Roadshow
Chapter 8:
Pearl Necklace
Miss Sawako Yamanaka was very unhappy at the debauchery that took place while she was gone and decided to ask the girls to hit the sack early. There had to be some order, she explained, otherwise it would make a bad impression for the press. Thankfully, nobody caught wind of the antics that went on, but warned that next time, they wouldn't be so lucky.
At around that time, the air conditioner was fixed, allowing the girls to wear their pajamas while sleeping. Azusa Nakano was known for having unusual dreams and weird visions of thing she saw back at home. She tried to tune it out by playing music, but to no avail. Her iPod was out of power, and it was going to take some time for her to find the charger. Everybody else was sleepy and it was ridiculously quiet. Several floors below, men and women with cigarettes and cocktails in their hands were throwing their life savings away or gaining enough for them to leave the casino with more wealth than they could ever imagine. The ringing sounds of the slot machines with their bandit-shaped levers combined with the rolls of dice and the sounds of chips placed on the green velvet were the music of the Palms casino floor.
Day 3 was going to be a busy one for the girls, as they would be scheduled to attend a taping of a round of the World Series of Poker. This way, the band could learn the dynamics of the game as played by professionals from around the world. The interesting thing was that they would be cosplaying all day. Of course, Sawako was going to surprise them the moment they went downstairs to meet her. Sawako was a skillful tactician with a penchant for dressing her best students in the finest of clothes. Doing her research beforehand, she studied the outfits of many famous characters and deducted which of the eight would make a fit. Who was more versatile? Who would be consigned to the generic fetish outfits? Who would get it easy and not be obligated to cosplay for one day in Sin City? Of course, that question was not going to be on Sawako's mind, because everyone was going to be cosplaying as someone. Azusa was going to be Francesca Lucchini, but that idea perished because she had somebody different in mind. Actually, this time, she didn't have anime characters in mind. It was going to be something surprising. Something more intriguing. Something more...real.
Azusa opened her eyes. She looked at herself. She was wearing a track jacket with hood, partially unzipped, over a front-tie top; a grey belt over black shorts, black boots, and she was carrying a large cannon with her one her eyes glowing aflame in blue. She felt her midsection. A scar below her chest, and another on her hip. Two battle wounds, healed by her flame.
"How did I look like this?" she thought. "I look weird. Oh, that's right, I can't speak at all. I can only express myself by using thoughts and actions, but not words." She looked around. It was as if she was on an oversized checkerboard, black and white, with crumbled marble pillars. Azusa chose to walk.
And she was deep in thought. "I need to know what I have to do. Oh, that's right. I have to fight that person. But something is telling me that I can't."
She chose to walk on. And on, and on, and on. Nothing else to do. So she walked, Azusa Nakano did.
Tsumugi opened her eyes and looked at herself. She was wearing an interesting costume. Never mind that she had a musket in her hand. Her hair was curled in twin drills, and she was wearing an outfit similar to that of a waitress at a bar in Munich, Germany. Well, she had a vague photographic memory of what they looked like, with their tight-fitting corsets and all. And her hat, with the fluffy flourishes! If she were a plushie, she would be so huggable. But she had a gun. And she shoots to kill.
Mugi licked her lips. A naughty smile came across her face. "Time for me to go to work, she said. Doing a few flips, she fired at enemies with the grace of a ballerina and the skill of a professional marksman. Her aim was true, and she never missed.
"So much fun," she said to herself with a giggle. "I've never even used a musket in my life, and it looks like I've been using this thing for ages."
When she finished, she did a flip, and a curtsy to a couple of girls in uniform, applauding. "That was awesome!" Sayaka Miki said.
"Mami-chan, you're the best!" Madoka Kaname added.
"Mami-chan?" she thought to herself. Mami Tomoe. That's who she was. She spoke. "Glad you liked that. I try."
Sayaka then noticed something big, mean, and purple coming her way. "Mami, look out!"
Mugi saw a large monster with an insane clown face in her direction. It was ready to eat her head off within seconds. Tears came down her face. This was it for her. "Noooooooooooooo!"
