhoku University near here. I was going to send her some photos to lift her up." 
"How is Ms. Hana doing?" Kenneth asked. 
"Much better, though still a long way from returning to work. She's still a home body for the time being. Nothing perks her up quite like beautiful flower displays, so I'm off to do a daughter's diligence. You're welcome to come with, if you don't have anything else planned." 
"A garden tour sounds lovely. What do you think, Kenneth?" Carrie asked. 
"I don't see why not. Variety is the spice of life, as they say." he replied. 
"Perfect. Now you get to hear me unleash my botanical knowledge on the two of you. Just letting you know what you've signed up for." Rin affirmed. 
--- 
"Oh, these look cute...and they're at a discount, too." Barbara and Natalia were looking through a stand selling ornaments left over from the previous festivals. 
"I've read up on the meanings of the different ones. This one..." Barbara picked up a set of long, yellow streamers, kept together by a ring of flowers. "...is for wishing luck in weaving. I think it'd be perfect for you, Natty. Not that you need the extra luck~." 
"Awww. I think I'll take you up on that. Everyone can use a little luck." 
Nearby, Kat approached Max and Kibō, who were looking at something. "We playing the Stare Into Space game, boys? Can I join in, or is it No Girls Allowed?" 
"Look over there." Kibō directed. 
Among the many shops lining the street, there was a popup store selling Ashen Artisans merchandise. "Another one of those stores. There's one in practically every bureau in Tokyo. I didn't think there'd be one up here, though." Kibō said. 
"All this popularity and we don't get a cent out of it. Maaaan." Max griped. 
"I mean if you wanna out yourself to take in the cash, by all means. See how well that works out for ya." Kat replied. "Kinda crazy how far it's reached out, though. We haven't done any business outside of Tokyo. How'd we get fan clubs up in these parts?" 
"Word travels fast. There's bad guys in every corner of the world. And most of them aren't as obvious as the ones we deal with. People see us doing what no one else will, and of course they're gonna take to that. Everyone needs a hero to look up to." 
"Spoken like a true geek, Sparky." 
"Spoken like someone whose hero is a thief, KittyKat." 
"Hey! The heck's that supposed to mean?" 
"Come on, Max, you don't need to bring that into it. Not everyone's going to be so idealistic." Kibō said. 
"Yeah, well. Maybe that's what's wrong with the world." Max grumbled. 
"Yoo-hoo, we having a party over here~?" Barbara approached with Natalia. 
"It's getting close to the time we're supposed to be back. We should probably start heading over." Natalia said. 
"Good call. I don't want to be the one keeping Ibuki from her beef tongue. I'd be in for an extra teasing session." Max replied. 
"She'll give you that session, anyway." Kibō responded. 
"She'll make you feed it to her if you keep us any longer. And I will film it. So let's hustle." Kat added. 
The group made their way back to the hotel lobby. Sakuya, Sahir and Ibuki were already there. "Hi, all! You sensed my presence and couldn't stay away, huh?" Ibuki chimed. 
"I plead the fifth." Max replied. 
"Are you gonna tell me what that means?" 
"The Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution. The one that covers how criminals are dealt with. 'Pleading the fifth' means he's invoking the right to remain silent." Barbara explained. 
"In short, he doesn't want to open his mouth since he knows he'll just confess his undying love for you." Kat stated. 
"Why, you...!" Max griped. 
"Awww, Sparkplug, you're gonna make me blush!" Ibuki playfully jabbed Max. 
"Uggggh..." 
"So how did you guys' day go? I already see the plush in Maggie's arms." Kat asked. 
"I saw so many seals! And I got to hug a sea lion! I may never wash these hands again..." Sakuya exclaimed. 
"KittyKat, I need to know something. How do you like hagfish?" Sahir questioned. 
"Stir-fried and served with extra spicy sauce. Why do you ask?" Kat replied. 
"Oh jeez, she really does eat those slimy things!" Ibuki exclaimed. 
"Well it's not like they're slimy when we eat 'em. It's not any different from eating sushi. Or any weirder than eating beef tongue." 
"We just saw some of 'em in a tank, and I can't for the life of me imagine someone eating one of those wriggly things." Sahir stated. 
"They're really not that bad. Tell ya what, next time I see one in a fish market, I'll bring it home and make y'all a legit meal. I'm no Hoodsie or Sparky, but I know my way around a kitchen. Don't knock it til you try it." 
"Oooh, KittyKat's Kitchen! I like the sound of that." Barbara chimed. 
"Honey, if you're the one cooking it, I might not have a choice. If you can make me stomach one of those slimeballs, I'll declare you the new Iron Chef." Ibuki said. 
The lobby doors opened again. "Looks like we're the last ones home." Rin stated. 
"There's the unlikely trio. How was the museum tour?" Kat asked. 
