Chapter 40: A Moment at Sea
The ship, having sailed out onto the vast ocean, was calmly cutting through the waves. A clear blue sky and an endlessly stretching horizon filled Hayato and the others’ vision. The white hull reflected the sunlight, shining dazzlingly. With the elation of departure still lingering, Hayato and his group decided to use the time before dinner to explore the ship.
“It looks like they have various events. Where should we start looking?” Seika asked, spreading out a ship map. Curiosity dwelled in her eyes. Though she was usually engrossed in work or research, today she wore a relaxed expression.
“Let’s take a walk around the promenade deck,” Tsuyoshi suggested, gently holding his young daughter Aoi’s hand. “It seems there are various attractions. I hear they’re also holding shows for families.”
The group began to walk along the wide deck. The deck of the luxury liner was lined with various facilities, like a small town.
Soon after they started walking, a song and dance performance was underway in the central event space. A crowd had gathered for the show, themed around a tropical island, performed by professional dancers. Tropical-sounding music played, and dancers clad in colorful costumes performed vibrant, energetic dances.
“Want to dance together?” Aoi’s mother, Kaede, asked her. Aoi nodded with great interest. At first, she seemed shy, but perhaps captivated by the fun rhythm, her desire to dance soon won out.
“Then I’ll join too.” As Riri and Aoi entered the circle of dancers and began to imitate the simple steps, warm applause erupted from the surroundings. Riri’s movements were quite refined.
After finishing their dance, Riri, who returned with Aoi, her cheeks flushed, told Hayato, “Someone from the school dance club taught me a little bit about how to dance.”
“I see. You were good.”
Riri smiled happily at Hayato’s words.
After enjoying the performance, the group went inside the ship and moved to the central area. There was a huge atrium there, with a large LED screen installed on the ceiling. Images of sea creatures were displayed, creating the illusion of swimming underwater. The shimmering blue light reflected glitteringly off the floor and walls, as if the entire space had transformed into an underwater world.
“Wow! It’s like being underwater!” Riku exclaimed in surprise, looking up at the ceiling. The children were captivated by the visual effect of a giant whale swimming by.
“This is certainly amazing,” Hayato said, also looking up. Images of a manta ray gracefully flapping its fins overhead and schools of colorful tropical fish swimming were also displayed.
“I feel like this could be useful for streaming activities,” Josuke said, looking around the space with an analytical eye.
“Indeed. That sounds like an interesting idea,” Riri agreed, and she too began to think about how to use this giant LED screen. It seemed that possibilities for programming were already expanding in her mind.
As they were captivated by the beautiful images in the atrium, an onboard announcement played. A clear female voice repeated in multiple languages.
“We would like to inform our passengers. A welcome party will be held in the Grand Ballroom from 4:00 PM. Drinks and light meals will be provided, so please come and join us.”
“A party, huh?” Hayato said. “Shall we go?”
“Yes, since we have the chance, let’s go,” Seika agreed. She seemed to be in a liberated mood today, a mood to participate in various events.
“The Grand Ballroom is at the rear of this floor,” a nearby staff member kindly informed them. “If you follow the signs, you’ll arrive in about 5 minutes.”
The group followed the directions given by the staff. Paintings with a sea theme adorned the corridor walls, and plush carpets absorbed their footsteps. The other passengers they passed also seemed to be heading to the party with relaxed expressions.
The Grand Ballroom was, as its name suggested, a magnificent space. Luxurious chandeliers, marble floors, and large glass windows offered a view of the sea at dusk. The horizon, dyed by the setting sun, was as beautiful as a painting. Everyone gasped in admiration at the spaciousness and luxury, unbelievable for the inside of a ship.
Waiters carried silver trays, serving cocktails and special non-alcoholic drinks. The rims of the glasses were adorned with fresh fruit, and the contents caught the eye with their vibrant colors. There were also festive juices for the children, which Riku and Aoi happily accepted.
“Well then, a toast to this precious time we can spend together.” Tsuyoshi raised his glass towards his companions and family. Everyone clinked their glasses, and the party began in a friendly atmosphere. Elegant music played by the ship’s orchestra flowed throughout the room, and several couples had begun to dance on the floor.
After a while, a magic show began on stage. A magician dressed in a flashy costume appeared in a classic outfit: a red and black tailcoat and a tall silk hat. He captivated the audience, mixing fluent English and Japanese, and performed one amazing trick after another. Card changes, disappearing coins, and even a fiery performance captivated the audience.
Riku and Aoi stood near the stage, their eyes shining as they watched intently. Riri, no less excited than the children, gasped in surprise at every trick. Her genuine reactions were contagious to the adults around her.
“That’s amazing, Hayato,” Riri said, turning to Hayato, who was standing next to her, and conveying her excitement.
“Yeah, it’s certainly amazing,” Hayato nodded.
Actually, his trained dynamic visual acuity had seen through the mechanics of the tricks. The card switches, the quick movements to hide things in sleeves, the gestures to misdirect attention. All of it was clear to his eyes, which made him feel a little awkward.
