Chapter 39 - Ringrande Going to Another World (3)

"... Eh? I see, I stayed at Hayato's house."

As usual, I awoke at the crack of dawn.

I was puzzled by the unfamiliar room, but soon remembered the situation.

Unyu~, hayato ni~"

Sleeping with me in her arms is the young Aika, Hayato's younger sister.

I carefully slip out of the room so as not to wake her and enjoy Hayato's sleeping face on the futon on the floor.

I have rarely seen such a secure and defenseless sleeping face when Hayato was a hero.

This is where you belonged.

I run my hand through Hayato's hair, which is sticking up from night sweats, and drop a light, affectionate kiss on his cheek.

I was about to use my daily life magic to freshen up my appearance, as is my usual habit, but I stopped myself just before I remembered that Satou had warned me not to use too much magic on Earth, because it doesn't restore your magic power.

It's inconvenient not to be able to use the things I used to use all the time.

I sigh and head for the bathroom.

Even though I've taken on a young appearance to Hayato's liking, as a lady I can't stand in front of the man I'm in love with without getting my appearance in order.

I have no mana at all, but it's convenient.

It's so convenient to just lift the lever on the faucet and the water comes out.

And it even comes out with hot water at the right temperature.

With this, there is no problem even if there are no maids or maidservants in the house.

"Doesn't ... suit me?"

I look like a tall child.

I wiped the rouge off with my hand and washed my face once more.

I'm not sure what to do with the rest of the day. "You're up early."

"Good morning, mother-in-law."

I was not surprised because I knew from the sign, but from her reaction, I should have been a little surprised.

'Don't you shampoo in the morning, Rin-chan?

Asa-shan?"

What is it?

'Don't you take a shower and wash your head?

'... head?'

I touched it and it was a little stiff.

Come to think of it, Satou had told me to be careful because of the humidity over here.

I remember Satou saying that Hayato's house was a commoner's house, but I wondered if they could afford such luxury in the morning.

'Well, since I'm here, I'll bathe in it.

I'll show Hayato that I'm always the best me.

'Use my shampoo, not the cheap one for Hayato.'

"Thank you, mother-in-law."

I left my smiling mother-in-law and stepped into the bathroom.

I had used it yesterday, and it was very clean and easy to use.

I carefully wash my body and hair and finish with a nice "treatment" that smells like roses.

The beauty industry is very well developed in this world. I call the merchant who comes in and have him prepare one for me.

I shake off the excess water and am about to leave the bathroom when the door slams open.

"Oh my God, Rin.

Good morning, Hayato."

Hayato turns away in a hurry.

He is a gentleman as always.

"I'm sorry, Rin. I didn't realize you were in there.

You'd better get dressed. You're completely exposed."

He is younger looking than the Hayato I know.

The steel-like body that he had worked out has returned to the soft limbs of his age.

I remember he told me that the god Parion had restored him to the form and time he had been summoned to.

Wow, I'll be dressed in no time."

Hayato forgot to close the door, got dressed in a hurry, and rolled out of the room.

'You didn't have to be in such a hurry ....'

I look down at my body.

It's a plump body with few bumps.

I'm sure you've seen me naked before and you simply said, 'I'm sorry,' and left me alone."

I felt somewhat unforgivable, so I threw the towel against the bathroom door to console myself.

◇ ◇

Delicious!"

The Japanese-style breakfast prepared by my mother-in-law was simple but very tasty.

The salty taste of the grilled salmon complimented the sweetness of the omelette I had next. I don't really like miso soup, but I am used to it because Satou and Lulu used to make it. The miso soup made by my mother-in-law is hearty, containing thinly fried tofu, tofu, and a vegetable called eggplant.

I'm glad it was good for your taste buds," she said. The pickled daikon was a gift from Ms. Satou. He must really love to cook, since he pickle it himself.

Satou is called the 'miracle cook.

My mother-in-law suggested I try the yellow pickles.

Oh, they are really delicious.

It's so crunchy and tasty. What kind of vegetable is this?

It's daikon.

Daikon!

I was so surprised that I couldn't help but stand up.

'Oh, my? You didn't like radishes?"

"No, I didn't have the habit of eating them back home.

If they don't suit your palate, you can leave them out, okay?"

