HAMA Tours Party

Alright, I’d like to take the lead for this toast. I’m Oguro Kafka, the president and CEO of HAMA Tours.

We’ve spent the past several months restoring HAMA and searching for people who are willing to join us on that journey…

And now we’ve finally reached one of our major goals. We have elected mayors for all 18 wards.

Thank you so much to my employees who bet their lives on this with me and worked hard to make things happen. I know you’ve run into a lot of hardships along the way.

……

Burggh… We’ve been through so much!! I’m gonna cry…!

It wasn’t easy for any of our mayor teams either. We’ve come this far solely due to the potential that all of our mayors hold as humans.

The Night Team is still fresh, but thanks to our chief and Daniel, I believe that we have the best random factors around to bring HAMA back to its former glory.

Toi from Angel’s Eye, Yodaka from Yumejuya, Netaro from Cafe369… and Nagi from Flower Laundry. Welcome to our team.

……

It’s a pleasure.

*sigh…* I hope I can find Brother Dearest soon…

…!

(It’s Toi-kun… But where’s Ryui-kun…?)

Hmm? I think I remember him from our handshake event.

……

Hm? What’s up, Raitin?

It’s nothing… I’m fine.

I’m confident that we’ll clear our 20 million visitor quota with the Night Team’s first tour.

I am truly grateful to all 18 of the mayors gathered here today.

A toast to our bright future as mayors and as the city of HAMA! Cheers!

Cheers!

Good evening, Chief.

Yo, what’s up?

You guys… Thank you so much for all of your work up until now… Cheers!

Cheeeeers! We’re like a bunch of wealthy elites in an American TV show!

Hm? Are you only having juice, Chief?

Damn, why? It’s not like you can’t drink or anything. Just get some booze.

True, but I have work to do after this.

EEK! I do too, but here I am, still drinking…!

Oh, but you’re a heavyweight. You’ll be alright.

You don’t want to put up with him after he gets drunk, so I recommend you work in your room, Chief.

I am very glad to hear that you two are dedicated to your work. But I digress. Our company is standing at the starting line at long last.

Looks like the Night Team has one less member than the others.

It had to, since we only have 19 wards, including Ward 0.

This is where shit really starts to hit the fan, y’know. Keep your eye on the ball, Chief.

Of course! I’ll make sure to really knuckle down and do whatever I can to be of help to the company and HAMA⁠—

Waagh! Cut that out, cut that out! No business talk in front of the booze.

B-But…

I agree. I believe the god of travel will be benevolent enough to allow you to rest for today.

Alright, my next drink is callin’ my name. Later.

Ah, I’m going to get some more of the expensive roast beef…

I’ll get it for you, Fuefuki-san. I’m a bit worried that you’ll crash into the chocolate fountain next to it.

Ahaha…

I shall go and speak to the others. Goodbye for now. Do enjoy the party.

Okay, see you later.

……

(We finally have all of our mayors. It’s like a dream come true…)

Are you having fun, Kaede-chan?

Ah, Kafka. You did well leading the toast. I can’t believe the little promise we made on the rooftop led us all the way here.

Really? I’m very glad to hear that from you. Thanks.

Do you know where Nagi is, by the way? I wanted to make sure he felt comfortable living here.

I thought he’d be with you.

Hm… Yeah, I was planning on walking around with him, since I knew he wouldn’t be used to this place yet, but I haven’t spotted him. Maybe he’s out getting some fresh air.

……

(I’ve been standing diagonally behind them this entire time, but they haven’t noticed me.)

Um, Nagi-shan is right he⁠—

Shhh, don’t tell them.

But…

If they notice me now, they’ll feel bad about ignoring me and keep apologizing for it for the next two months. Besides…

If they start talking to me, the catering table might fall on them out of nowhere.

I don’t think that’ll happen. The table sheemsh pretty shecure.

No, you don’t know that for sure. This is the first time I’ve ever been to a party. There’s no telling what kind of incident will happen.

It’s completely unpredictable… Being in such a happy place means royal flush levels of luck. Even if a bunch of aliens suddenly invaded the house, it wouldn’t fully balance it out. This isn’t good. I can’t even stand still. My mind is racing.

Okay. I need to leave as soon as possible.

Huh?!

Oh, there you are, Nagi!

Ah, Renga… And Raito-san.

Hello. We haven’t met since we had our leader meeting. Welcome to the HAMA House, Nagi. You too, Sonia.

It’sh very nicesh to meet you.

I-It’s great to have a good guy like you as the leader of the Night Team. It really helps to, um, put us at ease⁠—

I’m already very uneasy myself.

Huh?

Ah, uh, never mind. I apologize for the intrusion.

Ahaha, what are you saying? This house belongs to you too.

Yes, you’re right. I’m sorry, it was a force of habit. I’m a bit panicky at the moment, since I’m in an unfamiliar environment.

Oh, for real? Yeah, I thought that you’d be…kinda uncomfortable with stuff like this. So, um…are you doing okay?

You’re very kind, Renga. I admire your consideration.

I-I wasn’t trying to be considerate… Ah, if you need the bathroom, it’s over there.

Ah, yes. I know.

Nagi-shan, you kept feeling uncomfortable and already went in there to take a break five different timesh.

Shh…

Renga, it’s a bit inappropriate to bring that up while we’re all eating.

I-I didn’t mean it that way…! He didn’t look like he was enjoying the party, so I just thought he had to go or something…

It’s alright, I always look like this. By the way, how are your roses? Are they doing okay?

Oh, yeah! I did everything you taught me, and now my grandmother’s roses are blooming!

The topiaries you taught me how to trim are still looking great too.

Plants really seem to like you, Renga. You’re a fast learner too. You might be a natural green thumb.

Wha⁠— Really?! A natural…? I-I mean, I don’t really think so, but…

Renga, we came here to talk about Nagi.

O-Oh, you’re right. How’ve you been since then? Good?

Yeah. I delivered flowers to your house one time.

Ah, yeah. I asked you for some flowers to decorate our lobby with. Our guests really like them…

I couldn’t have made the arrangement if you didn’t give me your ideas to work off of, so it’s all thanks to your good taste.

No, I…! I don’t really have a good sense for flowers… I was just thinking about what flowers would suit the Nishizonos… Uhh, so I dunno, maybe it was your good tastes…

Ahaha, it sounds like both of you had a hand in it to me.

The famous Wild Seven Executive Omega. I didn’t expect to find it here.

……

(Crisp, with a fruity aftertaste… Ah, it’d go perfectly with a salted rim.)

(There should be some salt at the catering table…)

*bump* ……

Oh, pardon me… I didn’t mean to bump into you.

I didn’t make you spill your drink, did I?

…It’s fine.

That’s quite the relief. I’m Natsume Yodaka, the upcoming Ward 17 mayor. Pleased to meet you.

(A handshake…)

Lu Liguang, Ward 4 mayor.

……

Oh?

(There’s a callous on his ring finger. He must be…)

(A fellow mahjong player…)

……

……

How long have you been playing?

I had a tile in my hand while I was still in the womb.

Very interesting… I’d love to witness your skill myself.

Would you like to play a round with me someday?

I wouldn’t mind, but…we need one more person…

Hey.

Hm?

Can you play mahjong?

I have not played it before, but I can install the rules into my database in precisely one minute.

Lovely. We should play a round tonight. I wouldn’t mind playing with just the three of us, but let’s look for one more person, just to be safe.

Fine, but you won’t be winning any points off of me.

Haha… You’re the type to monopolize the women you want, I see. The points will find themselves in the hands of the man they favor most… And that man will be me.

……