"Noooooooooooooo!" Tsumugi screamed at the top of her lungs before sitting up. She could feel her heart beating fast, and every part of her body was sweating. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and tears were coming out of her eyes as her heavy breathing and sobs startled the others from their sleep. She lied down, visibly exhausted from suffering a nightmare not unlike that of Azusa's on the flight to Los Angeles, and nestled herself in Ritsu's embrace.
"Mugi, what's wrong?" Ritsu Tainaka asked her.
"Are you all right?" Mio Akiyama said.
"Damn, my nap was all sunshine lollipops until Mugi-sempai screamed like crazy," Jun Suzuki groaned. "What is it now?"
Tsumugi was inconsolable. "You guys...I was about to have my head eaten off my body by a crazy purple thing..."
"What?" the others exclaimed.
"It's true, it's true! I don't want to be eaten alive...my life is too short to have these types of things happen to me at all...Ricchan...it's too scary…"
"It's all right, it's all right," Ritsu said, hugging Mugi as if she was her daughter.
"You know, we were at the bookstore last week," Mio said, "and I was reading this light novel about a girl that became what they called a Puella Magi, and she ended up facing the same fate Mugi was hinting at. It was pretty scary to read that I put the book away and hid in a corner."
"I remember that moment, Mio. I never expected anything less of you."
"So what do we do now?" Jun wondered, disappointed that her beauty sleep got cruelly interrupted.
"Well," Ritsu said, "we'll just wait for Mugi to finally fall asleep and think of something else to dream about...huh?" No sooner had she said that when Ritsu found Tsumugi embracing her. The tears were still falling, but she was sleeping, and to Ritsu's surprise, she was actually smiling.
"Ritsu's warm skin makes me happy," Mugi gurgled with a giggle.
"Guys," Ritsu said to Mio and Jun, "we should be okay. Good night."
"Good night," the two of them said before they all returned to their respective sandman visits.
Azusa continued to walk down a long path, which led to a chapel inside a fortress. A walk turned into an all-around run as she dashed with the speed of a cheetah. "I'm doing this for everyone I love," she thought. "And for her." At long last, she met her adversary: a woman with green eyes; a long flowing gown; horns made from human vertebrae; and two floating skulls keeping watch behind. She held a scythe, and she meant business. She sort of resembled Yui Hirasawa, but she was not the Yui she knew. She was a totally different person. An evil being without a soul.
Azusa extended a hand. "I do not want to fight you," she thought. "I am here to save you."
Suddenly, she was engaged in a battle between the adversary and her skulls. Soon after, she fell deeper into the fortress, her adversary pursuing her. Azusa was able to destroy the skulls and pursued her foe into another part of the fortress, where she found herself chained in spite of destroying the scythe.
The Las Vegas Strip during the early morning hours was full of lights, but only a few shows were going on. Most engagements had already wrapped up for the night, and it was just the nightclubs that were feeling the vibe. There were some cars going down Las Vegas Boulevard South, but it wasn't like Friday or Saturday, where the traffic was heavy even during the early morning. On those days, Las Vegas really shined, with the masses of young and old adults drinking in the glory of being on the Strip.
Luxor with its shining pyramid pinnacle. The Mirage with its erupting volcano, spewing water illuminated to simulate lava. Scaled-down versions of Camelot and Manhattan at both Excalibur and New York New York. Paris Las Vegas, with its miniature Eiffel Tower. The oasis setting of Mandalay Bay, and the gondolas that traveled the man-made waterways of the Venetian. These were just some of the attractions that differentiated Las Vegas from other resort cities, aside from its casinos and sportsbooks.
With summer beating down on the Las Vegas Valley, the dayclub scene would be kicking into high gear in just hours. Hundreds of young adults with cash to spend and virginities to sacrifice would be at the ready to pay the cover and dive into the wonders and pleasures of Sin City hedonism. It was their urge, the desire, their drive. For the most part, the Hokago Tea Time entourage was oblivious to most of the dynamics behind all this, but that was a different story.