In the capital where I grew up, there was a deep-rooted superstition that eating radishes would bring orcs to the city. My nanny was one of them, so much so that I had never eaten one until I went to the Royal Academy.

Even after that, I was never very good at it, or I hardly ever ate it, so I didn't realize it until my mother-in-law told me.

But--.

'No, there's nothing wrong with good food.'

I dared to put one daikon in my mouth to let her know there was no problem.

I guess foreigners eat rice and side dishes separately.

Come to think of it, Hayato likes to eat bread and main dish together.

This is probably a cultural difference.

My mother-in-law suggested that I try it out and eat rice and side dishes together, but I felt that it was against my manners, so I refused to do so.

"By the way, Hayato, where are you going today?"

"Where? I was thinking of going for a walk in the neighborhood."

"You! Since Rin-chan is here, why don't you take her to a department store or an amusement park?

I don't mind going for a walk with Hayato, but since we're in a different world, I'd like to see a lot of different places.

"An amusement park! AICA too! Aika's going with her brother Hayato!"

"Aika, let's go to the Purity Museum with your mother."

"Pupuia! Aika, we're going to meet at the Buakuya Museum!

Her mother-in-law winked at us and left the dining room with Aika.

" Shall we go out?"

I grabbed Hayato's hand which he extended to me, looking a little embarrassed, and I gave my approval with a smile.

"It's a bit far to the center of town, so let's take the bus."

"Bus? Like a shared-ride horse-drawn carriage?"

I remember using "taxi" when I came here with Satou.

"Yes, that's right. Wait at this bus stop, it will be here soon."

Hayato compared the small number on the sign indicating the bus stop with his watch and muttered, "It's about three minutes away.

"Three minutes?"

As I tilted my head, Hayato showed me how to read the clock.

He divides one hour into two hours, or 120 minutes. I think people in Hayato's world are a little too impatient.

In three minutes, a big coach called a bus really arrived.

"That's great, Hayato! The vehicles in this country are punctual, aren't they?"

"Buses are often so-so, but trains are almost always on time."

I didn't understand why the trains were so punctual, but Hayato's boast was cute and made me a little happy.

"Aren't you going to sit in the seat?"

That's a priority seat. They are seats for the elderly and handicapped.

That's nice.

I wonder if it's called reciprocity?

It's a system we don't have in the Siga Kingdom or the Saga Empire.

But people in poor health don't ride in shaking horse-drawn carriages.

'Next, we are coming to a stop!'

A voice came out of the voice tube and the bus came to a stop.

I wondered if she had a cold.

"Mom! Lets take this seat is taken!"

As soon as the bus entrance opened, a little boy came running out of the bus and jumped into the priority seat.

"Come on, come on!"

The boy happily called out to his mother, but she looked a little annoyed and chided her child, saying, "You can't go there."

"Why?"

The boy's mother looked a little annoyed and chided the child, "Why not? It's a place for people who are sick or physically handicapped."

She was explaining the same thing that Hayato had taught me earlier, but the child didn't seem to understand.

"Look, that sister is standing there too, isn't she?"

The mother looks at me standing nearby.

"Really!"

"Can you stand up too, Chloe?"

"Yes! I can stand! I'm already an eldest child!"

The boy stood up proudly.

"Great, great!"

I patted him on the head in praise, and he hid behind his mother's skirt in embarrassment.

I wondered if me and Hayato would be like that if they had a child together.

"Next stop!"

I hear the same nasal voice as before, and the bus stops again.

The interval between stops is shorter than that of the horse-drawn carriages. Well, most of the horse-drawn carriages only slow down and don't stop.

Hayato whispered in my ear, "Two stops ahead is our destination."

His voice is as dependable and pleasant to listen to as ever.

I feel a little pampered, so I snuggle into his body.

"Are you tired?"

"No, it's getting a little crowded."

Hayato doesn't mind my excuses and lets them slide by.

"Excuse me."

An old lady with a cane comes in front of the priority seat.

"Oh?"

The old lady is just about to sit down when she realizes that right behind her is a pregnant woman with a big belly, and her mouth curls up in a ball.

"Please, sit down."

"No, I'm fine."

She said, "Don't say that. Sit down for the sake of your baby."

