[[Category:Volume Volume 16 Chapters]]
Appointment Annoyances (
Summary[]
Eira is headed to a shop with Uto to partake in a parfait; their path to meet not just with Rentarou but also the younger middle schoolers Chiyo and Rin. The duo immediately come across a sign for construction and decide to take a detour, but encounter another sign almost immediately; Uto sees this as mere detours adding spice to the journey but they know they'll be late, which makes Eira fearful in she can't take out "being late" with a kick. Uto tells Eira to calm down stating that being late isn't deadly and that she just goes where the wind takes her and having a policy of accepting whatever she can't change. The duo continue on encountering a third detour, making Eira panic to the point of grabbing Uto and running to find another route as the bard contacts the others via her cell, all of them finding similar roadblocks and Rentarou relenting they can push back the meet-up by an hour. With the extra hour, Eira and Uto return to a more leisurely journey, stating that a journey, even a perfectly planned one, can run overlong in practice and one must spend their time to take in the pleasure of the journey as it is happening, including what is seen on detours including aspects like sights, sounds, smells, moods, homes, lives and people. Eira appears to accept Uto's philosophy on enjoying the road.
Eventually, the duo come across Chiyo, who is looking at a cat on a nearby wall; Uto contemplating if it's an alley cat or a fellow wanderer enamored with freedom; while Eira tumbles away in fear of another creature she can't take out with a kick. Chiyo tells Eira to not hurt herself with her fear as the Brazilian states she has band-aids to deal with germs (which also can't be taken out physically). However as she goes for them, Eira finds her bandages are missing; but she claims they're not necessary and that they should proceed to Rin. However as they keep walking, the dark-skinned college student starts cowering about potential germs and infections, leading to Chiyo to give her some to help.
The trio soon come across Rin and the quartet decide to proceed to meet with Rentarou, only to find another roadblock and realizing they may need a bigger detour to get to him. However, an arcade owner approaches them and tells them they can pass through his shop, but at the cost of clearing a game first due to it being in the red. Rin quickly sees an "RE: Biohazard" machine and knows she can beat it but suggests that two people play due to making it faster; Uto declines not liking jumpscares and Eira prefers fighting real zombies over game ones. Eira does suggest paying but Chiyo and Rin do so as the players; Eira is worried more for Chiyo's pocket money and puts in the quarters for her to cover. However within the "RE: Biohazard" cabinet, Eira is stuck cowering as Rin embraces the violence and she and Chiyo make easy work of the game.
Leaving the arcade with Rin happy for her fun time, Eira contemplates to herself about how she, a scaredy-cat college girl, is constantly being bailed out by middle schoolers, making her doubt if she can eventually take over her father's capoeira dojo. Uto notices Eira down and ask if she's alright but Eira states she's just useless and a coward and apologizes for them helping her. However, the quartet hear a scream of a runaway dog driving a runaway bulldozer! Eira rolls away in fear for the dog as everyone screams at the bulldozer rushing towards them until Eira kicks it, throwing it down and freeing the dog from the machine! Eira asks if everyone is OK as they notice her holding the freed dog, making her scream and tumble away in fear. The Brazilian worries about what she did, but the other girls notice that despite her timid nature, she is conscientious and sympathetic when others are afraid that is blocks her fear, thus giving her strength in her cowardice and kind nature, making Eira blush.
As the construction worker and dog owner thank them for saving them, the quartet turn a corner only to find yet another roadblock for construction, with no more time to go around! A worker asks if they need to get through and that they were going to take longer, only that someone was helping them finish the work: Rentarou, who was working to make it more convenient to get through. With the four girls united with him, they finally arrive at the cafe on time...probably.
Characters[]
Quote[]
Beginning: (Physically) Striking the road on a journey!
End: Worth their wait in gold.
Next Time: Next time, enjoy a sumptuous, gropey Yakuzen bun.