Las Vegas was like New York City. It never slept. It kept on going. Sleep was never part of the unwritten rules that guided Las Vegas for more than a century. If a city like Las Vegas were to sleep for even a second, it would fade into oblivion. In Las Vegas, there was always something to do. One could gamble at the casino. One could raise a toast to gluttony at the buffets. One could have a smoke, drink a few shots, and sleep with someone they barely know AND get away with it. That was Las Vegas as imagined then, and that was Las Vegas as imagined now. The interesting thing was that the Strip was technically not part of the City of Las Vegas. It actually was part of an unincorporated part of Clark County known as Paradise. Nonetheless, in spite of no incorporation to speak of, it was not treated any differently than the actual city itself. Paradise wasn't part of the city by name, but in reality it was.
Azusa was bound by the chains of her captor. She looked up, the blue flame still burning, and saw her adversary smiling, ready to finally break her will for all eternity. Azusa wanted none of that. With newfound strength coming from the desire to help her foe seek the truth to everything that went on, she broke free of the chains and approached her. The adversary tried to send another chain her way, but Azusa was able to brush this aside and embrace her opponent. With her strength dwindling, Azusa's adversary faded into thin air, leaving that of her sempai, Yui, who hugged her back.
"I've got you back," Azusa thought. She heard an explosion, and as she carried Yui, who seemed to be a light load for someone so into desserts and tea, Azusa dashed into the light, and into the abode that was reality.
"Yui," Azusa giggled, hugging Yui as if she was a dakimakura, "you're so heavy, but I can still carry you into the night. And you smell so amazing."
"Eh? What is my Azunyan saying? I'm amazing? Th...Thank you! And she is hugging me...so warm and soft..." Yui didn't mind sharing her body heat with Azusa.
"Azusa-chan, people are trying to sleep," Ui Hirasawa groaned as she covered herself with the comforter.
"Nobody gets in the way of my Yui," Azusa moaned, her eyes still closed, the embrace a little tighter. "I will save you..."
Nodoka Manabe was oblivious to what was going on. For a Student Council President...when she was in off mode, she was in off mode.
6:30 a.m. The girls were still resting. But Sawako was up. After taking a bath and putting on a business suit, she went to the refrigerator to drink some iced green tea while looking at the schedule of events for the girls. In a few hours, the girls would be donning some cosplay outfits from a number of oversized suitcases she brought on the trip. There was enough for 100 people, but the girls could pick whatever they want.
"Heh, I can't wait to have the girls check out the handmade apparel they will be wearing," Sawako said to herself. "In my second life, I was a fashion designer/tailor, and I made six figures per outfit. Good money, good investments, good everything. Oh, how I love my job!"
As she waited for the girls to finally wake up, Sawako tuned in to CNN to watch some random news headlines from around the world. "Hmmm, so Belgium is taking over the Council of the European Union, huh? An interesting development. Thanks, CNN." A few minutes later, she flipped some channels before settling on a rugby match. "Hey, it's the Sakuras. Come on Japan. Crush the USA!" Again, after a few minutes, she lost interest and chose to watch some random action from the FIFA World Cup. She kind of felt for the USA. They went on to lose in extra time to Ghana, of all countries.
"If I see anybody in a Ghana uniform I will send them flying to their death," Sawako said, snacking on some chips while drinking another bottle of iced green tea.
"Just what type of dream were you dreaming about?" Ui said as she, Azusa, Yui and Nodoka were waking up and stretching. They could see the lights of the Strip, which would be turned off, save for the video marquees.
"You won't believe this. I dreamed I was Black Rock Shooter and Yui was Dead Master, Mio," Azusa said.
"So you're not calling us sempai anymore, huh?" Yui asked her.
"It's better this way. Well Yui here told me not to call you sempai anymore, right, Yui?"
"Yep!" she replied, grinning. "And we believe you. We always do. But tell me...who is Black Rock Shooter?"
"Have you heard of this music program called Vocaloid?" Nodoka asked her.
"I think...I have..."
"Do you know who Miku Hatsune is?"
"Oh, it's that girl with the green twin tails and the leek, right?"
"Yeah, exactly. Anyway, she sang this one song called 'Black Rock Shooter,' and this was dedicated to a girl that was imagined by an artist named Huke."