"Aah! It's empty!"

The pregnant woman who had been given a seat by the old lady was hesitant to give up her seat, and a misbehaving girl slipped into the place where they were giving each other a seat.

The old lady and the pregnant woman looked indignant at the behavior of a child who had no manners.

The old lady and the pregnant woman looked at each other indescribably. "Children are not allowed to sit there."

"Uh-uh. I sat down first, so it's my seat!"

The boy who just sat there blames the girl for her bad manners.

"What's the matter with you? What kind of a bad boy are you that's picking a fight with my pretty girl?"

The lady with a strange tone of voice came at the boy as if she was going to beat him up.

"I'm going to punish you!"

"Please stop!"

"You are the parent of this little brat! What kind of education are you giving him?

The mother, sensing the danger to her child, stands in front of the bad.

The mother was unable to talk back, so the bad lady slapped her with a foul-mouthed slur.

"Stop it," I said.

No one stopped her, so I interrupted.

"What the hell is wrong with you! You little gaijin bastard!"

You use such horrible language. You know where you come from.

The villain lady swung his hand down toward my cheek.

It's a move that's more dodgy than a newbie's swing.

I'll throw her away as I dodge.

"Stop!"

Hayato grabbed her arm and stopped her. That's my hero. She wasn't a threat or anything, but to be protected by Hayato like this made me feel loved and very happy.

Let me go! Sexual harassment! You are a pervert!"

The lady was trashing about.

"Who would molest a hag like you?

"I think it's the boy who are being sexually harassed."

I feel sorry for the children raised by such a poisonous parent.

The girls in school uniforms seated in the back of the room sneered at her. The bad woman was about to complain reflexively, when she finally noticed the reproachful stares of the surrounding patrons at her. They were all looking at the woman with a look of disapproval on their faces.　"If you stay with these people, you'll make a fool out of me! I'm going to the front!" She pulls the child's hand and runs to the front. ' mother of trouble ... I'll be careful not to be like that." An old lady and a pregnant woman exchange such words while looking at the woman's back. The person sitting in front of the priority seat gave up his seat to the old lady, and the pregnant woman sat down on the priority seat. While I was being relieved by the somewhat friendly space, the bus arrived at its destination. What a great crowd. Is there some kind of festival going on?"

"It's always crowded around here, but it's rare to see it this crowded--"

Hayato looked around and stopped at a banner.

"It looks like a famous politician is coming to make a speech. I guess the people here are here to listen to him."

I remember that the politicians are elected in elections.

If the common people were allowed to choose, it would be a form of popular government that would pursue short-term gains, but judging from the prosperity of this country, it may not be a bad form of government.

"It's a big building, isn't it? Is it a government building?"

I have seen many five- and six-story buildings up to this point, but this one is even bigger.

"No, no, no. No, no, no, that's a bank. Our destination is this way."

Hayato pointed to the building behind us.

"It's this department store. --No, I thought it was called something else now."

"Hayato! This way, this way!"

In front of the department store was Hayato's childhood friend, Yumiri.

"What do you mean?"

I could hear myself lowering my voice.

"I'm not sure if I said anything about this. I had to ask Yumiri to come, too, because it would have been a problem if I came alone."

"An issue?"

"A high school boy like me with a silver-haired, blue-eyed foreign loli could be reported by sensible people."

"You mean, they could mistake us for kidnappers?"

Hayato nodded his head in agreement to my question.

I didn't expect that my private date would be disrupted because I made myself look the way Hayato liked.

I'll tell Satou to get me a magical tool to block recognition or some other equipment that will display the illusion of adulthood.

"Hayato, are you sure you want to start out in the children's clothing section?"

"I'll ask you to do that. I don't want to take her to the park or amusement park in her current attire."

"Is something wrong?"

I chose from among the clothes Satu had prepared for me. It's just a little bit out of the ordinary.

According to Yumiri, the clothes she is wearing now are "the kind of clothes you would wear to a museum or a high-class restaurant that requires a dress code," not the kind of clothes ordinary people would wear on a daily basis.

In the Kingdom of Siga, it would be like strolling the streets dressed for a ball.

Rinne, this way!

Yumiri led me to a place where children's size clothes were lined up as far as the eye could see.

I guess ready-to-wear clothes are the norm here.

