Beyond Twilight

(A florist… I keep checking my map, but it seems as if this is the right place. It does seem to be quite crowded…)

(How could a simple florist help you “deepen your bond with yourself”?)

Hello, are you a tour particshipant? Right thish way.

Nagi-shan, we have another cushtomer!

Welco… *gasp*

(*gasp* He knocked over the large flower vase next to him…!)

HRM…!

(But he caught it and landed in an acrobatic pose…!)

Are you alright, young man?!

I apologize for the disturbance. This happens quite often. Let me just put it back… Okay. It should be fine.

It happens…often?

Allow me to refocus and ask you this directly. Will this shop truly help me deepen my bond with myself?

Yes.

(An unwavering gaze and an immediate answer… I see, at least he’s confident.)

I laid out a variety of seedlings and saplings here, so feel free to choose your favorite.

Hoh?

You can take your time with it, or you can just pick based on your gut instinct.

Don’t you have pictures of what they look like when they’re grown? I don’t know what kinds of flowers these will bloom into. I don’t even know which ones are seedlings and which ones are saplings.

Yes, that information’s hidden on purpose.

(I see… I suppose that if you don’t know what it’ll look like when it grows, you’ll be more attached to it.)

I shall choose this one.

Now you can open your tour app and tap on the plant icon. If you bring the seedling closer to your phone…

Wha…! W-What is this noise?

It’s the seedling’s voice. You can use the app to speak to it.

What…?! Nonsense!

If you ever find yourself on another solo trip, please use the HAMA Tours app as you’re traveling.

Even if you’re apart, the seedling that you’re about to plant will be able to talk to you through the app about how both of you have been growing.

While you’re out there working hard, the seedling will be sitting here and working hard too.

Hrng…

You’ll be planting the seed in a plot of land at the same park our HosLive will be held at. You can choose a spot on your app now and go there to plant it later.

Aside from this, you can also send a message to your future self using your own original flower langua⁠— *gasp*

Nagi-shan, watch out!

(Now a different large vase is falling right towards him…!)

HRMM…!

(And he caught it again…! With another acrobatic pose!)

The app will guide you to the park. There are special lights set up around the plot, so, even though it’s nighttime, there should be no problems. If you don’t know how to plant it, you can always ask me for help through the app.

Thank you… Make sure to be careful around your vases. Excuse me.

(Being able to plant a seedling with your own two hands turns that land into something very special. You’ll want to keep coming back to visit it, almost as if you were visiting another version of yourself.)

(Phew… I haven’t gardened in quite a while. It’s left me fairly hungry. It seems as though dinner will be served in Ward 18’s Cafe369.)

(The exterior tells me that its main customer base is young people. I’m curious as to what they will do.)

Dah! Mmmmmmmpork bun!

Welcome, welcome! Ordering a drink?

(Urgh…! What an attack on the senses! Was that waiter wearing roller skates just now…?)

(He’s skating around the cafe and serving tables with so much freedom, like a sea creature swimming in the open ocean…)

Alright, mister. What kind of color are you feeling today? Happy? Sad? Super happy?

I can create a custom bun for you in just three minutes with this device! I call it the Bun Fantasia!

(Custom bun…?!)

Wow…! What is this? A fruit-flavored bun…? It’s so good!

…This is amazing! Wow, I’m so glad I came here!

*gulp, gulp…* Aaahh! This bun goes so well with a nice, cold beer! The black pepper’s just bursting with flavor!

(There are a large number of single diners, and most of them are young people. This is no place for a middle-aged man such as I…)

Enemyyyy.

W-What on earth is this pet robot doing?! Get off of my shoulder!

Enemy spotteeed. Male Cro-Magnon, tourist human. Ooooveeeer.

Mmrm? I’m getting a transmission from Laika… I see, I see. A 55 year old male. He must be a spy…!

Wha… What is the meaning of this? I haven’t even placed my order yet.

No matter. I must treat all tourist humans coming to this cafe especially well!

