(Yuuta's POV)
After a long day of traveling, we finally reached our hotel. A five-star hotel, no less. The receptionist handed me the key card with a polite smile, and just like that, Room 305 became our little kingdom for the night.
The moment I opened the door, I felt my soul leave my body. The room was huge, sparkling clean, and the bed… oh, the bed. It looked so soft and fluffy that for a brief second, I considered abandoning my family and claiming it for myself.
Of course, my dream of peacefully collapsing onto it lasted exactly three seconds.
"Papa, look! I can fly!"
That was Elena, already bouncing up and down on the mattress like it was her personal trampoline. She spread her tiny arms like wings, giggling with every bounce. Gravity clearly didn't exist in her world… nor did hotel furniture policies.
Meanwhile, Erza had stationed herself at the desk, flipping through a thick Japanese phrasebook she'd borrowed from reception. Her brows furrowed like she was facing her greatest enemy.
"Why does your language have so many squiggly lines?" she muttered under her breath.
I wisely decided not to answer. When your wife is a dragon queen, some battles are better left unfought.
And then… there was Allen.
He sat cross-legged in the corner, calmly sharpening his shadow claws. The black blades gleamed under the hotel light, like polished obsidian ready to drink blood. He tilted his head and whispered with that unsettling grin of his.
"It's been so long… since I've tasted blood."
I nearly dropped my suitcase.
"Oi! This is a peaceful novel!" I snapped, pointing at him like a schoolteacher catching a delinquent. "You can't just start murdering people in a five-star hotel. Do you want us banned for life?!"
Allen chuckled darkly. "Yes, Master. I'll be careful… but I can smell the trouble."
Great. Just what I needed. A death-obsessed shadow butler who foreshadows danger like it's part of his job description.
I clicked my fingers with a sigh. "Enough. Back into my shadow. I'll call you if I actually need you."
"As you command, Master. This servant will always be ready for your wish."
With that, he melted back into the darkness at my feet, disappearing completely.
Finally—peace. Well, as peaceful as my life ever gets.
And then there was me—the most exhausted man in existence. My body was begging for the soft embrace of that bed, but instead, I collapsed onto the chair and started flipping through the travel pamphlet.
So many places to visit. The city was overflowing with attractions. A theme park? A museum? A hot spring? An anime carnival? Cherry blossom gardens?
I rubbed my temples and sighed. "Great. The adventure's just starting, and I already can't decide…"
A few minutes later, Elena and I were sitting on the bed with a giant map of Japan spread out in front of us. To anyone who walked in, we probably looked less like tourists and more like generals planning an invasion.
Elena squinted at the map with the seriousness of a seasoned commander, then jabbed her finger down on one spot.
"Papa, here! Let's go here!"
I leaned over, ready to dismiss it as another one of her adorable-but-random choices.
"Elena, that's just a guess. Nothing special—"
Then I actually looked closer. My eyes widened.
"…Wait a second. This is… Shibuya Crossing."
One of the most famous tourist spots in the world. Legendary crowds, neon lights, movie scenes shot there, anime references—you name it, it had it.
I looked at Elena like she had just discovered buried treasure. Without thinking, I scooped her up into a hug.
"Elena! You've found the perfect place to start. Jackpot!"
She giggled, puffing out her chest. "See, Papa? Elena is smart!"
"Yes, yes, you're a genius," I said, spinning her in the air until her laughter filled the room.
"Both of you, shut up," Erza's voice cut through like a whip.
We froze mid-spin. She slammed her phrasebook shut and stretched her arms lazily, as if she had just woken up from a nap. Then, with absolute confidence, she declared:
"Finally. I have mastered the Japanese language. Took me only an hour."
I blinked. "Wait… you what?"
She gave me a calm, almost bored look. "I said I'm done. I can now easily interact with the humans here."
"Hold on—" I rubbed my eyes. "You learned Japanese in an hour? That's not even possible!
My jaw hit the floor. "Do you know how many people spend years struggling just to say 'hello' without messing it up?!"
Erza lifted her chin and crossed her arms, her chest puffed out with pride.
"For a dragon, this is nothing. Do not forget—we are beings of great wisdom."
