Track 4

Everyone~! We’ve arrived at the orchard~!

Wah… What a sweet and refreshing scent…!

This smells like… peaches?

Yup. Fukushima is known as the “Fruit Kingdom” and has the highest peach consumption in the country.

It’s all thanks to the unique climate and soil here, which makes it easy to grow peaches with a high sugar content!

While it’s typically in season during the summer, you can enjoy it outside of summer too.

So, let’s head into the… WHOA!

Oh my. Are you alright, Chief?

Doudou just dove right onto Yoda’s back! Ask for my permission if you want a piggyback ride from him~

Yodaka-san, I’m sorry! There’s someone sleeping under a peach tree…!

Nn~… Yawn~

Damn, looks like someone’s having a pretty nice nap.

Excuse me… Are you okay? I don’t think I kicked you or anything…

Mm, I’m fine~. Who are you?

Um, I’m—

Oh. Could it be one of those… fateful encounters?

So troublesome. I’m not supposed to be doing that kind of thing right now…

(N-Now that I’m taking a closer look, he’s really handsome…!)

Waaah…! This is exactly just like an opening to an otome game…! My heart is about to burst…!

Help me up gently~.

H-Huh, m-me?

Oi! Don’t go bossin’ Toi around like you’re buddies. C’mon, get your ass up.

Ah…

Well, aren’t you rough.

(…The fuck? His hands are weirdly cold.)

Hey, are any of my fingers missing? Can you check to make sure I still have five on each hand?

Your… fingers? They’re fine.

… stares

…Woah, you’re too close!

He got so close, I thought you two were about to k-k-k-kiss!

I really should have let you help me up. I want to feel your warmth… and then, I would’ve—

Ah, so, um, and you are…?

Yes. Let’s start by keeping a proper distance while we introduce ourselves.

Hm? I am Suisei.

I come here to help out once in a while~. During pollination season and harvest season and the like.

YOU HELP WITH POLLINATION!? You wouldn’t happen to be one of those people involved in bioterrorism, HM!?

I use a fluffy feather duster to collect pollen you see~, and go around pollinating each peach blossom, one by one.

Let’s make love~

GYAAAAH!! Just imagining it makes me itchy all over~~!!

Shut the hell up…

Oh? Could you be…

(Hm? Suisei-san’s staring intently at Netaro-kun this time…?)

Sorry, he’s got, uh, hay fever—

Oh, is it not “Earth Syndrome”?

Earth… syndrome??

—Something like that.

…Huh? Back up a sec, what d’ya mean by “like us”?

Just what I said. Aliens like us.

!!

(So this guy’s an alien.)

Hah? The hell are you even talkin’ abou—

Fufu… I suppose there are quite a few people like that with the festival coming up. They must be what you’d call ‘outgoing types’.

I see, so you’re the outgoing type…! I got totally caught off guard for a moment…!

Ah, I see…! That must be the case, ahaha.

……

(So aliens other than Netaro really do exist… I want to tell Raito-san about this.)

Hm! Based on what you said, the official name for this hay fever I’m suffering from, or this so-called ‘Earth Syndrome’, is probably “Earth Allergy Syndrome”.

And it’s an adjustment disorder that develops when an extraterrestrial lifeform stays on Earth for extended periods of time…

So the weakening of one’s immunity we naturally possess from our home planet, combined with the accumulation of Earth’s microscopic particles, including pollen, triggers an excessive immune response!

Am I right!?

Did I really say something that complicated? You’re quite smart, aren’t you~

So you’re not a bioterrorist, but a true friend? You might know how to deal with this then!? Tell me!

I’m a genius, so I’ve made myself the research subject and tried all sorta things. But I haven’t gotten any good results because of my reduced cognitive abilities!

Oh, really? Then you came to the right place.

Peaches are really good for Earth syndrome, you see~

No way that’s true.

Real convenient-ass story you got there.

Well, it is true that eating fruits can help maintain a healthy gut environment.

But why peaches specifically!?

Hmm, I think it’s because of this one ingredient…

So that ingredient acts as a substitute for the immune factor that extraterrestrial lifeforms lack!? Tell me more~!

…Their conversation is a bit difficult to follow.

Yeah, it’s like watching some kind of roleplay unfold.

Still, I’m glad we might find a remedy for Earth sy—I mean, hay fever.

The reason aliens started coming to UFO Fes at all was to alleviate their Earth syndrome. Weren’t you aware of this?

Nope. This is my first time exchanging information with another alien on Earth~

Oh~ Really? I guess I’m your first friend then.

……

(…I see. Suisei-san is the first of his kind that Netaro has met since coming to Earth…)

Come with me. I’ll treat you to some peaches at a café.

YIPPIE! An alien ought to have friends above all~! Spoken like a true philosopher~!

…

(Well… It’s all going according to plan, of course… Yeah.)

Hwah…! The fluffy kakigori topped with a gooey and rich peach syrup tastes so good!

It’s like eating chilled fruit straight from the tree… It seems happiness tastes like peaches…

Here, Anisama, since I promised you. Ahhh~

Ahhh… Yum. Tastes 180% sweeter thanks to you feedin’ me.

My bad, I got syrup on your hand.

Ehehe.

Haha.

Sheesh, this shaved ice is unreal, it’s got real peaches in the ice too.

And since it’s directly managed by the farm, they only use fruit that’s been harvested when fully ripe!

I see. Peaches intended for shipping have to be harvested and processed before they’re fully ripe so they don’t spoil… Then this is the kind of happiness you can only experience by being here in person.

Peach excavation~ Excavation~♪ So fun~♪

Ufufu…

Peaches really are heart-shaped… They’re so cute. And they’re soft enough that they won’t hurt your mouth either.

Meat buns are round and cute too! I’ll give you an alien discount if you ever stop by my shop.

You have a shop? It's admirable that you’re working.

Right!? Hehehe! I’m admirable, strong, AND clever!

You said earlier that you’re a part-time worker here. Do ya have a base in this vicinity?

No. I’m living in Kobe.

Hoooh, KOBE. Those melt-in-your-mouth donpo pork I ate there with Kisuke and Chii were yummy!¹

Anyway, this means I can finally put a stop to the endless itching and sneezing! Phewie~

Oh, speaking of sneezing~ Do you know how Earthlings’ noses puff up a little when they sneeze?

Ya, I noticed that ages ago.

And it’s not just when they sneeze! Their noses puff up when they clean their ears too!

Oh my! Really~? Earthlings are so weird, aren’t they~. Look, I’ll make my nose puff up too~.

They’re all such weirdos! Ahaha!

Fufufu!

I’m glad Netaro’s feeling better.

You’ve been worrying about him the whole time, haven’t you, Nagi-kun?

He’s getting along well with Suisei-san, so maybe they’ll become good friends…!

If the Earth were to end, shall I stay by your side, Gii?

Huh?

…

You’re okay with me?

‘Cause it’d be more fun that way, right…?!

(Even though Netaro said that…)

(Being with an alien like himself is… probably more fun, huh.)

…Yeah. I guess that’s only natural. I’m glad. I’m really glad…