Disclaimer: I do not own School Rumble or any other properties mentioned in this story.
What you should know: This story begins during the events depicted on School Rumble Z 09. It is a Monkey Faction fic (Harem for those not used to the term). There will be some crossovers during the story but they are mainly cameos. It is not a sequel of my previous School Rumble Story (School Rumble: Final Rumble). Finally I would like to apologize if this story hurts your sensibilities.
School Rumble: Time Rumble
# 13
The Monkey and The Stunt Work
"This is ridiculous!"
The director was checking the budget for the latest episode of 'The Three who were Slashed' and this expression was his opinion of it in a nutshell.
"This cut back is horrendous! How the hell are we supposed to film the last three scenes with this budget?"
"I'm sorry sir, that's the most that the producers will allow us to spend for this episode." Said his assistant. "… But if you really want to film it as you wanted then I'm afraid that the only way is… that other option that we discussed before…"
"Damn it!"
"Of all the unlucky people in the world I must be the worst…" Cursed under his breath Harima Kenji while sweeping the set for a movie while thinking out loud how he got to his current predicament.
"I finally get a chance to get a good paying job as a double for a tv show but I get injured and out of commission for a week, unable to report to anybody and when I finally came back they tell me 'oh sorry! Is too late, we already got somebody else. But if you're looking for a job then you can be part of the cleaning staff', damn it!"
Unnoticed to Harima a guy was approaching to him while his ramblings continued.
"To make matters worse the day after tomorrow is Tenma-chan's birthday and I have nothing to give her as a present. Just once I would like something going my way."
"Excuse me… But aren't you Harima Kenji?"
"What?" Asked Harima once he noticed that he had audience.
" Are you Harima Kenji?… The one that performed as 'Tiny the useless monkey jester' in the latest Dojibiron live show?"
"That depends…" Said Harima looking at the guy. "Who's asking?"
"My name is Macintire. I'm the Assistant Director for the series 'The three who were slashed' and I was wondering if you would be interested in working as a stunt double in the show."
Harima, with tears on his eyes looked at the heavens and said…
"There is a god!"
Next day Harima found himself at an early hour on the location for the filming of the latest scenes of the most recent episode of 'The three that were slashed' in front of a gigantic individual that was introduced to him as the director.
"So… this is our new stunt double, Mackenroe-kun?"
"It's Macintire sir." Said the young assistant, a little bit bothered by the wrong name calling. "And yes, this is Harima Kenji-kun. He will be the stunt double for Yakushamaru-san."
The man got closer to Harima who flinched at the vision. He was easily of the same size as the captain of the Kikokumaru.
"He-He-Hello sir my name is Ha-Ha-Harima Kenji…" Said Harima nervously. He never found out the name of the director of his favorite tv series in his original time. In the credits it only said 'Ultra Director' but he was sure that that couldn't be his real name.
"Hello boy! Nice to meet you!" Said the man while crushing Harima's hand. "My name is: ULTRA DIRECTOR!"
"Ultra… Director…" Said a surprised Harima.
"Any problem with my name boy?" Said the man while exuding killing intent.
"No. No problems at all Ultra Director-san."
"Good! And you can call me Ultra or Director, whichever is fine!" Said the man cheerfully while the killing intent disappeared as suddenly as it appeared. "Go ahead and take him to the dressing room so he can get changed, Macintosh-kun."
"It's Macintire sir… I know that I'm only your assistant, and a Gaijin film student to boot, but you could at least remember my name." He said the last part in a low voice. Almost a whisper.
"Macintire-san…" Said Harima after they had walked away from the director.
"Yes Kenji-kun?"
"His real name is not Ultra Director… right?"
"Oh no! not at all!" Said the young foreigner while laughing. "He changed his name after getting the position. He felt that it was an artistic choice… But if you ask me I would say that his ex-wife wining the custody of his daughter had more to do with it…"
"Oh I see… So what was his name before changing it to Ultra Director?"
"It was… Ultra Editor."
Harima face faulted.
"But before that it was Inaba Shinichiro." Said the film student while smiling.
"Thanks…" Said Harima while wondering why the name sounded familiar.
"Yakushamaru-san, allow me to introduce you to Harima Kenji-kun. He will be your stunt double today."
"Hello Kenji-kun." Said the man while extending his hand towards Harima.