Yui tilted her head to the side. "Who?"
"Oh, never mind. As if you would even know these types of things, child!"
"Morning all," Tsumugi said, walking in with a yawn.
"And how was Mugi-chan's sleep?" Yui asked.
"Nightmare," she shuddered. "I dreamed I got eaten up."
"Oooof," Ui said. "Not good."
"Ehhhh? Why would Mugi-chan be eaten up?" Yui asked.
"I have no idea! I just dreamed that I was! It sucks!"
At that moment, Azusa walked over and embraced Mugi, nibbling at her ear a little. "You're too cute to be eaten up by a-ny-bo-dy," she whispered lewdly.
"But why are you nibbling at my ear?"
"Peace of mind."
"It comes with every piece of Azunyan," Yui added.
"That's so prudential," Nodoka muttered.
"Because it is?" Ui replied, her head tilted.
She threw her hands in the air in disgust. "Ah, whatever! Guys, let's not waste our time with in-jokes. Let's hit the showers. I think we're in need of doing some work right about now!" The others nodded.
It took the group about 30 minutes to get showered and dressed. When the eight of them headed downstairs to Miss Sawako's room, their hearts sank. In front of the teacher was an assortment of outfits. "Miss Sawako, what the hell is this?" Azusa cried, visibly demoralized.
"You all are going to be wearing my special cosplay outfits today."
"All friggin day?" they cried.
"You're crazy," Mio deadpanned.
"Sawa-chan, you're being a bit mean here," Ritsu rebutted. "We don't wanna wear what you want us to wear! Fucking pervert!"
"Ehhhh, but Ricchan, these outfits allow you to move freer in conditions like this. I specially chose them to encourage better air circulation, and I made them with your favorite real-life characters in mind. This is the only day in which the public can take photos with you and access you. On top of that, you get to see the Strip in its entirety. And we even get to visit the circus...your favorite, right, Yui-chan?"
"Circus? Really?" Yui's fists were pumped. "Everyone, if we're going to check out the Strip, we just have to do what Sawa-chan says and wear these outfits."
"Onee-chan is right!" Ui said, fists similarly pumped. "I want to see the circus too!"
"You can always suffer through go-kart lessons in outfits that will leave you sweating in the heat," Sawako added with a shrug.
"I'm not in a karting mood, by the way," said Nodoka, her glasses frosted.
"Miss Sawako, is that a rugby outfit you are wearing?" Jun asked.
She flashed a victory sign, striking a pose. "Ohohohoho, I am wearing an authentic Japan women's national rugby team jersey and shorts. Teehee."
"But aren't the Kazakhs the better women's rugby team in Asia?" Tsumugi asked her. "Or the Chinese in rugby sevens?"
At that moment, Sawako fell to her knees, heartbroken, looking at the girls in desperation. "It doesn't matter if they are not good, what matters is that I am a pure-hearted Japanese woman! A Yamato Nadeshiko with feelings! I will die wearing my colors for my country! Japan is the only country for me! The only one!"
"If that's the case," Mio asked her, "then why are we eating the food here?"
Sawako lay sprawled on the floor, looking like she was primed to be violated in the cruelest of fashions. "Oh Lord, please kill me now..."
Mio and Ritsu pushed Sawako out of the room. "Get out, teacher. We're changing." As Mio closed the door, Sawako was left to pout for the longest time as she waited.
"And you know what's even more stupid about this," Ritsu said to them.
"What's that, Ricchan?" Yui asked.
"They are all soccer uniforms with matching skirts, and all have the number 10 on them."
"The number 10?" they all exclaimed, stupefied.
"That's awesome!" Jun exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
"Huh?" Ritsu was confounded.
"The number 10, legend has it, is worn by the best players on the team, the strikers!"
"Ooooh!" Yui said. "Can I pick first? Please?"
"Go right ahead," the others deadpanned.
"Heheh!" It didn't take long before she found a red Manchester United jersey with a white collar and a matching white miniskirt with black accents and the seal. She took her shirt and jeans off and put on the outfit, doing a little shake of her tush to see if she would move without any problems. The length of her skirt was short enough to suggest that she was barely there. Actually, the skirt was short enough that it resembled a microskirt with the colors of the shorts of Manchester United.
