Chapter Text
"You don't look like you're enjoying that."
"I am," Yuusaku said through his teeth. The tip of his pencil was ground into the back of his mouth, and his dry eyes remained on the textbook in front of him. Two more chapters and he'd give himself a break long enough to refill his coffee-stained mug and splash water on his drooping face.
"You've been working on that all night."
"Day."
"Yuusaku, it's two am."
Hm. It was, and that should have surprised him more considering the last time he checked the time, it was two in the afternoon and he'd made himself a cup of coffee. Had it really been so long since then? His legs didn't hurt—couldn't even feel them, in fact—and his stomach wasn't aching even though, if had been twelve hours since he last got up, it had been much, much longer since he'd eaten.
A pair of strong hands settled on his shoulders, tilting him back from his computer. He kept his head forward until the same pair of hands trailed up his jaw and tipped him forward, so that his gaze was no longer captured by the bright computer screen, but by a pair of equally bright, blue eyes. Ryouken's long fingers tickled his jaw, finding their place just below his ears.
Naturally, the effect was ruined by his lips pressed in a tight line.
"You ought to take better care of yourself."
"I am." He brushed his hands away. As he got to his feet, his legs twinged with pins and prickles. He let out a soft groan as he grabbed his coffee mug and stumbled out of the study and into the kitchen. The entire house was dark, with only faint moonlight streaming through the large bay windows surrounding the living room and kitchen. Normally, he'd take in the sight of Stardust Road and its million stars trapped under the sea, but tonight he was still coming to terms with that fact that it was nighttime and he hadn't even realised it. He remembered leaving coffee in the pot that afternoon after he'd made his cup, but when he now lifted the pot out of the machine, he found clean, clear glass staring back at him. With a shrug, he set about making another pot.
"I think you need sleep, not another pot of coffee," Ryouken said. He lounged against the fridge, arms crossed over his chest. At this late hour, he should have been in his pyjamas, or what he considered pyjamas: loose slacks and a t-shirt that somehow still looked like an outfit you could leave the house in. But he was still in his business attire, dress pants and a blazer, and the only 'dressing-down' part of his outfit was his loosened tie dangling around his neck.
Yuusaku shrugged and turned on the machine.
"Are you still studying for that test?"
No. In fact, the test Ryouken was referring to was due two days ago and he knew he didn't pass.
"It's late."
The machine clicked off with a soft ping and he poured himself a cup: black, no milk or sugar or syrup to dilute the caffeine. Bringing the cup to his lips, he breathed in the aroma. Seeing Ryouken's strong glare over the rim of his mug soured the mood.
"I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine."
"The perfect example of fine."
He tipped back the cup, wincing at the heat on his tongue. Somehow, the caffeine didn't give him quite the buzz he expected, and long after the sip, he only felt a weak gurgling in his stomach. Sighing, he snatched up a piece of bread from the box and munched on it, ignoring Ryouken's increasing stares.
"If you worry," he said around the food in his mouth, "you're going to get white hairs."
"Is this more of Kusanagi's work?" Ryouken asked instead. "Are you spying on SOL?" A slow smile spread over Ryouken's lips, the sign of a predator relishing in its prey. "Not that I think you should be focusing on that when you've been in that same spot all day, but if you were spying, I'd love for you to tell me the details—in bed."
"I thought I was supposed to go to sleep."
"You will," Ryouken said. A finger fixed under his chin, pulling him towards the bedroom. Yuusaku left his coffee on the counter and followed Ryouken into the bedroom, lit only by the muted moonlight trickling through the window. In the near-darkness, he couldn't see the bed, but his body found comfort in whatever he lied upon, and he tucked his head either into the pillow or the warm curve of Ryouken's arm. The same long, spindly fingers slipped into his hair, settling along his brow.
"You're working too hard."
"Hm."
"I'm being serious."
"Hypocritical too," he mumbled around a yawn. The light seemed to be fading from the room, even though both of them were in bed and Ryouken wouldn't have been able to reach the curtains. It was getting warmer too, and somehow he felt like he should nestle closer rather than pull away.
"You know what our elders say: 'Technology is bad for your health.'"
