[September 2020 — Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture]
After finishing up our Olympics security duties, we members of Dungeon Busters held a meeting to discuss future plans and decide who would be in charge of each project. Clearing the B-Rank dungeons of Miyakonojo and Sendai was the most important task. However, it was decided that Kirihara Amane’s team—which was mostly made up of former police officers—would not be joining, as the police forces had decided to put together an adventurer crime brigade. On the other hand, Amane’s party was tasked with clearing the Rank D dungeon of Hakata on its own before focusing on the brigade. Clearing a whole dungeon on their own would surely help them build up their self-confidence as well.
“So the rest of us will head to Miyakonojo, right? I have a question, though. How come their airport is called ‘Bougainvillea?’”
Miyazaki Airport was often affectionately referred to as “Miyazaki Bougainvillea Airport” as an homage to the businessman who had dedicated his life to revitalizing tourism in Miyazaki. He had used the bougainvillea as Miyazaki’s symbol to stimulate tourism.
I had visited Miyazaki several times myself. The prefectural governor—a former entertainer—had made an effort to popularize Miyazaki’s specialties and tourist attractions in recent years. Nowadays, you could eat chicken nanban—a chicken dish served with a tartar sauce—pretty much anywhere in Japan.
Miyazaki was still hot in September. We stepped out of Bougainvillea Airport and saw nicely spaced rows of palm trees as well as buses going all over the prefecture. Still, we didn’t hop into the bus heading to Miyakonojo. The city of Miyakonojo was even larger than Tokyo, which meant that, if we took the bus now, we’d be stuck using taxis to get around for the whole trip.
“I reserved rental cars. This way,” I said.
We turned right after exiting the airport. If you continued to the right after passing Miyazaki Airport Station, you reached a row of car rental shops, where I intended to get several SUVs.
This time, Akira, Rinko, Masayoshi, Hisato, and their parties would all be participating. That made us a large group of twenty. I had decided to get everyone to come in order to give all parties real, hands-on practice at clearing dungeons. Eventually, each party would need to clear dungeons all over the world. They needed to build up as much experience as they could beforehand.
“Miyakonojo City is located roughly one hour from here, but I’d like to stop somewhere on the way. Can you all add this address to your GPSs?” I asked.
“Kiyotakecho? Why are we going there, Kazu-san?”
“Since we came all the way to Miyazaki Prefecture, we obviously have to go try the ramen that’s only available here.”
“Is this why you picked a flight that would land around noon...?” Rinko asked after letting out a sigh, exasperated.
Shut up. I don’t care what you guys think. It’s unthinkable to come to Miyazaki for work without stopping by Furaiken Kano’s main restaurant.
＊ ＊ ＊
We left the airport, and instead of getting on the highway, headed south down scenic roads. After a while, the restaurant was in sight.
“We’ll have large tonkotsu ramen with every topping you have. For everyone.”
Although we were past lunchtime on a weekday, Furaiken Kano’s main restaurant was fairly busy. Reservations were needed, so I had contacted the restaurant ahead of time and saved spots for all twenty of us. We came through the door at the promised time, and I immediately ordered for everyone. The large tonkotsu ramen were 910 yen per person. Adding mustard greens, boiled eggs, bean sprouts, and roasted pork was 490 yen, which brought the total to 1400 yen per person.
“It was a bit cheaper ten years ago, but I guess it makes sense with the shop becoming so popular,” I said.
“Aniki, you visited Miyazaki in the past?” Akira asked.
I nodded. I’d already been to Miyakonojo once. It had been a short while after I’d gone independent. My first time in Miyazaki had been when I was hired by a certain alcoholic drink company to train their staff. One of my university friends worked in that company’s HR department and had been the one to offer me the job.
“Whoa! That’s one rich tonkotsu ramen!” Rinko exclaimed.
“Sure is! Get me one more bowl! Bring some gyoza and fried rice as well!” Masayoshi added.
Usually, Miyazaki ramen was pretty light, and the noodles were soft. If I had wanted to eat this kind of classic Miyazaki ramen, I could have had some at the ramen place located on the first floor of Miyazaki Bougainvillea Airport. The ramen they made here was the complete opposite, as though the recipe had been designed to fight back against the popular Miyazaki ramen. I loved it, and I wasn’t the only one. The ramen this place made was even pretty famous among the Yokozuna wrestlers. The rebellious spirit this ramen embodied was the cornerstone of the prefecture’s new market development.
“We’re not going into the dungeon today, Kazu-san?”
“Considering it’s past noon already, I thought it would be a bit of a waste,” I answered. “Once we check in at the hotel, I’ll give you guys the rest of the evening off. There’s a shopping district called Mutacho in the west of Miyakonojo. The area around Miyakonojo Station is also pretty developed. Don’t go drinking and driving, though, all right? Use a taxi if you have to.”
“Aniki,” Akira called out. “Do you have any cool places to recommend?”
“There are a few dishes you absolutely can’t miss in Miyazaki Prefecture. The first one is the ramen we’re having right now. Another one is chicken sashimi. There’s a place that serves this right in front of Miyakonojo Station, but since some people can’t handle the idea of eating raw chicken, I picked ramen instead and didn’t make a reservation for everyone there.”
“I heard charcoal-grilled chicken is also pretty famous here.”
“There’s a famous charcoal-grilled chicken place in Mutacho, but if you can find that in Tokyo as well. Chicken sashimi is pretty much impossible to find anywhere else. After all, you need to use the freshest chicken possible. If you wait more than half a day to eat it, it’s already too late.”
I ordered another bowl and thought about Amane, who wasn’t present this time. She should be in the middle of clearing Hakata Dungeon with her party. I wanted to go too... They have squid sashimi there... There was no way I’d ever get to eat that in Tokyo.
I’ve been to Hakata several times already, so maybe I’ll just teleport there next time I have a break...
I slurped my firm noodles as I thought about the many dishes I wanted to have.