Ah the road. It’s a nice place to stare out into from a car if you’re not the driver. Seeing the many lives pass and watching the world flying by. It’s so relaxing and the perfect time to be reading manga!
“Which manga is that? Asumo Daiyo?”
*sigh*
Of course I can’t just do that anymore...
BUMP
My book goes flying out in front of me. I scramble to catch it. Luckily it doesn’t go too far.
“Eva can’t you drive a bit less recklessly?!”
We’re flying down the highway with a more than careless driver. Although there’s not that many cars on the road at this time, she still has no excuse to go this fast!
“The faster we get there the more time we’ll have to do everything!”
I look over at the passenger's side to see Aron drooping from out of his seat, foaming at the mouth.
“Aron passed out of pure terror!”
Eva shrugs.
“Meh. Aron has always been terrible with high speeds.”
Aron uses the last bit of his strength to tell what foreboding prophecy he sees in the near future.
“We’re all going to die.”
Eva picks him up from his hungover position. Propping him back up onto the chair and slapping his back to revive him.
“Don’t be so Cynical! We’ll be just fine-”
In front of us, a bright red becomes bigger, bigger, and bigger.
“Look ahead of you!”
Eva almost rams into the back of another car. She violently swerves out the way. We fly throughout the car.
“Hehe... Sorry! Got a bit distracted by a certain backseat driver...!”
Why does she look annoyed at me?! How did we even get into this situation...? Ah that’s right it was yesterday.
“Hi, Hi! Do I have a game for you!”
Eva walked in with a sundress on and shades. Which for her is very... out of place. Something was definitely off.
Aron sighs.
“Eva, I was trying to have a peaceful day.”
She tosses off the shades as a gust of wind flows.
“A peaceful day is a boring day!”
Aron looks out from the coinvent store to the outside staring at her. The conditions of the wind, her dress, and the sunglasses almost all seem too perfectly timed to be real. Yet, Aron turns around uninterested in her usual antics.
“That only seems to apply to you.”
She scoffs transitioning her face into a smirk. A very devious smirk.
“Then I guess I’ll just have to go this Private Villa without you...!”
She holds up 4 tickets. Aron whips back around curious in her unusual antics.
“Huh?! How did you get those?”
Tauntingly, waving the tickets. Sawing her body putting herself onto display.
“I just won two drawing contests in a row.”
“You said that too casually.”
She shrugs at his comment and continues on with her pursuit.
“Heh. Anyways, I’ve gathered everyone so we could play a bit of a game!”
I have a feeling somehow; I’m going to be forced to be a part of this...
“If Aron wants to stop complaining and run away with me to paradise that will leave two tickets left!”
I ask the question that I know that will lead to my true undoing...
“And who will those go to?”
She grabs a bag containing a lab coat. Taking it out and wearing it.
“One to you and one to whomever can open this silver box I made.”
And once again I’m dragged even further away from my manga reading.
"Why am I guaranteed a ticket?”
She comes up behind me and pushes me out of the Convince Store.
"Check outside!"
I see... Karaka, Milk Boy, and Yume?!
"Master. It is my duty to protect you from this Woman! Her intentions are impure!"
He points straight over to Karaka without even looking at her.
"Impure?! That's not for you to decide!”
Milk boy shrivels up.
I'm not sure which I rather have to deal with... A trip mostly secluded with little or no room for escape with esentially two animals. Both are trying to get me, presumably for different reasons... Probably Milk boy.
Sara is understandably confused. She walks up from inside to the ensuing game.
"Uh... What is this?”
"You see, I needed test the durability of the box and using Yu I have free test subjects!"
Eva is using me just as a trophy... Again!
"What do I get if I open it?"
No! Sara don't fall for her tricks! I try to get my thought out into words but Eva has a plan before I can even open my mouth.
"You'll get a free ticket to a private resort to have alone time with Yu!"
Sara's face hardens. A veteran ready to go back into war for the true chance of achieving their life’s goal.
"Where do I sign up?"
"Just sign this weaver here, here, and here!" "Hehehe..."
She signs it without hesitation. Her face filled with Jubilation. Rushing over to one of the many metal boxes.
*Sigh* Another soul lost to her tests...
"And with that, everyone is ready to go!"
A thought crosses my mind that could possibly save me from all of this.
"Don’t you need my permission?"