I sighed in disbelief. "Unbelievable… my wife mastered Japanese faster than I can order ramen."
Elena clapped her hands. "Mama is smart too!"
"Of course I am," Erza replied, smug enough to make the entire hotel room feel smaller.
Soon after, we left the hotel, dressed in decent clothes to avoid standing out. To my surprise, Shibuya Crossing was only five hundred meters away. Just five hundred.
Meaning… I'd dragged my family through check-in, map-reading, and tourist debates… when the world's most famous intersection was practically outside our doorstep.
…Yeah. I'm a terrible tour guide.Now all we have to do is Walking towards our first destination.
We hadn't even reached Shibuya Crossing yet—still just weaving through the streets on the way there—when I noticed Erza getting… tense. The noise of the crowd grew louder with every step, neon signs flashing overhead, car horns mixing with chattering voices. Even I felt a little overwhelmed, but Erza—my mighty dragon queen—she looked downright uncomfortable.
Her shoulders tensed, her eyes darted, and for once, she didn't seem like the all-powerful monarch who could freeze cities to ash. She just seemed… uneasy.
Without thinking, I reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Don't be afraid, Erza. I'm here."
She stiffened. "Hmph. I am not afraid. I simply dislike noisy places."
I raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then how exactly did you handle the sounds of war? You know, roaring armies, collapsing fortresses, dragons screaming in the sky—those kinds of 'noisy places.'"
Erza glanced at me, then looked away. Her voice was quieter now, almost thoughtful.
"In war, we are consumed by rage. Our focus narrows, and we care only for battle. Noise means nothing then—it becomes part of the destruction. But when we are with those we cherish, our senses shift. We want to hear their voice clearly, see their face, feel every moment. That makes the rest of the world… louder. More intrusive."
I blinked at her. "…So basically, you only get sensitive when you're with someone you love?"
She froze.
"…Wait a second." My brain caught up. "Did you just admit you love me that much?"
Her cheeks turned crimson in an instant. She snapped her head away.
"Hmph! Don't be ridiculous. Why would I ever love a loud monkey like you?"
"Papa, look!" Elena tugged on my sleeve, pointing straight at her mother. "Mama's whole face is red!"
I grinned like an idiot. "Ohhh, my wife. Just admit it. Because I love you. A lot."
Her eyes widened for a second before she quickly yanked her hand free and stormed ahead, her steps faster than usual.
"Elena," I whispered dramatically, "your mama just ran away from love."
"Papa, chase her!" Elena giggled.
"Right!" I broke into a jog. "Erza, wait for me!"
And just like that, the mighty dragon queen of another world was blushing her way across walking path, while I chased after her like a desperate rom-com protagonist.
We were kept walking, weaving through the crowd. Stores lined both sides of the street, their signs glowing brighter than the stars. Fashion shops, themed cafés, arcades filled with claw machines—it was like stepping into an anime festival that never ended. People in cosplay strutted past, snapping photos with tourists, their colorful wigs and flashy outfits catching every eye.
I couldn't stop looking around. Every corner of Tokyo felt alive, buzzing with energy I'd never seen before.
And then, suddenly, we were there.
Shibuya Crossing.
I froze, staring at the famous intersection I'd seen countless times on screen. The wide roads crisscrossed in every direction, and on all sides, a massive sea of people stood waiting at the lights. Screens the size of buildings lit up the night, blasting music and advertisements into the air.
"This is it," I breathed. "Shibuya Crossing… The place every anime talks about. Tokyo Revengers, Tokyo Ghoul… Jujutsu Kaisen, Fast and furious.....even just standing here feels unreal."
My heart raced as the pedestrian light blinked green. Like a floodgate opening, the crowd surged forward, thousands of feet moving at once.
I stepped in with them, half-expecting some ghoul to jump out of the crowd and bite me, like in Tokyo Ghoul.
"Uwah, any second now…" I muttered dramatically.
"Stop acting weird," Erza scolded, tugging on my hand.
"Uff, come on," I grinned. "Let me enjoy a little of my anime life dream!"
The three of us crossed together, swept along in the glowing chaos of Tokyo. And for once, I wasn't just watching the scene on a screen—I was living it.
To be continue.....