"I now know more about hydrangeas than any man should." Kenneth replied. 
"There is always more to learn, Kenneth. So, so much more." Carrie responded. 
Natalia giggled. "Kenny, there's something in your shirt pocket." 
Kenneth looked down, and there was a yellow flower sticking out from one of his pockets. "Ah, this. They allowed us to take a, shall we say, free sample. I didn't steal it, to be clear." 
"I wouldn't think so. It's a dandelion. They're my favorite flower." 
"Yes, I remember you wearing one during New Years. That being the case..." Kenneth plucked it out of his shirt. "You should have it." 
"Ah...! Really? You're giving it to me?" Natalia blushed. 
"You said it was your favorite. Don't be shy." 
Natalia took the flower with a slight giggle. She placed it in her ponytail. "Thanks, Kenny! I love it." 
"Think nothing of it--" Kenneth was interrupted by a sudden hug. 
"Heehee. I'm wearing this to dinner. Gotta go get ready~." Natalia cheerily walked towards the elevator. 
Kenneth peered around. Everyone was staring at him with knowing grins. "Well...you heard the lady. Need to be dressed appropriately for the consumption of cattle appendages. If you'll excuse me." He awkwardly walked to the elevator. 
"More bowel problems, Kenny?" Sahir joked. 
Kenneth stuttered in his walk, but opted against saying anything else.
--- 
"So. The fabled beef tongue has arrived." Kenneth stared down at the grilled meat on his plate. 
"Grilled to perfection and served with a side of rice. My kinda dinner! You'd better eat your fill, Kenny. You could use some meat on your bones." Ibuki replied. 
"Listen to the lady, Kennykins. Ol' Bessie can't laugh or moo anymore. Just sits out in a field and slaps her butt with her tail. You can't make it for nothing." Kat added. 
"Kat..." Rin groaned. "I'm fairly certain the cows are already dead when they take the tongues. There isn't a pasture somewhere with a herd of mute cattle." 
"Imagine that being your job. Like going into a field and using a katana or something to hack off cow tongues." Sahir said. 
"They'd have to set up a college for that, I think. Enrollment would be through the roof." Max replied. 
"What is this conversation?" Sakuya questioned. 
"I don't wanna think about a cute little cow getting its tongue cut out..." Natalia uttered. 
"Bulls and cows and calves. Made silent by cutting blade. A fine winter's meal." Kat dictated. 
"...you did not just make a haiku out of that." Rin uttered. 
"She very much did." Carrie responded. 
"Ahhhh, that's the good stuff!" Ibuki cleared her plate. 
"What the--you're done already?!" uttered a surprised Barbara. 
"And she ordered the big portion..." Sakuya added. 
"Hrm, I could go for seconds...and thirds. Hm?" Ibuki looked over at a sign next to the counter. 
"Rules of Challenge: Patrons may challenge at least one other patron to an eating contest, with pre-prepared meals. 1000 yen payment, all-you-can-eat while supply lasts!" 
"I can eat as much as I want as long as I grab one other person?" Ibuki asked. 
"Yes, ma'am." the man at the counter affirmed. 
"Ho ho hoooo..." Ibuki looked back to the table, where everyone tried to keep their heads down or otherwise avert her gaze. "Gonna need someone that can keep up if I'm gonna get my fill..." She looked around the table. "I've got it...Keebles!" 
"Hm?" Kibō perked up, halfway into his meal. 
"Get your gut ready. We're having a beef-off!" 
"Can we...not? Why would I agree to this, anyway?" 
"Cuz I know deep down you want payback for me messing your ma up. You really gonna pass that up?" 
"You're just using me for a free meal." Kibō sighed. "But when you put it like that..." 
"Phones at the ready, peeps. This is gonna be priceless." Kat reacted. 
Within minutes, two plates stacked high with the grilled meat were plopped onto the table. "A'ight, Keebles and Bits, we eat till one of us drops! Hope you're ready to be here a while." Ibuki declared. 
"I immediately regret this." Kibō responded. 
"Positive vibes, Keeb. Just try to not overdo it..." Barbara urged. 
Kat brought up a sound effects app on her phone, pressed a button labeled "Bell", and the ringing noise echoed. 
Ibuki immediately began scarfing down her plate. "Easy, Hinotama-san, you should at least chew your food..." Sakuya warned. 
"Homegirl's like a vacuum cleaner...yo, Keebie! You gonna sit there gawking like a doof or are you gonna start eating?" Kat questioned. 
"Do I have to?" Kibō asked. 
"If Mama Thunderbolt was here, she'd be booting you in your heinie for being so milquetoast. Grow some backbone, why don't ya!" 
"Grr...really have to keep bringing my mom into it, huh?" Kibō crinked his neck. "Okay. Feeding time it is." 
He began wolfing down the food in front of him. 
