"Hmm, this place is pretty big," Shimei notes as they look at the other visitors at the distance. The place is packed. They look at the map of the Mall of Aisa in their phones. Looking for the exact size.
"It's as big as our residence or maybe a little bigger?" Chiyu said after looking at the map and look around him. The shops they see here are mostly restaurants. A very long line of eateries and each of them are full of customers. "This place is kind of amazing."
(⇀_⇀) (O.O)
"True. So, what should we do first? Should we eat or walk around or buy first?"
"Let's eat first. It'll be easier for us to go around without thinking of food."
"Buy later."
They just nodded. The four didn't know where to eat so they just followed Margarette guide them to a restaurant called 'Jabee'. It was also full, so they waited outside for a table to finish. Most of the customers are families and some group of friends. Some are ghost but they seem harmless and mostly attracted with the light and happy atmosphere. Some are even workers, exhausted ghost workers in the restaurants.
He can see those customers, even the employees are happily working, eating, and talking, without a care in the world.
Chiyu's eyes settled to a group in the corner. It's a family, the parents, and the twin girls, or at least he thinks since they look close to age. Sharing stories, giggling, the sweet exchange of the parents and the squealing children. They look so happy and content. It's a very beautiful sight.
Although, there's an ugly feeling rising from the pit of stomach, so he averted his gaze from the family and look at the people in line. He doesn't want that to bloom within him. It will not bring him good. It will never be.
(￣ - ￣(.. )ゝ
He felt a warm hand hold his and look at the other. His brother looking at him with concerned stare. Chiyu just gave the other a small smile and squeeze Shimei's hand. No words were exchanged but, they still understand each other.
Margarette shakes both Chiyu's and Shimei shoulder while looking somewhere. "Ooh, that table is going to be vacant soon, let's go! Before someone take it." They watched and waited like a hack in that table.
"Are there no line when you should take the next vacant table?" Shimei asked, confused. He's looking at the other people who are also standing and waiting like them, by the restaurant's entrance.
"I dunno, but we have to get there fast," she answered, dismissing Shimei's question. Chiyu just rolled his eyes and the other two adult just laughed.
Once the former customers packed their things, they slightly run there and, thankfully no one seems to be also aiming there, either busy talking to their company or just staring at them. Chiyu can't help but go in the farthest corner, hiding his awkwardness and shyness behind nonchalance and surfing in his phone.
Chiyu sat with Shimei, while on the opposite side of the table was other three.
"Ahh, if we wait for any longer, I will really lose my patience," Tsukishima said as he stretches his legs from beneath the table.
"私も! (Watashi mo or me too)," Yona whispered, she's popping the joints in her fingers.
Shimei lean forward to Margarette. "Does this always happen here?"
"I think? I've been in Japan in so many years, so I don't really remember. Oh, right. Yona, come with me." She said as she took the Yona's wrist and dragged her to the counter. People are lining up there. Chiyu can't help but tilt his head in confusion.
"Wont the waiters come and take our orders?" he ask to himself.
(・・ ) ?
"Ahh, I heard that they order by the counter and the waiters will serve the food later." The three of them watch the others as they waited patiently in line. No one seems to be cutting off the line. Although, people are jogging whenever there's a vacant table. It looks disorganized. No offense to them.
"This is so different back home," Shimei said and both, Chiyu and Tsukishima, nodded.
"Also there seems to be so many ghosts and yokais here, too. I though, that only in the province that they are more active," he sounds genuinely surprised. Small creatures, that he has never seen before was playing the counter. He thinks he have read something like in a book in the past. He just can't remember it. It was at the tip of his tongue!
Ahh! What was that again?!
ლ(ಠ_ಠ ლ)
There are also other yokais that either eat with the customers or just disturbing the workers.
Back when they visited Tokyo, it was very rare for them to spot yokais, unlike ghost that roam all everywhere. There are limited places that they can feel safe and have strong spiritual energies that they can live with. The place of the yokais in the real world is decreasing, especially in cities. Unlike in the past, where there are no electronics, and social medias that says that the supernatural are not real. They still suspect or knows about existence of such creatures, but they don't believe as much as their ancestors.