"Ya-Ya-Yakushamaru Kouji! You're Yakushamaru Kouji! The legendary Mangoku!" Said Harima while 'fangirling' to his favorite actor of all time.
"I wouldn't say legendary…" Said the actor modestly. "But I'm working hard in order to become a pro."
"And I have no doubt that you'll get there Yakushamaru-san!"
"Just Yakusha is fine."
"May I ask you for your autograph?"
"Sure, where do you want it?"
"Uh…" Harima looked everywhere but at the moment he only had the script that was provided to him as a reference for his role. "… Here!"
The man who represented Mangoku signed his name on the back of it while Harima went to the dressing room happily.
"He seems like a good boy." Said Yakushamaru after Harima left.
"That's what the people in charge of the Dojibiron live show said. He might be a little young but he certainly doesn't look like a 14 years old boy and you can bet that he is as thought as he looks. He will be perfect for today's stunts." Said Macintire confidently.
"But I still don't see the need. You said that our budget was low and I was willing to do my own stunts."
"I know Yakushamaru-san but you know what the producers said. You're not supposed to do them. Remember what happened when they found out that you did all your stunts?"
"Yeah… They cut the budget." Said the Actor sadly.
Truth to be told Yakushamaru felt the need in the last few episodes of doing everything himself… Like he had to prove that he was a real pro… He even felt the need to do his own stunts and the director conceded.
However when the producers knew about it they decided to reduce the budget of the show as a disciplinary action and demanded that Yakushamaru did not do any of his stunts.
When the crew said that those two things made no sense they reduced the budget even more.
This forced the director in a difficult situation. He already had a great episode in mind and most of the scenes recorded (leaving the high risk ones as the last ones to be filmed) but due to these restrictions he had to rely on a cheap stunt double and what he could savage from the budget for the special effects.
The whole staff, including Yakushamaru, knew the difficulties and tried to do their best in order to help.
But even so, most felt that using somebody as young as Harima was no good. But they really had no choice if they wanted the episode to be made on time.
"OK Kenji-kun!" Said the Director to Harima once they were in a clearing of the forest. "In this scene you'll be attacked by villagers who want Mangoku dead due to some false rumors. You must avoid all their attacks as best as you can, don't worry if they hit you a couple of times that's fine. But the important thing that you must remember is that you can't counter a single time since you're representing Mangoku and he never attacks civilians. Understood?"
"Yes sir!" Said Harima confidently.
"Very well… Lights… Camera… ACTION!"
"We finally got you Mangoku!" Said an extra.
"Today is the day that you pay for slaughtering that whole village… MURDERER!" Said another while at least 20 extras jumped at Harima with clubs and rocks.
Harima was able to avoid most of them but still a few were able to hit him.
"Whoa! That Harima boy is surely a great actor! Don't you think so Yakusha?" Said the Director from his seat.
"He certainly is sir." Said Yakushamaru respectfully. "Look at that hit, he reacts as if the pain was real."
"I believe the same. What about you Mackymike-kun?"
"It's Macintire sir…" Said the slightly annoyed assistant. "But yeah. He really knows how to fake pain. And those clubs and rocks… they look awfully real. I must congratulate to our props manager in getting them with our low budget."
"What are you talking Macintire-san" Said the props manager who was close by. "Do you have any idea of how much they cost? Those that are being used over there are real."
"…"
The crew remained a moment in silence while the implications of that remark fully entered their brains.
"CUT!" Screamed three voices at once while they run towards the location where they found a dizzied Harima.
"Harima-kun! Harima-kun! Are you ok?" Asked Macintire.
"Was… was that take good?… or should I repeat it?…" Said Harima… before fainting.
"Are sure that you're fine Harima-kun?" Asked the Director to the seemingly recovered Harima.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's not the worst beating that I have received."
The Director was truly sorry for what happened to Harima and, were he in a different situation, would have waited a few days before filming the next scene… But he was already pressured by time how it was.
"Very well then… In this next scene we'll be using a prop that another director was using for an adventure movie. It's the representation of a cave with cameras installed on the walls. I think that you have seen this scene in other movies; well, we will be using one of a fellow director's cave for our episode. The idea is that you'll be running trough the whole length of it while avoiding a large rock that is coming towards you. The idea is that Mangoku is escaping from the villagers that attacked him and had fallen in a cave where he accidentally activated an ancient death trap."
