After waiting for a week, we´re finally prepared to travel where Aunt Serina will work.
"Is everyone ready to go? Don´t forget to use your seatbelt!" — said Aunt Mizuno in the driver's seat.
"I have the keys, our reservation tickets, toothbrush and paste, our clothes..." — Mom was trying to see if we forgot something.
"I think I need to adjust this... no, this is actually good, but that part is a problem..." — Aunt Serina was on her laptop preparing for her work.
"Haruka, the most important things we already have. Just relax." — said Aunt Sayori.
"I already have the road map if the GPS starts having problems. We're ready." — my father said.
"... snore..." — Aunt Yuna.
This is the adults' section, as for the kids' side, with the exception of Erina nee-san who is 19.
"Tomoki-kun, if you feel sleepy you can rest on my shoulder." — said Erina nee-san.
"Thanks, Erina nee-san, but rather than me, you can rest on my shoulder if needed. You must be tired since you still did part-time work." — I replied.
"Tomoki, look! It seems there's a mixed onsen in the inn we'll stay at. What do you think?" — asked Hiyori-chan.
"Well, statistically speaking, the only guy you will see naked is me." — I replied.
"If Tomoki-nii goes to the mixed onsen, then I'll definitely go to the women-only onsen." — said Miyuna-chan.
"Good call, a weirdo could be there after all." — I replied.
"..." — Natsumi-chan was staring at me.
"What's happened, Natsumi-chan? I'll get blushy if you keep staring at me."
"No, I was surprised how everyone is talking to you comfortably. Especially Hiyori, since she gets nervous around men."
"What are you talking about? Didn't we always talk like this?" — I still recall the first conversation I had with Dad when he proposed that I move with him.
"Not exactly, don't you remember? We just had small talk and that was it. You always replied with short answers and that was the end of the conversation."
"I see..."
"Yeah, just like this... are you doing this on purpose?"
"Just to feel a little nostalgic." — I joked.
But I´m starting to figure out what exactly the "me" from here was like. Well, of course there are a lot of factors to consider why I´m different from the Tomoki of this world. However, if I have to say, the biggest reason for the difference is my old friends.
My best friend and my childhood friend.
If I hadn´t met both of them, I would still be the same quiet person, pondering if what I'd say was weird or inappropriate.
However, there's something that I ask myself. How did the Tomoki from here act in school to the point of getting a recommendation from the junior school director? After all, I only got accustomed to people calling me by my first name after meeting those two.
Well, enough of thinking, let's just enjoy this trip.
By the way, right now it's 5 A.M. and we're using a van.
♦♦♦After 2 hours♦♦♦
"There's something I forgot to ask." — I said.
"What?" — Natsumi-chan replied.
"Where are we going?"
"To Yamagata Prefecture."
"... it's kind of far away from home."
"Just bear with it, Tomoki. Besides, this is a good opportunity for you to sightsee everything as much as possible." — Mom said.
"Don't worry, Mom, after getting through the last traffic, this is nothing."
"Good."
♦♦♦After more 2 hours♦♦♦
"Are we there yet?"
"We're almost there, Tomoki." — Aunt Mizuno replied.
"Mizuno, you don't need to reply to him. He already knows it will take more time to get there." — Mom said.
"Come on, Mom, I improved a lot since the last time."
"Yeah... sure."
"By the way, Tomoki, aren't you sleepy?" — Dad asked me.
"Not at all."
"In the end, Erina was the one who got sleepy. Isn't she heavy?" — Aunt Serina asked.
"She's not, let her rest like this."
"Oww, you're all so cute sleeping like that. You're the only one who's awake." — Aunt Sayori commented.
"Well, I kind of slept earlier yesterday."
"...SNORE..." — Aunt Yuna.
"..."
After all the overtime she did, I guess she'll wake up only tomorrow.
♦♦♦After 1 hour♦♦♦
"Kids, we've finally arrived!" — Aunt Mizuno announced.
Yamagata Prefecture, famous for hosting great tourist spots. Especially in the winter season, which would be good for skiing. Though right now is not the season.
However, I can't wait to visit all the spots and eat local foods. After all, this is my first time traveling here.
"If you turn right and then go straight, we'll be able to see our inn." — Dad instructed.
And then we finally arrived.
"Whoa... this is amazing." — I said.
"Nice one, right?" — Dad said.
"Hey everyone, time to wake up!" — Aunt Sayori said.
All my sisters woke up, as for Aunt Yuna...
"SNORE..."
"I think she's dead." — Aunt Mizuno commented.
"Mom... we arrived... Mom?" — Mizuna-chan tried to wake her up.
"Let me carry her." — Dad said.
Suddenly all my aunts and Mom became attention seeker.
"I'm kind of sleepy... my eyes are so heavy." — Mom said.
"After driving so much time, I can't feel my legs." — Aunt Mizuno said.
"I'm nervous with my presentation. Will you carry me, Masaru-kun?" — Aunt Serina said.
"Will you hold me tight?" — Aunt Sayori asked.
"...SNORE..." — Aunt Yuna.
"..." — me and my sisters witnessing all this drama.
"This is gonna take some time... can one of you go to the receptionist?" — Dad asked us.
"Sorry, Dad, I need to reply to some messages. Right after that I can go." — Erina nee-san said.
"I'll try to wake up Mom again... MOM!" — Miyuna-chan said.
"I need to go to the toilet first, ASAP." — Hiyori-chan went alone to the inn searching for the toilet.
"I can go, Dad." — Natsumi-chan replied.
"Me too." — I replied.
So both Natsumi-chan and I, with our own baggage, entered the inn.
And to my surprise...
"Welcome to our humble inn. Feel free to ask me... Tomoki-kun!?"
"Ayame-san!? What are you doing here?"
"Tomoki, is she the one you talked about? The Edomae-san?" — Natsumi-chan asked me.
"Hoho! What a cute couple... Aya-chan, greet them properly." — A grandpa appeared.
"Tomoki-kun... did you perhaps... with her... make a reservation here?"
"Oh right! Tomoki, here's our ticket."
"Thanks, Natsumi-chan. Where can I check in?"
"Right here, boy... Just give me a few minutes because I'm still learning how to use this machine."
"That's okay. We're not in a hurry."
Then Natsumi-chan pulled my sleeve and whispered to me.
"Tomoki, is she okay? She's kind of pale and mumbling something. And she's kind of staring at us, it creeps me out."
"Natsumi-chan, she's my friend and I won't allow anyone to talk badly about her. You must be overthinking."
Then I proceeded to talk with Ayame-san.
"Ayame-san, there's someone I want to introduce to you."
"Introduce... to me? Tomoki-kun... is she your... childhood friend?" — Ayame-san asked me with a trembling voice, and I noticed her face was pale.
"No, she's my sister... Ayame-san, are you okay?"
"Your sister... Oh my! How rude of me, I'm Edomae Ayame. Your brother always helps me."
That was fast, Ayame-san already recovered.
"Morikawa Natsumi, it's an honour to meet you in person."
"Don't need to be formal with me. If it's okay for you, can I call you by your first name?"
"Of course, Edomae-san!"
"You can call me by my first name too, Natsumi-san."
"If you say so... Aya... Aya... Edomae-san..." — Natsumi-chan tried her best.
"Fufu~ don't need to force it. Feel free to call me whatever makes you more comfortable."
"Thanks."
It's nice to see my sister get along with Ayame-san. I wonder how everyone will interact with her.
And talking about my family, they're here.
...