He snorted into the sheets. Since when had Ryouken even cared about what paranoid seniors thought?
"What's your prognosis then, Dr. Ryouken?"
A deep rumble shook between them. Ryouken's arms tightened around his chest and shoulders, drawing him closer. The blankets tucked under his chin, and Yuusaku wondered just how comfier he could get. He had been awake at the computer, focused and attentive, but now his mind was hazier than a foggy morning and he could hardly keep his eyes awake much less focused on the fuzzy darkness. Ryouken's hands kept stroking him—his face, his shoulders; not his neck, not over his eyes, nowhere that would startle him—and guiding him towards sleep. Odd considering at the same time he was trying to have a serious conversation.
"You need a break."
"Does this count?"
"A true break—and so do I, for that matter. A break for the both of us, away from computers and technology and hacking and dumb updates and malfunctions."
"The last time we took a break, it wasn't very relaxing."
"That's because we took a break within Link Vrains, and never again should we trust our emotional well-being to a virtual game with the worst server update malfunctions in the history of online gaming."
He had to chuckle at that. The Link Vrains-mas winter event had been an absolute bust, starting with faulty servers and glitchy systems and ending in SOL going after their personal identities for the sake of some big scoop and publicity stunt. It had been a bonding experience, if one could even call it that, but it wasn't a relaxing winter event. If Ryouken wanted them to relax, what he meant was 'unplug,' as the old folks would say.
"Can you even go a day without internet?" he said around another yawn. He tilted his gaze up, ready to see the flicker of embarrassment on Ryouken's face. Between the two of them, if they lost internet, it was Ryouken pacing around the house and watching the Twitter feeds for updates.
Ryouken tapped him on the nose. "Can you?"
"I don't think it's technology that's stressing me out. It's ..." Life. Feelings of unaccomplishment. Feeling lost and unsure and unsuccessful amidst a society that always looked found, sure, and successful. Feeling like everyone was one step ahead in life.
"Still, a holiday would do you—us—good. We haven't had one in a while too."
True. The last time they'd done anything couple-y was back in winter for Link Vrains-mas, and since then they'd both been bogged down by work and study and responsibility. Sure, they'd spent evenings together and gone out once or twice, but they hadn't really gone out-out, hadn't really spent time together, and certainly hadn't had a holiday. Time had just passed too fast for either of them to consider it. Now it was fall, the off-season for most holiday destinations.
"Not somewhere cold," he said.
"Didn't even consider it."
"Or warm."
"Never even crossed my mind."
"Or crowded."
"Quite the long list of specifications."
He swung his legs over, pinning Ryouken to the bed. With their bodies barely an inch apart, he felt Ryouken's inhale, and a slow smile spread over his face when the exhale came much shakier.
"You suggested the holiday."
"I did," Ryouken said, words rumbling in his throat. "And better yet, I found us the perfect holiday."
"You booked it already?"
Ryouken's hand slid out from underneath them, hovering in front of their faces. He flicked his wrist to open up the holographic internet on his duel disk—sleek and silver, with the latest customisable interface. It would have been the top-of-the-line model except Ryouken had taken the AI feature out at once, stating that people who rely on a computer's processing to solve their every problem are going to be the downfall in society. He clicked open his inbox and selected one of the recent e-mails from a new contact. Inside was a long, detailed e-mail from them detailing a venue of some kind, along with an information package, guides and brochures, and coupons. His eyes scanned over what he could gather from the e-mail, but Ryouken snapped open another e-mail and typed out: We'll take the room.
"Now we've booked it."
Yuusaku wriggled his hand out from underneath and clicked on the e-mail attachment. Rather than take him to a hyperlink, it opened to a pdf brochure of a small, quaint, seaside village, the likes game developers would design as one's primary starting point. The village was made up of various small, stone buildings, some with thatched roofs and others with proper slate to protect them from the strong winds and rains. For a town, it was tiny, all family-run shops, a small inn, and a library. There were no large attractions, no yearly festivals or venues that would attract a large crowd, and in fact the brochure didn't look to be advertising tourists, but instead seemed like the sort of pamphlet made by a child for a school project.