They were taught that unlike ghosts, who can roam around freely, because they are in the 2nd dimension and they have strong connection to the real world or the 1st dimension, since they are humans before. Yokais in the other hand is from the 3rd dimension, and for them to go to the 1st is for them to connect with places with high spiritual energies, know a prior place that connects the two or they, themselves can go with their own. No exceptions.
But why does it look like it's different here?
Despite this place not so rich in spiritual energy, there are so many yokais. They don't look like they have many spiritual energies to spare, how can they roam and play here?
What's going on?
(ಠ ʖ̯ ಠ)
"… By the way, Tsukishima-san, what is that yokai?" Shimei's question snapped Chiyu in his trance. He didn't hear why they talked prior. He must have also been thinking for too long since ha can see that Yona and Margarette is already coming back to their table.
"… um, I also don't know," Tsukishima, said rubbing the back of his neck. He continues to observe the yokais.
Margarette sat in between Yona and Tsukishima and heard the prior questions. "Ahh, the small ones? They are called duwende in tagalog. In other countries, they're called elf, goblin, or leprechaun."
Yona made an 'oh' sound as she put a stick with number in cylinder that has small hole in the middle.
Chiyu leaned back and look at the duwende that sits in one of the worker's shoulders. "I don't think, there are elves in our country,"
"Yeah. It's quite different in our place. I was surprised when I saw how carefree they are by the counter and the kitchen." Yona seems like she can't hide her surprise and said that quite loudly. It earned a 'shush' from Margarette, Tsukishima, and Chiyu.
"They seem to be more attached with the people here. Some are either helping the workers or being naughty."
"I don't really know what to say about the connection of people and supernatural here since, you know, I've awakened my third eye when I started working in your family. I haven't visited our province and just have my vacation here in Manila," Margarette said, shrugging her shoulders.
Chiyu watched her. Unlike when she started worked in their family, she's more relaxed. He's more comfortable seeing grotesque ghost and yokais, in the past Chiyu and elder brother usually pass out or flinch when they pass by them despite being harmless. Well, they can't help it.
Newbies were thrown into a place they were unfamiliar. There are newbies like Margarette, Tsukishima and Yona who get used quickly, but some didn't get in the cut. He doesn't know where they are now. Some of those newbies, he has made a great friendship, and he's hurt that they didn't visit him once, since they left the house. It happened many times, so he's not that sad, but it hurts that they don't try to contact them after leaving.
"Anyways, let's talk about this at home," Yona said, eyeing other customers.
The others just nodded. Chiyu raised his left hand to get their attention. "Um, does this place bookshop?"
His question garnered small smiles and fond gazes. "I knew you'll ask that. Though, I think you need bookshelf before the books, ha ha ha."
"I'll take you to all the bookstores here. Don't worry."
"We will have to buy new phones or just sim card first. I don't know the twists and turns here; we might find a bookshop here."
"We'll ask around," Shimei said.
"Don't get distracted, okay? There are so many people here. It's not hard to get lost," Tsukishima reminds them again and the twins just rolled their eyes.
"Tsuki-san, we're not kids anymore. We can take care of ourselves. Don't worry, okay?" Chiyu said to Tsukishima with a small smile.
"Don't be so pessimist. They'll be adults soon. You can't always baby them, ah, wait, only Chiyu," Margarette second, holding Tsukishima's hand, which the other immediately took like he was burned. Margarette was laughing, while Tsukishima was making a weird face. Yona was smirking.
"Ahem. But still, it's better that they know. Better to be prepared than nothing. By the way, what phone do you want? Or you'll buy a sim card?" Tsukishima asked, changing the subject.
Chiyu and Shimei took their phones and look at them. It was still the flip phones. Their very first ones and it looks very old. It's not that they don't have money to buy new ones, the trendy phones, but it's not like they always use these. It's only or checking emails and for Chiyu updates in anime and manga, though, he also doesn't use this that often, since he's more comfortable using the computer. Do they really need new ones? He doesn't think so…
Ahh right, this is a new country and different culture. It might be better for they have new phone. He doesn't know what their classmates will say if they see their old flip phones. They are good phones and served them for so many years, but human minds can be so pickle, most of the time.
"I think, I'll get a new phone. What kind phones does they usually use here?" Chiyu asked. Shimei also uttered a 'Me too'. Margarette just nodded. He took something from his sling bag. It was the touch-screen phone.
"Everyone usually buys this. You know how to use this, right?" Margarette teased the twin.