He never thought his combat experience from the other world would be useful in a place like this. The ability to see through an enemy’s movements in an instant could apparently also be applied to figuring out magic tricks.
However, he was genuinely impressed by the magician’s superb technique. Skills so refined that they could impress even when seen through were worthy of praise in themselves. The smoothness of his hand movements, his captivating way of speaking to the audience, and above all, his excellent showmanship. This, in its own way, was an art form.
Towards the end of the show, the magician began a trick involving the audience. Stage lights illuminated the audience, and the magician walked towards them.
“Would anyone from the audience like to assist me?” The magician’s voice echoed through the venue. Among the many raised hands, Aoi also raised her small hand high. The magician looked around the audience and, smiling, pointed at Aoi.
“Lovely young lady, please come up to the stage.”
Warm applause erupted from the venue. When Kaede gently pushed her back, Aoi, though nervous, walked onto the stage with steady steps.
“What’s your name?” the magician asked.
Aoi answered confidently, “I’m Tetsumura Aoi.”
“Wonderful, Aoi-san. Now, please look at this handkerchief.” The magician showed a large red handkerchief and had Aoi touch it. Aoi’s expression was completely serious as she felt the soft fabric. Then he waved his hand lightly, and the handkerchief turned into a white dove. The dove, perched on Aoi’s small arm, seemed friendly, staying on her arm while slightly spreading its wings. Gasps of surprise rose from the audience.
The magician performed several more tricks, and finally, he pulled a bundle of colorful handkerchiefs from behind Aoi’s ear. The audience was greatly excited, and Aoi received a big round of applause as she returned to her seat.
“That was amazing,” Hayato praised Aoi.
She nodded happily. “Yeah! The birdie was fluffy.”
After the magic show, they moved to the Italian restaurant where they had reservations.
The group was guided to a prime table by the window. The sea at dusk, visible through the glass, was beginning to turn orange. The sun, about to sink below the horizon, cast its final glow.
A waiter handed them menus and introduced the wine list. Josuke, looking knowledgeable, conversed and chose wines that would pair well with the food.
When the meal began, they were served an antipasto of fresh vegetables, a secondo piatto of seasonal white fish, and fragrant pasta. The aroma of garlic and the flavor of olive oil whetted their appetites.
“This fish is really delicious,” Seika said with satisfaction. She took a small sip of wine, savoring its compatibility with the food.
“The balance between the freshness of the ingredients and the cooking method is exquisite,” Tsuyoshi remarked as he savored the food.
“The pasta is perfect too, al dente,” Josuke said, smacking his lips.
“The amount of finishing butter is also exquisite; it’s great that it isn’t too heavy.”
“To have a meal like this on the sea, it’s truly a luxury, isn’t it?” Riri said, her voice filled with deep emotion.
As they enjoyed their meal, the conversation shifted to their plans for the next day.
“Tomorrow, shall we participate in some of the ship’s onboard activities?” Seika suggested. She had spread out the ship’s information pamphlet and was checking the schedule for various events.
“It looks like there’s a ship tour. They’ll explain how the ship works,” she said, pointing at the pamphlet.
“It seems we can visit the captain’s cabin too,” Kaede informed the children about the next day’s plans.
“Let’s go to the aquarium, okay?”
“Yeah.”
“I want to go.”
The two children looked very excited.
“It seems there’s a massage service. Perhaps I should book this too. Kaede-san, how about you join me after the aquarium?”
“Um, well, I need to watch the children,” Kaede replied a little hesitantly. It was a reaction typical of her strong sense of responsibility as a mother.
“I’ll look after them during that time. So you go ahead,” Tsuyoshi said, placing a hand on his wife’s shoulder. His large hand seemed to express his trust and affection for his wife.
“Really? Um, well then. I’ll take you up on your kind offer.”
“Yes, I’ll book it then,” Seika said.
Kaede smiled happily. She probably wanted some time to relax too.
“I think I’ll go to the gym,” Hayato said.
“I want to move my body a bit.”
“May I go with you?” Riri asked Hayato.
Hayato smiled and nodded.
“Of course.”
While they were having such conversations, dinner ended, and they dispersed for the day, each returning to their own rooms. A pleasant fatigue from the day’s fresh experiences enveloped Hayato.
Returning to his room, he stepped out onto the balcony, where the dark night sea and a star-filled sky spread out before him. The sky over the sea, far from land, was surprisingly clear, and countless stars twinkled. The air was slightly cool, and the scent of the tide was pleasant.
I remember the night skies of the other world. Back then, too, I’d looked up at the stars like this. The starry sky I gazed at during brief rests amidst a perilous journey. The dreams and hopes I discussed with my companions. But now, I can look up at the night sky with a peaceful heart. I can feel its pure beauty, free from fear or tension.
“This is a peaceful time,” he murmured.
After spacing out for a while, he returned to his room and lay down on the bed. Staring at the ceiling, he recalled the day’s events. The children’s smiles, conversations with his companions, beautiful scenery, and delicious food. It had been a very fulfilling day.
Surrendering himself to the gentle rhythm of the swaying ship, Hayato fell soundly asleep.