"I'm ready sir."
"OK, let's get ready!" Said the Director while walking towards the prop manager.
"You sure that this time is not a real rock and it's just a prop, right?" Asked the director to the prop manager menacingly.
"Yes sir. I even asked permission from the original set creator to use it."
"Very well then, just remember that being my sister's husband won't protect you forever. Everybody get ready!… Lights… Camera… ACTION!"
Harima was walking around the entrance of the cave semi hidden from his pursuers.
"Do you think that Mangoku hid in that cave?" Said the voice of an extra that could be heard from outside.
"I don't think so." Said another voice. "Not even Magoku would try to hide in the accursed cave of the assassins. Nobody has ever survived to its death traps."
As soon as he said that a gigantic rock fell in front Harima blocking the exit of the cave and began to roll towards him at an incredible speed.
"Look at him run!" Said the Ultra director while looking the action on the mobile unit's monitors. "He has the speed of a Greek god!"
"You're right sir." Said Yakushamaru who was also watching the monitors next to him. "to think that he has such a condition at a young age. And this is after receiving a pummeling. He is truly unique."
"And look at that rock!" Said the Director proudly. "If I wasn't assured that it wasn't a rock and just a prop I'll be fooled. Don't you think the same Michaelduck-kun?"
"It's Macintire sir…" Said a resigned assistant. "… But you're right, it looks very real. Chen-san really knows his work."
"What did you say sir?" Asked a nervous prop manager.
"Chen, Jackie Chen, He is the one that made this cave. You know who, the one that you asked permission to use."
"You don't mean Jackie Chun?" Asked the prop manager, now with cold sweat covering him.
"No. I mean Jackie Chen, The special effects expert. Jackie Chun is a former martial arts champion that once made a cave like this with his own hands but he used real rocks." Said Macintire while looking at the prop manager nervously. "You did ask Jackie Chen for his cave and not to Jackie Chun, right?"
"Actually…"
"CUT!" Screamed the three men while looking for the controls to stop the rock…
"AAAHHH"
However, the scream coming from there and the monitor showing Harima being flattened by the gigantic rock made them realize that they were kind of late.
"I'm really, really sorry about what happened Kenji-kun. We really did not mean to put you under those situations."
"It's okay sir. I'm fine." Said Harima who recovered awfully quick after being flattened by a rock.
Truth is that if it was any other job Harima would have run away a long time ago but he really needed the money for a present for his dear Tenma-chan (whose birthday was the next day) and he also was working in his favorite series of all time so he was willing to endure the hardships.
The Director, his assistant and leading actor were all ashamed of the circumstances. They really wanted to at least concede some time off after this but the pressure was at its maximum. They had to finish filming today and spend most of the night editing to have the episode ready for its premier tomorrow.
"Very well Kenji-kun. In this scene Mangoku will enter in a building on fire and save a baby proving beyond all doubt to his pursuers that he is not the assassin that they were made to believe that he was thus clearing his name."
"I-I see." Said a nervous Harima already imagining what could go wrong.
"Don't worry Kenji-kun. We've taken all the precautions as we can for this scene. The fire will be localized on some areas so you'll have free way to the area were the doll of the baby is located and then go out. There will be no danger at all… right prop manager-san…" Said the Director while directing a killing look to said man.
"Yes. It's completely controlled! You see here Kenji-kun the fires will be localized in these areas here and here." Said the main while showing a map. "The doll will be here in this room so, as you can see you only have to walk through this area, free of any fires, and you'll reach it. Next you only need to walk back by the same path and everything will be done!"
It seemed simple enough, even for Harima, so he had no problems with it.
"Ok then. Let's make this the last take of the day. Lights… Camera… ACTION!"
"The house is on fire!" Said the first extra expressing the obvious.
"There is a child inside! What can we do?" Said the second extra setting the complete scene.
Harima then run towards the house breaking the weak door.
"Mangoku! Mangoku is in the house!" Said another extra explaining the action.
"Well done Kenji-kun! Now just find the doll and come back and we'll have our scene."
"Don't you think that he should already gone out? I mean, according to the map he shouldn't take that long." Said Yakushamaru.
"You remember to get the doll, right?" Asked Macintire to the prop manager.
"Of course. I even make sure that is the right one." Said the man proudly. "You can even check it for yourself, Here!"
And with that he showed the doll… that he had in his own hands.
