The first day of the trip, the travelers took a ten-hour flight.
The aircraft provided by the powerful Kyokoku was far more spacious and luxurious than the Four Seasons Agency’s private jet.
Even the larger Guards had room to stretch out and relax.
The biggest concerns were those of the people who had never traveled overseas before, as well as guard dog Hanakiri. He was allowed to take up a seat, but he had to stay inside his cage, which was stressful for a puppy.
Thankfully (if that wasn’t uncouth to say), Hanakiri was already exhausted from the trip from home for their departure to Kyokoku. And he was not the only one, as everyone fell asleep on the ride.
Sleeping was the best way to spend a long, uneventful flight.
The ones with the most energy were Tsukihi’s National Security Special Agent squad.
Guarding VIPs on overseas trips was a common mission for them, so they were awake enough to play card games.
Finally, at two in the morning local time, the plane arrived in Kyokoku.
Kyokoku’s Special Agents and Four Seasons Agency staff met the travelers at the airport and showed them to their lodgings. The hotel was directly connected to the airport, so the last bit of travel was short.
Everyone decided to sleep until noon so that they wouldn’t be completely tired the next day, and they hurried to their own hotel rooms. So ended the first day of the journey.
In Yamato, this would be the afternoon of the second day.
While it was technically the second day from the travelers’ point of view, it was now two in the afternoon on April 5 in Kyokoku. Meanwhile, it was already six in the morning on April 6 in Yamato. The group had departed Yamato on April 5, and it was still April 5 now.
Kashu was on the western side of Kyokoku. They arrived at the biggest international airport in the west of Kyokoku, which was situated in one of the largest and most famous cities of the country: Angel Town.
The group from Yamato had already gotten a taste of its international character when they arrived, but the real foreignness of Angel Town only hit them once they’d left the hotel.
The airport hadn’t been as busy when they arrived late at night, but they were overwhelmed by the crowds of Angel Town International Airport in daytime.
There were so many different eye colors, heights, birth places, languages, and faiths.
The energy was palpable in this community created by people from all walks of life.
“The schedule for today is to visit the Seasons Tower—Kyokoku’s version of the Agency—and offer a greeting,” Rindo said on the way to the parking lot. “However, the goal is to have dinner with their god incarnate, so discussions with the Tower’s staff will take place either tomorrow or after.”
Everyone nodded.
Rindo was the guide, and he was already more tired than he’d been in several months. He hadn’t slept much due to scheduling with Kashu.
The other Guards asked him to delegate some of the work, but he assured them he could still handle it.
“Should I carry your bags, Mr. Azami?”
“No, thank you, I have Shirahagi for that. You should be handling Lady Ruri’s baggage, Mr. Raicho.”
“I can take yours, too. Can I get you a drink, then?”
“I just bought one for myself.”
“All right. Just tell me if you need anything. Anything at all, Mr. Azami.”
“…”
“I’m your trusty junior, Mr. Azami.”
“…”
A junior caring for his tired senior might seem heartwarming to an outside observer, but Raicho’s smile seemed devilish from Rindo’s point of view.
My annoying junior, more like.
The Guard of Summer Raicho Hazakura tried to help Rindo at every turn.
He claimed he was trying to make up for his past mistakes, but Rindo couldn’t feel like being friends with him yet.
I can’t be mean to him in front of Lady Ruri, though.
The way Raicho had stolen his voice was serious.
Honestly, Rindo was afraid of him for being capable of such a thing.
“And please, you can just call me Raicho, Mr. Azami.”
“…You’re still older than me, Mr. Raicho.”
“But you’re my senior as a Guard, Mr. Azami. Please, just call me Raicho.”
“…No, I…”
“Or a nickname, if you want. Now that I think about it, I’ve never had a nickname. How about Rai-Rai? Or just Rai? Riley? Which one do you like more?”
“None.” Rindo cut to the chase this time.
Raicho shrugged his giant shoulders. “You’re so mean, Mr. Azami,” he muttered to himself.
Me?! Rindo thought.
“C’mon, Raicho. Don’t annoy him.”
When Ruri finally came in to help, Raicho backed off. With some relief, Rindo let her take over.
“But Ruri…”
“No buts. Stop it.”
“But I want to be friends.”
“Look, I can tell you this from experience: People run away if you’re too pushy. It’s kinda creepy when you start love bombing, you know?”
“Why? How?”
“Because you’re huge, for one thing. And so is your ego.”
“…”
“You have a handsome face, but you kinda look like you could eat someone.”
“…”
“Plus, you say and do crazy things. Even I can’t understand you sometimes.”
“Ruri, are you sure you actually love me…?”
Rindo finally managed to escape once the couple began trading barbs.
Raicho was no issue now that he was an ally, but he would be terrifying to have as an enemy.
It was hard to tell what he was going to do; even receiving his love was scary. Rindo would have preferred to keep his distance, but due to his great regrets over what happened in summer, he allowed Raicho to keep following him around like an overeager employee.
“Haah…”
“Are you okay, Rindo?”
His sigh had worried his lady. Rindo immediately smiled back at her.
“Yes, I’m fine, Nadeshiko. Stay next to me at all times from now on, got it?”
“Yes.” Nadeshiko was used to long journeys; the trip didn’t seem to have affected her. She had to be all right. “And I can be with you the whole time today, too.”
“Really? You can?”
Her face lit up, and her reaction made him happy.
“Yes. So don’t go too far away from me.”
Nadeshiko hugged Rindo’s leg. “I won’t.”
The corners of Rindo’s mouth curled up at her adorable response.
“Well, not that close, or I can’t walk. Or would you like me to give you a ride, my princess?”
“Huh? Ah! Eep! Hee-hee.”
Rindo took a step forward with Nadeshiko still clinging to his leg, and she laughed out loud for the first time in a long while.
While Autumn played around, Winter observed the surroundings.
It was Rosei’s first trip overseas, and he kept peppering Itecho with questions about what everything was, since Itecho was well-versed in languages. And while he they talked, Rosei was messing with a small device.
“What is that you’re looking at, Lord Rosei?” Rindo asked, and Rosei showed him the device.
“A translator. You choose the language, and this thing translates it both written and spoken. It has a camera, so it can even read signs and translate them for you.”
“Oh, that’s so handy. I should’ve gotten one for Nadeshiko, too.”
“Wanna use it, Nadeshiko?” Rosei asked.
She nodded and borrowed the device. He showed her how to change to camera mode, and in the blink of an eye, all of Kyokoku’s signs were now in Yamato’s language.
Nadeshiko’s eyes sparkled, and she exclaimed in delight.
“That thing certainly makes your time in another country more comfortable,” Rindo said.