"Did you not read the waiver? I've had it since that day!"
Right... I was one of the first victims to this dreaded waiver... It was just too enticing! How could I not want to test glasses that made manga 3D?! Then again... It did give me an eye rash for about a week after.
She plops a bag and opens it up.
"Chose your weapons!"
Inside are something that seem almost... Impossible. Ichigo’s sword was clearly just lying there. Is that the Death Note?! A Yu-Gi-Oh card...? Of all cards it’s a pot of greed.
“Woof!”
I look further to the left to see Pochita cheerfully wagging his tail. I’m not sure what type of demonic things she did to create that, but I know one thing for sure.
I turn to Eva and frown.
“Yu? Why do you look so disappointed? You like mangas don’t you?”
“No... It’s...”
How could she? This was an unmistakable crime.
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
“It’s all generic Weekly Shounen Jump manga.”
She starts to break into a sweat.
“Hehe...What do you mean by that?”
“You know exactly what I mean.”
“...”
She goes silent. She begins to shake.
“So, what if I like popular manga?! It’s popular for a reason and I won’t take your criticism!”
“That’s wrong! It’s popular because the masses like seeing the same thing over and over again. These series were original in conception, but over time have become something of one hit wonders!”
“They’ve been bringing new and innovative ideas ever since they were made!”
“Face it. You’re just hiding the fact you don’t read that much manga.”
She drops to the floor. Finally realizing her defeat.
“...I just had them lying around.”
“You’re an enigma.”
Milk boy interjects.
“Master... not everyone has to like what we like.”
“But how will they ever know the beauty of Black cat, or Sket Dance, or....”
I keep trying to explain the wonderful world that is being missed out on. They just don’t understand! Before I can even name the amazing different stories. Eva intervenes.
“Jeez, shut up already and let’s watch the chaos unfold!”
Everyone grabs a weapon. Yume hurdles for the death note. She grabs a pen out of her back pocket. She seems like she already had someone in mind... Despite not even knowing about this until it happened. An uncomfortable air begins to form around her as more and more words are written.
As she silently continued to write, the others followed suite. Milk boy stares at the card in front of him. It’s the pot of greed.
“Muhahaha... HAHAHAHAH! You’re all fools! You’ve given me such power that cannot be contained in such a form without causing a danger to humanity!”
He picks up the card and holds it with two fingers. With his other hand covering his eye.
“Now with this power I shall show you what it’s worth!”
He winds his hand back, slamming it down onto the top of the silver box with an unscary amount of force.
“No one shall ever challenge this formidable foe! Now to complete this transaction from the dark gods...! I need two cards... please.”
Eva cheerfully walks over and hands him two more cards and then walks back to continue watching them. “Now, you shall try and fight my pot of greed! I pity if you think you can even come close to my status and height! Make your move Steely!”
Uwaaah. He gave it a nickname. I knew it was banned, but is this really why? I decided to just leave him be...
Karawase looked at Pochita.
“Woof!”
“Un! We have a common goal!”
Then it proceeded to jump into her hands. Their synergy was amazing.
“Karawase here, you’ll need this!”
Eva throws her sunglasses that she had tossed earlier. Karaka catches them in one of her hands and puts them on in one smooth motion.
“Thanks! Let’s do this cute doggy.”
“Woof!”
And just like that almost a match made in heaven the chainsaw dog and my ex were trying to cut a silver box in half. Maybe Sara won’t be as crazy as everyone else. She picks up the sword. Staring at it in awe.
...
She keeps staring and doesn’t do anything else. As the others kept going it seemed like it would never end. I began to get sleepy, but was kept awake by the constant noise.
They tried for hours until Eva got a phone call.
"Hm? Yes. Yes. Alright. Sure. Thank you."
"What was that?"
"I guess the fun is over..."
Eva looks depressed.
Wait... If she... Then does that mean...?
"You won even more tickets?!"
"Yea..."
Her luck must be so good that at this point she sees it as a curse.
“Hey, I found the...”
Aron finally walks out the store. Eva with no awareness greets him.
“Ah, Welcome back Aron.”
Aron walks back into the store without saying a word. Eva sighs.
“Well... everyone grab a suitcase. We’re going on vacation tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
Tomorrow came. Leading me to be trapped in a car trying to read my manga. After flying down the road and hanging on for dear life. We had finally made it and could lay back for a moment.