"So… If you have the doll here then… What is Kenji-kun looking for inside the house?…"
The men looked at each other in panic.
"CU…"
CRASH
The scream of the three men was deafened for a window breaking and the figure of Harima Kenji erupting from a flaming inferno with a bundle in his arms.
"Kenji-kun!"
"Damn it! The doll wasn't where it was supposed to!" Said Harima while covered in soot. "I had to look trough the whole damn place until I found it! Sorry if it's a little bit damaged but it had kind of catch fire when I found it."
The whole crew where completely silent for one moment and then…
CLAP
CLAP
CLAP
All of them where clapping to Harima's performance.
"Beautiful… It was beautiful!" Said the director with tears on his eyes. "Don't you think the same Macintire-kun?"
"It's…" The Assistant was about to correct the director, when he realized that the man had finally said his name right. "… Actually you're right, Director-san. It was beautiful."
'Kenji-kun…' Said Yakushamaru to himself. '… I really admire what you have done here today. You've showed me the way of the real pro…'
"Kenji-kun!" Said the giant director to Harima while putting an arm around him. "I know that it may be sudden but I trust my gut instinct. Let me tell you that as long as I am in this business you can be sure that…"
Harima was elated. Did he finally obtained a secure job? Could this truly be his place? Had his bad luck finally run out?...
"Incredible! You are so amazing!"
And his answer came in the form of a young girl with short light brown hair who jumped from nowhere and hugged him strongly.
"Wha… Who are you?" Asked Harima to the girl who looked strangely familiar.
"Miki?" Said a surprised Director. "What are you doing here? Does you mother know about you being here?"
"Hi Daddy!" Said the girl cheerfully. "They gave us an assignment at school to describe what our parents do and mom said that it was OK that I came and take a look at your work!"
"Really?" Said the man gloomily.
"Yeah I didn't want to disturb you so I was with the crew over there watching you work. And I must say I was amazed! You work is so cool!"
"Yes it is!" Said the man cheerfully.
"You get to work with amazing people like him." Said the girl while hugging Harima.
"Eh?"
"Your name is Harima Kenji, right?" Harima, who was at a loss for words just nodded. "You are 14 years old and studying your last year on Junior high, right?"
While Harima nodded the director came to her daughter and asked…
"How do you know all that?"
"The crew told me." Said the girl while smiling. "They said that he did a great job and is an amazing stunt man. Hey Kenji-san do you mind if I call you sempai?"
"Uh… sure no problem…" Harima had finally recognized the girl as one of the future classmates of Imouto-san. He never realized that she was the daughter of the director of his favorite show. He didn't see anything wrong in letting her calling him like that. Mainly because he was her sempai anyway.
"So sempai, would you like to go out with me on a date sometime?"
"Eh… ah…" Once again Harima was at a loss for words due to the girl forwardness.
"Miki, do you mind?…" Said the director to his daughter. "Kenji-kun and I were in the middle of a conversation. Besides is kind of late and I don't want to give any worries to your mother… or her lawyer…"
"Sure thing Daddy!" Said the second year junior high student. "See you again sometime sempai! And think about my date offering!"
Harima just waved her goodbye until he was out of sight.
"So Kenji-kun, as I was saying…" Said the director coldly to Harima. "…as long as I am in this business you can be sure that…"
CLUTCH
The director grabbed Harima from his neck and began to choke him.
"… I'LL NEVER ALLOW YOU OR ANY OTHER PUNKS WHO FLIRT WITH MY DAUGHTER TO GET ANY WORK IN THIS BUSINESS!"
"Bu…bu… but…"
"No 'buts.' I will not allow anybody in this business to date my daughter. ARE WE CLEAR?"
Although fainting due to the lack of oxygen Harima managed to say a weak…
"Un… Understood…"
"Good, now… GET OUT OF HERE AND NEVER COME BACK!"
And with that the director threw Harima away with all his strength turning him in only a twinkle in the sky.
"Uh… director-san" Said Macintire weakly.
"WHAT?"
"Don't you think that you are… over reacting…"
"OVERREACTING?"
"Just… just a little bit…"
"My daughter was flirting with an actor. You know what kind of dissolute life they have! I won't let my daughter fall for one of those guys!"
