Chapter 38: The Cruise Voyage
The talk of a trip first came up several months ago. Everyone had been saying we should make an opportunity to go out together, but with each person’s busy schedule and streaming activities, it hadn’t materialized. However, a gap finally opened up in everyone’s schedules.
Seika’s work had settled down, and she was able to take an extended vacation. Matching that timing, Hayato applied for leave from his superior at Shield Agent. Josuke also decided to temporarily take a break from his investment company work. Riri, whose school was on summer vacation, could also participate. Tsuyoshi pushed himself a bit to adjust his work, and somehow, a precious opportunity for all five of them to gather was realized.
“We went through all this trouble to align our time off. Since we’re doing this, let’s go all out.”
What was decided, on Josuke’s suggestion, was a 7-night, 8-day cruise. It was a luxury liner voyage departing from Tokyo and calling at various Asian countries. The top-class cabin that Tsuyoshi arranged, saying it was a rare vacation, was said to be truly worthy of being called a floating five-star hotel.
After several weeks of preparation, the day of the trip arrived. I arrived at the port, trunk case in one hand. The sea surface, bathed in the morning light, sparkled brilliantly, and the scent of the tide tickled my nose. In the distance, a huge white passenger ship was visible.
The name “Ocean Paradise Cruise” shone in blue on the ship’s hull.
“Hayato! Over here!”
“Seika. Riri too.”
Turning my gaze towards the voice, Seika and Riri had already arrived. Seika was in a refreshing white one-piece dress, her eyes shining beautifully as they were lit by the morning sun. Riri was in light, summery attire. She was looking up at the large ship, her eyes sparkling.
“Look, Hayato. Such a huge ship!”
“It certainly is huge.”
So huge I had to look up. It was my first time seeing a luxury liner this close. Of course, it was also my first time boarding one. Overhead, a flock of seagulls circled, crying out.
“Josuke and Tsuyoshi will be here soon,” Seika said. The sea breeze gently rustled her hair. Adding to that, Riri informed us.
“Tsuyoshi-san is bringing his family too, apparently.”
“Come to think of it, he did mention that.”
Actually, Tsuyoshi was a married man. We had heard about Tsuyoshi’s family from him, but this was the first time we would meet them.
“Yo, sorry to keep you waiting.”
Turning around, Josuke was striding coolly towards us. He wore sophisticated sunglasses and pulled a lightweight carry-on case that seemed to be a brand name. A linen jacket over a casual shirt – stylish attire fitting for a cruise.
He looked very accustomed to such attire.
“So this is the ship, huh?”
Josuke gazed at the ship for a while, narrowing his eyes as if calculating something.
“I own a few shares in this company. Their performance has been strong lately, apparently. Cruise demand in the Asian region is also surging.”
“Oh, is that so?”
I was impressed, thinking he really does have a lot of information.
“As expected of someone so well-informed.”
“Just an investor’s perspective.”
While listening to Seika and Josuke’s conversation, I looked up at the ship with Riri.
“Ah, Tsuyoshi-san is here.”
After a short while, Riri waved towards the port entrance.
“Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?”
Next to Tsuyoshi, who was walking briskly, was an elegant-looking woman and two children. Tsuyoshi, freed from his usual business suit, wore a relaxed expression.
“No, there’s still a little time before the scheduled boarding procedure, so it’s fine,” I replied, checking my watch.
“Pleased to meet you, everyone. I am Tsuyoshi’s wife, Kaede.”
The woman bowed gracefully to us. Beside her, a woman of dignified beauty, stood a boy who looked to be in the lower grades of elementary school, and an even younger girl.
“I’m Tetsumura Riku. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Aoi.”
Both of them greeted us with a firm tone for their age. Riku had a gallant look similar to Tsuyoshi, while Aoi possessed an elegance inherited from her mother. It was evident they had received a good upbringing.
“Pleased to meet you, Kaede-san. Riku-kun, Aoi-chan. I’m Hayato Sato.”
