Hospitality Beginnings - SIDE A

Tokyo Metropolis International Airport - Baggage Claim

<⁠Suspect Kitakata Raito has been arrested on charges of aggravated assault. Kitakata is an entrepreneur well-known for starting the metaverse service known as mahorova…⁠>

Kaede

Phew… We finally landed.

(I like traveling, but it feels so nice to be back home.)

(Well, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows now that I’m here, seeing as how I’m gonna be unemployed in a week…)

*bump* Ah…

1

Man with Long Hair

Excuse me.

Kaede

I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention…

Man with Long Hair

I’m sorry too. You’re not hurt?

Kaede

No, I’m okay. Are you…?

Man with Long Hair

Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks.

Kaede

(He looked kind of familiar…)

*bump* Woah…!

001_01

Man with Red Hair

Slow down! Who said you could walk in front of me?!

Man with Long Hair

……

Man with Red Hair

Hey! Did I stutter?! Don’t make me say it again!

Man with Long Hair

…Rudeness doesn’t deserve a response. I shouldn’t have to explain that to you.

Man with Red Hair

You son of a…!

Oh, there’s my luggage. Move!

Kaede

(I should get my suitcase too. How long is it gonna take? What time was my bus again…?)

Man with Long Hair

Hey… Don’t cut in front of me. Out of the way.

Man with Red Hair

Shut it, dumbass! Don’t get in my way! We both know my suitcase is gonna come out first.

Man with Long Hair

Bèndàn… Where do you get all of that baseless confidence from?

Man with Red Hair

Just wait, I’ll prove you wrong! My bag is gonna come out⁠—

Man with Long Hair

That’s mine.

Man with Red Hair

Wuh?!

Man with Long Hair

Heh…

Man with Red Hair

Damn you… Hey, Li⁠—

*alarms sounding*

Man with Long Hair

…Hm?

Security Robot

Stop. Stop.

Man with Long Hair

What?

Security Robot

Please open your luggage and step away. A search will be conducted.

*alarms sounding*

Man with Long Hair

……

Security Robot

Commencing search.

*alarms sounding*

Security Robot

Unidentified pills found. Color: green. Enclosed in transparent package. One bag.

Man with Long Hair

Those are…!

Security Robot

We ask for your cooperation to confirm the details.

Man with Long Hair

…Those are…ra…

…Rabbit pellets.

Kaede

(Pellets…? He has a pet rabbit?)

Man with Red Hair

Haha! Go ahead and take your sweet time! I told you I’d be first out!

Man with Long Hair

Tch…

Kaede

(They were at each other’s throats in the plane too. The things they argue about are, uh…kind of childish, though.)

Oh, there’s my suitcase.

Hup… Oof.

(Oh, I should put my carry-on inside.)

(My passcode was… Hm…?)

…Huh?

Suitcase

Kaede

A little doggy keychain? This isn’t mine… Did I take someone else’s bag?!

Tokyo Metropolis International Airport - Lobby
Man with Red Hair

Phew, finally home… Wasn’t an easy flight.

Oh, crap… Almost forgot.

2

Man with Red Hair

Heh…

(As long as I got these on, the only people who can recognize me are my superfans.)

…Alright. Clothes, check. Hair, check. Gotta keep it classy.

(A Nishizono’s gotta look his best.)

Let’s roll⁠—

Kaede

Excuse me!

Man with Red Hair

Eep?!

Kaede

Excuse me! Can I talk to you? You in the sunglasses!

Man with Red Hair

Wh… A-A fan? If he makes a fuss here… No, wait, I got this. We’re staying classy…

Man with Red Hair

Wh… A-A fan? If she makes a fuss here… No, wait, I got this. We’re staying classy…

Kaede

Um, that suitcase is…!

Man with Red Hair

Ahem… Sorry to say, but I’m on a private schedule.

Kaede

What? No wait, I just need the suitcase…

Man with Red Hair

(He’s still going… I really gotta pull out the big guns on these crazy types.)

(Activating my Secret Technique: Reporter-Evading Speed Walk!)

Man with Red Hair

(She’s still going… I really gotta pull out the big guns on these crazy types.)

(Activating my Secret Technique: Reporter-Evading Speed Walk!)

Kaede

Wait! Hold on!

Man with Red Hair

H-Hey…!

Let go! Back up, commoner!

Kaede

C-Commoner…?!

Man with Red Hair

Who gave a commoner like you the permission to touch an A-list celebrity?!

Kaede

No, I mean, I just…

(Wait… Is he…?)

Woman A

Wait, is that Renga…?

Woman B

No way, what’s he doing here?!

Kaede

(I was right… He’s Nishizono Renga, the famous model who’s the mayor of one of the HAMA wards… He runs Ward 3, right?)

(Oh, and…)

(I think that other man was a mayor too. What was his name, Lu Liguang…?)

(I guess they know each other because they’re both ward mayors. They didn’t seem to like each other very much, though…)

Woman A

Do I talk to him? Do I?!

Woman B

Uh, who’s that person next to him?

Renga

Shit, now everything’s a mess…

Hey, you! You’re the one who caused all of this! What’s your problem?!

Kaede

No, I just wanted to tell you about my suitcase…

Renga

Sh-Shut it! I’m getting out of here!

Woman A

Aah! I want Renga to yell at me too!

Woman B

I’m so jealous!

Woman A

Rengaaaaa!!

Kaede

Huh?! Wait…!

Onlooker A

What? What’s happening?

Onlooker B

Renga’s here? As in, Nishizono Renga, the model?

Renga

Hey, back off! Can’t you see I got sunglasses on?! That means I’m on a private schedule!!

Old Man

Look at alla these people… You reckon everyone’s here linin’ up for them souvenirs?

Old Woman

My, it’s so crowded… City folk really have it different.

Kaede

(O-Oh no… Everyone’s crowding around us.)

Renga

I told you all to step back!! Back the hell up!!

Woman A

Aah! Renga yelled at me!

Onlooker B

Wow, Nishizono Renga’s kind of an asshole.

Old Man

This line ain’t movin’ at all. Cashiers these days can’t even get the job done right.

Kaede

(This isn’t good. Things aren’t calming down.)

Girl (?)

*sigh* What a dreadful sight. You have no right to call yourself a mayor when you can’t even provide decent hospitality

No wonder HAMA is doomed to fail.

How boring. Let’s go.

Kaede

(People are badmouthing HAMA…! I can’t let my hometown’s reputation go down like this…)

Renga

Gahhhh, fuck!! What the hell do I do now?!

Kaede

Wait, please just hear me out!!

Renga

What do you want…!

Kaede

I can help you!

Renga

Huh?! You wanna help…?

3

Liguang

…What’s happening here?

Kaede

Ah, perfect timing! Can you help us too?

Liguang

Help? With what exactly…

Kaede

Help with…offering hospitality!