"I understand your concern." Said Yakushamaru Kouji. "But you know that not everybody is like that. Besides, Kenji-kun was an alright kid. You said it yourself…"
"You might be right Yakushamaru… Maybe I over reacted a little bit."
The crew sweat dropped at that. It was his overzealous protection of his daughter and the bad reputation of his line of work that made the court give his daughter's complete custody to his ex-wife. Well, that and her exceptional good lawyer.
"Mackin… Whatever…"Said the director gloomily.
"Yes sir…" Said Macintire without correcting him. He really didn't want to push his boss' patience more than it was necessary.
"Send a letter along with Kenji-kun's paycheck to the address that he provided. Tell him that if he wants to work with us he is welcome whenever he wants…"
"Sure thing sir."
"Also… That if he wants to date my daughter… is fine by me…"
Macintire smiled. "Yes sir."
Next day Harima was moping in his apartment due to the recent events.
"Man… Just my luck. I finally get a good job and lose it due to some misunderstanding. And worse of all I don't have enough money to buy Tenma-chan a decent birthday present. And I can guess that i shouldn't expect any payment for all my work..."
"Kenji-kun…" Said Osakabe Itoko while entering unannounced his cousins room with her own key (not provided by Harima of course). "Are you going to be moping on your room the whole day?"
"Scram! I'm not in the mood to deal with you and your mockery Itoko!"
"And what's with this mess…" Said Itoko while ignoring her cousins comments. "You haven't even picked up your mail!"
"Throw them away! They are only bills!"
"This doesn't seem like a bill…" Said Itoko while picking an envelope that showed the name of a famous tv studio that had 'URGENT' printed on big red letters and seemed to have been delivered that very same morning.
"Then is a pamphlet, an ad or some other trash…" Said Harima who didn't even turned to see Itoko or the mail.
"Do me a favor and just read it ok?" Said Itoko trying to give the mail to the stubborn young man.
"Fine. If it makes you stop nagging me just give it to me. I'll read it." Said Harima while extending his arm.
"Here it is. Who knows, it might be something very good."
"Yeah, yeah, just leave me alone…" Said Harima while picking the mail still without looking at it.
"Oh by the way…" Said Itoko while leaving Harima's room. "Just in case I don't see you around tomorrow… Happy 15th Birthday Kenji…"
With that she left a small wrapped box in a table next to the door and left.
"Yeah… a happy one indeed." Said Harima bitterly. "No money, no job… No Tenma-chan…"
While saying that Harima began tearing down his mail to pieces and throwing it in a nearby waste basket still without giving it a single glance.
"Well I guess I could always go to the zoo and see the guys for my birthday." Continued Harima while preparing himself to go out. "But first I should look around and see if can get a present for Tenma-chan..."
"Wow Mangoku is great! Don't you think so Yakumo?"
"You're right nee-san."
That night both Tsukamoto sisters were watching the newest episode of 'The three who were slashed.'
Tenma had been kind of down lately due to the fact that she had been unable to celebrate her birthday since it fell on exam season (as usual) and she had to study. But the latest episode of her favorite show had done wonders to lift her spirits.
"Look at Mongoku go into that house on fire to save the children Yakumo! Isn't he the bravest man that you have ever seen?"
"It looks like that nee-san." Said the Younger Tsukamoto.
Truth to be told Yakumo didn't enjoy the show as much as her sister, but she still liked it. This episode however had really surprised her.
She had been used to distinguish the special effects on tv shows and movies since a young age but in the last few days her awareness had increased a lot. Just as her special powers.
But in this episode the special effects were so well made that they really surprised Yakumo. The way that Mangoku endured a beating at the hands of a bloodthirsty crowd was cringing in its realism… The way in which the rock seemingly passed over Mangoku while he was trying to run away from it… and now the fires on the house… If she didn't know better she could swear that they were the real deal.
"Oh my god! Mangoku is still in the house! What happened to him?"
Usually Yakumo would think that her sister was overreacting to the images on the tv but this time she also felt some kind of… anxiety at this particular scene.
CRASH
And then the Mangoku character jumped out of a window with the house on fire on the background.
"WOW! Look at that! Is Mangoku a thought guy or what?" Said Tenma while watching the particular scene.
"Yes, he is." Said Yakumo while letting go the breath that she didn't notice she was holding. And really don't understanding why. It was only a tv show after all.
"Wow! That was a great episode!" Said Tenma while the show began to show the ending credits.
