*FARM - FUEFUKI - YAMANASHI PREFECTURE*
EMMA: "My, this is lovely weather!"
UMI: "Indeed! Nothing but clear blue skies for our relaxation tournament, as it should be."
AKI: "Decisions, decisions... What should we go see first?"
UMI: "Here is where I direct you to this travel guide! By referencing this, we will be able to visit every animal here, even with such limited time at our disposal."
EMMA: "Oooh, that's amazing!"
AKI: "Lemme see that."
11:28, guinea pigs
11:35, alpacas
11:42, goats
AKI: "...Wait, the schedule's THAT precise?!"
And does that say a-a-alpacas?!
UMI: "Why, of course. If we fall even a moment behind, it'll become nearly impossible to catch up. So we must hurry!"
EMMA: "Umi, don't you think it might be better if we were a little more laid-back about all of this?"
UMI: "Would it? I made sure to allow for some time at each and every animal...
Could it be that this guide...may actually prevent us from relaxing?"
AKI: "Well... Yeah... Since it's a relaxation tournament, it's probably fine to keep things less scheduled."
UMI: "I see. Then we'll spend our time without planning it out.
It's clear that I must learn more about how to take things easy. Emma, please spend the day teaching me everything you know about relaxation!"
EMMA: "Gladly! Okay, today I'll show you how a relaxation tournament is done!"
AKI: "So, since it's supposed to be a relaxation tournament, key word 'Relaxation', why don't we start by getting some ice cream and wandering around while we eat?"
UMI: "Whaaat?! Are you sure we should be taking it so easy right away?!"
EMMA: "Hee hee. Of course it is!"
AKI: "You...really don't know how this works, do you?"
UMI: "Um..."
AKI: "Tell you what, I'll even buy you girls your ice cream. How do you like it? Cone or spoon?"
EMMA: "I'll take a cone!"
UMI: "Eating with a spoon sounds less messy."
AKI: "Alright! Let's go get it."
EMMA: "Um, could I stay here for a moment? I want to look at the list of animals they have here. I'll take vanilla."
AKI: "No problem, vanilla is always great. Are you coming, Umi?"
UMI: "Yes."
Umi and I went to buy the ice cream, leaving Emma to her own devices.
EMMA: "Wow, this list is impressive! My folks back home would love it here...
KINAKO: "..."
EMMA: "Hm? Isn't that...?"
...
*10 MINUTES LATER*
Umi and I returned with our frozen dairy treats, Emma seemed a little distracted when we got back to her.
Guess she's overwhelmed by the wide range of livestock they have here.
AKI: "Mmm...! This ice cream is delicious!"
A scoop of vanilla is always good, but why stop there when you can have two at once?
A double dose of vanilla for me.
UMI: *Munch* "It has a rich flavor with a pleasant aftertaste... It's very tasty!"
EMMA: "Y-Yep. It's buono!"
UMI: "I did some research on this farm, and I discovered an interesting fact.
All of the ice cream they make here is homemade."
AKI: "Sounds delicious, it's nice and fresh and homemade."
UMI: "All of the milk comes from their alpacas."
AKI: "?!"
URK. Th-Those demonic beasts made an ice cream this tasty?! B-But even so, there is the milk of alpaca inside of my stomach... It kinda makes me shudder considering how much they scare me.
UMI: "The air feels so fresh too. It's a lovely location.
So this is what it means to relax... I never would have imagined that such means of enjoying oneself existed.
Still, I feel that now I can slightly better appreciate this sort of leisure activity."
EMMA: *Chuckle* "So you've learned how to relax for yourself, Umi?"
AKI: "Great job, Umi! ...Hm? What's that sign for?"
EMMA: "Um... 'This way to the hiking course,' it says."
...Eh?!
UMI: "Did you say 'hiking course'?!"
AKI: "Oh no..."
...
*SHINDO-TOGE PASS - MOUNT KURODAKE - FUEFUKI - YAMANASHI PREFECTURE*
This...is...hell... At least running on sand it was flat, but this is a steep climb... I HATE IT.
AKI: *Huff* *Huff* "Hiking is...so hard..."
UMI: "Gosh! I can't believe there's such a gorgeous mountain behind the farm."
EMMA: "Right? I'm reeeally glad we came here!"
AKI: *COUGH* "Ack... Oh well. It's worth it since you two look like you're enjoying yourselves."
And at the end of the day, their enjoyment is what truly matters to me.
Making them happy, filling them with joy... That is my happiness.
EMMA: "Hiking is fun. I get more excited with every step I take."
UMI: "I feel the same way. I simply adore hiking! Let's hurry and reach the summit!"
EMMA: "Shall we make a competition out of it?"
AKI: "Huh?"
UMI: *Giggle* "I won't lose, you know."
AKI: "Eh?"
EMMA: "Race you there!"
AKI: "What?! Oh come on!
W-Wait uuup! C'mon, can't we hike more slowly?! What happened to relaxing......?"
Where do these girls get their energy from?
...
*FUJIYAMA TWIN TERRACE - MOUNT KURODAKE - FUEFUKI - YAMANASHI PREFECTURE*
Al-Almost there... So close... *Huff* *Pant* ARGH! There! I did it!
Where are they...?
EMMA, UMI: "We're heeere!"
AKI: *Cough* "And...no wonder, since you two hiked up here so fast..."
Hm?
AKI: "Whoa! This view is absolutely stunning!"
EMMA: "Umi, hiking at your pace was so much fun! I could climb a whole other mountain after this!"
AKI: "?!"
UMI: "Really? That's good to hear."
AKI: "N-No it's not! What happened to relaxing?!"
UMI: "It was a casual contest, so it may have been better to hike a little more slowly... But I had so much fun getting up here that I lost myself in it.
We came up here pretty quickly. Are you okay?"
AKI: "No... I-I mean, yes, I'm fine!
I'm just glad you had fun climbing up here, Umi!"
UMI: "I did! Thank you."
AKI: "At least we have time to relax up here at the summit since we hiked at Umi's pace."
UMI: "You're right...! Depending on how you moderate your pace, you can create time to relax!"
AKI: "Yeah. And since we have this beautiful view in front of us, let's relax and enjoy it to the fullest!"
UMI: "Indeed! I wasn't sure what we would do to relax, but you've opened up a whole new world to me.
Perhaps being honest with yourself is a shortcut to relaxation!
Spending time lounging around like this... It's become something precious to me too!"
Wait... If we're up here, then how are we going to get back down?
I noticed a bus full of people getting off at their stop. Meaning that to reach the summit, I didn't have to take a single step.
...Ever think to yourself how unfair life is?