It took us about three and a half hours to get to Okayama by bullet train.
I haven't visited this place since Mom died… If I were to be asked if
being in Okayama Station makes me feel nostalgic or not… Arehh? Have
I always felt like this? Have I always felt like this?
H- Hmmm. I guess I didn't feel that nostalgic huh. Well, it's been more
than a decade since I've last came here, so it's probably natural that I
don't remember this place that much.
We could have checked into the hotel where we were going to stay and
drop off our luggages… but since we can use our magic box in this
world like normal, we can just check in later.
So, we decided to go to one of our destinations… One of the most
famous parks in Okayama, "Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland".
Why is there a "Brazilian Park" in its name even though we're in Japan?
From my dim memory, I think it's because they have Samba Shows over
there. According to Mom, "when one thinks of Okayama's amusement
parks, it has to be this place". Incidentally, I think Dad fearfully said
"Hey, why don't we just go to Tivoli Park instead?" back then.
Incidentally, Washuzan Highland… According to my research on the
internet, it says that it's only open until 5:00 pm on weekdays. It's a pity
that there are no fireworks or night parades but… of the eight daily
show events, "two of them are Samba shows".
In addition, there are two
day's shows are either about Samba or Brazil. How should I say this… It
feels like they're quite passionate about that subject huh.
By the way, one thing that shocked me when I looked at the Washuzan
Highland's website was that if I exclude the cafes inside the park, the
only places we can choose to eat at are < Restaurant Goonies> and
more Brazilian-ish?
Well, let's just leave it at that and change trains. Let's see, from what the
All-knowing Internet-kun says… The closest station is Kojima station,
which is about a 30-minute ride from Okayama through Seto-Ôhashi
Line.
While I was doing some research, I learned about the existence of a
tourist train called "La Malle De Bois", but I decided that we would take
the regular train this time, considering the possibility that we might get
confused when changing trains. I'd like to try riding it some other time,
when we have the chance though.
[Kaito-kun! Look at these, these "kibi-dangos" are really delicious!]
(T/N: Kibi-Dango / Millet Dumplings)
[Y- You've already started snacking around huh… By the way, I
recommend you try out the "Ote Manjuus".]
[I'll get some!]
[That's fast!]
Ote Manjuu is a manjuu with a thin skin filled with red bean paste, but
it isn't too sweet. Whenever we go to Okayama, I used to beg Mom to
buy some for me…
I mean, there are quite a few more souvenirs being sold here that I
don't know about… Okayama Rolls? Something like this exists huh…
As I was thinking about this, Kuro, who had bought some ote manjuus,
came back and we moved to the Seto-Ôhashi Line's train stop.
On the way, Kuro was talking about a new baby castella again… It would
be great if she tries to fit the flavor of the kibi-dango and the ote
manjuus in it, but the way she was staring at those fishes called
"mamakari", as if she wants to gobble it up, is making me feel slightly
uneasy.
(T/N: Japanese Scaled Sardines / Mamakari)
After taking the train to Kojima Station, we took a 5-minute bus ride…
and arrived at our destination, Washuzan Highland.
[Ohh, so this is an amusement park huh! Uwahhh~~ Amazing!]
[Kuro, I know how you feel, but we have to buy our tickets over there
first.]
[Unnn!]
Smiling at Kuro's excitement, we headed for the ticket booth.
Fumufumu, 3800 yen for adults huh… People over 60 years old could
get in just by paying 500 yen for a life-time entrance card though. Well,
putting aside telling them her real age, it's not like I can tell them that
Kuro is over 60 years old with the way she looks, so I'll just buy two
adult tickets.
(T/N: Author-san wrote 2800 yen here instead of 3800, which is the
official ticket price written on Washuzan Highland's official site.)
[Welcome.]
[Two adult free pass please.]
[Sir, we have a cheaper separate pass for "elementary school children",
so would you like to avail that for the young miss instead?]
[...…]
Kuro's face turned serious. W- Well, Kuro is indeed petite, so some
people might see her as an elementary schooler…
[…Two adults.]
[Understood.]
Deciding to pretend that I didn't notice how Kuro, whose shoulders
seem to be trembling, seemed to want to say something, I quickly
bought our free pass.
Then, panicking for a bit, I pulled Kuro's hand and headed for the
entrance gate… and heard a disgruntled voice.
[…I'm an adult.]
[N- No, you know that the attendant didn't mean to offend you…]
[I'm an adult… I'm older than Kaito-kun.]
[I know! I've always known that! Okay? Come on, let's get that smile
back on our face…]
[Mnnhhhh.]
In that world, Kuro is a very famous person, so no one would dare treat
her like a child.
Was that the reason why? As if she was very displeased with being
treated like a child at the ticket booth, Kuro's cheeks puffed up like a
squirrel. Well, how should I say this… I guess she thinks she's showing
how angry she was… but she just looked cute instead.
[Come on, Kuro. We're on a date, so let's enjoy it.]
[U- Unnn. Since Kaito-kun clearly knows it…]
[Yeah, Kuro is a charming, mature lady, right?]
[R- Really? Ehehe, I'm very happy to hear you say that, Kaito-kun.]
With a bashful smile on her face, Kuro said. Her mood seems to have
improved. The changes in her expressions looked so adorable that I
wanted to hug her… As expected, I'm having second thoughts doing that
in a place like this, so let's hold back.
A- Anyway, let's get back on track and enjoy the amusement park.