Made by Takeru, age 10.
Yep, a child's school project.
"How'd you even find this place?" he asked.
"Spectre suggested it. He likes the nature in the area, and he said of all the places you can go to disconnect, this is the least tourist-trap-y option."
"Hm," was all he could say. Spectre was right though—this place wouldn't be on anyone's get-away retreat. Even without the brochure advertising the town's attraction, he could see for himself that there wasn't even that much to advertise: some little shops that might have homemade wares that were all the rave today, and some kitschy, also homemade, belongings that were all the rave for Kusanagi. With small towns came friendly people, and that might have attracted certain crowds of long-time visitors who would eventually settle down in the area, but nowhere in the brochure was there any indication that there was anything to do.
"Does it meet your specifications?"
"I think you'll be more bored than relaxed," Yuusaku said. He rolled to the side and yanked the blankets up over his head. "But sure. When do we go?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
But if Ryouken said anything more, Yuusaku didn't hear it. As soon as the warmth under the blanket settled like a second layer over his skin, he passed out with thoughts of ocean waves and rustling winds on his wind. He dreamt of silent seas and winding meadows, places that he hadn't even seen advertised on the brochure. Deep in his mind he remembered running through tall, grassy fields and playing. He hadn't gone out since then—not freely, not without a single care in his mind.
When he awoke, the bed was still warm, but an empty space lie next to him. He could hear Ryouken busying himself in the kitchen, and he padded out of the bedroom rubbing his eyes. He felt even more tired for some reason, and as he gazed out the window at the brewing sunrise, realisation dawned on him.
"Can you even call it sleep if you only napped for a couple hours?" Ryouken said with a sigh, pressing a mug into his chilled hands. The warmth lulled him in like a lullaby, but the caffeine woke him up with a jolt. He sipped deeply and peered over the rim of the mug, to where Ryouken stood nursing his own cup. For someone who was awake with him last night, he looked too fresh and rejuvenated, and dressed like he was going to an office meeting and opposed to a … holiday.
Standing at the door were two small suitcases, one red and one blue, that hadn't been there last night when he was stumbling around half-asleep. On the counter was a small lunch kit too, and with its lid open Yuusaku could see an assortment of small snacks: slices of cheese and crackers; two small yogurts; and a package of sandwiches cut into squares.
He hadn't seen a packed lunch since elementary school.
"You were serious," he mumbled around his next sip.
"When am I not?" Ryouken said, sweeping past him to zip up the lunch kit and attach it to one of the handles on the suitcase. He lay their jackets atop too. "The bus comes in twenty minutes at the bottom of the hill."
Sighing, Yuusaku headed back into the bedroom. Ryouken had laid out an outfit on the bed for him, looking a bit too sharp for an attire meant for a holiday. Nonetheless, he slipped on the dress shirt and slacks, letting them both hang loose, and uncuffing the pants so that they properly swept over his feet. He wouldn't be some scandalous man bearing ankles.
At the doorway, Ryouken met him with a travel mug filled with his forgotten coffee and a long scarf to wrap round his neck. Yuusaku lifted his chin to let him tie it up, but as he held his head back, he muttered, "You're not usually this doting."
"Hm? I just don't want to be late for the bus."
"Because then we'll be late?"
"Because there's only a bus every four hours that heads into the town."
Ah. One of those towns with nonexistent public transport. The more he heard of the town, the more readily he wanted to sink into cynicism. He hated busy cities. He hated loud places and people, and most cities fell under tourist traps catered to those loud people. But at the same time, he didn't enjoy places with one road in and out and a five mile walk to the nearest populated city, and the more he learnt of their new holiday retreat, the more he suspected Ryouken was taking him to such a place.
They slipped out the door, suitcases in tow, into a frigid, fall day. Wind nipped at his exposed skin. Without peaceful snow to make a picturesque landscape, the sky just looked dull and grey. He sunk deeper into his jacket and pulled his scarf up over his nose. Next to him, Ryouken gave a tense shiver.
