A week had already passed since I arrived in Japan with Kuro. We had thoroughly enjoyed everything Okayama had to offer. Unfortunately, that also meant I had run out of places I could personally guide her through, leaving me to rack my brain over where we should head next.
Currently, Kuro and I were huddled in our hotel room, poring over a travel guidebook.
From this point on, most of the destinations would be as new to me as they were to her. With that in mind, I figured we should prioritize whatever caught her eye. Money was no object—we had more than we could ever spend—so we could go just about anywhere.
The problem was that Kuro couldn't narrow down the choices. It wasn't that she lacked interest; quite the opposite, in fact.
"I want to go everywhere," she said, unable to trim her list of candidates.
"Hmm, this place looks good, and this one looks like fun too... Oh, this one's nice as well!"
"Kuro, we can’t visit every single place, you know?"
"I know, but... they all look so wonderful. I just want to see it all."
"Yeah, I get it. Looking at a travel guide really does make everything look enticing."
I understood how she felt. I hadn't had many opportunities to look at travel guidebooks before, but these were clearly well-made; the way they highlighted the unique features of each area was impressive. Just looking at the recommended spots and local delicacies made me want to visit them too.
However, since we only had three weeks left, we had to be selective. It was a shame for Kuro, but some of those candidates would have to wait for another time.
I turned to offer my own suggestions to the indecisive Kuro, only to find her staring at a single guidebook with rapt, silent intensity.
"...Kuro?"
"...This is the one. Kaito-kun! Let’s go here!"
"Oh? You found a candidate? Which guidebook is that...?"
"Let's go to Hawaii!"
"...Um, what?"
Hawaii? Wait, had a guidebook for somewhere outside of Japan gotten mixed in? Well, that was fine, but... Hawaii, huh?
I had never been there myself, but I was definitely interested. It sounded like a great choice. As for the language barrier, we had translation magic, and I’d heard that a fair number of people in Hawaii spoke Japanese anyway, so we’d probably manage.
Since it was such a famous destination, we wouldn't lack for information. Now, about flight reservations... wait, flights?
"...I think we might need passports."
"Passports?"
"Ah, right. In this world, you need a special form of ID to travel to another country. They take a bit of time to process, so we might not be able to leave immediately. It usually takes about ten days. If we apply now, we might make it in time, but..."
"I see..."
She looked a bit disappointed. I felt bad, but there wasn't much I could do. Fortunately, Kuro’s legal status was already handled thanks to Eden-san, so getting the documents shouldn't be impossible.
Kuro seemed a bit let down by the delay, but she’d have to bear with it. I figured I should try to get the applications in by tomorrow at the latest...
Just as I began considering the logistics of a Hawaiian vacation, a familiar face suddenly materialized in the room.
Dressed in a formal twelve-layered kimono, she looked utterly exhausted as she held something out and spoke.
"...Your passports. I backdated them so the issue date reads as yesterday. They were processed through official channels, so you can use them immediately."
"Um, Amaterasu-san? Are you okay? You look incredibly tired..."
"...It is not a problem. I am the one Eden-sama ordered to support you two. If there is anything else you require, please do not hesitate to ask. However, if possible, I would appreciate it if Kuromueina-dono could refrain from anything too conspicuous. I'm also the one responsible for scrubbing the satellite imagery and surveillance records, you see..."
"Y-Yeah, I'll be careful."
The deity known as "Earth's Hardship Manager," Amaterasu-san, sighed wearily before handing us the documents.
"Is Tsukuyomi-san not able to help...?"
"...I can only envision a future where that results in even more work for me."
"I see... Um, if you'd like, would you like something to eat? We have some snacks..."
"No, the thought is enough. Now, I shall take my leave..."
"Ah, yes. Thank you for your hard work."
As Amaterasu-san vanished with a wry smile, she left behind an indescribable sense of melancholy.
I suspected she was the one who had handled Kuro’s family registry and all the other legal hurdles as well. No doubt Eden-san had simply dumped the entire workload onto her.
I should introduce her to Chronoa-san sometime. I was certain they would be kindred spirits.
Regardless, the passport issue was resolved. It was time to start preparing for Hawaii.
Still, I wondered why Kuro was so intent on going there. I could only pray her motivation wasn't to invent some new kind of macadamia nut baby castella.
Today's Eden Maman
Eden: "Otherworlders. Two. Visiting. Support. Delegated."
Amaterasu: "...I see. So, two guests from another world are visiting, and you're entrusting me with their support? Is that it?"
Eden: "Affirmative."
Amaterasu: "Understood. And who exactly are they...?"
Eden: "Most Beloved. Return. Attachment. Archenemy."
Amaterasu: "...Kaito-sama and Kuromueina-dono? I see. Super VIPs, then. I understand the stakes, but if I may ask... what happens if my support is deemed insufficient?"
Eden: "Incompetent. Unnecessary. Disposal."
Amaterasu: "...I thought as much. Um, Eden-sama? Do I... do I count as one of your children?"
Eden: "Deliberating... Ambiguous. For now, a tool."
Amaterasu: "...I suppose I should be glad I'm considered useful for the time being. Whether I should be happy about that 'for now' or despair over the lack of affection, I'm not sure... Or perhaps I should just be surprised that the cold, heartless Eden-sama has softened slightly because of Kaito-sama..."
Eden: "Disrespect."
Amaterasu: "Eh? Ah, wait—"