Chapter 65 – Tour de Paris (Part 2)
Mugi's POV
After the rest of the class had finished their showers, the group tours around Paris had finally begun. Everyone was split into groups of 10 and given one tour guide to lead them all.
The group I was in consisted of us five bandmates, Nodoka-chan, Himeko-chan, Mika-chan, Yoko-chan, and Eri-chan (who wouldn't stop begging Mika-chan to let her tag along). And our tour guide was none other than…
"Alright, Sakuragaoka Girls! Our grand tour of Paris, France begins NOW! And with me, Danielle Trézel, as your tour guide, I'll make sure it'll be celui que vous tous n'oublierez jamais!"
"One we will never forget." I translated to the others.
"What she said!"
"You sure are excited about this, Danielle." Miharu said. "A lot more than the actual foreigners are."
"Am I? Huh…maybe I am. I'm just happy to have you back, Miharu. Even if it's only for a week."
"I can relate to that. Feels so great to be home…"
"Plus…with all these people from a completely different country here, I can use this opportunity to work on my language skills."
"Language skills? What do you mean by that?" Mio-chan asked.
"Oh, right. You guys wouldn't know. I plan on being an international web blogger once I graduate. Travel around the world and showcase all of the cultures and lifestyles that make us unique from each other. And share them all to my peers here in France and anyone else who's just as curious of the world as I am."
"Wow…that's a pretty grand career, Danielle."
"Inspiring, too." Himeko-chan added. "I'm sure a lot of people will gain the same passion for world-travel once they see you talking about it."
"I sure hope so. But for now, I'm at a bit of a hurdle."
"What kind of hurdle?"
"Well, aside from expenses…which is honestly a bigger hurdle than this one…I definitely need to learn the languages of these other countries. Otherwise, I'll be looking like a nutcase once I actually get to that certain country, ya know?"
"Yeah, that's true…"
"Well, if that's the case, then why don't you start with Japanese?" Ricchan suggested. "You've got a whole bunch of professionals on the subject here."
"Plus, Miharu-chan's learning it, too." Yui-chan added. "She still sucks at it…but it's something."
"Wow…thanks for the confidence boost, Yui." Miharu retorted with an exasperated look and tone.
"Japanese, huh?" Danielle thought for a moment. "I guess it wouldn't be that bad of a starting place. It's the only foreign country that I know of thanks to Miharu moving there."
"Whenever you're ready to start, Danielle, I'll be happy to teach you." Nodoka-chan said. "I already taught Miharu a few Japanese."
"Again, she still sucks at it. But it's something." Yui added.
"Did that REALLY need to be repeated?!" Miharu asked. Now completely agitated for being called out for her semi-lack of Japanese.
While everyone else was in-deep with this conversation about Danielle's dream career, I was busy on my own. Taking multiple pictures with the Dream Camera that my dreamy self had given to me.
I've already taken so many…what's the limit on this thing? It's a digital camera, sure…but even something manifested in the afterlife has got to have its limits…
"Kotobuki-san."
"Huh? Oh…what's wrong, Yoko-chan?" I asked the green-haired girl.
"Nothing's wrong. I was just hoping you could take a picture of me. I would love to show my family what Paris is like."
"Oh…sure. I don't mind taking a picture."
"Great! Get me over here! I want a distant view of the Eiffel Tower in the background!"
Yoko-chan got within the frame and I had gotten her request of having the Eiffel Tower in the background to work out.
As I took the picture, though…a thought came into mind.
Wait…if I take a picture of her with this camera, does that mean that a Dreamy Yoko-chan is going to form in the Dream World?
…
Well…I guess that outcome wouldn't be too bad…
"Okay. Here you go, Yoko-chan." I said while showing her the photo.
"Woah…look at the quality! This is the clearest photo I've ever seen! You've got a pretty good camera there, Kotobuki-san."
"Really now?" I then took another look at the camera. "Well…it's the best out there. Apparently."
And by "out there" I mean a completely different world…
"Hey, guys! Try to stick with the group!" Danielle called out to us. "It'll be REAL dangerous for foreigners to get lost around here!"
"Coming!" We both replied as we rushed to catch up with the group.
About 30 minutes later, we arrived at the first stop of our tour according to Danielle.
"Here we are! Our first destination!" She said after we had all gotten off of the bus that brought us here. "Known as "the most beautiful avenue in the world", this is the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Or just simply in English as "Elysian Fields"."
"Woah…" Nearly everyone was impressed with the size of this place. And I wholeheartedly agree with them. The place was extremely huge. The streets were littered with people and cars of a different country, trees lined up to the brim on the sidewalk we were walking on, and in the distance, we could see the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile. Another famous landmark of Paris.
Getting a picture of that would definitely help restore Akiyo's Dream World!
"Geez…I haven't been down this avenue in a REALLY long time." Miharu said. "It's still just as crowded as I remembered it being."
"Would you say that it's more crowded than Shibuya?" Himeko-chan asked?"