Shimei rolled his eyes. "Yes, of course… We're not the elders with zero understanding of IT…" He mumbled something in between but it was incoherent, so they leave it be.
"How about you, Yona-san, Tsukishima-san?"
Yona showed her touched screen phone. "Nah, I'm good."
Tsukishima said, leaning back. "Me, too."
At the same time, a waiter came and served their foods. 5 Chicken with rice and gravy, you really can't take a away rice in every Asian meals, 2 cokes and 3 iced tea. There's also French fries and sundae for dessert. The smell is so good that Chiyu's stomach can't help but grumbled. His face flushed and hid his embarrassment by sipping the iced tea in front of him.
His faced crunched as he took a sip of the supposedly 'tea'. "Eh?? This is tea?"
ლ(ಠ_ಠ ლ)
Shimei also took a sip, and he also can' help but knit his brows in displeasure. "This is totally not tea. I can't taste the 'tea' and it's too sweet. Does this establishment plan to make us have diabetes?"
Margarette laughed and shook his head. "No, this is truly the 'iced tea' of Pangaea. We like our foods and drinks with strong flavors. Either sweet, spicy, sour, or salty. It's common here."
"Truly a culture shock," Yona uttered as she started eating her meal, so does Tsukishima. The twins look at each other. Shimei just shrugged his shoulder and started eating.
Chiyu's look was like a betrayed maiden, and they can't help but internally laugh fondly at him.
"This is a scam," Shimei muttered with a sigh and started eating. And like Margarette said, the fried chicken and the gravy have strong flavors. There's salty, the spice ad the sweetness. It was bizarre.
He's enjoying this.
👻👻👻👻👻
After eating, they went to look at the stores. The entered the boutiques. Margarette pushed them to try the clothes she chooses and bought the ones that got okay to her. He wants to stop her since she thinks it too much and they have other clothes… Now that he thought about it, most of the clothes they brought with them are yukatas. It's not that they don't have more casual clothing, but they can count they in his ten fingers.
Most of the time that they leave the manor was because of training in the shrine or going outside with the elders for some recreation or in the school term, a field trip, where they wear their uniforms. Inside the manor all of them where yukatas, being traditional and such.
If Margarette haven't checked them while they are changing their clothes, they would've chosen to wear yukatas like usual.
They were about to enter the car when they heard Margarette's shout, and they look at the exaggerated expression of their guardian.
"Why are you wearing your those?!" she exclaimed.
"Hmm? Because its yukatas?" Chiyu asked confused with Margarette's exaggeration. It's not like she haven't seen them in yukatas. They have similar ones that they all wear, and the always wear them in the manor, even earlier.
"No! You should more wear more casual, like what we're wearing right now," she said.
Both him and Shimei look at the three, and they are wearing t-shirt and jeans. Normal casual clothes. Shimei cocked is head, looking at Margarette. "Would it bother other people if we wear them?" That seems to make the other stop and think of a second and strengthen her back and clear her throat.
"Well, it's not that it would bother them…"
"… Then there's no problem!" Chiyu cut off.
"Let me finish brat! As I was saying, its won't bother them but they would surely stare, something that we wouldn't want. Your albinism is eye catching enough, and you guys being in yukatas will surely gather attention. They'll think that you guys are some cosplayers and want to take pictures! You wouldn't want that, right?" she explained. The twins look at each other.
Though, it might be a bit too much but there's that possibility. They may not just gather attention from the living. It's better to be cautious than to be caught in something troublesome.
They nodded and went back inside. They look from their wardrobe and, luckily, they packed at least 2 pairs of casual clothing.
Though, he still really like yukatas. It's easy to wear and to take off. It's also refreshing when opened slightly and gives enough warmth if it gets a bit chilly. Yukatas are the best! Though he doesn't know what will happen if they wear it here.
"Remember, new country, different culture."
They'll continue wearing yukatas at home, so they didn't really think of buying much. Though, they might buy more in the future.
Their next stop is a shop called 'Country Bookstore' and bought school supplies and such. Chiyu also choose some books that caught his attention.
He would internally throw a fit if there's no book in there despite being called bookstore, though the bigger portion of the place is for the school supplies, but whatever. He'll choose some book. What should he pick??
A book with great cover but shitty summary or a not so good cover but good summary?