They descended down the boardwalk, a straight-fire road down the mountain. Ryouken's mountaintop villa was only wonderful in theory; the hike up and down the driveway could tire even an Olympic athlete. They marched side by side, suitcases threatening to pull them down the hill, and the wind at their backs making the situation all the more likely. They huddled underneath the bus shelter, hoods up and cinched under their chin, for the bus that would take them to the train that would then take them out to the countryside where another bus would pick them up and drive them into the town.
On the bus, Ryouken loaded up the map for them. He dragged his finger from the bright, glowing dot of Den City and up the northern coast to where a pin had been dropped in what looked like the middle of nowhere. The path they would be taking was the most roundabout way to go north—they couldn't cut through the mountains or empty fields, and the further north one went up in Japan, the fewer public routes there were to travel. A drive that should have taken no more than a couple hours was going to take them most of the day.
Yuusaku yanked his hood forward and leant against Ryouken's shoulder, nursing his travel mug in his chilled hands.
"So what does Spectre do in this town?"
"He hangs out in the forest, reconnecting with nature as those health bloggers are apt to say." A pause. "Y'know, talking to trees."
"And that's what we'll be doing to relax?"
Ryouken flicked on his duel disk and loaded the brochure once more. "There's plenty to explore in the city, at least. Lots of open land, walks on the beach. We could even spend an afternoon checking on the shops. And hey, worst comes to worst, we spend an afternoon watching DuelTube videos."
"Thought we were supposed to disconnect?"
"Not entirely. I still have to keep in touch with some clients—"
"You mean wreck the new patch going live in Link Vrains tomorrow at four am?"
Ryouken's smile was obvious. "It keeps Zaizen on his toes."
"Gives him grey hair too." He shuffled up to peer out the window as the bus turned into the station. Pulled a face for extra measure. The station was filled with hundreds of people milling around in peacoats and hats, umbrellas in hand and waiting for the impending storm. At least the bus wasn't crammed, but as they filed into the mass, Yuusaku felt his mood begin to sour. His hand found Ryouken's, and together they slipped through the crowd and towards the platform.
He'd been on the train many times before, but typically if he was travelling for any reason they'd head south; Den City was as high as anyone typically went up the country, and so the platform they found themselves on was as barren as a desert tundra. All the masses had headed onto major routes down south. Yuusaku gazed round for anyone hiding in the shadows, but they were the only standing together.
"Quiet at last," he said under his breath.
Ryouken's chest rumbled with a chuckle.
The train that pulled into the station was small and stocky, meant for heavy travelling but not for carrying hundreds of tourists. It was an older model too judging by the faded, lumpy seats and the plain decorations. Meager additions made the train look less abandoned, such as the cute posters highlighting the great north, but it still felt rather lackluster compared to the bright infographics that would be pasted on any rail-line heading south.
They took their seats. Yuusaku kicked his feet up onto the other seat and reclined in his spot; Ryouken hardly relaxed, keeping himself pencil-straight with his feet on the floor. He flipped through apps on his duel disk, cycling through them twice.
"Disconnecting?"
"I have work."
"So did I."
Ryouken scrolled through his apps a third time. Then a fourth time. Then—
"Shit."
Yuusaku blinked. He'd dozed off for a moment, but not long enough that much could have happened. "Hm?"
"Lost internet."
He wanted to laugh.
Ryouken flicked off his duel disk, and his near-perfect posture sunk a bit. One of his sharp canines pierced his lip, and his eyes, ever blue and shining, bore holes into the seats ahead of them. Then he clicked his teeth together and said, "The first thing we should do when we check in is have a nap."
"Tired?"
"I can't sleep on a moving train."
Yuusaku couldn't sleep in public, and he found himself agreeing with Ryouken. A nap would be heavenly. New places always set his mind on edge, and he typically found himself fretting about sleeping in a different bed in a different room—but this would be a room in an inn in a city of maybe one hundred people, so there'd be no fears of hearing strangers in another room or hallway, or feeling like he had none of the privacy he valued at Ryouken's house.
The more he thought about it, the more relaxing the vacation seemed.
So he tucked himself back into the seat and let the train lull him to peace. He wouldn't sleep, but the trip lasted long enough that he felt like he was in limbo for what felt like hours, until the train chugged to a squeaky stop.