"That place where we met Kagami and Kirin, right?" Miharu thought for a moment. "I'm not really sure. I mean, yeah…that Shibuya place was big. But apparently, I was only in one section of it. As for the Champs-Élysées…I've explored this place front and back a dozen times. So, I know how big this area is."
"I see…well, maybe when we return to Japan, we can fully explore Shibuya and all of its districts. Maybe then, you'll know which is bigger."
"H-Himeko, that sounds like hell…" Miharu gained a sweatdrop.
"This avenue's greatly known for its exquisite theaters, fancy cafés, and luxury shops." Danielle said. "The theaters don't open until nighttime…but you guys can still check out the shops and cafés. As long as you have this country's currency, I mean."
"Ah, don't worry. We got that taken care of." Ricchan said. "Miharu and an underclassman of ours helps us convert our Yen to…whatever the hell this CFP Franc is."
"It was total hell…" Miharu said. "…especially since a lot of you guys had a lot of money with you. Mika, why do you carry ¥100,000 with you?"
(About $740)
"W-Well…most of it's not mine." Mika-chan said. "I carry my little sister's money with me because she would often lose it all while making these questionable bets at school."
"Questionable bets?" Nodoka-chan asked.
"L-Like that one…w-with the…cl…cl-clitoris measuring." Mika-chan then started blushing over having to bring that up again.
"I-I see…" And then the rest of us followed suit.
"So, Hikari's still making THOSE kinds of bets, huh?" Himeko-chan asked with a huge sweatdrop.
"Good to know that her curiosity is as grand as always…" Yoko-chan said with a sweatdrop of her own.
"Miharu, what the hell goes on in that second home of yours?" Danielle asked her with a disturbed look.
"I would say it's a Japanese thing…but I'm pretty damn sure not a single person does that. Ever."
She's right. Nobody does that. Hell, I don't even think it's possible…
"A-Anyway…" Danielle continued. "…if you guys want to check out the cafés or buy some souvenirs, you're welcomed to do so. Just be back here in an hour so we can head on over to our next destination."
"Alright!" Eri-chan cheered. "Let's go buy a boatload of stuff, Mika! You have more than enough to pay for me, right?!"
"I'm not buying you anything, damnit!" Mika-chan yelled as she chased after her volleyball teammate.
As everyone else went off to do their own thing for the next hour, I continued to take pictures of the surrounding area. I honestly lost count of how many I've taken so far. But my dreamy self did say to take as many as possible. So, at least I don't have to feel bad in that regard.
Still, though…when is enough going to be enough?
"You've been taking pictures since we got here, Mugi." Ricchan said to me. "You into photograph or something?"
"Huh? Oh…yeah, I guess. I'm also doing this so that I could have something to show Sumire and Mikuru-chan. They were pretty bummed about not being able to come, too."
"I see…well, if that's the case, let's go get some souvenirs for them. It'll probably mean more than a bunch of pictures."
"True, but…"
"Plus…I need to get some of my own. When I told my family I was going to Paris, they bombarded me with requests to bring them souvenirs. So, that's on my to-do list."
"I see. I didn't think your family was all that interested in foreign countries, Ricchan."
"It caught me by surprise, too. But what sucks about it is that apparently I didn't get much money when my Yen was converted. I'm nearly broke."
"How much did you have?"
"Like…¥995."
(About $7)
"To convert that to CFP Franc…yeah, that's basically nothing." Miharu said.
"Ricchan, didn't you make a lot of money from that summer job you had?" I asked. "What did you spend it on?"
"Tch!" Ricchan gained a slight blush on her face. "D-Definitely not on any merch relating to this magical girl anime that I got hooked on recently! If that's what you're thinking!"
"Uh…I wasn't."
"W-Well, good! Cause it's not that!"
"Okay…?"
Didn't think Ricchan was into that kind of stuff…
"I think I remember there being a store around here that sells bracelets and stuff for real cheap." Miharu said. "As to where it is exactly…I have no idea."
"You're talking about THAT store, right?" Danielle asked. "Yeah…it's been a while since I've been down here, honestly. My memory of its location isn't that great, either."
"Aw, what? So, should I just walk around and look for it?" Ricchan asked.
"Don't do that. That's risky as hell." Danielle said. "Not only do we not have enough time for that but the recent spike in sexual harassment incidents makes women walking by themselves way too dangerous."
"S-Sexual harassment incidents?" Ricchan and I grew looks of pure shock.
"Oh, yeah…I remember you telling me about that." Miharu said. "Of how some areas have seen a random spike in claims of sexual harassment and the police are overwhelmed with trying to stop them all."
"Well, goddamn!" Ricchan yelled in disgust. "Now, I'm worried about even being out here!"
"Shouldn't we warn the others and possibly rethink this whole tour?" I asked.
"Well, if that's what you want…"
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Pauvre petite Danielle. Être encore trop mou."
"What?" Danielle said in a slightly pissed tone once we heard a new voice interrupt her.
"Oh boy…I know that voice." Miharu said with a sweatdrop.