He frowns as he looks at the books by the shelf. He can't choose! Argh! He'll just choose a different one, something that have Great book cover and summary.
His clubmates may tell him he's too picky but, well, at least he has aesthetic books but still great stories, unlike books that have almost the same plot, boring and jumping to the trendy for extra cash. He's not looking down on those writers but, they should invest in more deepening the stories, the troupes, so even if it's cliché its won't look bad to other writers.
He chooses 3 books in the end, and one of them is Tagalog so, he won't be reading that until he learns the language. He likes the book cover, like a lot so, even if doesn't understand a thing from the summary, he'll gamble his money in choosing this book. He just wishes he won't regret it.
"You finished choosing?" Chiyu heard his brother asked as he left the aisle. He saw his brother pushing a cart and full off supplies. It looks like it's for him and his brother.
"Yeah… Though, one is Tagalog so, I'll read it in the future," he shows him the book and by the looks of it, he's also pleased with the cover.
Yes, it's that great plus, it looks like a different genre. Yes, it's time to explore different type of genre other than fantasy.
They met with their guardians, and they paid it by the counter while they look at other trinkets in the stand. They talked in hushed voices and compared this bookstore and the ones back home. He can see the difference between the two countries, but both are lovely places.
They went next to a shop that sells furniture and stuff. They bought the bookshelves for both him and Shimei then the living room, plus some table, chairs, and big umbrella for the backyard. He didn't mind what they choose since, when the twins look outside, they saw cosplayers. Like a lot of cosplayers in the big space in the middle of the mall.
There seems no event in there, or maybe the event place is somewhere near and they choose to stay there for a while. Whatever the reason, he doesn't care since he gazes at them with admiration. Most of the cosplay are from anime adaptations, some are from games or from Hollywood movies.
They saw some wearing kimonos in cosplay. Good thing they wore it right. Sigh. Some just tried cosplaying, either decent or just plain horrible, and some gave their all in their costumes. It's entertaining watching them, while they interact with other cosplayers or weebs. It doesn't look like people are looking down on weebs or otakus here. Good to know.
"Ahhh, he wants to take a picture with them…"
He felt a hand encircled on his shoulder and saw his brother smiling at him. "Let's go?" he asked. He looks back and saw their guardians nodding at him and went back to their shopping.
Chiyu and Shimei went close to them and took a picture with 4 of the cosplayers he thinks looks cool. He stared at them, and he's excited to share them to his former clubmates. They'll be so jealous. Back in their home country, cosplayers only appear when there's an event and it's rare seeing them in the street. Though, there are some in the Akihara but they can be counted in his ten fingers.
"Thank you very much," they thanked the cosplayer with a bow that made the other flustered.
They went back and saw the three watch them with a smile. "What?" Shimei asked with one of his eyebrows raised.
They just shook their heads, and they went to the next place. The department store and bought necessities.
In short, it has been a very exhausting day but very peaceful event outside. As soon as they arrived home, Chiyu fell on his bed and stretched his sore limbs. He had fun but his social battery has been drained. He rested for a few minutes before he heard is new phone notification.
An e-email from Alex. He hadn't got a mail or anything from him since yesterday. Maybe the older man was busy.
From: Alexander
You are still alive there? You must be very exhausted. Look at my handsome face and get recharged!
(insert photo)
He giggled at the other's antics. Though, Alex looks fine, but he knows, he just knows that the other is sad and lonely. They've been friends and doing things together for years and now… He started typing his reply to the other, telling him what happened after their departure and to what he is currently doing. It was a long mail, well at least for him.
To: Alexander
Hmm, got really dizzy after boarding off the board here. Didn't know that the flight would be long, 8 hours, but it's fine the view is good and it's a good change. We went to the mall earlier and bought some things and we got new phones. I'm so exhausted. I'll be downloading some apps. Do you know an app where we can video call? I'll give you a tour in our house here. Me and Shimei have separate rooms. Oh! There are no ghosts or supernatural here. It was disturbing.
(insert photo here)
It took a while before Alex replied. The older man must have searched apps. His next mail has attachment of links of the applications. Most of it are apps that his clubmates use in their smartphones. It must be a necessity for a high school student phone.
From: Alexander
Video call me tomorrow after your class. Get some rest. Dream of me.
To: Alexander
Okay, good night sweet dreams.