Interlude 2, Chapter 5-12: Yuuji’s Imouto Sakura, Talking about the Video with Her Husband George and His Friends
『Hey, George, Sakura, over here!』(Louis)
『Louis, thanks for waiting!』(George)
『Good evening, Louis!』(Sakura)
Such loud shouting resounded in a restaurant in Los Angeles. It seems that today George and Sakura would enjoy a dinner with a friend.
『Whoa, long time no see Louis, how’s work?』(George)
『Ah, the job was a bit hectic. I just finished it some time ago, so I took some time off for a while. It was such an uninteresting work, but the guy was excessively fussy over it. Really not something I want to have again anytime soon. If it’s a job like that, then bring it to some other place, geez. What about your jobs, George, Sakura? Are you busy? Ah, this is place is famous for serving delicious steaks. You wanted to talk about something else, right? Let me order for you before we talk. Cuse!』(Louis)
Without giving any chance for George and Sakura to reply, Louise raised his hand and called out to the waiter. It looked like he was a person who went along with his own pace. “Cuse was perhaps the short form of excuse me, my middle school teacher would immediately demand him to amend it” was a thought that Sakura held back from saying.
『You’re just like always, Louis. Even if you are impatient, the steak won’t run anywhere. Since it doesn’t have any feet, you see!』(George)
The two men laughed in large voices just like Americans. What they laughed at was uncertain, so Sakura then invoked a Japanese’s native skill. Gentle Smile(Archaic Smile). 1
With beers in one hand, the three people finished off the lump of steak. The steak was certainly something from a famous store, very delicious. Delicious, but as one would expect, the amount was too much. One order of steak was one pound, the menu didn’t mention this just for show. While Sakura was thinking that she should take a lighter breakfast tomorrow, both of the guys continued chatting.
『Then, Louis. Have you seen that video? What do you think?』(George)
『That’s right George! What’s with that video! I have read the article that Sakura translated, but that thing is amazing! Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner! Then I can throw out that boring job and concentrate on this! What do I think? Amazing! Fucking Amazing! Ups, pardon my French. Is that CG? That’s not CG! If that is CG, then I will immediately quit from my studio and ask to be taught by this guy! Special effects? I don’t really know it very well, but it might be impossible. There are scenes where blood gushed out, right? There was also no editing there. It is possible if it was combined special effects like a snuff film for that scene, but for the magic scene, it is impossible.』(Louis)
Louis spoke out, showering them with so many questions that Sakura felt overwhelmed. George grasped the main point of his friend’s speech, and, with a cool expression, he naturally eluded those vigorous questions. Perhaps it was because they had been associates ever since middle school, so he was already accustomed to it.
『As expected…… Then, you don’t know the location of where the video was taken?』(George)
『Haven’t I said it, George! That video is not edited at all! In other words, the things in that video are all real, so that is not some composite edited video taken from anywhere in this world. But it is not something that was fully made in CG. A reality! Well, there are possibilities that there are islands or unexplored regions where those creatures and magic exist. If that’s true, then I will immediately ask for a holiday! You also want to go together, right George? Before that, we need to visit a gun shop!』(Louis)
Sakura barely could understand Louis’ rapid paced English, but she was dejected and crestfallen. For Sakura, she believed in Yuuji’s current state. Even so, she still wished for a sliver of hope of the possibility that this was actually somewhere in this world. The possibilities since there are still unexplored regions in this world.
『If Louis said so, then that video is really not an edited video?......』(George)
George was just like George, he finally accepted it as a reality. Yes, George’s friend, Louis, was a CG Creator. He was a pro at his trade. That’s why after he received permission from Sakura, he showed the video to Louis.
『Then George, Sakura…… Is the video everything? Do you know a way to go to that place? Do we need an old-looking wardrobe or a mysterious book? Then……』(Louis)
Suddenly, Louis lowered his voice and showed a serious look at both of them before speaking.
As if to reply, George and Sakura bent forward.
『Then, are there any zombies?』(Louis)
George’s friend was really George’s friend.
Sakura casted a disappointed look. Then she looked at her smartphone that vibrated to signal an incoming call,
『Ah, sorry, it’s a call from Japan. I will leave for a while!』(Sakura)
After saying this, Sakura left her seat and walked towards the shop’s entrance to take the call.
She was surely not making an excuse with her phone to escape the talks about zombies after this. Surely.
“Zombie this, zombie that, recently although it was about zombies, but in the end the fight against fellow humans is the main story, right? I really don’t understand this”[2], muttered Sakura.
It seems that she was already prejudiced about this.
「Ah, hello Emi. Um, I’m okay. What happened?」(Sakura)
Note:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaic_smile
[2] Hahaha, touché. Sakura.
(E/N: The wardrobe is a reference to the Christian fantasy series “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”. The magic book trope is more widespread, so I don’t know if it’s referencing a specific series. Also, was the steakhouse they went to something like this? http://peterluger.com/butcher-shop.html/) The book I think is from Neverending Story.
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