Grandma is humming.

She was baking a special blueberry cheesecake for breakfast. Some of the ingredients were imported high-flown items she had delivered through special parcel. It appears she had a special bank account for celebrations.

"Is anything up?" asked Yoshiyuki lazily.

"Kind of," she replied with a tiny smirk. Since there was apparently nothing else she was interested in, it must be business.

"Did you make a deal or something?"

"Well… yeah? But that's all in a day's work, so don't dwell on it."

He yawned loudly. "It looks extra-special to you."

She laughed softly. "Is it weird to be extra-happy when business is doing fine?"

Grandma is really expert at eluding. "Um, there's a hotel on Okaa-san." She might have been interested.

"Now, now, Yoshiyuki dear," she said taking the cake out of the oven, "who even told you that?" Laugh. "You don't actually have to wear yourself out with the details." She set it down on the table. It was steaming a bit and smelled very pleasing. "Let Granny take care of all the work. Besides, a teeny wee bit of an agency can't possibly be interested in a hotel as large as that on Okaa-san. But there's a connection," she winked. "Hora, you take a slice and tell your Granny how she's doing."

#4. Welcome to the Ryokan!

Later that afternoon he overheard from the office door lively talk over the phone. He stole a peek and found a stack of what looked like posters at the foot of the table. Sure enough, that night before bed, she came to his room and placed a small heap on his bedside desk. "Hey, son, care to do me a favor? I'll be doing the rounds on the scooter tomorrow and post the rest of this all over the island."

"Huh?" he uttered wide-eyed at the stuff. "Izu… Izu Mite Island Wonderland?"

"Woooowwww!" Students from all over the campus gathered at one of the posters at the corridor bulletin board. "Promotional video contest?"

"Oh, I must start looking extra-good."

"Free tickets for five and a round-trip cruise?!"

"A chance to be seen on a news feature on TV or online!"

"Hahhhh," said Anju over the phone at lunch. "Free tickets for five. That means they'd be expecting five people in the video. We can't make a halfway decent show with only the both of us."

"To get new members," observed Yoshiyuki speaking at the other end, "we must pull this off. But to pull this off, we need new members. Tch. We'll have to make do with two for now."

"Life is so unfair, isn't it? Mohhhh."

In the end they could not quite agree on how to even begin so Anju hung up and began preparing for the next class. The teacher soon arrived and everybody settled down for the afternoon roll call. Before they could their session for Science, however, the Homeroom teacher came in for an announcement. "Everybody, if anyone wants registration papers for the Izu Mite contest, they gave some to me. Be sure to submit a passport-sized picture and a waiver from your parents, as well." This set off a flurry of excited murmuring even before he finished speaking. "Also, we have a transfer student.'

At this, they instantly hushed. Anju threw a curious gaze, mildly interested. So Uchiura isn't done sending people over yet? At this rate the island would get overpopulated in two years or so.

"Hori-san," said the teacher, "you may come in."

Precise footsteps echoed throughout the classroom. A vision of flowing russet hair blowing in the wind like a banner. the class was holding its breath at the unusual elegance of form accenting the refined beauty of a city girl.

"Hori Rikako desu," she said with a bow. "Yoroshiku onegaishimasu." That was all.

She walked to her seat with measured step, right past Anju, who was speechless and gaping, hands trembling. "Muri da yo," she mumbled. "Muri, muri da yo. Muri da yo. Muri…"

"Muri da!" she yelled in the room at home. "There's no way that elitist is invading my island! I must show her."

She just drew up an unflattering cartoon of the new girl, mad with a diamond-shaped hole for a mouth, making her look like some furious terror bird.

Downstairs, the Nitta women, the mother and two adult daughters, were setting the table for dinner. The father arrived carrying a huge bowl of curry miso. After going back to the kitchen for the rest and finally laying them all out on the table, they sat down to eat. A little later, Anju came out. Her footsteps' tapping on the floor was noticeably audible as the rest of the family muttered softly dining in near-silence. The rumble of the chair she pulled as she sat down was embarrassing. Everything she did seemed clumsy.