Ready, Laika? It is hospitality tiiiime!

Pineal gland, activate!

Here’s your bun! Mr. 55-year-old male Cro-Magnon, you will be receiving the Spy Mission in Oblivion ☆ Sour-Sweet Pork Bun Full Course!

(This is…entirely too much food! And they’re all steamed buns at that… I suppose I will try one.)

(MRMHMM…! DELICIOUS!)

(How strange. They all have a different taste, feel, and texture. This must be the ultimate steamed bun sampling plate. I wouldn’t even consider some of them as pork buns anymore, considering how sweet they are. But either way, they’re delicious…!)

*gasp*

(Being in this cafe is an utterly unpleasant experience, but why am I so entranced by the food? I’m even spouting off food reviews in my head… This must be…!)

(Since the cafe itself is such a mess, that means that the individual customers do not stand out…!)

(Just as the tour concept entailed, everyone is enjoying their trip on their own. The cafe is filled with solo diners, both young and old!)

(It’s so easy to enjoy the otherworldly taste of the pork buns without worrying about other people’s opinions that you may even find yourself smacking your lips from its delicious flavor… How splendid.)

Did you like it?

Yes… Bravo, Bun Fantasia!

Alright. It’s a given to end the day with a drink. Ward 17’s Yumejuya, hm?

Welcome. Please, take a seat.

(Hm… The barkeep’s appearance, the interior, and this atmosphere… All of it hits you with a sense of security as soon you step inside.)

I’m quite parched, so I will start with a short drink. A martini, if you please.

As you wish.

Your drink, sir.

Thank you. Ah… Excellent.

This is a wonderful bar. Who chose this music?

He did. I always rely on him to set the mood.

Thank you very Much. The playlist for tonight was created with the theme of travel in Mind.

How splendid.

I’m fairly tired from walking around all day, so I’m glad I have some time to rest here.

Were you working?

Yes, precisely. Oh, I’ve already finished my drink.

I can create an original cocktail for your second drink tonight, sir.

Hoh. Then I will have that.

Thank you for your patience. This is the Desert Oasis.

Oh, how beautiful… Time for a taste…

(The refreshing aroma of mint and lime… Combined with the clean taste of the gin, it reminds you of a cool sea breeze.)

It feels as if a fresh spring has rejuvenated my tired and thirsty body. The exact drink I was looking for.

I go to bars quite often, but it’s rare to find ones quite this exemplary.

Thank you so much.

I hope you’ll think fondly of this night, so much so that you never want tomorrow to come.

That is the sort of space that I wanted to create.

(I’d love to stay, but I must get going. What a shame…)

(I thought that this tour would only be appealing to youngsters, but that thought completely left my mind at some point.)

(No, this isn’t the end. I will only form my opinion after I see their hospitality live.)

I took the sign down.

Yes, thank you.

Almost time for the show, right?

Yes.

…You’re gonna leave HAMA Tours after the tour’s over, right?

……

Yoda, nothing in this universe is purely a result of your imagination. Everything has a root cause.

…I know.

I know, but I don’t want to find that out. I’m afraid that finding out will destroy the treasured sense of tranquility I have.

I know I can’t do much, but I’m responsible for supervising you. More importantly, I’m your friend and your housemate.

If you have something that’s bothering you, I want you to tell me, so I can help. Would that be okay?

By the way, Yodaka-san, did you know that this flower also has another meaning?

……

I’m actually more familiar than that one. It’s⁠—

(…Beginnings.)

(I learned about that meaning while I was looking the flower up, but I unconsciously ran away to the other meaning.)

(It seems that Nagi picked up on that unconscious action of mine.)

Yodaka-san? Ah, you’re not thinking of backing out, are you…?

Yuda.

What’s up?

The first time I met you was when you came in for your interview. At least, that should’ve been the case.

Why’re you bringing that up all of a sudden?

Well, I’ve always known that you liked more elegant stuff since the moment you set up shop here.

I need to ask you something.