TN Notes: Sorry for the delay, no chapter next week. Next release is April 6. Enjoy!
“Haa~aa”
Alice and Aikawa-san went back home from research building after school while Shingo was making a big sigh. I asked Shingo while I’m feeding Kon an ice cream.
“What’s the matter?”
“I cannot think of any birthday present for Emi-chan”
“It’s over!” He fell to desk while looking at Kon and I. He should just buy some kind of expensive items which can make her happy… That’s what I thought but I cannot tell it to Shingo who is seriously suffering. I need to consider his feelings. When is her birthday anyway? The time it takes to prepare accordingly will also change based on that.
“When is her birthday?”
“It's on July 20”
Hmm… It's still on 3 weeks. Even if you order to buy, there is still even enough time to get something else. After that, Aikawa’s hobby and preference would be the best thing to check to make the person herself be delighted with the gift. I asked Shingo for her favorite things and hobbies but an amazing answer came back.
“That… I do not know because I haven't asked”
Oi~! You do not know!? Have a little more interest in your girlfriend! I was shaking Shingo’s shoulder while complaining and he apologize while having a tearful eye.
“I’m sorry! I was embarrassed to ask her about it. Ah.., but she told me that she liked hot springs.”
Ho~ Hot spring huh? It’s a hot spring… I like hot springs as well. Yosh! It’s decided! I grasp Shingo’s shoulder again and declared
“Let’s dig a hot spring!”
“Fuhi!?”
“What are you saying?” I started to explain to Shingo while staring back into his eyes. For Aikawa-san who likes hot springs, if Shingo digs a hot spring and present it as a gift, she will surely like you more.
And if we dug a hot spring by ourselves, there is no need to worry about money in the future as you can immerse as much as you like at any time without getting in the way of others! It is a perfect frontier completion! Shingo raise specific problem as he temper himself.
“But, what do you do with the land? Besides, we need manpower as a cost for the work”
Of course, I thought about that point properly. You only have to buy the land! Apparently Shingo does not seem to confirm his cash account yet, rewards for the developed remedy for the previous “European Tragedy” were transferred to respective accounts today.
It was 500 million dollars. If you include my reward with Shingo, it is possible to build a castle. I can also do something if I work with my power suit. It also has the expertise necessary for digging hot springs. I explained to him.
“Fuhi, I feel like we can do this”
And Shingo is also motivated, he is asking me with an uneasy face when I think about the schedule of the future.
“Is it okay? You do not want to use your reward money for a different thing?”
“Shingo, what are you going to do without using money at such times. Do not worry about it, I will make a plan.”
As I laugh and say so, Shingo returned a happy face while saying “Thank You”. Oh well, you really don’t need to be so concerned. I will also let Alice use the hot spring once its done.
“Ja, I’d like a place in Hakone”
“Fuhi, It is a safe place, is it not?”
We moved into my house to make a detailed plan. The plan is to purchase a land around Hakone with a landscape surrounded by mountains. This is also to prevent disturbing other people. Next, I decided to have the building design same from a foreign country even though it should be attached to a hot springs… However, an issue occurred.
“Let’s make it a Baroque-style castle”
“Fuhi, Such a taste is bad. Gothic style like Cologne Cathedral should be good”
Our idea for the building were completely different. I decided to consult with my mother as our last resort because I also don’t want to give up on it but she answered while looking at us as if we are garbage.
“You see, Isn’t this a hot spring that you will gift for girls? Why are you making a building with such a bad taste where a vampire or a ghost would live in it? It should be something splendid like a Haussmann-like Palace”
No, I think that’s not it. In the end, Shingo and I decided to ask Clair-san to make the decision. She is the “rocket oneesan” who I eventually became indebted from the time of the previous uproar. I wrote the three opinion and sent it to her. After 10 minutes, I received a reply.
“All are rejected, if you show such a building I will definitely be drawn back and I think it is better to stop. Make it a more friendly and warm feeling log house.”
With a crane like voice from Clair-san, I decided to order log houses from importers. After that, is just about the land. Since legal procedures are necessary, I decided to ask mother to buy it as her mandatory possession.