"Was it you screaming?" asked Kana.

Anju did not answer. Shouldn't it be obvious? she thought.

"Anju," said her father, "your meal's going to be cold."

She ate in silence as they continued the conversation around her. "If this Sea Park clicks," observed Kanae, "we can expect more sizeable establishments to follow."

"Eh," agreed Kana. "Isn't there a hotel already being finished at Okaa-san?"

"Won't the cruise be damaged by this?" asked the mother incredulously. "I mean, the tourists might be wanting to see unspoiled scenery."

"Humph," replied the father. "Tourists? The lot of them go on a trip for the sake of itself. And there isn't anywhere that does not cater to tourists. They will want a hotel, shops, everything they were used to back home."

"And there's a guesthouse or two being peddled hereabouts at a premium," remarked Kanae. "Minase-san must be very pleased right now."

"No, it's more than that," said Dad. "You yourself said growth leads to more growth."

"I was just thinking nature would be the reason one goes on a cruise," followed up Mom. "See something off the beaten path."

"Mama, if that were the case, they can just go backpacking. Anyone can do that on a penny or two."

"Ummmm…"

Everybody turned to Anju, who has been looking at them, waiting for the right moment. There was only a hint of irritation with Kanae, blank-faced boredom with Kana, and serious attentiveness from the parents which was actually unsettling. She'll have to make good of every words she utters.

"I… I want to join to video promo for… for Izu Mite."

Both sisters' faces fell in disdain, like they were, "Is that all you have to say?"

"But I heard you didn't make it with the club," remarked Dad. "How do you plan to get others with you now?"

"If I have to go it alone I would." Seeing the mild confusion in her parents, "I mean, if it really has to get down to it."

"Anju," chided Kana, "you can't promote a theme park on your own." She took a spoonful of dessert. "Unless you were a celebrity. Do you think yourself that?"

"Wait, I didn't—"

"Such a vain and petulant person isn't likely to attract any partners," added Kanae.

"H-Hold on. I have one person with me. That Minase boy."

"Oh," said Mom with interest. "So he's with Mrs. Minase. I must see him sometime."

"But that one's quite new here," continued Kana, unimpressed. "And even if he's with Minase-san, I have my reservations about how exactly he ended up there to begin with."

"Hey!" cried Anju standing up with a loud squeak of the chair on the floor. "Don't trash talk my buddy!"

Kana only raised an eyebrow. "Have I accused him of anything?"

"Alright, alright," cut in Dad, "that's quite enough. "Do you really have to time your arguments over a meal?"

"Papa, I can't let her smear my friend."

"I said I only have doubts. If you want to clear that pal of yours, then have him come here like Ma said so I take a look at him. Not that I have any high expectations."

"I'm only talking to Papa. And I was asking permission from Papa. You didn't to have to butt in."

"Then tell him when we're not around," said Kanae. She stood up. "Come on," she told Kana, "it seems we're not needed here." They both stalked out of the dining room, leaving Anju with exasperated parents.

"Ani," said Mom, "I really do think you should just keep quiet whenever you run up against your sisters."

Anju looked down to hide her bitterness.

Dad only shrugged. "Those two have already achieved things in life. I think a student like you should just leave them alone."

"But," she said choking up, "it's they who won't leave me alone."

Dad sighed. "If it will make you feel better mama and I will just sign that waiver. You had better put in more effort this time. And make sure you won't forget your responsibilities here in the ryokan."

The tension has prevented them from hearing the faint burst of fireworks from outside, but at that very moment over at Izu Mite Island Wonderland Sea Park, they were lighting up the night sky. The place had an evening open house of sorts to attract students after school to showcase at least the portion of the park already finished. There was even a shuttle service for those on the other side of the island until ten. Which was why Kanako and Ai were there at this hour.