Eva ran out in front of us giving a grand welcome.
“Here we are!”
We all stood there amazed. In front of us a two-story villa that overlooked the sea.
“For the next two weeks I have this place!”
I feel like we’re missing someone.
Yume points it out.
“Where’s Aron?”
“I’m...Coming...”
On the ground crawling was a very weakened Aron. That car ride didn’t spare him even the tiniest bit of pity.
“Is he going to be ok?”
“Don’t worry, go ahead. I’ll deal with him again.”
“Please... no more car rides...”
“No more, I promise for two weeks!”
She pets him on the head and grabs his arm.
“Huh...?”
Eva dragged him into the distance without a word more. We collectively decided to ignore what we just saw.
We walked into the villa. A breeze of cold air greeted us. The living room was the first place in the home. It was quite spacious, and had a plethora of accommodations. Behind it was a normal sized kitchen. In front of us were two hallways, one going off to the left and one leading upstairs. In the left hallway was littered with rooms. All having a very nicely put together layout. Upstairs was similar, but with an empty center space. Most likely for recreation of some sorts. I really do wonder how Eva's so lucky... We head back down stairs meting back up in the living-room. Milk Boy seems to already know where he wants to stay in the villa.
"Heh. For someone like me, I must get this room, let us go Master!”
He grabs my arm and pulls me towards one of the random rooms.
“Me too?”
Karaka slides in front of us. Her arms folded. She’s still mad about yesterday. Milk Boy who’s confidence was on par with a lion, had been reduced to a feeble mouse. He hides behind me, shivering.
“Hang on Milk Boy!”
Milk Boy meekly replies from behind me.
“Yes...?”
She quickly approaches him and presses her finger on his nose.
“Yesterday you said I had Impure intentions against YuYu!”
He ducks away from her even more.
“And? Master is in danger near you!”
The two deeply gaze at each other sparks fly as they prepare to fight. It’s unclear if it’s going to be a mental fight or a physical fight...
Before anything drastic could be done, Yume comes to save the day!
“Ah, what if the boys stayed on the second floor and the girls stayed on the first?
“I would love that.”
A familiar, less tired voice, enters the Villa. We turn around to see Aron, and Eva standing at the door. Eva pouts.
“Ehhhh? What’s with the separation?!”
Aron replies with his usual cold remark.
“You’re my main reason.”
She goes silent for a moment. Springing back to life afterwards.
“Awww Jeez! Did we really come here just to fight over rooms?! I want to go to the beach already!”
Yume’s eyes light up.
“You’re right! Sara let’s get ready!”
“Huh?! Wai- I’m not ready yet!!!!!!!!!!!!”
That’s the second person to be dragged away today.
Eva walks into one of the rooms too. We decide to head up stairs and begin unpacking and prepare for the beach.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
“Hey! Let me go!”
She lets go of me. I take a breath trying to recover from being dragged.
“Yume what has gotten into you?! I’ve never seen you be so forceful before!”
Yume has something on her mind. She’s not responding.
I dust myself off. Yume must be mad... She's more pushy than usual! Even then, she's never this extreme. I look into her eyes and it has fire.
"Haaaaaa..."
Now she's sighing?
"Haa...."
There must be something wrong.
"Is there some-"
"Of course, there's something wrong!"
"What are you mad about?
"Mad is not a strong enough word! I'm furious!"
By furious meaning she's more pouty than usual. She continues while tearing up.
"You're in love! And yet you're not with the love of your dreams!~ What a tragedy!"
"You've been reading new Romance Light Novels, haven't you?"
She enthusiastically shakes her head... that explains it. This is far from the first time she's done this. There was the time she wanted to be a detective. She also wanted to be a magical girl... And a samurai. She forced us to take classes.... I dread if I ever have to do that again. She always just seems so happy doing it... I can't help but just let her continue.
"I know the answer to your failed attempts."
I wouldn't call them failed...
"You didn't have a love adviser!"
"It's not that important."
She sighs once again.
"You don't understand! All of these stories I've seen have a love adviser! Without them... None of them would have ever gotten together!"
That's probably because that's the only stories you read. But, what if she's right? But... My head circles with questions, hesitations, and worries.
"Saraaaaa!"
Yume shakes me. I'm pulled out of my woes.
"Sara you won't need to overthink everything while I'm here!"