"This is us," Ryouken said.
They gathered their belongings and carried them off the train. After having sat in the bumpy carriage for what felt like days with the windows dimmed, the first sight of sunlight, as weak as it was, had him covering his eyes. Slowly, his gaze adjusted to the dim sky.
They were in the middle of nowhere. They had to be. The only sight surrounding them was the platform they stood upon, nothing more than a raised concrete slab cutting off the wooden train tracks. The tracks led out to the horizon where not even a building cut through the emptiness. No trees, no mountains—how? Den City was built near a mountain—and no people. Behind them, the train chugged away, back down the dry path towards civilisation. Yuusaku and Ryouken remained standing on the platform, wind biting their ears.
"Where's the road?" he then asked.
"There ... I suppose," Ryouken said, tilting his head down to the beaten dirt path snaking off from the stairs and leading out into the middle of nowhere. If Yuusaku squinted his eyes, he could see a path. Sort of. If any car or bus traveled down it, it would be a bumpy ride.
And the bus? he wanted to say, but as flat as the world was, if there was a bus coming, they'd see it a mile away. There wasn't even a bus stop nearby, or what Yuusaku supposed would count as one.
No bus. No people. No map. No internet connection.
"Didn't you say it was a seaside town?" Yuusaku said. In the distance, he could see the barest sliver of blue—sea-blue, not sky-blue, and the ocean had never looked so inviting.
"Good work," Ryouken said. They headed down the stairs and onto the dirt path. Considering the winding train ride they took, the dirt path was surprisingly straightforward and heading right towards the coast. However, as they trekked in their nice clothing, Yuusaku found that the path was much longer than he once thought. Dirt dusted his dress shoes and the hems of his pants. Chill nipped at his face and fingers. The suitcase he towed behind him shouldn't have had much more than the clothing and toiletries they'd need for the holiday, and yet it felt like he was towing a boulder behind him.
He hoped they'd see the bus along the way. Not a single dirt path intersected the route out to the coast, and though he kept his eyes peeled on the horizon for any sight of vehicles, nog one crossed their path. Soon though, the horizon bumped with the tops of several small buildings. Civilisation had never looked so welcoming. He picked up the pace, Ryouken hot on his heels. He only stopped when they reached the edge of the town and he could see all of it.
All that could even be called a town, as barren as it was. The little shops and houses looked smaller than in the brochure, and everything had a rougher edge to it. There was a cafe and a cottage; the third, largest building was the library, situated in the centre of the town. The road branched out in the middle: one side led to the cafe, and the other side to an inn. Not a single bus in sight—not even a vehicle either, Yuusaku saw.
"This must be it."
It in all its dusty, weary glory.
They marched through the town and down the path to the inn. A building larger than the shops and houses but smaller than the library, it looked like the newest installment to the town. The white stone walls glowed in the little sunlight creeping through the clouds, and the brown door felt sturdy as he pushed it open. Inside, the inn was much smaller: a cosy lobby greeted them, and a narrow staircase headed upstairs.
"Oh hello!" A woman popped her head out from around the corner. Young and cheery, she was still soft-spoken as she stepped forward and pulled out a book from within a cupboard. "Hello, hello—you staying here?"
Ryouken cleared his throat with a light cough. "Yes. A reservation under Kougami."
The woman pulled out a pad of paper and squinted. "Kou ... gami. Yes, yes, there you are. Come along." She extracted their key from the desk and then led them up the stairs. The second floor was even cosier than the first, comprised of a single hallway no wider than their suitcases with only two doors. They entered the left room, filing into the space.
Small. A bed was squished against the wall, and a small set of drawers and a desk were pushed against the opposite wall, with just enough room to walk between the bed and the other furniture and get to the door. The best feature of the room was the balcony, wrought-iron and overlooking the town; from just the second floor, he could see over the top of every building, even the library, and out to the dark sea. Unlike Stardust Road, that even on the dreariest of days was alight with stars, this section of the sea seemed to swallow what little light escaped the clouds.
