Track 2

Hmm… I guess I need to schedule another meeting since we couldn’t even decide on a main host today…

Ah, Chief. Perfect timing.

Nagi-kun and… Raito-san?

We were just talking about the next Night Team tour.

If it’s okay with everyone, I was thinking of being the host.

Huh, really? It’d be a huge help if you did.

Since I’ve never been a main host or a sub host before, I’ve been asking Raito-san for some ideas on study trip locations.

I see! Which places are you thinking of?

Actually, I know just the place… It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit myself one day when it’s my turn to be a host—

WAIT A SECHOOOO!!

Netaro makes his entrance with a sneeze.

I’ll decide on where to go for the study trip!

Hm? Do you want to be the main host too?

YASHOO!

He’s really taking the initiative now… What a stark contrast to how he was during the meeting…!

Even though he hated the idea that much…

Netaro-kun, do you know where you’d like to go?

Yep! Take me to Fukushima~

Wh… Huh!?

Ooh. Fukushima’s exactly what Raito-san just recommended to me. What a coincidence.

Wow, what a choice…! When you think of sightseeing in Fukushima, the first places that come to mind are historical buildings like Aizuwakamatsu Castle and Ouchi-juku¹!

It also boasts abundant natural scenery, like the Tou-no-Hetsuri with its unique tower-like cliff, and Goshikinuma, where a cluster of lakes in various colours create a breathtaking landscape…

Plus, as one of Japan’s most famous limestone caves, the Abukuma cave is a must-see!

Ooh.

I feel another one coming… A-Ahh…

There are many popular hot springs too…

But if Raito-san’s recommending it, it must be because of Kitakata Ramen, one of Japan’s three greatest ramen dishes, right…?

That’s a big part of it of course! But…

Once in a while, a truly unique, unparalleled, and spectacular event takes place in Fukushima.

Wh-Which is…?

Fwah, ah, AHHH—

The UFO Festival!!

ABDUCHOOOOOOOO!!

Oh, so it’s that kind of thing…! I had no idea there was even an event like that.

It’s a very famous event in that area. UFO fanatics from all over the country gather there.

Rumour has it that there are actually some real aliens among them…

So itchyyy… My eyes are burning…

Oh, you didn’t hear that at all. Even though you were the one who said you wanted Fukushima, you didn’t even hear what Raito-san had to say.

Netaro-kun, rubbing too hard will hurt your eyes!

I usually attend this UFO Fes every year, but unfortunately, I can’t go this time around…

Which is why I recommend Fukushima if you haven’t settled on a study trip location.

So, everyone, would you consider giving me your hand?

? Okay.

Like this?

Dun wanna… My eyes are too itchy—

Then, Chief and Nagi… Squeeze, squeeze!

I’m so honoured to have Raito-san hold my hand.

I have now handed over my love for aliens to the two of you!

Um…?

The highlight of the UFO Fes is definitely the UFO Summoning Time held in the plaza. So I want you two to call out to the cosmos on my behalf!

In fact, four years ago, in response to the voices from the participants, yada yada, something something happened and then Ventura Ventura²—

Wow, I can’t believe it…

…Sigh~ So itchy.

(So it’s true that there are actual aliens mixed in at that UFO Fes…)

…Mm? Did someone pick up?

<Uwoh! Is that you, my operator?>

<And you’re allowed to have a work attitude that’s even lazier than mine!? Not faaaair!>

<Earth.>

<Whateveeeer. I’m feeling soooo terrible, I wanna go home alreaaaady—>

<Aghhh, this crappy, piece of junk!>

<Ahhh, that’s probably the thing called ‘Golden Record IV³’. MORE IMPORTANTLY, this hay fever—>

<Oho?>

<Uggggh, forget the assignment, I wanna go home right now…>

…The line got cut off.

Ahh, AHH, AHH-irplanes, HAUGH-lidays, ‘CHOO-ruises!!!