I thought it was customary to have clothes tailored over there.

Yes, that's right.

The most important thing to remember is that you can't get a tailor to come to your castle in the capital if you tell the servants to do so.

"You have a very short skirt."

"Is it so? Isn't it normal?

The most important thing to remember is that the skirt of Yumiri's dress is also short.

"Well, compared to the girls in those areas, it's long. ..."

The girls, all of them wearing skirts so short you could almost see their underwear, are chatting in front of some kind of machine.

"Rinne, how about this culotte skirt over here? With this one, you don't have to worry about your underwear."

"Hayato--"

I was about to ask her what she thought, but Hayato was sitting on a bench outside the sales floor, playing with a black board--a smartphone.

"Haha, Hayato-chan is always like that."

Yumiri laughs ruefully, but I can't allow my phone to defeat me on a date.

I bring the clothes in front of Hayato and ask his opinion.

"Hayato!"

Hm?" Rinne, have you finished shopping yet?"

"Not yet. How about this?"

"It's good, isn't it? I think it'll look good on Rinne.

"How about this one?"

"I think that's nice, but I think those culottes would look better on Rinne."

Hayato is choosing the right clothes!

I head to the locker room to try on the clothes Hayato said would look good on me.

"What do you think?"

"It's cute. If you're going to try on clothes, you might as well match your jacket, too.

"Yes, yes, yes. I've picked one that looks good on me!

Yumiri brought about five jackets.

We tried them on one by one, and when Hayato was getting tired, he decided which one to buy.

"You're going to buy that many? Are you on a budget, Hayato?

"It's children's clothes, and I got an extra allowance from my mother, so it should be fine.

Children's clothes are expensive nowadays.

Hayato looked at the price tag and rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Leanne. I'm sorry, Leanne, just one outfit."

"I've brought money, okay?"

"You can't use the gold coins."

"I know that much. Satou has cashed it in for me."

I pulls out a wad of bills in an envelope from my handbag.

　"I'm sure you'll be fine," he had said, "but paper money is so much lighter than gold coins.

"Wow, you can't take out that much money in a place like this."

Hayato, seeing the wad of bills, hurriedly puts the envelope back in his handbag.

"Rin, you dropped something--a black credit card?"

Yumiri picked up the dropped card as she took out the envelope.

'Oh, by the way, Satu let me have it. He told me to feel free to use it anywhere I could use it, but I wonder if I can use it here?"

"I think she can use it--can I use it?"

"I don't know, I've never used a credit card before."

Hayato and Yumiri push their cards at each other.

I picked it up and asked the clerk who looked at me, "Can I use this?"

Yes, You can use it.

Then, please pay for it.

I handed the card to the clerk and proceeded with my purchase. "Wow, a black card?"

"I've never seen you in the children's section before."

"I wonder if she's the daughter of a rich foreigner.""

I could hear the shopkeepers whispering and gossiping.

The card Satou had prepared was a special one.

"Please enter your PIN number."

"A PIN? Isn't that a signature?"

I used to only sign when I shopped in the name of the Duke.

Now it's more common to enter your PIN number at this machine.

Hmmm.

What's a PIN?

"Ah! Isn't it the four-digit number written on the envelope just now?""

I checked the envelope and sure enough, there was a four-digit number, so I entered the PIN into the machine with the numbered buttons.

I entered my PIN into the machine with the numbers on it.

It seems that the payment has been completed.

Very convenient.

I would ask my mother-in-law or Satou to tell me how it works later.

We continued to buy shoes and accessories.

Leanne, are you sure about the underwear?

'No, I'm fine with the underwear, Arisa has prepared a lot of things for me.'

There were some underwear that would make even a prostitute blush, but there was also a lot of normal underwear.

"But yes. But, since we're here, why don't we buy some underwear that Hayato likes?"

When I said that, Hayato's face turned red and he said something like, "Don't make jokes like that," or "That's sexual harassment."

"I'm a little thirsty. Let's go to Akdo and have something to drink."

"Acudo again?"

That's the only place they have Pokari.

Pokari is a carbonated sports drink.

I drank a lot of carbonated drinks in the capital, but I could never get used to the unique light sweetness of sports drinks.

'Leanne, can I have it there too?'