"Here's your key," the woman said. "If you need anything, just ask. Breakfast will at the cafe for you—just say Miyu sent you."
"Thank you," Ryouken said, pocketing the key.
With a bow, the innkeeper left the room.
Yuusaku flopped down onto the bed. There was an age to the room, and while not dusty, he felt like no one had been in this inn in a long time. He waited for Ryouken to lie down next to him, but after a moment, Yuusaku raised his head with a frown.
"No electricity."
Ryouken snorted. "Pardon?"
"There's no lights in this room."
The room wasn't old or dim—it was dark, and without any light streaming through the window, the room was enveloped in mild darkness. On the bedside table were two candelabras that he'd thought were for aesthetic, but were ... functional. Necessary to add light to their room else they sit in darkness.
Yuusaku glanced to Ryouken. "Did the brochure say anything about electricity?"
"It's not like that's a highlight."
"Exactly. How come this inn has no lights?" He lurched off the bed and peered out the window. No electricity or telephone poles. He would have never looked for them—they were just around in Den City, no need to draw attention to them—but it made sense as to why this place felt so ... empty. He hadn't even realised the inn itself had no lighting; all those warm colours were from the lamps.
Sighing, Yuusaku felt himself flop down on the bed, but a strong hand caught him before he could fall once more.
"You're not planning on sleeping this vacation away?" Ryouken said.
"I thought you'd like me to sleep," he said, pulling himself up onto his feet. "Where do you suppose we go?"
"Check around town first and grab a bite to eat. Maybe some local can give us tips on what exactly to do here."
Yuusaku chucked deep in his throat as he followed Ryouken out the door. "I thought you knew what we were going to do on this trip."
"I didn't think this place would be so ..."
"Disconnected?" He could hardly keep the humour out of his voice.
"Boring."
He couldn't argue with that. Ryouken hadn't pitched the holiday idea too well, but when he'd showed him the brochure, he expected something ... more. Something meaningful and peaceful, but not in a 'there's-nothing-to-do' sort of way. As he gazed around the town, not a single fun activity rose in his mind. The library looked mildly interesting, and a couple people sat in front of the building on stone benches. A couple other villagers milled down the street towards the cafe, which looked to be the most popular part of the town. Past the two rows of houses, the civilisation disappeared just before the start of the beach.
"A walk."
"Let's go check the cafe."
A blink.
"We'll go for a walk afterwards," Ryouken said, "but at least let's get out bearings straight on where we are and what exactly we can do."
As much as Yuusaku loathed small talk, especially when, if there was internet, he could have just searched on a map if the beach stretched as far as he wanted to walk. But he followed Ryouken down the dirt road, ending up at the cosy cafe at the end of the path. It looked like the sort of family-run business that had been passed down for generations, and while minor touch-ups were noticeable to make the shop well-maintained, it still breathed its ages as they climbed the creaky steps and swung the wooden door open.
Inside, the area was lit with bright lamps, some even made with red glass to give the room an extra-warm glow. Four little tables occupied the majority of the space: two at the back towards a window overlooking the empty landscape; and two closer to the front and nestled by a large, stone fireplace that gave off a thick heat. Yuusaku felt himself drawing closer to the fireplace; without central heating, the strong winds rolled right through the town with a frosty nip.
Just as he got his bearings on the quaint shop, from somewhere in the cafe popped out a man, perhaps as young as him, with a mess of red and white hair. Thick, green glasses framed his eyes, and when he smiled, dimples appeared in the corners of his pink cheeks.
"Greetings! You must be new here."
Ryouken pursed his lips together. "As we are—Miyu—"
The server shuffled his feet together, shoulders inching up towards his ears. "Sent you, of course. You can take any seat you'd like—the evening rush is over, so it's a bit quieter now."
Yuusaku glanced around. He hadn't realised how late they'd gotten in, and if everyone had filed out, then ... "When do you close?"
"Ah, well, this place doesn't really ... close. People just stop coming by a certain point, and then that's how we know it's the end of the day. But—" He raised a hand quickly before Yuusaku could turn on his heel. "You're not overstaying, so please, take a seat anywhere and I'll come take your order."
