Chapter 9 [Family Home and the Hime and the Robot’s Ankle]
“Wow! That’s so cool!”
“But we’ve only made the ankles so far.”
Next to the hardworking shipping staff of Kawashima General Trading, in the factory section where processing machines used to be, I was building a battle robot with Mars
“This isn’t something two people should do alone. It’s going to get even tougher from here, you know?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Building combat robots started with multiple magical stone processing machines lined up, making parts from magical stones like in a factory simulation game. Of course, the machines were controlled remotely by the princess, but the assembly from there was all manual labor by me and Mars. But the precision of the parts was perfect, and there was no need for adjustments. Plus, with devices like anti-gravity units to lighten things up, moving the parts around was surprisingly easy compared to a regular assembly factory.
“But it’s still really cool. This is mine… my own machine… What color should I paint it?”
“Huh!? Paint it? Isn’t that something the ace pilots do to look cool?”
“I’m the only pilot on Earth, so it’s fine. I think gold would be good…”
“Why?”
It’s just… romantic, isn’t it? I gazed at the ankle of the robot, smaller than a light car, with deep satisfaction and nodded to myself.
Mid-August, the Bon Festival season had arrived. Kawashima General Trading also had Bon holidays during this time, and it was communicated in advance to the clients that the employees, including the Abukuma folks and the part-timers, would have the day off. Of course, even the president, me, would go back to my parents’ home.
Especially this year, there was a strong desire from the Kawashima main family for “Mars to come home” so the three of us had come to my hometown together. Hime still couldn’t sleep at night without holding my hand, and I even thought about canceling the homecoming altogether… But with the princess saying, “Let’s at least go say hello,” we ended up going on a day trip with everyone.
“This is what your hometown looks like, Tonbo.”
Hime, who had taken off the sunglasses she bought at the city’s fashion center, muttered as she looked at my sliding door home. We had been talking about “let’s buy proper clothes” for a while now, so she had bought various clothes for this homecoming. Wearing a light-colored dress, she looked like a princess.
Huh? Like a princess…? No, she is always a princess?
“Taking the train is tiring, but taking a taxi is also exhausting.”
Don’t they cram you into those narrow seats for hours in space? Mars muttered with a weary look, cracking his neck.
“But it’s only about an hour and a half by car from here. A lot of people commute to Tokyo from around here.”
“Every day? That’s six hours round trip?”
“You can’t commute by car, so it’d be four hours round trip if you did.”
Glancing at Mars, who was making a disgusted face, I opened the sliding door lock and entered, saying, “I’m home!” The entrance was almost the same as New Year’s, with zebra-patterned slippers for Mars and pink slippers I’d never seen before lined up.
“Huh? Wasn’t it today that my brother was coming back?”
I heard my sister Chieri’s voice from the kitchen along with the sound of the TV.
“You’ve been saying that since last week. Mars, Hime, come on up.”
“Excuse us.”
“Excuse us.”
“What about lunch? Mom said she’s going to the supermarket… huh?”
As my sister spoke, she opened the kitchen door and stepped out. When she saw Hime’s face, she froze.
“Oh…”
“Oh?”
“My brother brought a girl with him!”
My sister shouted and ran down the hallway leading to the living room, then quickly returned with my parents.
“It’s true!”
“Huh? Is she your girlfriend?”
“Tombo, didn’t you say you were bringing someone who lives with you? “
Hime, receiving the attention of the three who had fallen into great confusion, smiled ambiguously. Mars and I pushed the Kawashima family back into the living room, saying, “Now, now, now.” Even the cover story we made up would take a long time to explain. It was too hot and humid to explain everything in the foyer.
“I see, you sought refuge with Mars, who had a connection to your homeland… Well… that must have been tough.”
Dad, who was was on holiday , seemed to be on the verge of tears as he listened to the cover story about Hime evacuating to Earth alone to avoid involving her family in trouble. He was already prone to tears, and even cried a lot during children’s special programs.
“It’s a bit cramped here, but feel free to think of it as your own home and stay as long as you like.”
Dad said the same thing when Mars came.
“Oh, Yū-chan, are you going to have sushi for lunch? Can you eat it?”
“Thank you, Tomoko-san. I love sushi.”
“Hey, hey, I heard you started a company together, but what’s Yuri-san’s relationship with brother? Oh, and do you use Instagram? Yuri-san seems very fashionable and must have a lot of followers, right?”
“I haven’t done that before. Does Chieri use it?”
But Hime seems to be adapting quickly, isn’t she? While trembling with fear at the ease of the Galactic Idol, I was nibbling on a local specialty, a 20th-century pear. The galaxy cat sitting in a reclining chair next to me occasionally tugged at my T-shirt.
“Hey Tonbo, is sushi something you eat during the Bon festival?”
“Huh? No, not really.”
“Then, do you eat anything special?”
“There’s nothing special about Bon. Why?”
“Because Japanese people always want to eat something related to an event, right? On New Year’s Eve, it’s soba noodles, on New Year’s Day, it’s osechi, and on Setsubun, they eat futomaki. They also eat chirashi sushi for Hinamatsuri. So I thought there might be something for Bon.”
When Mars said that curiously, Dad, with a can of beer in his hand, cut into the conversation.
“Mars-san, during Bon, we eat shojin ryori, which is dishes made without meat.”
“Shojin?”
“Well, it’s a Buddhist event. It’s about eating the same food as the monks during this time.”