I'm fine. Do you have green tea?

They have a different color of tea here. We have reddish-brown tea.

I remember Satou saying something like that.

"That's fine."

Hayato took the luggage from my hand and led me to a store called Akdo.

I've never been in a situation like this before, because over there we had item boxes and inventories.

It was like a scene from a love story, and it thrilled my heart.

When I saw my face reflected in the show window, it was slack, and I hurriedly adjusted my expression.

Even so, the corners of my mouth unknowingly relaxes and the corners of my mouth turn up.

"Akudo, you know, you can buy it without standing in line if you order it on the app."

Yumiri said and started operating her smartphone.

I guess life without a smart phone would be a problem in this world.

'It's convenient, but I'm a little worried that I might be too dependent on it.'

If I didn't have it, I wouldn't be bothered.

Hayato laughs.

"If I didn't have a smartphone, I'd have nothing to do but study. Hayato, you want the Gigabig-Ag set with Pokari and fries in large size, right?"

"Oh, the usual."

Yumiri shows me the menu.

"I'll have this cheese one and this nugget one."　"I'll have this cheese one and this square one."

Nuggets are deep-fried chicken.

Oh, the kind Satou used to make.

" That's what I'll have."

"You can pick them up over here."

When the order number appeared on the display board above, he would pick it up.

"Yumiri, use this for payment."

"I'm sorry, Leanne. I'm sorry, Leanne, but you can only use the card registered in the app."

"Is that so?"

I'll give it back to Yumiri.

Hayato said and handed the bills and coins to Yumiri.

"Yumiri, is that different from a credit card?"

'Similar, I guess. It is a debit card, which is a type of card registered to debit money in a bank account.

It is said that there are various means of payment in this world.

"I've got the number."

I knew it. Acudo is fast.

It's fast food."

While I was listening to Yumiri's explanation, the goods seemed to be prepared.

Hayato took a portion for both of us and sat on an empty seat.

Unlike a seedy bar, there is not a speck of dirt on the tables and not a speck of debris on the floor, as in a high-end restaurant.

This place seems to be a very venerable place.

"How do you eat this?"

"You unwrap it like this, roll it up like this, and eat it. This way, the sauce inside does not drip onto your hands."

Yumiri taught me how to eat it.

The meat is delicious, but it has an unusual texture.

　"It's spicy and tasty, but it's dry and different from any other meat I know."

But strangely enough, it's good with cheese and soft bread.

The nuggets over here? This one has a different texture.

It's not quite as good as the fried ones Satu makes, but I think it's okay.

"Rinne, this one tastes better with ketchup and mustard."

I try it as Yumiri recommends.

The ketchup is the same sweet sauce I had there, in contrast to the spiciness of the yellow mustard.

"It's interesting how the taste changes depending on the sauce you dip it in," Yumiri said.

"It's also interesting to have both sauces on."

Hayato let me try it, using a long, thin potato as a spatula.

It's a bit awkward, but it's very tasty.

　"Rinne, let's try this one," Hayato said, holding the potato out in front of my nose.

"I'll have some."

I ate them as they were, and for some reason Hayato and Yumiri turned bright red.

I wondered if this was something embarrassing in this country.

"I'll let you eat it too, Hayato.

"Oh, oh!"

"Me too!"

Yumiri saw Hayato eating the potatoes I offered him and, with a desperate look on her face, thrust a bundle of potatoes into his face.

"--Hugu."

Because she was thrusting them out with her eyes closed, the fries were deflected and shoved into Hayato's nostrils.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Hayato, are you okay?"

When Yumiri took her handkerchief out of her bag, she knocked over her drink, but thanks to the fact that it was in a cup with a lid, she was able to avoid the worst of it.

"I'm sorry, Hayato."

"Don't worry about it, Yumiri."

Hayato consoles the disappointed Yumiri.

I was a little amused to see that.

I am so narrow-minded.

I looked out the window with mild self-loathing and saw that a popular politician was about to give a speech.

I couldn't hear what he was saying from here, but it was extremely enthusiastic.

"Oh, my...?"

Flames burst into flames in the empty space in front of the politician.

Men in black rushed onto the stage among the confused people.

It seems that this world is not all peace.

Hayato, we have a case.