"Whoa, you actually look sexy in that, Yui!" Azusa said gleefully as Yui continued to pose provocatively in her new digs.
"I knew she was going to pick Manchester United," Ritsu said. "She likes the color red."
"Plus, Wayne Rooney is awesome, Ricchan," Yui said, shaking her ass in front of her.
"I'm not in the mood for a nosebleed this morning. Please stop."
"Well, it's my turn to choose an outfit," Mio said, rummaging through the pile. "This looks cute."
"Inter Milan?" Ritsu's jaw dropped. "Why?"
"Because," she whispered as she put on her shirt and matching hotpants, "it looks cute..."
"Black and blue...looks cute to you...creepy..."
"Ehhhh? Well then, Ritsu, how about you choose something if you feel mine's is not good enough!" she pouted, arms crossed.
"I will." A few minutes later, the mood was silent. "Huh? What did I do? Tell me."
"Ricchan," Yui asked her, "what team did you just wear? It looks a G with an S and a 04 on it...but I don't know who they are."
"Ohoh! That's because the team I am wearing is Schalke 04."
"Who?"
"Schalke 04. Or, as the Europeans and Germans pronounce the name, Schalke No Fear! NO FEAR! I am fearless! I am a brave woman!"
"You are an idiot," Mio deadpanned.
"I heard that!"
"Well, it's time for me to choose a uniform," Tsumugi said. She hummed as she picked one with orange and black vertical stripes to go with a black miniskirt. "This should do it."
"What's that team?" Ritsu asked her.
"Shakhtar Donetsk. They're from the Ukraine."
"Wakkusutappu?" Yui asked, reading the logo.
"No," said Mugi. "It says 'Shakhtar' in Ukrainian. Different style of writing."
"Oh. Weird. I don't know of any club that would be tapping on wax in between matches. Maybe they like to clean their ears as a hobby!"
"Maybe your ears need to be boxed, Yui," Ritsu deadpanned.
"Don't rape me, please! Ricchan!"
"She's getting lewd thoughts again, Ritsu," Mio warned her. "Danger, better stop..."
"I know."
"I don't know which team I am less familiar with," Azusa said, a palm to her forehead. "It's either Mugi's or Ritsu's."
"Hey Azunyan, how about you make a choice?" Yui asked, biting a finger.
"Mou, I was about to! So impatient..." She marched over to the stack of uniforms and picked an all-white kit. "I'm going with this one."
"Real Madrid, huh?" Mio said, stroking her chin.
"Yep."
"Oh, and Ritsu, this one doesn't have a 10. It has a 4."
"Heh, I stand corrected," she replied.
"I now have the power of Sergio Ramos," Azusa whispered.
"Who?" Yui asked.
"Oh don't tell me you don't know Sergio Ramos! He's one of the best defenders in the game! And I love him..." she said, eyes sparkling as she clasped her hands and looked upward.
"Do you still love me, Azunyan?"
"Of course I do, my dear."
A kiss. "Thank you."
"Clear a path, peoples, I am going to make a choice!" Jun exclaimed, casting off her clothes and putting on new ones in quick succession. "Here's mine's."
"FC Barcelona, huh?" Mio asked her.
"Lionel Messi fan, right here. And if I undo my twintails and part my bangs to my left...I have his hairstyle! See?"
"Damn, you really look like him."
"He's a bit taller, though. Do you think I should keep this hairstyle?"
"Please?" they all asked.
"Great."
"I'll go next," Ui said.
"Ooooh! Ui, what club are you gonna choose?" Yui asked her, anxious.
"I'll go with...this." She picked a blue jersey with red and white accents that exposed her navel, and a blue skirt with matching belt, white accents and red edges.
"Ui, why did you pick Chelsea?"
She tied her hair back with a matching blue and white ribbon "Onee-chan, I wanted to pick one of your rival clubs because it's all in the name of friendly competition."
Yui pouted. "I guess it looks good on you."
"Are you kidding me? It looks fabulous, Ui!" Azusa said. "So fabulous, it's almost unreal!"