From here onward, I cannot do anything unless I actually went to the place to dig a hot spring… I tried suggesting to Shingo to use the holiday to do the work but an unexpected answer came back.
“Hmmm, I can skip school because the final exam has already ended. You on other hand particularly do not need to go to classes, right?”
We send e-mail to each of our girls saying “We will research about the ecology of insects for about 3 weeks”. We got ready and headed to the mountain of Hakone three days later.
We are flying with my power suit from the foot town towards the purchased land. Of course, I was holding Shingo who is also wearing his own suit. In addition, there is enough capacity to load the necessary equipment. However, we really are in the middle of the mountain and all we can see are forest. Well, this is convenient for me.
“Kouki, it’s about time to land. Raise the altitude towards the target place.”
Communication is sent from Shingo who was watching the map. I rose to over 200 meters according to his voice. We will drop a dynamite for the shredding work. While holding it in his hand, he says “I will now drop it”.
Dynamite was set to explode at 5 meters above ground and had the expected effect. It blow off the forest within 10 meters around it. Landing on the point of explosion, We will set dynamite further around the area and retreat to the sky again.
“Fuhi! Fuhihihihihi!”
Every time Shingo pushes a blast switch while making a strange sound, the land where the forest is blew off and was quickly cleared. Shingo… Do not destroy everything too much, we can use those blown trees afterwards.
“You do not mind the excavator to be here?”
“Yup, please support so that it will not fall because I will operate from the cotch”
Since the land clearing is over, we set up a large excavator and started digging the water vein for the hot spring. To this end, we asked a geologist from the New Metal Development Division of the Next Generation Science Laboratory. They predicted the approximate location of the vein.
Today’s work is over when the anchor dives into the ground. After that we will just leave it expecting that the hot springs will be blowing out from it tomorrow morning. Holding Shingo again and soaring into the sky, I started my flight towards the town at the foot of the mountain from where I booked an inn accommodation.
—- Arakawa Miki point of view —-
I came to the National Executive Branch to make arrangements of the land for Kouki and Saito-kun. Although Kouki seemed to think that it would be okay if I own the land, there are actually complicated procedures included. Permission to use hot spring water and permission to build a building, I have to do those variety of procedures instead.
“I thought he knew everything, he is still a child after all”
He can solve everything by himself and I was also asked for a personal request so I am very pleased as a mother. Because of that I forgot to make an appointment to the person in charge, it suddenly came to the point where I have to come in person to the executive branch.
“I am called Arakawa Miki, I would like to meet the staff in charge of a land”
Because I know that I cannot meet the person in charge even if I visit suddenly, I gave the name “Arakawa” for it to get intercepted somewhat as more. As expected, we entered a room as soon as the meeting with the person in charge was permitted. Why is the person in charge looks frightened and sweating.
“Are you raising a coup? Then please go to the Cabinet Office and the Self-Defense Forces Headquarters instead of going here”
I wonder what you are misunderstanding? I am consulting about the land and its interests for Kouki. I explained that to him.
“I understand, since I approve it please spare my life!”
While saying that, he handed the settlement stamp to me. In this way, it seems that I am threatening and forcing him to get the approval. Certainly, I gave the name “Arakawa” to force an audience but not only me but Saito-kun would be misunderstood as well.
After that I explain thoroughly for over 2 hours and was able to solve the misunderstanding. Then I was asked to sign all the documents and leave the reception room. After standing at the exit of the executive branch, I finally understand why the person in charge was frightened so much.
“It was because of this”
I was speechless as I saw in my eyes the figure of the guard squad which was greatly reinforced since the last incident. Although the painting belonged to the UN Nation, there are 200 completely armed soldiers, 15 tanks and armored cars and battle helicopters flying above.
“I guess it’s a bit much”
While thinking about such a thing, I send an e-mail to Kouki that says “everything is okay”.
—- Arakawa Kouki point of view —-
“Here it comes!”