We all turned to see a boy with short blonde hair leaning against a nearby streetlamp. He wore some kind of school uniform, a fedora on his head, and even had a recently-picked rose in his mouth.
If this was his way of looking cool, he missed the mark completely.
"Tu es prêt à laisser ces petites allégations de harcèlement sexuel gâcher le temps de ces filles ici à Paris? Je pensais que tu étais plus entêté que ça." The boy then step forward towards Ricchan and I, removed the fedora from his head, and handed out the rose from his mouth. "Si vous le souhaitez mesdames, je serai plus qu'heureux de vous guider. Je vous protégerai des horreurs de ces harceleurs."
"Non merci, pitoyable connard." I replied. Basically calling him a douchebag.
"Ha! Sick burn, Mugi!" Miharu yelled in laughter.
"Ugh! Damnit! She already taught you French?!" The boy asked me in English.
"I learned it myself. But even then, I didn't need it to see how much of douchebag you were acting just now."
"*agitated groan* You really are Miharu's sister. Just as blunt as her."
Still not sure if that's really a good thing…
"W-Wait, a minute! Hold on! Who is this guy?" Ricchan asked as she was completely lost in this conversation.
"His name's Éliott Riqueti. Another friend of mine." Miharu said. "He was basically hitting on you and Mugi by offering to protect you from these sexual harassers roaming around. But failed completely when Mugi called out his douchebag aura."
"I see…I guess…"
"Quit calling me a douchebag!" Éliott yelled. "Other guys in our class do the exact same thing! Why do I only get the insult?!"
"I don't know. You just kinda have that douchebag personality to you. Like if Elvis and Waluigi were fused together and you came out as a bad reaction. You're not ugly, though."
"*sigh* It's good to have to back, Miharu…" Éliott said with a sweatdrop.
"So, like…what are you doing here, Éliott?" Danielle asked. "Did you really skip school just so you can have a chance to score some chat étrangère chat?"
Really? Foreign puss-puss? I gained a huge mental sweatdrop.
"It wasn't my MAIN goal. I wanted to see Miharu too, you know. Can't believe you took this job without telling us."
"It was last-minute. Miharu's dad was supposed to do it but got caught up in work. And besides…based on how you were just hitting on Miharu's own sister, you would've been a terrible tour guide."
"Hmph. Please…I'm sure I could get at least one on them falling for me."
"Well, a lot of the girls in our ALL-GIRLS school are into each other." I said. "So, your chances were pretty slim before you even got here."
"W-Wait…what?" Éliott looked at me in total shock.
"It's a thing, apparently." Miharu said.
"Ugh. Man, this blows…" Éliott then gained a look of disappointment. Realizing that his chances of scoring some "chat étrangère chat" were crushed for the time being.
Although…even though I just met him, I know he's gonna try again later…
"So, like…do you really know where this store is? Or was that just an excuse to hit on me?" Ricchan asked.
"Of course, I know where it is. I'm not that desperate to hook up with a girl."
"Oh, really?" Danielle asked in a sarcastic tone. "Then where is it, oh great French Playboy?"
Éliott chuckled to himself for a bit before looking at us all with a cocky-looking grin on his face.
"Look behind you."
"Huh?"
That was when we all turned around to see a store displaying all sorts of cheap jewelry for the equivalent price of those gacha capsules you mostly find in Akihabara.
And it made both Miharu and Danielle grow huge pale looks on their faces.
"Th…Th-This is the place."
"What?" Ricchan and I asked Danielle.
"Th-This is the place. The store you were looking for, Ritsu."
"What?!"
"Magnifique Bijoux Etoile…yep, this is the place." Miharu said.
"You're kidding…so, we were standing in front of it this whole time?!" Ricchan asked in frustration.
"S-Sorry, Ritsu. I honestly thought it was somewhere else…"
"Guess I'm more than just a cocky douchebag, huh? Hahahahaha!"
"Ne le pousse pas, putain de malin!" Miharu retorted towards Éliott."
"*sigh* Whatever. I just hope I can get something with the little money I have." Ricchan said as she made her way inside.
"I guess I could use this time to get Sumire and Mikuru-chan some souvenirs." I said. "Hopefully it'll be good enough for them to like."
As I made my way into the store, one thing was still on my mind. Obviously, the pictures I had to take in order to restore Akiyo's Dream World. I've taken a lot…yet I still needed a lot more for this to work.
…
Plus…I still need to tell Miharu what's going on.
…
*sigh* I gotta do it now. Or else I'll never find the time to do it later…
Author's Note: The tour of Paris finally begins! And as much as Mugi wants to enjoy it with her friends and classmates, the task of taking pictures to restore Dream World Paris is still top priority in her mind.
Now if only she can tell Miharu what's going on…
So, yeah…this was originally supposed to be one BIG chapter. But with how few chances I'm getting to write and these gaps between chapters getting bigger, I had to split it into now 3 parts. But hey, it means more stuff for you guys to read.
Thanks for reading. Later.