"I won't...?"
"Yes! To help with that, I made a list of everything you two are going to do for the next two weeks!"
"Everything?! Isn't that a bit too forward thinking?"
"That's your issue. You get stuck in the moment until it passes!"
"Well..."
She's right, but this is more than just a story to me... I can't just treat it as if it were going to be exactly the same. Even if it might be just a story on a page, I rather not follow it.
She begins to tear up as I'm taking too long to respond to her.
*Sigh*
"Well I guess it doesn't sound the worst..."
She has a smile through the tears. Ready to micro manage my decisions.
"Yay! Here I already have a swimsuit prepared for the beach!"
"Eh?! Waiiiiiiiit!"
She dives onto me and begins changing me into her little doll.
??????????????????????
I head up stairs. I suppose everyone must have went to their rooms.
Or so I thought, in the corner of my eye I see pure white hair. I try not to look too hard. I continue to the bedrooms.
There he was again, posing to the right of the door. I look for a moment, but hastily enter the room.
I shut, and lock the door behind me.
As I turn around...
In the corner of the room...
There he stood. In a JoJo Pose.
I put my luggage on the bed, and sat down to unpack it.
The silence becomes more noticeable as he stands there not moving. Almost like an inanimate object.
I focus on unpacking my clothes. A gust of wind comes into the room.
“Blue.”
I respond faster than light.
“Archive.”
“Hmph. No Taiyou”
“Eroge.”
“Natsume’s”
“Book of friends.”
“The Cute Girl Sitting Next to Me”
“Is trying to make me fall in love with her as a way to ridicule me, but the tables were turned before she knew it.”
“Haha! I see you’re still sharp as ever master!”
“Heh. Never underestimate me.”
Huh? Did I just participate in his silly games without even realizing it?
“Wait! What do you want milk boy?”
“Oh how your words wound me master! I have came here for such an important cause, but you haven’t even realized yet?”
“No. I have not.”
“Eh? Really?”
“Yes.”
“Uwaaaah. You’re actually that dense.”
“You’re the one that’s been doing JoJo poses in the corner!”
“No matter, that! I have come here to warn you of something very important!”
What could be that important that you have to do that many JoJo Poses?!
His face becomes stern almost as if he’s about to deliver me some very heavy news.
“You see master, Not one, but two have begun to watch over you. And yet what you don’t see is what will be the end of you. It must be dealt with before that time comes. But the question is are you ready to face the heavens and answer them too? Only time shall tell as the war wadges on between the land below.”
“If you wanted to ramble to me, you should have just started talking about why Shounen Jump isn’t generic.”
“Rambles?! I think you would benefit from such advice from someone as majestic as me!”
“I call you milk boy for a reason.”
“I’m not spoiled yet.”
I’m not sure if his response was a joke or he’s actually being serious.
“...Alright! Well, can I take out my clothes in peace?”
“I will be your coat hanger if you need one master!”
He freezes in place once again. I really can’t tell what’s going on in that head of his... Hopefully it’s nothing too bad.
“No! All I need is the case!”
“Understood... BUT! If you ever need me, I shall be there!”
And with that, he was gone just as fast as he came.
*Sigh*
What did he mean by that? What if he actually had some reasoning behind it... What am I thinking?! This is milk boy, the weirdo who acts straight out of a manga! I just need to unpack my stuff and get ready for the beach.
It took a bit, but I got everything unpacked. When I left the room Aron and Milk Boy were chatting.
“Just how is it even possible...?”
Milk Boy is surprisingly pretty fit for someone who’s addicted to manga.
“As any powerful character should, lots of training involved! Besides the usual chase presented by Master!”
“Speaking of, look who’s finally out.”
The two look at me.
“Ah! Master how did the unpacking go? Hopefully it wasn’t too bad without a coat hanger...”
“I didn’t need one in the first place! But it went just fine...”
“Phanominal! Now we must head out!”
The three of us head downstairs to head outside. I thought we would see the girls there but...
“Where are they?”
“They went ahead and told us to wait for you.”
Aron seems as monotone as usual. Even though were on a trip... Although, as a counterweight, Milk Boy is exhilarated for this.
“What are we waiting for?! We must participate in this lifetime event!”
I’m sure it’s not going to be that grand, but I suppose he’s right. So we go head out towards the beach.