Diplomatic Tourism

Keitaro, Toko, Jack, and Ella were all standing on the balcony, overlooking Tokyo.

Gazing longingly into the distance, Jack said to Keitaro, “A beautiful city you’ve got here.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“You know, I always wanted to visit Tokyo. Didn’t imagine it’d be under these circumstances, though.”

“Well, you’re already here. If you want to sightsee then we should be able to organize something.”

Jack’s eyes lit up. “Really? All right! I want to visit an arcade then!”

“An arcade?” Keitaro titled his head.

“Yeah! Arcades were born in America! Yet they fell out of fashion over time. Japan still has them, though, and I’ve always wanted to visit one.”

“Well, if it’s an arcade you want then why not Joy World? It’s the biggest arcade in all of Tokyo. Practically a mini themepark.”

“A themepark, huh? Another fine American invention.”

“That settles it, I guess…”

“Oh, can we go to Shinjuku too?” Ella chimed in with hopeful eyes.

“Should be fine…” This hosting business was getting exhausting.

***

Joy World, a multi-storied arcade and indoor amusement park. It had just about every arcade machine you could ever want as well as several rides and attractions.

“This place is crazy!” Jack pointed up above at the tracks that ran throughout the building. “There’s a roller coaster in here too?”

“Woah! So cute!” Ella had been distracted by some cute merchandise at one of the gift shops.

Keitaro leaned over to Toko. “At least they’re enjoying themselves.”

“Y-yeah…”

Joy World was busy even in this world, but they currently had the whole place rented out thanks to Okita working some of his magic.

“Keitaro, d-do you remember the last time we came here?”

“Hm? That was like ten years ago, wasn’t it?”

“T-twelve actually, b-but yeah… It was to celebrate me getting top of my class.”

“That’s right…”

Twelve years. A lot had changed since then.

“Those were the days.” Keitaro reminisced. ”Back when we were young and spry.”

However, their conversation was interrupted by a racket.

“You’re a natural at this, Ella!”

Jack was watching Ella play a rhythm game, the one where you pound on a big drum. She was actually doing pretty well, especially for a beginner, finishing the song with a high score.

“Man! They never had stuff like this in America!” Ella was reveling in the new experience. Looking over at Toko, she beckoned her over. “Hey, Toko! Wanna play!?”

Toko shyly waved her hands. “Uh, n-no, th-that’s okay…”

“Come on, are you scared?” Ella taunted.

Toko was meek, quiet, timid, and anxious, but after hearing that taunt from Ella, a switch in her flipped. Her body stiffened and her eyes narrowed and went cold.

Keitaro sighed. “Here we go…”

Toko strode to the drum and picked up the two sticks like a warrior drawing his blades.

“Okay, so what song–”

But before Ella could finish her sentence, Toko selected one with the “Ultra Extreme” difficulty.

“A-all right then…” Somehow, even though she was only about to play a game with an acquaintance, Ella felt true fear.

As the song began, a myriad of notes flew across the screen, way too fast for Ella to even process, but Toko…

“What the hell!? Is she even human!?” Jack couldn’t believe his eyes.

Toko’s arms were moving like lightning, each hand working in tandem to strike the drum, nailing every note with pinpoint accuracy.

Ella’s hands fell to her sides and her mouth was agape as she watched in shock.

“T-that’s insane!” Jack was in pure disbelief.

Keitaro scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, she doesn’t go to arcades much anymore, so she’s pretty rusty.”

“Rusty!?” Jack yelled.

Keitaro and Toko were evenly matched in most games with Keitaro having a slight edge in some. However, when it came to rhythm games, Toko was a monster. When she was serious, not a single one stood a chance against her. Well, except Dancing Dancers Evolution. Too physically intensive.

As Toko hit the final note, the song ended and the results screen came up. A perfect combo.

Toko was drenched in sweat and gasping for air. The song was only two minutes long, but it took a lot out of her.

Cautiously, Ella approached her. “Wow, Toko, you were crazy!”

“Th-th-thanks…” Toko stumbled, barely able to stand.

“Yeah, she was awesome.” Keitaro walked up and steadied her. “How about you guys go on ahead? We’ll catch up in a few minutes.”

“Hm? All right then.” Jack replied and the two waved goodbye, walking to the other side of the floor to check out some other games.

Meanwhile, Toko was sitting down on a bench, nursing an energy drink Keitaro bought for her.

“You really shouldn’t have gone all-out, there.”

“Y-yeah… S-sorry…”

“Still, it was nice to see you in action, again.”

Toko smiled goofily. “Th-thanks…” Hearing such praise from her little brother really took her back. “Y-you know… Last time we were here, you won me a plushie…”

“Did I now?”

“Y-yeah.” Toko pointed at a block of claw machines to the right. “I-it was in that area. Mom gave us both five hundred yen to spend. I spent all my money trying to win a bear plushie, and then you went and got it first try. Then you gave it to me and were all like ‘Here you go, big sis!’”

Keitaro blushed. “W-what about it!?”

“N-nothing. Just a cute memory…”

Keitaro never liked being reminded of his childhood. Things were so pure back then, the future seemed so bright. He could never help but feel like he had failed his younger self.

***

They had spent several hours at Joy World. They played games, rode rides, and grabbed some food. Jack and Ella certainly had a ton of fun. Although, it was hard for Keitaro to really get into the mood knowing that they would still be forced to fight to the death one day.

The group was currently sitting down at a table, relaxing as Keitaro planned their next move. “You said you wanted to go to Shinjuku, right, Ella?”

“Yup, I heard the fashion there is crazy!”

“We should probably get going then. If we leave now, we’ll be able to shop for at least a couple hours.”

“Hold on.” Jack jumped in. “There’s one last thing I want to do. I saw some merch on another floor that I wanted to buy.”

“Well, that shouldn’t be a problem–” But Keitaro’s train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a foul odor.

“What’s the smell?” Jack had noticed it too.

“It smells like…” Keitaro sniffed. “Rotten eggs…”

Keitaro looked around. Toko was rubbing her eyes and Ella had coughed, but he didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

What around here could possibly smell like rotten eggs?

But then… It hit him.

Keitaro shot up. “We need to get out of here now!”

“What’s wrong!?” Jack asked.

“I think it’s a gas leak, we need to go now!”

With everyone following him, Keitaro ran for the emergency exit. Thankfully, their security detail as well as Joy World’s staff weren’t far behind and had begun escorting them out and evacuating the building.

As they made it outside and into the fresh air, an ear-splitting explosion rang out, a massive burst of fire erupting from the building, sending shockwaves through the air.

A massive chunk had been taken out of Joy World, burned and blasted away, and they had almost been caught up in it. If they were only a minute slower…

Jack and Ella were both dead silent as they stared at the destruction, but Keitaro didn’t even think about them right now. He only looked at his sister who was shaking in pure terror, her eyes bulging, having stared death right in the face.

Gas leaks happened all the time, but Keitaro knew that this wasn’t an ordinary gas leak. It was the terrorists. It couldn’t have been anything else.

“Those bastards…” He said under his breath, clenching his fists. “They’ll pay for this…”