It seemed rude to leave after the server had so earnestly suggested they stay, so Yuusaku slipped into the closest seat by the fireplace and warmed his hands near the white-hot embers. Ryouken reclined across from him, long legs stretched out to the side of the old, scratched table. Everything in the cafe seemed to have an ancient presence to it, and yet nothing came in a pair: all the tables and chairs were mismatched, and even the various paintings hung in odd frames. When the server came round with two glasses for him, Yuusaku noted that they too were different.
"So," the server said as he handed Yuusaku his glass of water, "if you're not from here, where're you from?"
"Den City."
"Ah, you've travelled far."
Ryouken raised the glass to his lips. "You know the area?"
"Haven't been, but there're some maps in the library, and I think there's a train that runs up the island."
"And a bus?" Ryouken said.
The server chuckled, swinging his tray behind him. "Nah, that hasn't run in ages."
Yuusaku snickered into his drink.
"But anyways, what brings you out here?"
"Holidays," Ryouken said. A foot bumped into Yuusaku's own.
"Relaxing."
The server looked like he was about to respond, and something about the furrow of his brow and the tight press of his lips had Yuusaku leaning closer. But then from some dark corner of the house came a thump, and then a voice, just as warm and bright as the rest of the cafe, said, "Takeru, guests?"
"Travellers," Takeru said, swinging around from where he'd perched on the arm of one of the tall chairs.
The woman welcomed them, but Yuusaku didn't see her until a moment later when she popped out from whatever dark corner of the cafe she'd been in. Like Takeru, she was young and spirited, and her dark blue hair reminded him of the churning waves down by the beach. She patted the apron tied around her waist, removing a pen and notepad from with the folds.
"He didn't take your orders yet, did he?" she said, and just like him, her cheeks dimpled.
"I was about to, Kiku ..."
"What can I get for you today?"
Both he and Ryouken glanced down at their empty hands and near-empty table. No menu. No matter, for just as smoothly Ryouken cut in. "We're just here to get some information actually—things to do while we're here."
If Kiku's tittling laughter didn't send off bells in his ears, then Takeru telling her, "They're here on ... holidays" did the trick. Kiku folded her notepad and pen back into her apron and twisted her fingers together.
"Holidays?"
"Away from the city."
"Well ..." She rolled the word around on her tongue, brown eyes flicking from side to side. "My favourite place to go is the seashore, right down by the docks. You can walk as far as you'd like down the beach, but if you walk to the ... left, I think, then you'll see some neat rock carvings, and you're more likely to find anemones and starfish on those rocks. If you walk down to the right, then you could, potentially, wander all the way down the coast, but that would take days.
"Or the library," she said, curling onto the seat Takeru was leaning against. Just like him, she made herself cosy, and Yuusaku began to wonder if this sort of calm, lackadaisical attitude was shared by every member of the town.
"The library has some new books," Takeru said with a firm nod. "And since you're from the big city, you'll like it there: it has lights."
"Hm?"
Takeru turned to Ryouken, eyes sparkling. "Lights, hanging from the ceiling and connected to electric wires that travel deep underground."
Yuusaku felt his soul slowly slipping from his body. The only building in this entire town with electricity was the library. Takeru and Kiku probably had no clue how the library even got electricity, and he half-expected him to begin describing how the ground-snake powers the city using magic or witchcraft.
"And computers?" Ryouken asked. "Does the library have those?"
"Not. At. All."
Takeru's bluntness shocked the two of them, and it even seemed to surprise him too. He gave a short cough and smiled, hiding his lips behind a raised hand. "Sorry, but ... no. There's nothing like that here."
Like that? Takeru had acted like there was poison in the city, not a couple telephone poles and an electricity box to give the town a little modernisation. But Kiku looked stunned by their words too, twisting her hands together.
"It was only last year when the workers came with the electric wire for the library, and even then, it's not like we needed lights hanging over our heads; we've got plenty of lamps. But there's none of that magic in this town." Her eyes narrowed at them. "If you're travellers though, have you perhaps brought it with you?"