The group looked on in amazement as the two scarfed down the beef in large portions. The visceral display went on for several minutes. 
"I think they may have gone through an entire pasture by now..." Kenneth uttered. 
"Suppose an uneventful dinner is too much to ask for." Carrie mused. 
Soon enough, both plates were empty. A morose and dazed Kibō was laid out on the ground. "Bleeeeeh...never eating...again..." 
"Ohhh, I told you to take it easy, you big dummy..." Barbara chided. 
"Welp, guess there's no topping Fireball--huh?" Sahir uttered. 
Ibuki, too, was on the ground, clutching her stomach and looking dizzy. "You wanted the free meal. You get what you asked for." Max stated. 
"Guess we'll have to call it a draw." Kat said. 
"Ah, I think we're ready for the check, now." Rin said to the waiter. 
"Uhh, want me to get 'em some ginger ale or something?" the waiter asked. 
"That would be appreciated." 
After another half-hour of waiting for the pair to regain composure, the group left. "When in Sendai, you have to enjoy the beef tongue. I think we certainly did that." Rin stated. 
"Gotta be careful now. Keebie or Bookie might end up growing an udder after that." Kat joked. 
"Muuuuurgh..." Kibō groaned. 
"I'm gonna be in the bathroom all night...murp..." Ibuki grogged. 
"That should make for an interesting time..." Sakuya responded. 
"I think that's our cue to call it a night. It'll be another early morning tomorrow. We have a ferry to catch. So let's have a restful night, and please, no more eating contests." Rin dictated. 
--- 
Kat sat on the edge of the hotel bed, appearing restless. Her roommate for the night was in the bathroom. 
While waiting for them, Kat took a look around the room. It was a quaint, blue-colored space, dimly lit. The most apparent quality, and the one that had Kat so nervous, was the bed. 
Bed, singular. As in, there was only one. 
"Some five-star hotel...couldn't even afford an extra bed..." 
Her roommate exited the bathroom. "Did I keep you waiting, Kitten? Heehee, so sorry." Carrie chimed. 
"N-no, you're fine. Just thinking about, uh..." 
Carrie sat down on the bed. "Thinking about...?" 
"Uh, the...bedding placement. I mean, there's only the one. So I was thinking of how we could both be comfy given the, um, arrangement." 
"I'm fine with just being side-by-side like this." 
"Really? Cuz I don't wanna crowd you out or push you off." 
"The bed is plenty big for the both of us. There's no need to worry." 
"...my feet might be cold." 
"You don't have to be nervous, Kitten." 
"Nervous? Me? Naaaah. I just want you to have a good night's sleep is all. Oh, I know!" Kat's eyes glowed, and she took on her cat form. "I'm a very good cuddle buddy." 
"I'm sure that you are." Carrie petted her on the head. "Now please turn back." 
"How come, I'm adorable like this!" 
"True enough. But you're far more adorable at full size." 
"Meeeew...okay." Kat returned to normal. "I'm sorry. I'm being nervous over nothing. Sharing a bed is a...it's a couple thing to do, so it isn't weird." 
"No, it isn't. I was honestly happy to see that there was only one bed. If you see it as I do, and I know that you do, then..." Carrie blushed. "This is something we'll need to do, anyway." 
Kat turned red. "So beautiful, you. Stunning as the winter sun. Mesmerizing gem." 
Carrie laughed. "Now there's a haiku I can approve of." She removed Kat's glasses, and the two kissed. "Feeling better?" 
"Yeah." 
"Let's get some good rest." 
The girls turned the lights off, and laid down beside one another. "Hey, Care?" Kat asked. 
"Yes, mon ami?" 
"Am I doing a good job? Like, being the one calling the shots?" 
"Of course you are. Every mission we've gone on has gone smoothly thanks to your leadership. And you've done a masterful job making sure everyone is happy and in the right mindset. Why the doubt?" 
"Just my usual 'should a thief be in charge' hang-up, I guess." 
"That doesn't matter. None of that holds any bearing here. I don't see a thief when I look at you." 
"So what do you see?" 
Carrie wrapped her arms around Kat's abdomen. "I see the girl I love. Nothing else." 
Kat smiled. "You sure you don't want to cuddle a kitty?" 
"There's nothing I'd rather be doing right now than this. I can think of nothing more comfortable." 
"Hmmm. I've got one suggestion." 
Kat turned her body so that she was facing Carrie, and embraced her in much the same way. "Better?" 
Carrie let out a giggle. "Breathtaking. Good night, Kitten." 
"Good night, Your Majesty." 
Comfortably in each other's arms, the pair drifted off to sleep. The morning would bring the next leg of their journey, but for now, there was no single moment more important than this. 
Tomorrow they would be in Sapporo. For now, any moment besides this one were furthest from their minds.