“Wow, Buddhist monks don’t eat meat. Oh, so that’s why we’re having sushi today.”
Although Mars looked impressed by Dad’s explanation, I felt bad… It’s not necessarily like that, I think. As I struggled to say something, Dad corrected me.
“Well, probably, the monks also eat meat.”
“Huh? Why?”
“What should I say… There may be some who don’t eat it, but…”
It’s quite difficult to explain that sense to a foreigner. Dad was stumbling through his explanation and couldn’t quite wrap it up… With an indescribable look on his face, he finished the barley-based banya and drank it all.
“Tomoko-san, I’ll help with dinner.”
“Huh? No, it’s fine, Yū-chan, as long as you’re relaxing.”
“I’ve just come to Japan, so please teach me Japanese seasoning if you don’t mind. Tonbo said your mom’s cooking is delicious, so I was curious.”
“Oh my, did that child say that? It’s just normal home cooking, but it’s embarrassing.”
“Can I help too?”
“Oh, you’re always told to help, but you always run away.”
“It’s okay, Chieri can help too.”
In the short time from noon to evening, the princess had already become completely accustomed to this house. She chatted non-stop with my mother and sister and had become so friendly that it was hard to believe they had just met today.
On the other hand, we, the trio of men, were just eating sushi, lounging in the living room, drinking sake, and watching horse racing broadcasts while having some silly conversations. The power of women is incredible; I don’t feel like winning against it. I finished the last bit of canned beer I had, glanced at the backs of the women who were chatting happily in the kitchen, and gave up on interrupting and going to the refrigerator.
The omelet rice and miso soup made by the three women at home tasted just like my mother’s usual cooking. After eating that, we were loaded with a mountain of pears and peanuts made by our relatives and headed home.
As the three of us sat silently in the back seat of the taxi, soon I could hear a quiet snoring from Mars, who was sitting in the middle. Occasionally listening to the high-pitched snoring, Hime squeezed my thumb tightly with her small hand. I wrapped her hand with both of mine and stared out the window at the local scenery that seemed to be far away.
◆
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT GADGETIZEDPANDA.COM
After the scorching Obon holiday, where the water poured on the ground evaporated in an instant, Mars and I came to the headquarters of the Tokyo Dungeon Management Association at the call of Mr. Sawara from the Defense Equipment Agency.
After quickly cooling our bodies, which had become exhausted from the sun shining like our parents’ enemies, with the air conditioner in the reception room, and drinking iced coffee with large ice cubes while chatting, Mr. Sawara gradually began to speak.
“By the way, I heard a rumor that… the people at Kawashima General Trading Company have obtained detailed maps of the dungeon?”
“Well, yeah.”
Basically, when talking to this guy, Mars is the main talker, and I’m just a decoration. I don’t have enough knowledge or experience, and to be honest, I’m not good for much in the conversation. Since the other party understands that, the conversation has always been directed towards the managing director.
“You’ve got some impressive technology. We’d like to learn from that. Oh, by the way, it’s a matter of consultation… can we also use those maps for reference in the Self-Defense Forces?”
“Maps are expensive, you know?”
“Of course, I’m fully aware of that, but… how about it? While we don’t doubt your company’s technology, it’s necessary to confirm the accuracy of the maps, and wouldn’t it be appropriate for this time to be a goodwill offering?”
Mars shrugged his shoulders dramatically at Mr. Sawara’s words. To be honest, that map had already been submitted to the Management Association for the purpose of requesting relief efforts, so it was already like it had been submitted to the Self-Defense Forces… I wonder if they want to properly get permission out of good faith to use it for the Self-Defense Forces?
“It’s so roundabout here. There are only three of us, so just say it straight.”
“Oh, I apologize. I usually deal with domestic companies, so I get nervous when talking to foreigners.”
“But isn’t Kawashima also a domestic company?”
“Oh, I apologize again. I mean no offense.”
Mr. Sawara, who didn’t seem nervous at all, took a sip of his iced coffee and smiled.
“How about it? As for your company’s drone operation, would our country refrain from interfering for the time being?”
“We’re following the law, you know.”
“Because laws change with the times. The relaxation of restrictions on drones in dungeons is not necessarily for mass use with AI, but just to… “
“Hmm, so you’re not giving your seal of approval?”
“Well, well, our country’s citizens are very sensitive to such special treatment for certain companies… I hope you understand.”
Well, I get that. If it’s revealed that we’re the only ones getting special treatment, we’ll be beaten up on wide shows for about two months. Mars glanced at my face for a moment and lowered the corner of his right eye in suspicion.
“…Well, alright. If we just share the data of the map for now, there won’t be any restrictions on using drones. Okay, it’s OK.”
“We’re deeply grateful for your cooperation. Also, regarding that drone and other products, we’d like to consult with you again at a later date…”
“There are many special products, so would the military have enough to use? Well, it’s after the powered exoskeletons, right?”
“Yes, I think it would be in that form.”
As I stared vaguely at Sawara’s inscrutable smile, I lifted the sweaty glass and sipped coffee through a straw. I had been listening to the probing conversation for a while now, but even though I hadn’t said a word, my throat felt dry.
Although the sweat I had shed on the way here had completely disappeared, I somehow found myself pulling the hem of my polo shirt. It wasn’t the sweat from the heat, but a different kind of sweat; I felt the back of my polo shirt damp and clammy.
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