At the street leading to the gate a number of booths were set up. Ai's parents have sent over a hefty bonus of pocket money from the mainland so they were able to enjoy quite a few delicacies, sitting on the seawall and feeling the night breeze in their backs. They have just returned from their eighth foray

"Kan-chan," remarked Ai, "you're quite the eater. Won't you put on love handles?"

"When did you see me have any cellulite?" she replied happily chomping down on a blueberry taiyaki.

"I'm quite worried. We've been snacking nonstop. Onee-chan keeps saying I'll get fat."

"She's just scaring you," she said still chewing. "Besides even if you add weight I think it fits you being a little chubby."

"No, it does not! Now you're only worrying me more."

"Relax. Can you get fat from this one night?"

"…"

"Do you have anyone fat in your family?"

Ai looked away, trying to extract some comfort out of her best friend's reasoning. "But still, we were doing nothing but eat. Say, let's get inside the park, for a change. I got enough cash to spare for three tickets."

Kanako turned around and gazed at the people going in and out of the gate in the distance. "I'm fine. You can go if you want."

"Eh? B-But it's no fun if I go in by myself. And… And I heard they have sea lions in there. I'm scared."

"Hm? But I thought you wanted to see seals?"

"I want to see everything with you. Come on."

"No, no. Have fun. I'll wait here."

Ai's face fell. That was kinda not the point. Everybody went into the park with their buddies. She watched the students chatting and laughing with their friends and classmates. Some were taking pictures. None of them were alone. "Well, if that's so," she finally said, "I guess we better get home."

"Um," agreed Kanako. "I'm getting sleepy."

"Wait. Can't we at least take a photo of us like they do?" she asked shyly.

"Sure." Kanako had the both of them lie down on the seawall and took out a phone for a selfie.

"Oh, Kan-chan," she sighed with an earnest hug.

Thursday, Anju's Mathematics teacher was sick and simply left worksheets to a young proctor. Everybody were quietly busy as they solved problems and drew angles. Anju was also busy drawing, but she was also looking on-and-off behind her (with an eye on the proctor), where the transfer student Rikako was poring over her exercises. Anju skillfully kept her masterpieces tucked between the pages of her textbook and answered problems at the same time so the proctor wouldn't notice anything suspicious should he walk by. She has made about five in all. I'll slip this one in at her desk. Have a great lunch, suckah.

Friday had ended early due to tests so Yoshiyuki went straight home for a slightly belated lunch. He was not disappointed. As soon as he entered the yard he was greeted by a rich concoction of aromas from the kitchen. "Granny," he said entering the kitchen through the backdoor, "what are we having today?"

"Oh a lot," she smiled. "Say, son, can I ask another favor? You know the Nitta girl, right? Can you go over to their house with that after you're done?" She motioned to the table where there was a basket of sumptuously-wrapped boxes. "And here's a sketch of the place."

He took the slip of paper and looked at it closely. Turns out the place was on a rise not unlike the one just before Nanaka-senpai's dive shop. The house, marked out as a ryokan, had a commanding view of the sea and the harbor.

As he warmed up the scooter, he sent an e-mail telling Anju he's coming over. He secured the package behind the seat and drove off. Seriously, when's Grandma going to stop treating me like her private deliveryman? Nonetheless, it was a humid afternoon and he was relieved to get some wind from the speeding bike.

Rikako lay in bed facing the ceiling that same afternoon. Of course there was nothing to see there, but she was focused on her other senses. The scent of vegetation on this island was overpowering. The crash of waves on the shore even reached her room though her house was in a wooded glade some distance from the sea. It all told her she was in another world. The first day, she was shedding tears of homesickness and could not find her bearings. Even now, there were pangs of longing to at least get off this island that seemed to be a trap suspended in time and cut off from everyone and everywhere else.

"So this is what exile feels like, huh?" she said to herself remembering her history lessons.

"Riri," called her Aunt Maruko from downstairs.