“Fuhi, You finally made it”
I have been working on digging a hot spring for more than two weeks… I was finally satisfied with what we have. In the first place, no hot spring emerged from the place where we drilled for the first time. It took three more places afterwards which took as longer than what we planned. After the water springs out, I made a wall made from the wood which was blown from the surroundings. I piped the ground and join other pipes that extends from the underground vein. I adjusted the water to be exactly like a salted plum blossoms.
After that, we assemble the imported log house to a place which will not be disturbed. We also lay rocks while making a bathtub… I do not want to recall the difficulty of the work so I will omit it. One thing to describe it though is that “It was not a work done by two people.”
“After that is only beds and life necessities, are they going back and forth in moving it?”
“No, Claire-san said that she will cooperate with her work colleagues to carry all of them in a helicopter. Let’s go back to the academy and pick up Alice and Aikawa-san”
I did not tell Shingo but in an email from Claire-san the day before yesterday evening, “Making Kouki-kun arrange necessary items for daily life will have the chance of preparing something devious so I will do it myself” is what she said.
What devious thing are you talking about! I will never do such a thing. I thought about buying a canopy bed or something… I almost complain to Shingo about it when…
“Kouki, I’m ready”
As he told me, we quietly flew away to the Academy.
“Huh! What? Hot springs?”
Since we already prepare ahead of time, we had to contact the two and had them waiting at the research building. After that, I only told them the general idea. Shingo looks shyly to Aikawa-san while talking about his gift while grinning.
“Yup, I remember that Emi told me that you like hot springs before. I was making it together with Kouki. I told you that we are researching on insects but I was actually digging in hot springs for a long time. That… I wonder if you will accept it as your birthday gift?”
Because of tension or somewhat doubtful Japanese it got the meaning of “I will go away to dug a hot spring for you”. Aikawa-san was hugging Shingo gladly and just like that Shingo seems to be happy. I feel that it was worth the effort. While looking at the scene, Alice asked me with a smile.
“What will I get on my birthday?”
Since I cannot think of anything, I could only say “secret”.
I place Alice on my suit and Aikawa-san forced herself crawling into Shingo’s Suit. We come back to the hot spring while flying unsteadily.
When we arrived, the living supplies were already brought in. I had a letter on the table so I read it.
“We carried over the items selected by my older sister Ellis and women colleagues. Do not worry because the money has been properly deducted from Kouki-kun’s cash account.” (TN: Claire was pertaining to Ellis as Ane which means older sister similar to oneechan but more respectful, can also be used to show respect to a female who is older/superior than you)
After reading, as I looked around… indeed, the tableware and the tables are full of ‘feminity’. As expected, isn’t this too fancy? As I worried about that.
“Megumin! This is cute”
“It is indeed, it’s because Shin-kun have a good sense”
So I decided to break up the letters finely and clear my hand. Shingo also speaks to me using his eyes, You don’t have to tell them! I will not expose it. Next is the introduction of the bath however it is better if they actually get in… When I said that.
“To do so, I will come in with Alice but no one should peek”
Aikawa-san told me to be ashamed. “Of course I will not do such a thing”, I told them that over and over and affirm that I will not do it. I already had a plan with Shingo though. Alice takes my word and watch my eyes while thinking of such bad idea.
“That’s true. If a rabbit is lewd and peeped into Megumin, I will have to crush it!”
Huh? What are you going to crush? My lower abdomen became painful in the midst of fear. Aikawa also says the same thing.
“Let’s see, If Shin-kun looked into Alice instead of me. I will also have to crush”
“Fuhi!?” and Shingo makes a fearful voice. They put those words in front of us and disappeared into an open-air bath. We could not move in our spot. Was Alice such a scary girl?
I was trying to desperately remember their words but I cannot. However there is the certain idea… “If you peek at me you are dead” Alice said… maybe… Does Shingo also remembered that Aikawa-san said the same thing? Looking at each other faces, smile overflows at neither.
There seems to be lots of fun during the summer vacation this year.
Author’s Note:
Other’s point of view? There may be someone who wants it but there is nothing like that this time because the next chapter is already scheduled to start right after this.