I responded with a gentle smile.
“I’m Takahashi Riri. It’s a pleasure.”
Riri leaned forward slightly, as if to meet the children’s eye level, and smiled gently.
“I’m Morishita Seika. Let’s make this a fun trip.”
Seika bowed elegantly.
“Kageno Josuke. Nice to meet you.”
Josuke also greeted them with a pleasant smile.
“Sorry about this. For bringing my family along when it’s just me,” Tsuyoshi said, looking a little apologetic.
“No, no, it’s totally fine. If anything, we were worried we might be intruding on your family time.”
To the hesitant Tsuyoshi, I replied that it wasn’t a problem. In fact, it was the opposite; we felt like we were intruding on Tsuyoshi’s family trip. However, it was Kaede who strongly denied this.
“No, not at all. I’m happy. I didn’t know my husband had such wonderful friends.”
It was a side of Tsuyoshi that Kaede had never seen, interacting so naturally with his friends. Although he had briefly explained about his companions to his wife Kaede, he hadn’t explained the otherworldly connection they shared.
In Kaede’s eyes, we clearly appeared as the few friends with whom her husband could open his heart.
“Please continue to get along well with my husband.”
“But, of course,” Seika said gently.
“Naturally,” Josuke nodded confidently.
“Because we’re precious comrades,” Riri smiled with a heartfelt grin.
I also nodded, thinking it was a matter of course. The bond we had forged through our battles in the other world was special. A bond of souls connected even beyond death. Everyone was convinced this bond would never break.
“Daddy’s friends?”
“That’s right. They’re very important friends.”
Little Aoi, hiding behind Tsuyoshi’s back, carefully observed our faces. Perhaps her innocent child’s eyes could see the special atmosphere flowing between us. Riku seemed more interested in the ship, his face full of curiosity.
“Big ship!”
“It is, isn’t it?” Josuke smiled brightly and bent down slightly to meet the child’s eye level.
“It’s about 330 meters long and weighs over 150,000 tons. It’s about the same length as Tokyo Tower laid on its side, like a giant building floating on the sea.”
“Amazing!”
Riku’s eyes sparkled.
“Onboard, there’s a pool, a movie theater, and even a game center for kids, a water slide, and an observatory,” Riri began explaining the ship’s facilities to the children. They listened intently, their eyes shining, to her polite way of speaking.
“I hear this ship also has extensive medical facilities. That’s interesting,” Seika commented on the luxury liner they were about to board from her expert perspective.
“But looking at this ship, it reminds me of that time,” Tsuyoshi murmured, looking at the luxury liner. His expression held nostalgia mixed with the pain of a distant memory.
“Ah, that time…”
I didn’t voice the words, recalling the same memory as Tsuyoshi. The life-threatening voyage during our journey in the other world. Crossing the vast ocean on a decaying ship amidst a storm. The memory of surviving a brush with death alongside my companions still vividly resurfaced.
“This time, it’s a luxury cruise, huh?”
“Let’s enjoy ourselves this time to make up for how tough it was back then.”
Josuke clapped Tsuyoshi and me on the shoulders. At his words, Tsuyoshi’s expression brightened.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
I also smiled. For us, who had overcome past hardships, this peaceful time was the greatest reward.
“It’s about time for the boarding procedures, isn’t it? Shall we go?”
At Josuke’s word, the group began walking towards the passenger ship. Tsuyoshi took the children’s hands, discussing how they would spend their time on board. Riku peppered Josuke with various questions, while Aoi held Tsuyoshi’s hand and laughed innocently.
Seika and Kaede chatted animatedly, while Josuke, though occasionally checking his smartphone, kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings.
I watched this scene from slightly behind. The connections forged from desperate battles in another world had led to this peaceful time. It was a strange sensation, but also a definite happiness.
“Let’s go, Hayato,” Riri turned back and called out to me.
“Yeah.”
And so, I also began to walk with them.