The Skytree attraction was excellent. The initial high-speed ascent provided a real thrill, followed by a leisurely panoramic tour of the Forest Area as the vehicle circled the perimeter.
That sudden surge at the start had really got my adrenaline pumping; I found myself getting quite caught up in the excitement as I took in the sights.
The gondola, having completed its loop, returned inside the trunk of the massive tree. We disembarked as the staff member opened the safety gate.
Lilia-san and her group must have departed slightly after us. I had caught a glimpse of their gondola a short distance behind while we were touring the Upper Area, so they probably wouldn't be long.
"That was fun! We’ve been riding high-intensity attractions in the Aqua Area, so this relaxing pace was a nice change," Hina said.
"I thought that first sudden climb was pretty intense... but you're right, it was a great attraction."
"Next up is Forest Castle once Lilia-san and the others catch up, right?" Aoi asked.
I replied to Hina’s bright smile and nodded at Aoi as she confirmed our schedule. We stepped outside so we wouldn't be in the way of any arriving guests, and soon, I heard lively voices approaching.
It seemed another group had arrived. Honestly, it was about time we ran into other invited guests.
"...Chairman, why did you pick this attraction?"
"Look, with a hilarious name like this, you’ve gotta try it... is what I want to say, but since it’s an Otherworld joke, I guess it doesn't land with you lot..."
"Isn't it just that your explanation is poor, Chairman?"
"Hey, who said that? I'm docking your pay."
A fairly large group of people came walking in a line. The person at the front looked very familiar—actually, she was a total acquaintance. Akane, who was accompanied by Frau-san and several others who looked like company employees, suddenly spotted me and looked surprised.
"Whoa!? Kaito, Aoi, and Hina... I figured you'd be invited, Kaito, but meeting you in a place like this is a real coincidence!"
"Wow, it's Akane-san! Hello!"
"Good afternoon."
"Hello. Were you invited by Kuro as well, Akane-san?"
"My company’s had dealings with Chrome-sama's association for ages. I was invited through that connection. They told me I could bring as many people as I wanted, so I just grabbed every company member who looked like they were slacking off."
I gave a light greeting to Akane as she approached us. As I suspected, she had also come as a guest.
Come to think of it, she had mentioned that Kuro helped her out when she was first starting her company, and she had been invited to the Six Kings Festival as well, so they must have a fairly solid relationship.
"Oh, that's right, Kaito. Thanks for introducing me to Fia-sensei. Thanks to her, that idiot from our company is all healed up now."
"Oh, the person you mentioned when we first met. I'm glad to hear everything worked out."
"Hey, you! Make sure you give him a proper thank you, too!"
When I first met Akane, she had consulted me about wanting to treat a company member who had lost his limbs. I had turned down her request for a Fruit of the World Tree but introduced her to Fia-sensei instead.
I hadn't heard what happened afterward, but it seemed he had made a full recovery. At Akane's prompting, the man—presumably a Mikumo Trading Company member—bowed his head deeply and thanked me.
"...Are you guys visiting this attraction too, Kaito?"
"We just finished our ride. We're waiting for Lilia-san and the others who came with us... Ah, Lilia-san’s group is already back, so we're just waiting for Anima and her group now."
As I answered Akane and looked around, I saw Lilia-san and the others returning. Once Anima’s group arrived, we would all be together.
"I see. Well, I won't keep you. If fate allows, we'll run into each other again somewhere else. Best regards until then!"
"Sure. I hope you and your group have fun too, Akane-san."
"Chairman~ shouldn't you talk to him more? This is a precious connection with the opposite sex, the likes of which you probably won't see again."
"Exactly. Men who can actually keep up with your weird personality are few and far between, Chairman. You have to make sure he doesn't escape, or you'll end up an old maid... oh, wait, you already are."
"Yeah! A man who isn't put off by our weird Chairman but can actually toy with her is a rare find! Even if feminine charms... are probably out of the question for you, you've at least got to leave an impression!"
"Old-maid Chairman~ give us a raise~!"
I’d noticed this when I visited their headquarters before, but the employees of the Mikumo Trading Company were certainly high-energy. They teased Akane relentlessly, causing a blue vein to throb on her forehead.
Twitching with irritation, she forced a smile and spoke to us.
"W-Well then, you guys enjoy yourselves, Kaito... Hey, you lot! You've got a lot of nerve saying whatever you like! And that last voice was definitely Frau!! Why are you changing your voice? Did you think I wouldn't recognize you!?"
After bidding us a smiling farewell, she turned back toward her employees with a face that looked like it belonged on a Hannya mask.
Serious-senpai: "Ah, if people related to Kuro or Alice are being invited... then Chris might be here too? Ah, no, wait? Business-wise... Eris and Cornelia might also be here..."