Africa1
Can I look inside? I just wanna check.
Of course.
(What’s going on…? They’re whispering about something…)
(It looks like they’re taking something out of that drawstring pouch…)
…Who’s there?!
Shit…!
(Ah… They hid it. Oh well…)
Sorry! I didn’t mean to spy on you.
I-It’s okay. I know you wouldn’t do something like that, Chief.
Y-Yeah, it was an accident, I’m sure it was… Right, Kaguya-kun?
Right. It was…just an accident.
What were you looking at? That’s a really cute little pouch.
Oh, uh, this is… Haha…
It’s…not very important.
(They’re acting weird. These two aren’t the type to be so flustered.)
(*gasp*)
(Ahh! I got it! They probably brought some stuff they wanna hide… They’re teen boys, after all.)
Uh…
……
(I remember watching those kinds of videos with my friends on school trips too.)
(Alright… We’re all guys here. I gotta let them know I understand.)
I get it! It’s pretty fun to watch those with your friends! It’s just like talking about what girls you like! It’s one of the best parts of a trip.
Huh? What are y—
Ah, it’s okay! I totally get it!
I see. I’m glad you understand.
I really don’t think he does.
I’m just gonna take out this trash and go back to my room! I won’t interrupt, so don’t worry about it! See you tomorrow!
Ugh… I think he’s got the wrong idea. He probably thinks we have…y’know.
I don’t. What are you talking about?
Uhh, never mind. It’s whatever.
…Dealing with adults is kind of a pain in the ass.
Good morning, everyone! Your hospitality training course begins today.
I know this is sudden, but I’d like to start by making sure everyone has a strong spirit!
…I see.
I know that you students are new to working in hospitality. Your only weapons at the moment are the eyelashes of God.
Whazzat mean?
It’s a long story, but it seems to be my sacred treasure.
As have-nots, you suffer… That’s why you need a strong spirit! “I will provide hospitality!” That grit! That courage!
Show me you feel that way! Your training regimen may change based on the results!
Alright… Let’s do this, everyone!
That’s enough!
*pant, pant…* Thank you for your instruction…
There is no time to rest. Your on-site training starts now! Let’s go!
(Th-This is tougher than I expected…!)
You may rest!
*pant, pant…* Fuck…
I’m POOOOOPED! I need something sweet… Like white sugar or brown sugar or banana sugar…
Café au lait sounds so good right now. With extra sugar…and I feel like a light roast today.
I’d love some chocolate.
…I want…something…pretty and fancy.
Agh, I’ll take anything at this point! Just gimme something sweet!
I knew this would happen, so I found somewhere for us to have brunch. They serve crepes and coffee!
It looks so tasty! Thank you so much! Let’s all talk about our strategy going forward while we eat!
Let’s eat!
*munch, munch…*
Mmm, it’s so good! It’s, like, melting all my fatigue away! The deliciousness is coursing through my veins!
It really is! They taste a little different to the crepes I’m used to…
…Olive.
Hm?
I’m surprised you noticed. That’s right, these crepes are made with lemon olive oil. They’re a personal favorite of mine.
Oh, I see… The olive really accentuates the flavor!
It does. Shodoshima is quite famous for its olives. Isn’t it delicious? You won’t find this flavor anywhere else.
……
You’re the only one who noticed the taste of olive. Do you like it?
*munch, munch…*
Haha, good grief. You’re not very honest, aren’t you?
(He’s really wolfing it down. You can tell he loves it.)
We all had a chat after we ate and decided on everyone’s roles for the summer festival prep work.
Kiroku-kun is going to paint lanterns to put up as decoration. Nanaki-kun is in charge of operating the music they’ll play during the 2,000-shot fireworks show.
Ushio-kun will help set up a food stall in an area that needs one, Akuta-kun’s going to be recording the whole event, and Muneuji-kun will be overseeing everyone.
And finally…
Good work today, everyone. Now that it’s almost the afternoon, you’ll all have some free time.
I want everyone to learn about Shodoshima, so feel free to walk around and take a moment to broaden your understanding of the island.
Make sure to keep your GPSs on you, and remember to submit a report of your activities and stay in touch with me.
Alright, we’re done here for now!
Free time?! YEAHHH! We’re free, baby!! Alright, guys. What movie should we watch tonight?
Dude, are you seriously thinking of staying in my room again?
Akuta-kun, you were in Nanaki-kun’s room yesterday?
Yeah. He barged in to watch a movie with us.
……
We ended up falling asleep huddled together, but we barely slept at all. Right?
Mm…
Isotake worked so hard to win his own room. He’s quite strange.
More like he just gets lonely easily.
People like that are everywhere. It’s like they don’t even know how to exist without being around others.
Or maybe he just can’t sleep alone. I guess he still sleeps with his mommy at home, ahaha.
Ushio-kun, don’t be mean…!
Too bad for you! I can sleep a-okay alone. But doing the same thing over and over’s boring, so I like havin’ sleepovers!
But y’know, ever since he was in the Oden Group, Nanaki hasn’t been able to sleep without his goat plush—
Wh— You…! Isotake-ku— Akuta!
Urghgh… Aoguhg… I…can’t breathe…!
That’s one clean choke hold… What’s the Oden Group, by the way?
Oh, nothing much. I met Akuta in kindergarten… We were both in the Oden Group… We parted ways in the middle of elementary school and met again in middle school.
Uncle, uncle…! I’m…dy…ing…
Yeah, that’s about it. It’s not all that important. It’s just dumb, really.
O-Oh, I see… Um, Akuta-kun’s face is going purple…
…Okay, you’re good.
Augh… *cough, cough…* What was that all about?! I saw my life flash before my eyes. That was my first near-death experience!
He’s smiling…
…You’re…strong.
Well, whatever! C’mon, dude, let’s watch a movie together as Oden Group bros.
*sigh…* Fine. What are we watching?
How about Africa?!
…No thanks.
(Hm? Nanaki-kun seems kinda…)
Whaaat, why not?
I already promised to watch that with someone else.
I guess…it’s already out on streaming.
I get it, dude. But don’t those kinda promises expire after the movie stops showing in theaters?
……
Yeah, I know.
But I’m not gonna watch that movie with you. That’s it. Seeya.
Ah, wait! Nanaki-kun!
Footnotes
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A reference to Brazil (1985). ↩