"Th...Thank you."
"So this means I have to choose one, huh?"
Yui said. "Yep, it's all yours, Nodoka-chan!"
"All right. I don't like this sweatshirt and khaki combination I have on, either." After a few minutes, she put on a white jersey with blue diagonal accents and a blue miniskirt with white diagonal accents.
"What's that?" Ritsu asked Nodoka.
"Tottenham Hotspur. I have some online friends who go to the matches at White Hart Lane and I casually follow them, even though I prefer to take a look at the teams in the like Vegalta."
"Cool, I guess that means we're ready to go out," said Tsumugi to the crew.
"Let's go ahead and open the door," Mio said, walking over and opening the door. "Miss Sawako, you can come in."
"Thank you," she sniffled. Then she opened her eyes. Eight different girls, representing eight different clubs. "Oh my...goodness...you all look like football angels!"
"European football angels, Sawa-chan," Ritsu corrected her.
"So you chose not to check out the outfits from the South American teams like Boca Juniors or River Plate, huh?" Sawako frowned. "Those two are awesome clubs as well..."
"But Europe pays better, Sawa-chan," Yui said through pursed lips.
"And the best players in the world always play in Europe," Ritsu added, also through pursed lips.
"Oh, is that so? Well then, ladies, in that case, I will go ahead and choose an outfit," she said, taking off her clothes, causing the others to blush at the sight of her underwear.
"Miss Sawako boobs are...huge," Tsumugi whispered, mesmerized by the bust size that put hers to shame.
"Here we go," Sawako replied, donning a red jersey with blue and gold accents, as well as a blue skirt with gold stripes. The number: 6.
"You chose Spain?" Ritsu said, dumfounded. "But I thought you were going to choose Japan."
"I think Spain will win the FIFA World Cup that is going on right now. I have a hunch. And the number 6 is that of Andres Iniesta, whom I think will bring home the bacon for La Roja."
"Aren't Japan still alive in the tournament, Miss Sawako?" Azusa asked her.
"Yeah, but they won't get past Paraguay. Spain should do all right, starting with Portugal."
"How do you know these types of things?" Nodoka wondered, looking up in thought.
"It's a secret."
Ritsu crossed her arms. "Go figure...I guess we have no choice but to trust you, then."
"Since we know what to wear, let's go ahead and visit the Strip!"
"Yeah!" they all said with their fists raised in the air. It was go time.
"I thought we were going to wear some anime cosplay outfits," Azusa said as they took the elevator down.
"You thought, huh, Azunyan?" Yui asked, stroking her ladyfriend's chin.
"I was going to be Black Rock Shooter and Mugi was going to be Mami Tomoe with her goofy-looking hat and twin drill hair. Whew!"
"I like this outfit I'm wearing," Yui said. "It's comfortable for me to move around in, and the skirt is so short; it's like I'm not wearing anything at all!"
"So you can't even feel the white side-ties that I can clearly see under there?" Ritsu deadpanned to her.
Yui her finger, then smirked. "Ec-chi."
"Hey, I can't help it Yui, with you acting like God's sinful gift to Red Devil fans everywhere in that thing!"
Yui's eyes were half-lidded as she crept in closer. "That's because I am...Ricchan."
Ritsu hid behind Mio in fear. "Aaaaah, oh God help! Mio! Yui is...Yui is...!"
"So much for you being fearless, idiot," Mio replied behind her shoulder.
"Onee-chan, save your energy for later," Ui said.
"Eheheheheheh..."
"Look out, Las Vegas Strip," Jun grinned, "here comes HTT...football style."
"So the dream continues," Azusa said. "But I'm not dreaming anymore. This is too good to be a dream!"
Nodoka decided to read a book on effective tifosi methods. Tsumugi smile ran her fingers up and down the smooth, silky fabric of her Shakhtar Donetsk outfit. It was snugly fit, breathable, and it accentuated her curves. A nice design.
As for Sawako, she stroked her chin, lost in her thoughts. It was clear that based on what was going on now, it was going to be another day the girls of Hokago Tea Time would never forget.
END CHAPTER 8