"Hai?" she called back.

"Aren't you hungry yet? Shall I heat supper or keep it in the fridge?"

She hesitated for a bit. "I-I'm coming."

Her aunt didn't reply anymore. She will have to show herself out there in a half an hour.

And there was the problem of someone hating her at school for some reason. She took the caricature she found in her desk yesterday. There was another one just today. It was of a girl snoozing at her seat, drooling phlegm from the nose, while a stick-figure teacher was raging at her from the board behind her. She was worried somewhat, but could only laugh softly at the silly portrait. "Whoever did this got my hair right."

Yoshiyuki pulled over and found the parking spot for motorcycles. He lifted the package off the bike and went to the doorbell at the gate. There didn't seem to be anybody home. He rang the bell about four times more without result so he sat on the wooden steps and waited for a bit before reaching out for the button again. It was then that he noticed a small gap in the gate. It wasn't locked. Thinking it a pass for going in uninvited, he eased himself into the yard, then past the drapes of the guest entrance.

The entrance hall was expansive and the fragrance of wood was refreshing. There was nobody. He sat on the wooden bench and placed the package down right beside him. He could make out the faint bubbling of a pot somewhere. It was way to the back; it was so quiet he could pick up such sounds. The air was so till. Everything stood or hung perfectly motionless, as though everything has hit a pause button or something.

It seemed like half an hour before he caught another sound. TV? Somebody's watching something, just like Grandma staying up late for a variety show. He looked around and saw a door off to his left. There was also a small gap in it. Carefully, he stood up and approached the room.

He gently opened the door…

"Anju…?"

She was in bed lying on her tummy and hugging a pillow. At the bed with her was a laptop playing something.

It was a movie about a couple at the prow of a huge ocean liner, the man holding the woman from behind and making out with her passionately, while her arms were outstretched as if flying. So she is into this kind of thing?

"Ani?" went a voice from the door.

.

.

"Owwww…"

Anju rubbed her butt pathetically as her mother's foot still hung in the air. Yoshiyuki was impressed with the power of that kick. It's as though Anju had vanished from sight like an anime ninja only to materialize on the floor a moment later. "Sugoi…" he breathed.

"Don't make fun of my pain!" wailed the girl.

"Heh," smirked Mom. "That's a famous technique handed down through generations of my maternal line. Mothers always use that on their daughters." To Anju, "I can't believe you'd actually let somebody walk right up to your room!"

"No, Ma'am," said Yoshiyuki. "It's my fault also. I kind of barged in without warning."

"Ani was on guard duty. Keisuke and I were busy cleaning the onsen. Still, I'm relieved it's someone we actually know."

"You just said you wanted to meet him and now you know him already?" complained Anju.

"Such an insolent child," sighed Mom. "Anyway, Minase-kun, have a seat. We'll receive you properly in a short while."

Yoshiyuki joined the Nittas later that night over dinner. They gave him their own special anko dumplings as a reward for the trouble as well as a special bird's nest soup. Looking him over, Anju's father satisfied himself that the boy was fine. After Kana's remark he called Mrs. Minase about him, and she reassured the man that the boy was basically good and simply did not have the experience to know any better. He should be fine on the island, she had said.

"Well, I'm glad you two could help each other," said Dad.

"I was the one who found him," beamed Anju. "I pick my people well, don't I?"

"Tush," said Mom, "he must be careful he's not drawn into your horseplay again."

"Ma, you make me sound like I'm an irredeemable troublemaker."

"No, but lately I wasn't so sure about you." She was calling to mind their sneaking onto the ship to see Shuka.

"Hahhhh, that was just once."

"Like every truant said, ever."

"Nitta-san," said Yoshiyuki, "you seem to have other daughters."

"Oh, they?" said Dad. He laughed. "They're in Tokyo right now doing some business about their travel agency. They're really doing their best.'

"I'm a bit worried Ani wouldn't be able to carve her own path in life," added Mom. "That's why I hope you will help her with the club so she could have an idea of what she's good at."

