"Wow, Jin-han, you're really somethin' else!"
Jin and his companions were invited to stay for dinner at Maya’s house.
The menu featured white rice and daikon miso soup. The soup was excellent, with a deep flavor drawn from a proper katsuobushi dashi. Accompanying the staples were grilled dried fish and an assortment of pickles.
"Sorry for servin' ya such plain food after invitin' ya over," Maya apologized.
"Not at all, it's delicious," Jin replied.
The seasoning was perfectly suited to his tastes, and he ate with genuine relish.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that."
"Onee-chan, seconds please!" Hanna piped up, clearly enjoying her meal as she held out her bowl.
"It seemed like Mr. Oliver didn't know how to use the katsuobushi for broth?" Jin asked between bites.
"Ahaha! When he first bought it, he didn't ask a single thin' about it, so I just assumed he knew what he was doin'. But then he sent word later sayin' he'd learned how to use it from an acquaintance of John Dini... a fellow named Roushi, I think? When I heard that, I realized I’d really messed up!"
I see, Jin thought. He began to suspect that the woman before him was more than a little scatterbrained.
"Ah—ya're thinkin' somethin' rude, ain't ya?"
"N-no, not at all."
Jin felt a pang of guilt at how easily she had read him.
The conversation continued to flow, but as Hanna’s eyes began to grow heavy, they decided it was time to leave.
Stepping outside, they found the village shrouded in darkness. However, several nightlights were positioned along the paths, providing just enough illumination to see the way.
"Those are interestin', ain't they? They're lights that soak up the sun durin' the day and spit it back out at night."
"Hoh..."
"Jin, this is fascinating! I wonder what kind of substance they're made of?"
It was no wonder Saki was excited. The glow was far brighter than any phosphorescent paint Jin had ever seen.
"I'm sure ya're curious, but Hanna-chan's already half-asleep, so let's leave the research for tomorrow."
"Ah, you're right. Good night then."
"Good night."
Saki seemed to accept the delay and followed Jin back toward their lodging.
"Ah... so it’s communal sleeping tonight?" Jin muttered as he remembered the accommodations consisted of a single large room.
"I guess we’ll have to skip the bath tonight, too."
"Yeah, it can’t be helped."
Water was a precious resource in this settlement, so baths were unavailable. They would have to make do with wiping themselves down with water or towels.
"I'll sleep in the automobile," Jin announced. He told himself he wasn't quite thick-skinned enough to share a single room with a group of women.
"...I wouldn't have minded," Elsa murmured softly.
"Hehe, I wouldn't have cared either," Saki added with a playful grin.
Hanna, however, was already fast asleep.
"No, I mind. Anyway... good night."
Jin politely declined the implicit invitations and climbed into the automobile with Reiko.
"Jin-sama, is something the matter?" Edgar, who was already inside acting as the night watchman, asked as Jin entered.
"Ah, I'm sleeping here tonight, Edgar. Why don't you go over to Elsa's side? I've got Reiko with me."
"Yes, I understand."
With that, Jin reclined the seats until they were fully flat. He had blankets ready, so the night chill wouldn't be an issue, especially since the vehicle was equipped with air conditioning.
"Father, I shall stand guard. Please, rest well."
"Thanks, Reiko. Good night."
"Good night, Father."
Exhausted from pedaling a bicycle for the first time in years, Jin began to breathe rhythmically the moment his head touched the makeshift pillow.
The night passed without incident.
At dawn, Jin woke up before the sun had fully risen, a result of his early bedtime.
"Father, are you awake?"
Reiko, who had no need for sleep and had kept watch through the night, sensed his awakening immediately.
"Yeah. I'm up. I assume everyone else is still asleep?"
Reiko shook her head. "It seems Saki-san slipped out quietly a short while ago."
"Eh? Saki? By herself?"
"No, Aaru is with her."
"Well, that's a relief."
He didn't know if magical beasts like sandworms ever ventured this close to the village, but with Aaru along, they could at least flee if things turned dangerous.
Still, he was curious, so he decided to head outside. Reiko followed close behind.
"Ugh, the morning air is still a bit nippy."
His breath came out in white puffs; it felt like the temperature was well below ten degrees.
"Now, where is Saki...?"
Scanning the area, he saw the nightlights still glowing faintly in the twilight. By their light, he spotted two silhouettes heading toward the outskirts of the settlement. Jin quickened his pace, catching up to them in no time.
As expected, it was Saki and Aaru. They were scanning the ground, searching for something.
"Saki."
When Jin called out, Saki turned around, her eyes wide with surprise.
"J-Jin? You startled me!"
"What are you doing out here so early?"
"Hehe, I just thought I'd see if I could find anything unusual," Saki replied, looking a bit sheepish. "The people at the inn told me that the moss used for those nightlights is called 'moonlight grass.' Apparently, it only grows in arid regions. I heard it was found around here, so I wanted to find some before the sun came up."
"It's a moss, but they call it a grass? Well, whatever works, I suppose."
"Saki-sama, I have located some," Aaru announced.
"Oh! Well done!"
The keen-eyed Aaru had found a specimen almost immediately, and Saki rushed over to her.
"Hey, Jin, do you think we could cultivate this on Hourai Island?"
Saki showed him a small stone covered in moonlight grass. Even in the growing light of dawn, it still emitted a soft, ethereal glow.
"Hmm, I wonder. We should probably consult Topaz. Worst-case scenario, we could manage it if we built a room with climate control."
Hourai Island was hardly an arid environment, so if the moss required dry air to thrive, they would need a sealed, temperature-controlled space. Jin figured they should start by replicating its natural habitat as closely as possible, then gradually experiment with different conditions to see how it adapted.
"The world really is a vast place. I want to learn more... so much more," Saki murmured, gazing at the moss with a look of wonder.
"I feel the same way."
"Ah—Onii-chan and Saki-onee-chan! Found you!"
They turned to see Hanna running toward them.
"When I woke up and saw Saki-onee-chan was gone, I figured you might be out here, so I came lookin'!"
"I see. Good morning, Hanna."
"Onii-chan, good morning!"
The sun began to crest the horizon, bathing the area in bright morning light.
"By the way, where's Elsa?"
"Elsa-onee-chan was still fast asleep."
"I see."
The group decided to take a short walk before returning to the inn.
When they finally arrived back at their lodgings, they were met by Elsa, who was staring at them with narrowed, accusing eyes for having gone out without her.