Track 8

Ah…

Phew~ ...I’m baaack! Isotake Akuta is back in action!

“—Here’s the plan.”

Let’s take turns heading back to the cabin so Kiroku doesn’t suspect a thing, and while we’re at it, we'll work on making the Yeti look even closer to the real thing.

First order of business: dyeing the fur. Luckily, we’ve got some instant coffee, so let’s use that.

What about the face? We can't change that much, but…should we make it look a little more badass?

...No. Let’s keep the face as it is. I think Kiroku would like it better this way.

It’s got character~! Just like dried squid, the more ya chew on it—the more ya look at it—the better it gets! Man, that’s one inkredible design!

As for the movements… I’d like to get a little more guidance from you, Raito, if that's alright.

Of course. We’ll keep the parts inspired by Nagi’s movements…but I’ll also teach you the commonly accepted way a Yeti walks, based on the traces and evidence that have been discovered.

...We don’t have much time. After spending one night at the cabin, we’ll have to head for the festival venue first thing tomorrow morning.

(‘Till then, we’ll throw everything we’ve got at this and go full throttle!!!)

Isotake…?

Nah, nah! It’s nothin’!

Yo, while the others are still out, let’s whip up some dinner! Nothin’ hits harder than some killer grub when you’re beat, right?

...Yeah.

...The moon’s beautiful tonight.

(Maybe it’s just the crisp mountain air, but… The moon looks brighter than it usually does… No, it’s more than just that—)

Nom nom…munch munch…

Whoooa—this curry’s deee-lish! I know it’s just instant curry, but somehow it tastes a million times better out here!

Huh. Total déjà vu. Haven’t we heard you say that before?

Haha. Good thing I packed plenty of food… What about you, Kiroku? Care for another helping?

...Yeah. Thank you for…the food.

(Having everyone here...made dinner a truly enjoyable time.)

Thank you for your hard work. And…thanks for letting me know. I’ve grasped  the situation now.

I’m sorry for dragging everyone into such an unusual mess this time.

Not at all. I’m having quite a bit of fun myself. You have nothing to apologize for, Nayuki.

I’ll let you know once our little operation makes some progress tomorrow. And don’t worry—Raito hasn’t forgotten about the festival. You can rest easy.

Thank you very much.

(Tomorrow, it’ll be my job to appear before Kiroku as the Yeti. Whether this surprise succeeds or not… It rests on my shoulders.)

I suppose I’d better get in a little more practice…

(The dye’s still fresh… It smells faintly of coffee.)

Not just Chihiro and the others—even Akuta, who said he couldn’t stand coffee, worked so hard to help make this costume. I’d better take good care of it.)

Now then…I think this was about the right stride…

...Hm?

...

(...There’s someone over there.)

...

(...Are they waving at me? Then I suppose I should…)

(The moonlight’s behind them, so I can’t make them out very well… But even from this far away…they’re enormous…)

(That’s…not a person, is it…? It couldn’t be…)

...

...It’s gone…

(Was I just imagining it..? Or was it…something else…?)

...I see. So this is how it waves its hand.

Mornin’ everybodyyyyy!!! Rise and shine!!!

Good morning, Akuta. That's quite a voice you've got for someone who just opened their eyes. Also, breakfast is already served.

We’ve run out of coffee, so this morning we’ll have either tea or hot cocoa. Which would you like?

Hmmm, cocoa for sure! Time to dump some sugar in the tank and get this brain revin’!

Chii wants hot choco, too… Yawn… Shoooeepy.

Chihiro, you’ve got a classic case of bedhead.

Eh, SRS?! Where, where?!

Haha, well, we did a lot of walking yesterday, so you must be worn out. It’s sticking up in the back—I’ll fix it for you later.

(...Everyone’s back to their usual selves. Even Raito-san… It’s hard to believe...he was so angry yesterday.)

(A lot of stuff happened…and I still don’t know what that fake…Yeti was all about.)

(But still, thanks to everyone… I’ve been able to draw more than I could before we came here. At this rate…I think I’ll be able to fulfill Isotake’s request.)

Kiroku, would you like cocoa or tea?

Ah…cocoa…for me, too.

(...I wished for it last night. But the Yeti never appeared.)

(We’ll have to head for the festival today, though… I’d better put it out of my mind...and focus on what’s ahead.)

...

We’re just a little ways from the lodge now…but let’s take a short break here.

That’s a good idea. I just received a call from Yumejuuya, so I’m going to step away for a moment to take it.

Got it. The weather looks like it’ll hold, but don’t wander off too far, alright? Take care.

Man, today’s fest’s gonna be a blast~! I wonder how huge the crowd’s gonna be.

Sounds like it’s getting totes popular ♪ I was just checking the event hashtag, and there were already tons of people posting pics saying they’d made it up the mountain!

...I’m…getting…nervous.

We’re OK on our end.

(There’s Yodachosu’s signal! ...Aa-ta!!!)

(Roger that, loud n’ clear!!!)

...Huh? Hey, hey—didn’t something just move over there? Just for a sec, but… It was all big and fluffy?

Eh…?

Chii saw it, too! Over there, right? By those trees…!!!

Ah…!

(Kiroku and the others are looking this way. The timing couldn’t have been better. All right…from here on out…)

...It’s a different color…than yesterday. Could that be…the real Yeti?

R-R-Raito-san…!!!

Mmm? What’s wrong, Kiroku?

Ah…over there…by the trees. A brown…Yeti…! It’s waving at us!

What? Let me see—

(...I’ll wave at them. Just like that figure did.)

(Seeing all of you smile…fills me with happiness, too. So I’ll put every bit of that feeling into this wave.)

Wh-What…?! Th-that wave…! It’s the legendary “Heart-Throb Wave” said to be performed only by the Yetis sighted in JPN!!

(The wave from the urban legends... said to instantly steal a climber’s heart the moment they lay eyes on it...!)

(I never taught him that…and yet he’s pulling it off perfectly…! Yodaka-san…has he truly become a Yeti, body and soul?!!)

Whoa, Raito-san’s shaking for real?!

I-I have no clue what’s going on…but, I think it’s actually working…!

...It’s the real thing.

It’s the real Yeti!!!

Aww… It’s gone.

Heh, maybe it just dropped by to say hi! Like “Welcome to the Mountain!” or somethin’.

Y-Yeah…maybe you’re right.

Um…! C-Could I…make a sketch…right here?

Of course! A moment like this—this excitement, this wonder—would be a waste not to capture! I’m sure everyone in the online UMA community will be ecstatic when they see your drawing!!!

I’m back. …Oho?

…

.....!

........!!

(Looks like I don’t even have to ask how the operation went.)

The two of you seem awfully excited. Did something happen?

Yodaka-san! We just saw it with our own eyes! The real Yeti! Ah… How I wish you’d been there to see it, too!

Fufu. What a shame. I seem to have missed quite the sight.