Nngh… I get to spend my days on vacation when I go home~~~?

But I gotta go straight to the hospital before that~~~…

Oh em gee, a nebaneba don⁴ is literally the BOMB! Lemme add some mekabu, okra, jute mallow~♪

Woah, that’s really green… Oh, put some jute mallow on mine too.

I shall start with this wakame salad that’s abundant with soybeans and root vegetables.

Ooh, the dining room seems pretty lively…!

Hello, Chief. Come join us.

We’re having a Healthy Gut Lunch Party. I’ve prepared plenty of food, so please eat whatever you like.

Healthy gut…?

Netaro-san doesn’t seem too fond of hospitals, so Yodaka-san and Yukikaze-san made all this food!

They said eatin’ shit that’s good for your gut can help with allergies or somethin’.

Wow, that’s great…! Everything here looks delicious…

…Hm? But where’s the very important Netaro-kun…?

In the corner over there.

Fo-Fo-Foccacia-CHOO! Ciabatta-CHOO! *Sniffs*

Oh wow, he’s sitting there all alone with tons of air purifiers, sneezing away…

The guy himself modified all those air purifiers.

Those purifiers have pollen radars that’ll blast anti-allergen at anyone who enters their range until they’re deemed harmless, so you should not approach him carelessly.

Especially when you’ve been identified as an allergen like me…

GRRR! BARK!!

He starts growling at you when you get even a little close.

Oh dear…

He asked if he could work alone in the bathhouse, but as you can see, it seems like that was rejected.

Well duh… His sneezing’s been keeping me up at night too.

Lately, he’s become more cautious of the pollen, so he’s been by himself a lot. I just can’t help but worry.

…

Sniffle… Sigh…

(Every single one of these humans is so carefree…)

(They’re acting all cheery and positive in broad daylight, but once the apocalypse starts, they’re gonna be scared to oblivion~)

Up until now, Earth has been safe from facing Judgement Day because of my half-hearted reports.

And yet, you clueless lifeforms don’t even realize that your fate is in my hands…

(If the D-Day for the invasion gets carried out, would it turn into something like those disaster movies I watched with Waru?)

Let’s see… Among the people over there…

(Ryooey would probably be the first one to die~ He’d sense something is wrong, walk over to the window to check outside, and then BOOM!)

(For Toy, his other self would negotiate and join the invader’s side. But in the end, they’d use them up and toss them aside like a spent teabag.)

(Daa would be the muscle guy who sacrifices himself to buy everyone some time. Gii and Yoda would probably get dragged into something along the way too.)

(Which means the one most likely to survive would be—)

Netaro-kun.

Doudou…

Can I talk to you?

…Hmm. Doudou seems to have passed the pollen radar. You may enter!

Thanks. I know hay fever can be tough, but this seems excessive…

This lack of danger is exactly what I mean by ‘clueless’.

But… if you keep this up, you won’t be able to talk to anyone. It’s lonely being alone, right?

…

‘Lonely.'

Well, ‘cuz… I’m lonely.⁵

I don’t know if you came here alone, but…you came to a planet you have no connections with. Like, you’re sitting here alone eating salmon roe.

…So I thought that you might be lonely.⁶

Lonely… Lonely~?

(That hazy feeling appeared when that boy said those words, and when Gii left to Hakodate… There was a chemical reaction happening inside my heart.)

(But I still can’t quite grasp what triggers the so-called human equation of “being alone = being lonely.”)

(Is it because I’m a different lifeform from everyone?)

I’m just observing you carefree humans happily waving a flag for your own destruction~

…I see.

Ngh, my nose is runny. *Blows nose*

…Sniff, sniff. What’s that smell?

I brought you some cheese focaccia topped with grated yam and natto. Do you want to eat it while it’s still warm?

I SHALL! Ahhhh—!

Hehe… I’m glad you have an appetite.

I hope you recover soon!

…Mhm.