Track 2
HAMA Streets
…
(Hmm… Could it be about intent, or maybe strength...? Perhaps a carp in a pond, or...that kind of fond?1)
(...Nah, maybe I’m just reading too much into it. This is Raito-san we’re talking about, so I doubt he’s troubled over romance…)
(But then…why was he staring at that painting so seriously? It seemed like something was bothering him back at Yumejuuya, too…)
—Hey, Chief. Did you happen to see that large painting hanging in the buffet hall earlier?
Ah, yes. The one with the man and the woman, right?
To be honest… I can’t stop thinking about that painting.
…That painting…
(Wait, no way…?)
Chief, with how that painting was portrayed—
Are you aware that it’s been theorized to contain a certain cosmic essence?
Huh.
I...have reason to believe that the man and the woman in that painting are aliens.
A-Aliens, you say?
Yes. It’s actually a well-known painting among urban legend enthusiasts…
The way the man and the woman dance so lightly, as though completely untouched by gravity… Didn’t it look as if the two of them alone existed in the weightlessness of outer space?
What’s more, despite how they stood out that much, the passersby depicted in the background show no signs of caring whatsoever. We can therefore hypothesize that what we’re seeing is a depiction of perception interference caused by extraterrestrial technology.
Wh-Wha—? S-Sure…?
If they were ordinary humans, there’s no way they could evade notice while dancing flamboyantly right in the middle of the street.
Raito pauses for a few seconds, as if considering something.
—Alright then! We ought to test it ourselves!
Pardon?!
If we start dancing out here in the middle of the street, will people care? Or will they ignore us, just like in the painting?
He then steps forward and pulls the Chief close.
Come on, Chief. Let’s dance!
…Whoa?!
(His hand is on my waist before I knew it… Are we already dancing?!)
W-Wait! I don’t really know the steps, or any of the proper etiquette…!
Don’t worry, I’ll lead. Besides, today is Ichiryu Manbai2—a day when even the smallest beginning is said to multiply many times over. What better day to start something new than today?
Don’t overthink it. Just dance with me! 1, 2, 3…!
The two fall into a gentle sway under Raito’s lead.
Wah— 1, 2, 3…!
(Wait…huh? We’re not bumping into anyone at all. Raito-san keeps on moving us out of the way at just the right moment… Actually, he’s been guiding me the whole time.)
(He might be a little forceful, but the way he leads is so reassuring… That’s Raito-san for you…)
Oh, it looks like you’re getting the hang of it, Chief. Then how about this step?
Raito adjusts his lead, playfully testing out a new step.
Whoa…!
Haha, it’s as though we’re floating through the air. This is fun, Chief!
(Now that he mentions it… I’m starting to have fun, too.)
…Fufu.
Honestly, Raito-san. You’re so ridiculous sometimes…!
Hahaha!
Mamaaaaa—! Those two people are dancing!
—!
Oops, looks like we’ve been spotted.
Hehe, it looks like it.
(Wait, when did I get so caught up in Raito-san’s pace that I ended up dancing with him in the middle of the street?)
Just as I thought. If you dance like this amidst a busy street, you’re bound to stand out and draw people’s attention. Experiment complete.
…Um, Raito-san. Can I ask you one thing?
Hm? What is it?
When I saw you the other day, you seemed a little down, didn’t you?
If there’s something bothering you, or if you’re ever having trouble with anything, you can always talk to me. We’re comrades-in-arms, after all!
Though… Of course, if you’d rather not talk about it, that’s completely fine, too.
Something bothering me… Trouble….
Oh… Could you be talking about what happened at Yumejuuya?
Ah, um… Yes.
…Sorry. Seems like I made you worry.
The truth is, that day… My favorite iekei ramen3 shop had gone out of business, so I was drowning my sorrows in alcohol as a result.
Eh?
I kept thinking I’d go back there again sometime, but before I knew it, the place had closed down. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I should’ve gone more often while I still had the chance… I regretted it so much that I ended up drinking myself miserable.
I-I see…!
(I’m glad it wasn’t some serious problem or anything. Though… I guess to Raito-san, this probably is serious…)
I believed it to be…rather pathetic of me to drown my sorrows over something like that… But now that I think about it, it wasn’t exactly something I needed to hide from you, Chief.
Right. And also, I don’t think it’s just “something like that” at all. I know how important ramen is to you, Raito-san.
…Yeah, thank you.
You really are head over heels for ramen, aren’t you?
一I’m sure you’ve spent enough time with me to know that all too well by now… But, yes. You’re absolutely right.
My heart is…completely and utterly captivated by ramen!
(...And as always, Chief really does have a flair for lifting my spirits, too.)
(He just happened to show up while I was feeling down, so I impulsively invited him out the other day…but now, I’m glad I did.)
Oh, that reminds me! A Hakata tonkotsu ramen place opened near the next station! Do you know about it, Raito-san?
Naturally. If I remember it correctly, it’s called Yoi no Mai4. It’s already on my list of places to visit.
If you’d like, why don’t we go together right now?
Now that’s an irresistible offer. Of course, I’d be delighted to!
Chief is mulling over the word “koi,” which has different meanings depending on its kanji, namely: intent (故意), strong/thick (濃い), carp (鯉), and romantic love (恋). Since English doesn’t share this pun, we adapted the joke using rhymes to keep the same punchline.
Ichiryu Manbai (一粒万倍), meaning “a single seed reaps a ten-thousand-fold harvest,” is a traditional auspicious day in the Japanese calendar believed to be ideal for starting new endeavors, businesses, or relationships.
Iekei ramen is a ramen style that is native to Yokohama; it is also Raito’s favorite kind of ramen, as revealed in 003-A09.