Another one of those situations where I kind of stretched the definition of the prompt. I went with … like, east coast. Which, I don't live there, and I've never been there, so I had to get a bit vague and philosophical about it. I still think it stands on its own.
And really, that's all I'm aiming for when I do things like this.
.
"New York."
Noa grunted, and his brow furrowed in something like disgust. "Too loud. Too busy. Like, for no reason. The taxis are the best part of the whole damn experience, and that's because there's no way to tell if you're going to make it to your destination with all your bones in the right places. It adds a bit of spice to the whole thing."
Ryo frowned. "That's . . . disappointing."
"I will admit," Noa said, "there is something sacred about the Statue of Liberty. Just, seeing a work of art that big. I tried to make something like that, back in my old . . . home? Sure. We'll call it that. I was never really able to replicate it to my satisfaction. Something about actually building something like that, I think it adds to the process. And I think it adds to the final product."
Ryo, an amateur sculptor in his own right, nodded sagely. "What about the food?" he asked.
"I mean, the food's great," Noa said with a shrug. "What am I gonna say? There's no way to avoid that part. When people call the United States a melting pot, they're thinking of New York City. That many cultures merging together? Obviously, the food is going to be excellent." He paused. "That said, speaking as someone who's experienced both. Those high-end restaurants? You know, the ones where there aren't prices on the menu. If you have to ask, you can't afford it." Ryo nodded. "They got nothing on the street vendors. It's not even close. It's a joke. You want real food? You want good food? You find some random dude in a faded parka, pushing a cart around. You listen to what the other people are ordering. You get that."
Ryo hummed. "There's wisdom in that," he said. "I think a lot of high society is just people gaslighting themselves into liking things because they think it's important to be seen liking them."
"Absolutely."
"I've never understood that." Ryo held out his hands, like he was hoping for Noa to hand him the answer. "I've always thought that . . . having that kind of money would mean doing whatever you like. You know, people always say that. But isn't the truth right there? Whatever you like. As in, if you don't like it, don't do it. Isn't that the whole point?"
"You'd think." Noa ran a hand through his hair. "Aniki gets that. He definitely taught Mokuba. Me, I'm starting to get it. It's one of those things I wish Chichiue had had less control over. He was always the one who picked where we went out to eat, where we went sightseeing. What shows we saw, what things we did. It was always about optics with him. He was always in control, and what he wanted to control was our family's image. I think Hahaue would have given me more of a rounded education if she'd been given the choice. But . . . well, Chichiue never was one to give the reins over to other people. So now I have to learn things all over again."
"There's something to that, though," Ryo said. "Learning things over again. You're older now. You understand things better. You're better able to understand, and contextualize, what you're learning. You're in a better space to absorb it. It's not good that you've had to start over as an adult but I do think there are advantages."
Noa raised an eyebrow. "You're speaking from experience right now, aren't you?"
Ryo looked Noa dead in the eye and didn't say anything else.