No emu!

It's hard to get out of bed with that crushing defeat still fresh in my mind. I’m not mad at the boys. They were just trying to save the boss, but it still pains me.

How magnificent my life could have been with those vacuum shoes! It would've saved me so much time, and the floor would always be immaculate. I’m truly devastated...

However, I made a promise to myself. All I have to do today is lay a few squared granite stones for a garden path and prune the shrubs. That’s it. I’ve decided to do something simple because I knew I wouldn’t have much motivation today.

Even the birds outside chirp in a ruckus as if to tell me to get up already.

Coooo.

A pigeon.

Chirp-clack-clack.

Oh, that’s a jobitaki. Grandma loved those! Strange… It’s too early for them, though. They should only migrate here during the winter. Maybe this one got lost?

DA-DUM-DA-DUM!

What is that?! That’s weirder than hearing a jobitaki in this season! It sounded like drums, but they’re so loud you could hear it miles away!

Are my eyes playing tricks on me right now? There's a six-foot bird in my yard! A menacing emu with a purple beanie and black sunglasses.

But that’s not all. Is that a… Tanuki?

They’re both playing cards with Baba. And even Yada’s in on it? Although that makes me proud of her.

Good for you, doing something other than just lying around!

Arrg… What am I thinking? This is insane!

And who’s that? Someone tanned and wearing a white wide-brim hat is hugging Yada so hard she’s about to faint.

“Oh, Ru! I’m back! Do you like your souvenir? I told you I wouldn’t forget!” Hai proudly smiles.

“That bird?! Of course not! How did you even bring it all the way here?”

“Hmmm, that’s a long story. Let me in, and I’ll tell you about my trip!”

I made us some tea while thinking that in another life, I would be vacuuming at the same time.

“Alright, I’m all ears, although I’m not interested…”

“It won’t take long, I promise! I should start right after I landed in Australia. An older man in a black suit, holding a sign with my name painted on it, was waiting for me at the airport. He was in charge of explaining the details of the inheritance.

Inside a spacious all-terrain vehicle, driving at full speed through cities and deserts, he stated that despite being the Pirate King’s heir, they couldn’t simply hand me the treasure. Before the Pirate King perished, he made it clear that the heirs had to prove themselves in order to obtain it.

When he stopped the car, we were in the middle of a tropical woodland. I was given an old map, a machete, and a canteen. Before leaving me there alone, he wished me luck in my search.

Having no clue how to read a map or even find the north, I blindly ventured into the woodlands.

Nothing resembled a path amid the humongous, viridescent trees with broad trunks and foliage. The high humidity made it difficult to breathe. So much that I was constantly dizzy and kept tripping over mossy rocks or lengthy roots above ground.

At least the machete helped me cut through the dense vegetation. However, I unfortunately lost it when I ran away from a dog-sized spider.

The day was almost over, and I was running out of water. Between the high-pitched bird noises and the hissing of snakes, I discerned the rush of a river.

Searching for it and hoping to find shelter for the night as well, I misstepped and ended up slipping into a ravine, blacking out.

When I regained consciousness, I was surrounded by a herd of emus. Emu L. Jackson was their leader. I was taken to a small village established by them. My leg was severely injured, and they treated me with flower oils while I was unconscious.

In time, I learned to communicate with them through a small drum I happened to buy at the airport shop.

When I got well enough to walk again, they showed me the village and the surrounding area up to a steep rocky mountain.

I learned that they were the keepers of the pirate treasure and were willing to give it to me if I helped them. A group of humans wanted to clear the woodlands for resources, and the emus were preparing for war. I would have to fight beside them.

The fated day arrived. Three thousand emus were ready to confront a horde of bearded lumberjacks armed with axes, standing before delimbers, mulchers, and other heavy machinery. The two armies were about to clash when I stood between them and told them to stop.

I spent ages trying to convince the workers not to go through with their plan, leading them to the village and translating what the emus were trying to say. I told them the hidden mountains were full of rare ores they could mine instead.

Fortunately, by night's fall, we were having a big party in the village, and humans and emus were bonding, laughing, and drinking.

All was well until their supervisor arrived in a fancy black sedan. Let’s just say he wasn’t fooling around. As soon as he got out of the car, Emu L. Jackson charged at him, sensing he was going to shoot every emu in sight.

The workers got in the way and prevented the worst. We persuaded him to explore the mountains instead, and he ended up being the drunkest as the party went on all night.

The emus were heartbroken when I was leaving the next day, but I assured them I would be back someday to visit them.

In the end, I understood that the real treasure was the emu friends I had made along the way.

And now that their village was safe, Emu L. Jackson decided to go on a trip and came with me to Japan. I told him you were a nice guy and that he could live with you for a while.”

“That’s out of the question! I’ve got enough on my plate already! And how am I supposed to believe that ridiculous story? You were away for a single week! How did all of that happen? Besides, there's one thing left unexplained! Why is there a tanuki here, too?

“Hi guys!” says a sweet voice over the fence.

“Niwashi!!” Hai enthusiastically responds.

“I see Bonsai is playing with his new friends! I returned to the store because I forgot my present for you, Ru. It’s a bonsai! So I brought two bonsais with me today!” She chuckles lightly.

“Thank you, but… Is it yours? That is not a Pomeranian! Can’t you recognize a tanuki?”

“Pomeranian, tanuki… Does it even matter? Look at him! He’s the cutest ball of fur!”

“It could be dangerous, Niwashi,” Hai interjects, “They could have rabies. It doesn’t seem like he has it, though. I always carry some vaccines on my bike. I’ll get them and check him out.”

When she returns, Tenchō is with her.

“He was waiting outside, and said he was your friend. I told him to come in.”

“Boss, why are you here too? What’s going on today?”

“I thought I could give you the newspaper. I’ve already read it. Don’t think I’m here just because I saw the princess passing by… Why all the animals, though? Are you opening a farm?”

I explained the situation to the manager.

“He can stay with me. I feel that I will be great pals with that hard-boiled emu! And I’m not doing this because the princess’s tanuki gets along with him.”

I don’t care about your reasons. I’ll gladly let you take him.

While Hai was checking Bonsai, Niwashi trimmed the bushes, and I asked Tenchō to help me place the stones for the pathwalk. With their help, I even had time to find the perfect spot for the bonsai, leaving enough space for more next to it.

Not only did I get more done than I had planned, I was in a much better mood. To thank them, I made snacks for everyone.

But why does Yada look so agitated? Now that I think about it, I also feel like something's wrong. The garden is in order, everyone's happy, and the snacks seem fine…

The snacks! No one tried to steal them!

Wait a minute… Where is Baba?

That day, Baba disappeared.