Vol. 1 - Ch. 6 - Memories of Japan

We enter the building and take the elevator to a trendy bar, where we can have drinks.

Here too, a waiter shows us to our seats. We didn't have to call the waiter to order drinks; an electronic ordering touch panel was available.

"You can pick whatever you want."

I handed it over to her first.

She looks at it and says, "Wow, they've got quite a variety of drinks. I'll have a screwdriver then. Marc?"

"Alright. I'll have a Moscow Mule."

We place our orders on the panel.

Then, Yuki, sitting in front of me, looks at me and says, "May I ask you something?"

"Please, anything you want."

"Why did you come to Japan? I know it's a common question, but I'm curious."

"A friend of mine recommended it to me. That I come back."

"You said you had been to here before. Did something happen at that time that traumatized you?"

The cocktails we ordered are served at the table.

We hold our glasses, lightly tapping them against each other with a klink.

"You're right. I really liked my friend (Oda Nobunaga) at that time. His ideas seemed bizarre at first glance, but they made sense. I knew that his dreams would surely come true one day (unification of the country). In fact, it was a different person who made it come true (Tokugawa Ieyasu), but his subordinates betrayed him... and because of that, he sadly passed away (The Honnoji Incident). I went back to my own country after that."

I remember Nobunaga at that time.

"Oh, I see. A friend... You must have really appreciated him."

"Oh yes, I was fond of him. After he was gone, Japan became nothing but a place full of sad memories for me. But it's been a while since then, so my friend told me I should come back, partly because I love manga and anime."

I wink at Yuki.

"I see. Then maybe Akihabara would have been better for you to visit?"

"I've been there so many times since then! It's great! I've been to maid cafes that I've seen in manga and anime! I had the best time."

I remember those times! Oh, yeah! That was so much fun! I should go again!

"I didn't know you were such an otaku. But maybe you were happier with the maids."

"Oh! You called me an otaku! I'll tell you what. You've made a lot of enemies! I'm glad to hear it, though."

Yuki bursts out laughing. Then the geek talk, which I had been holding back from, comes into full bloom. I didn't expect Yuki to know so much about this. Doujinshi? She said she would buy a book called doujinshi. When I asked to borrow the book, she turned red in the face and refused. I'm curious, but... well. I'll ask again next time.

Then Yuki says as if just remembering.

"Marc. Do you remember that incident?"

"You mean the time we went with the police?"

"Yes! There's another body just like it, and I was called in again."

Did Rick tell Jack about this? This is going to expose us. Eventually, witnesses would come forward. It would be traumatizing to see a scene like that. Besides, there are security cameras everywhere. If we were caught on camera...

"What's wrong? Is there something on your mind?"

I made Yuki worry. I'm an escort, but I'm not being a very good one.

"No, it's nothing. I just feel sorry for the first person to find the body."

"I know. I've been to many autopsies, but I've never seen a body like that."

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