"We're just going fine… Right Yoshi-kun? We even went to Nanan-chan so we could get a start at the Watersports Club."

Dad thought it over while chewing. "Are you sure can manage the tougher sports? Some of them might be dangerous."

Not having much previous experience, Anju was at a loss for words, but Yoshiyuki covered for her. "I think we will know for sure once we give it a try… under professional supervision."

With this addition he saw their faces sort of relax, as they knew Nanaka was with the dive shop on Okaa-san. That must be how it is with places far from the city, everyone knowing everybody else.

The conversation soon shifted to mainly between the parents, talking about some other people they knew which the youngsters didn't, so they ate in relative silence for the rest of the time, only giving snatches of talk amongst themselves.

"Ahahah," said Anju as she went on the downhill road with him walking the scooter under the light of the lampposts. The road was not that steep at this part of the road. "I went overboard back there in my room."

"You're always overboard."

"Then you're underwhelming. Tch. Someone who can't manage a jump."

"I was just being safe, you know."

"You won't make it with the club if you keep thinking safe."

"Haven't you heard? Safety is a first with water sports."

She frowned. "That's just an excuse to spoil the fun."

Yoshiyuki has lapsed into a pensive mood and did not speak until Anju talked to him again a little while later. "Ne, Yoshi-kun, are you thinking about Ma and Pa?"

"Hmmmm…" To be honest, he was still processing what he has seen and heard back at the ryokan.

"Maybe you're disappointed Kanae-nee and Kana-nee aren't home."

"…"

"Do you really want to see them that badly? Humph. I'm sure they wouldn't."

"Are they really… well, the type of folks who are too… um, busy to bother with other people?"

Anju pored over her words. "I must say they are pretty mean. But… I guess they weren't always like that. Back when I was in grade school in Uchiura they'd walk me to school and even help me fix my lunches. We were inseparable, us three… Hah… I guess that's thing that hurts the most."

They were already a good way down, and the pounding of the surf could be heard faintly.

"What happened, then?"

"I'm not sure. All I know is that it all began when Kanae-nee got into athleticsand Kana-nee got into Math contests. I can't help but feel like their hanging out with me before was just a silly habit they have outgrown." She winced. "Say, am I really too silly to be around with? What if I graduate? Will the people out there at work get along with me?"

"I think a lot of people have thought that, also."

"I don't know, but I think I'm on an entirely different level. I can be mean, too, if I had a mind to. Did you know I stole a little bird from its nest when I was small?"

"Hm?"

"The mother bird showed up and charged at me again and again. It was scary. But I thook the bird home. Only, it died the next day. I still get a bit guilty when I remember it."

"Why would you even do such a thing?"

"See? Told 'ya I'm unhinged. I just, I just love kidnapping youngsters from their mothers when I was a kid. Piglets, pups, kittens… I even got into some trouble with the neighbors. But the biggie was this. I found a bear cub in a hole once."

"Whoa…"

"It was a newborn. I was peering into the hole and reaching out with my hand, when I heard an awful roar somewhere. It was enough for me to beat the road."

He smirked. "Nobody crosses a mama bear gone mad."

She smiled weakly. "That's so sick, isn't it?"

"Welp, at least I know I'm with someone who's better now than the last time."

She looked at him incredulously with a mocking grin. "You're turning my head," she chuckled. "Go home now you little brat." She shoved him onward with the scooter. She then yanked him back and whispered in his ear threateningly, "You make sure to e-mail that number, OK?" Shove.

He staggered a bit but found his balance and mounted. "Do we have club tomorrow?"

"I'll think of something we can do. But there won't be much until we get back on Okaa-san. Maybe we could do some planning sometime."

He finally drove off. Anju looked on, trying to trace his path. But the road was wooded, and the rumble of the engine was soon lost in the faint crashing of the waves further down at the shoreline.

Next Time! #5. Princess Anna