“Certainly fancy in here...” Kaname whispered idly, as she laid her luggage on the bed of her cabin.
Her roommate, Kyoko, responded in excitement. “Yeah, it sure is! Did you see that lobby we passed through when we boarded? It was so big and beautiful, I couldn’t believe it! And the captain, and the live music there to welcome us... that was really something else!”
They had just come aboard with their classmates and teachers. Most of the crew that had greeted them as they came up the gangway were foreigners. They seemed friendly and courteous, and Kyoko and the teachers all seemed to find it thrilling, but Kaname couldn’t help but feel like something was off. She couldn’t shake the sense that a few of the crew seemed to recognize her in some meaningful way. Their expressions seemed to say, “Ah, she’s the one,” as if they’d known she would be here—or rather, that they knew what fate was in store for her here. It was subtle; just a slight tension in their faces, followed by an exchange of glances, and then cheery smiles, as if nothing had happened.
No, you’re being stupid, she decided. After all, their last field trip had been in the news, and she stood out even among her classmates as “the last one saved.” Of course the captain and crew would know about her.
“Hey, Kana-chan,” said Kyoko, interrupting her thoughts.
“Hm?”
“Let’s hit up topside before we leave port. They say the observation deck has a great view of the Minato Mirai wheel.”
“Sure,” Kaname agreed. “Actually, I’m pretty hungry, too... You bring any snacks?”
“Ah, sorry,” Kyoko told her apologetically. “I ate with Shiori-chan and the others while we were waiting to board earlier. I heard Mayu-chan brought Pocky, though. Maybe get some from her?”
“Oh, yeah? I’d better confiscate it; she’s been putting on weight lately!”
“Wow, mean!”
Kaname left Kyoko behind, cackling.
There were a few female students hanging around in the brightly-lit corridor, chatting boisterously. Ah, figures... Kaname reflected. Their class weren’t the only ones on board, and they’d been warned in homeroom several times not to make trouble for the other passengers. Yet here they were already...
Kaname’s instincts as class representative took over, and she was about to scold the students, when—
“Give me a goddamned break!” came a man’s voice. The words were in English, the voice deep and forceful in a way that let it easily boom over the girls’ laughter.
A large Caucasian in a suit was chewing out a member of the crew, who was looking a little put out by it all. Kaname found herself thinking the man looked a bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger when he did comedy movies. “You can’t stick me in a B-class cabin with these landlubber girls!” he objected.
“I’m sorry, sir,” the crew member apologized. “But the A-class cabins are all full—”
“Then get me a private suite, you ICBM dunderhead! Is this how you treat a commander in the United States Navy?!” the large man demanded to know. “Got something against me, do you? You’re with the Air Force, aren’t you?!”
“S-sir—”
“Stop this, Captain! You’re embarrassing yourself. This is exactly why your wife ran off right before you left for Japan!” A handsome young man of East Asian descent, apparently companion to the angry ‘Schwartzie,’ clung to the man to try to hold him back. He was wearing a suit, too.
“What was that, Takenaka, you incompetent XO?! You could show a little gratitude for my inviting you here in Eliza’s place!”
“How dare you!” Takenaka fumed back. “I was having the time of my life on Waikiki Beach when you dragged me off by force!”
“Oh, please!” the captain returned. “That curvy Japanese lady you were chatting up? She was probably crawling with STDs! You should be thanking me!”
“Damn you! I had a good thing going, and now it’s all down the drain!”
“Shut up! It serves you right!” spat the captain. “You can’t be off enjoying your vacation while your superior officer is wrestling with divorce! You should suffer with me!”
“That was your real motive, wasn’t it?” Takenaka said accusingly. “I bet it was, dammit!”
The men began to grapple in the hallway, right in front of the crewman. Another crewman ran up to assist, and with a combination of verbal coaxing and physical force, they eventually got the two into their passenger cabin. Then the door closed, and the corridor fell silent.
The students who didn’t know English could only stare, dumbfounded. Having lived abroad for so long, Kaname had understood the entire conversation, but... “All kinds of people on board this ship, huh?” she whispered, then hurried off to find her friend’s room.24 December, 1855 HoursPacific Chrysalis, Near Miura Peninsula, Pacific Ocean
The cruise ship soon left port, and passed through the Uraga Channel on its way out of Tokyo Bay. The sun had already set, and a canvas of stars now hung over the quietly cruising white ship. The students had gathered on the quarterdeck to watch the scenery and enjoy some innocent horseplay. The cold, clear air was refreshing. The waves glittered around them, and the sight of fishing boats and merchant ships passing by were met with great interest.
“Wow. It’s so pretty...” Kyoko said, leaning on the railing as she clicked away with her digital camera. “It doesn’t feel right, though, huh? Not having Sagara-kun here with us...”
“Do we have to talk about that guy?” Kaname asked grumpily.
Kyoko winced at this predictable response. “Guh, typical Kana-chan. But for real... how’s it going?”
“How’s what going?” Kaname replied.
“You and Sagara-kun. Just spill it already! I swear I won’t tell.” She sounded pretty serious, and Kaname had a hard time saying no when asked this directly. Besides, it was hard to keep up her prickly demeanor around her best friend.
“Huh? Um, well...” Kaname said.
“Just say it. Go on.” Behind her thick glasses, Kyoko’s large eyes shone.
Kaname let out a small sigh, then gave up and admitted the truth. “I like him okay, I guess. But... there’s really nothing between us.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.