His hand slipped to his duel disk. He hadn't worn it, not when Ryouken had claimed it oh-so-important for them to disconnect; but he'd brought it along regardless. Ryouken's duel disk, however, was clamped onto his wrist, and though both servers must have seen it when they entered, only now did they seem to realise just what he was wearing. They sunk back into their chairs, eyes as wide as tea saucers.
"Is it—is it listening to us?" Takeru asked, slowly pointing a shaking finger at the duel disk.
Ryouken raised it for them to see. "No, and there's no internet here eith—"
"Don't—don't raise it, j-just put it back." Kiku's bottom lip wobbled, and she appeared as white as a ghost.
"I'll turn it off," Ryouken said, clicking a button on the side. However, Takeru and Kiku only became more agitated, leaping off their seats.
"Just leave it, it's fine, i-if it's not doing anything then I'm sure it—it won't." Shakily, she forced a smile. "We just don't have a lot of that around here."
"I noticed," Ryouken said, slipping his arm back to the side. Yuusaku pushed his on duel disk, compacted into a small, flat disk no bigger than a wallet, deeper into his pocket. It would only make matters worse if they saw he had one too.
It took them both a moment longer to catch their breaths, but their gazes kept flickering to Ryouken's side, as if waiting for the device to spontaneously combust and drown them all in flames.
"How come," Yuusaku found himself asking, "there are no computers here?"
"No technology," Takeru said through his teeth. "It's just ... Don't you find it a little disturbing to have something control you?"
"Control?"
"The technology ... it goes into your mind." Kiku tapped a hand to her finger. "I knew a girl in a town down south. one that just recently got this device you stick in your ear. And—and it talks to you. Plays tunes for you."
"Headphones."
"And you could break your ears just by having them inside. Or—or someone could be spying on you. I've heard those big companies track your movements and spy on you, and we don't need any of that here, no siree. Your tech shouldn't work out here, unless ..." She brought a shaking hand to her lips, swallowing thickly. "Can they stalk you even when you turn it off?"
"No one's monitoring us," Ryouken said with a huff.
"They do though," Takeru said, voice barely above a whisper. "They're always watching."
"And all they'll see is a little dot on their screen saying, 'Someone is here.' In the grand scheme of things, it's not all that interesting."
Neither Kiku nor Takeru looked convinced though, only more horrified at the thought that that information was going somewhere, and that in some office in Den City there was a tracker saying that someone was in their town.
"Well ... just keep that sort of stuff hidden, all right?" Kiku eventually said. She uncurled herself from the chair, smoothing down her skirts and aprons. "Folks round here aren't used to seeing that sort of stuff, but by all means do we know what sort of plagues it can bring—and we've already got enough to worry about without someone flashing a bomb in the city centre." With her fists clenched at her sides, she forced a smile. "Take your time here tonight though, and let us know if we can get you refills on your drinks. Takeru?"
"Coming.
With polite, albeit forced, nods, the two of them slipped away towards the shadows. Briefly, Yuusaku saw a door open that he assumed led to the kitchen or their private quarters.
Ryouken huffed around his drink. "Cheery place."
"You picked it."
"They're misinformed."
"Scared."
"Worrying about something that can't even hurt them, at least not how they think."
He hummed under his breath. It was quite a shock to know that megalo-corporations were spying on the world through technology and collecting all manner of data concerning their whereabouts, interests, and histories. But in the grand scheme of things, there was little to worry about that information returning to haunt him. Here though, it sounded like everyone thought of technology as the lurking boogeyman preying on innocent villagers.
He finished the rest of his drink quickly, and then he and Ryouken slipped back out into the night. In the late evening, not a single villager wandered the streets; just as Takeru had said, nothing truly closed so much as people retired for the night. Outside, they were the only two around.
Slowly, he tilted his head back. Thousands of stars danced in the dark, dreamy air, and yet, when he gazed out at the coastline, not a single star had fallen into the dark waters. Here though, without the bright city lights, the sky was unpolluted, and if he squinted, he could spot larger dots, perhaps even planets.
An arm slunk around his shoulders, tugging him towards the inn.
Maybe Ryouken was right: they needed to disconnect after all, in a town terrified of technology.