"It really was nee-san."
"Aren't you coming Yakumo?" Asked Tenma when she noticed that her younger sister was still at her seat.
"In a moment nee-san." Said Yakumo still sitting. Usually she would do the same as Tenma and just leave or turn off the tv while the credits were rolling but something made her stay there until they finished showing them.
"Oh well I'll be in the kitchen then…"
While still wondering why she was still there a brief message appeared in the last few seconds of the credits.
"Special thanks to: Harima Kenji…" Read Yakumo out loud.
"Did you say something Yakumo?"
"No, nee-san. It was nothing…" Said Yakumo while turning off the tv and thinking…
'Why did Harima-san's name appeared on the end credits? It's a pity that I didn't record the episode. Maybe by reading the credits at the end I could know why they thanked him… Maybe I can tape the episode when they repeat it…"
While cleaning the dishes Yakumo kept thinking.
'I wonder… What kind of life do you live Harima-san… You take care of animals sacrificing your money and living conditions… You appear in an old church in London and help some people that were kidnapped according to Sarah… You also crash a kid's live event and help stopping some criminals that try to extortion it according to Sou-sempai… And your name appears on the end credits of a show as special thanks… You are a person full of mysteries Harima-san...'
But what had Yakumo wondering the most was something else.
'I wonder... Who is the person that Harima-san loves?… You seem to get along with a lot of beautiful girls but I don't think that you are in a committed relationship with any of them… The way that you declared your feelings in that event was so intense that it couldn't be faked… Sou-sempai continually denied that it was directed to her… And I know that it was not directed to me… I would know it otherwise…'
DING DONG
The doorbell took her out of her thoughts.
"I'll check Yakumo!"
"Very well nee-san…"
"WHAAA!"
It hadn't even pass half a minute when a piercing scream came from the front door.
"Nee-san!" Yakumo ran towards the door fearing for her sister… But she only found her clutching what seemed to be a stack of papers.
"Nee-san?"
"Look! Look Yakumo! It's the script of today's episode of 'The three who were slashed' and it's signed by Mangoku himself!"
Yakumo took a good look at it and she realized that, yes, it was the script for the episode of said show with the signature of Yakushamaru Kouji himself.
"Incredible… But, how?"
"It's a birthday present!" Said Tenma with bright smile. "When I came to check who rang the doorbell I only found this on the entrance. Wrapped on a pretty gift paper."
"Any note on it?" Asked Yakumo… who was beginning to tie ends on her head.
"Only this one."
Yakumo took it and read it out loud.
" 'To Tsukamoto Tenma. From a secret admirer and fellow Mangoku fan who desires to wish her a Happy Birthday.' "
"Isn't it cool Yakumo! I have a secret fan! I Wonder if is from Karasuma himself?"
"Didn't he gave you a present earlier nee-san?"
"Yes, but you know how shy he can get. So he made up being a secret admirer to give me a second present!"
"I wonder…" Yakumo looked at her sister… and took a decision.
"Nee-san… Will you need me for anything tomorrow?"
"Mmm… I don't think so… What? Do you have any plans?"
"I was thinking… Of going to the zoo with Sarah tomorrow…"
"Did you find everything to your liking, Ojou-sama?"
Sawachika Eri turned to her family's faithful butler with a smile.
"Everything is perfect Nakamura. It's just as you had read my mind in how to decorate the house. What did Father and Mother say about it?"
"The masters had said that, since you are the one who will be using this mansion the most, it was you who had the last word."
"I see…"
"May I ask, Ojou-sama, why did you choose today as all days to check the mansion where you'll be living for your high school studies?"
Eri though carefully about that.
'Why now of all days indeed? It's not like I couldn't have done it earlier… or later… I could even have come during the winter vacation. Besides, we are now in the middle of exam season so my trip is kind of rushed…'
"Not a reason really, Nakamura. I guess, I just felt like it."
"Understood Ojou-sama." Said the butler with a respectful bow. "Will you be going back to London tomorrow?"
"Yes, and you'd be coming with me. Unless there is something else that requires your attention."
"Your desires are my main duty Ojou-sama so, if you wish me to accompany you I'll be delighted. Should I reserve a seat on the first flight?"
Eri gave a moment of thought to it.
"Reserve one on the night flight… I think I would like to spend the day at the zoo before I have to leave…"
# 13 … Fin