Epilogue of R1ze SIDE:A

I’m really excited for the party tonight.

I’m just happy I get to go shopping with you, Chief. ♪

Woof woof!

You look happy too, Shumai.

We were lucky that we got to do the shopping, so I can take you outside with us.

Castca’s¹ that huge, super cheap wholesale supermarket, right? The holy land of the paupers! I’m so excited!

I went there with the chief a lot after I got my license. They sell everything for pretty cheap and in big portions, so it’s fun to browse around.

Hah, nobody wants to hear you brag about going shopping with our chief.

I must be of use to thank you for bringing me there… Liguang-san! May I take over the driving for you?!

*gasp*

N-No, it’s fine. Fuefuki, just sit there. And restrain yourself with your seatbelt while you’re at it.

Ooh, you’re so pale, Liguang-san. What’s the matter? Are you scared of someone?

……

……

You know, I really didn’t expect our 20,000,000th visitors to be the KOBE mayors.

I was about 50% sure that it would be the case. I invited them when I felt like it was the perfect time.

And we got some pretty good publicity out of it too.

(Right, the news did report on it. “Popular KOBE Mayors Arrive in HAMA! The 20,000,000th Guest Miracle!” or something. I wonder if Kafka already knew this would happen.)

What? You invited them yourself? Sheesh, gimme a break. It was a pain in the ass to deal with that Kotonojo person.

Don’t say that, Ten. I’m sure you did some great work. You’re very skillful, after all.

Yeah, but that wasn’t what I was talking about. I had the hardest time trying to get Kotonojo off of me.

Our KOBE trip, huh? That brings back so many memories. Do you remember when we went on the Ferris wheel together, Renga-kun?

……

Renga-kun?

Woah! Huh? What?

Renga, you went on the Ferris wheel with our chief?! How come you get to have a head start?!

*gasp…* I missed my chance to ride the Ferris wheel with the chief…?

Uh, um… I’m sorry, I guess?

You have no clue what they’re talking about, don’t you? Béndán…

HUH?! Didja just talk shit about me, Liguang?!

……

(Now that I look back on it, Renga-kun’s changed so much since that Ferris wheel ride.)

*sigh…* Whatever.

Man, what do I do…?

(It looks like something’s on his mind.)

We’ll be going on more team study trips in the future! So I can ride a Ferris wheel with Chief too!

I’d like that. I want to make up for what I missed too.

I’ll think about going if it’s all expenses paid.

I-I’m nothing but a lowly moth chasing after your blinding light, so I fully intend to accompany you all…!!

Maybe we should wear local cultural outfits next time!

Either way, that’s still far into the future.

Hmm… Hmmmm…?

(Yeah, Renga-kun’s mind is definitely somewhere else right now.)

(But for our next round of study trips, I think we’ll have even more interesting experiences than last time, since everyone’s gotten closer to each other! I’m really excited.)

Hyoooeeeehhhh… We’ve arrived at Castca, the Sanctuary of Cheap Goods!! I-I wish I could live here foreveeeeer…

I made a shopping list, so let’s split up to cover the whole store. We need meat, vegetables, drinks…

T-Ten…

What’s up, Renga-san? Why’re you whispering?

Shh!

Um… I need help. Just between us, since we’re friends… I haven’t decided on a present for the chief yet…

What? The party’s literally today.

Yeah, that’s why I’m freaking out… What should I do?!

I-I never thought about that! But…how…?

Hmm… Well, I guess I can help you out.

Oh, Sojun-san! What’re you doing here?

I’m here to help you carry your items.

Oh, that’ll really help.

We have to buy enough for 25 people and one dog, after all. I’ll make sure to thank you after.

Please, think of me as nothing but a shadow and pay me no mind.

Thanks, Sojun. Once you get all of the groceries, bring them back to the dorms. Be on standby until then.

Understood.

(Liguang-san must’ve called him in to be considerate. We do have a lot of groceries to carry. He’s always so capable…)

Okaaay! I’m gonna go pick out the alcohol with Liguang-san!

…Huh?

Oh, looks like we already got most of the meat and veggies we need! Yachiyo-san’s about to knock over that pile of juice boxes at any moment, so I’ll leave him to the prez and Yukikaze, since you two are so good at keeping an eye on people.

Huh…? AHH, YACHIYO! Watch where you’re going! You’re going to knock those over!

What?! HAWAAAHHH!

…That was close. I caught it just in time.

Chief, you should go and pick out some snacks with Renga-san. He said that he wants some recs from you. ♪

*gasp*

Oh, really? Sure. Let’s go, Renga-kun.

Hey, Murakumo.

Liguang-san, would you rather keep an eye on Yachiyo-san instead? I mean, I don’t mind either way.

Tch… Let’s just pick something and get it over with.