Tenchi Muyo! in the World

おことわり

The restaurant where Airi brought Yoshyo, called as 'Narsis', was located on the second floor of the huge shopping mall just beside the park. The restaurant itself was not a special one and very common place to have a meal. However, brought to the terrace he had his eyes knocked out by the magnificence of the sight.
'What in thunder is this?'
A hole was there of a diameter about tens of kilometers with the depth of 700 meters. Just below him was a steep cliff and at the bottom was the end of the sea filling the entire hole. Looking this, he scanned his map in a hurry but no information was listed on it, actually the existence of the hole itself was not located on the map. Only a red mark showing that this area was a top secret was on it. Such places, where significantly important research institutes were located, it was not shown on the map and more over, an optical process was done on the area and it cannot even been seen from above from the sky.
'Are you surprised? Isn't it great?' watching Yoshyo's surprise, Airi looked quite pleased.
'But, is here not a sealed off area?'
'Where can a shopping center been built in a sealed off area? The meaning of the map is that it is a secret place.'
'… secret?'
'Tee-hee. Don't you get it? You see, this place is hidden to surprise the first visitors,' said Airi in delight, relieved from her feelings.
'To surprise the beginners? Only - for that?'
'Yeah. Only for that. It's just a teasing, you see.'
'Is it not too.. large?'
'Ha-ha. Yoshyo-kun, the galaxy academy is such a place, you know,' straightening her face Airi answered. But her expression just pointed the essence of the galaxy academy.
'It's a stuff to surprise others. They give you these kinds of places and the students think and make up the play. You can just show him here or you can prepare a large play and make him surprised.'
According to Airi's explanation, this 50 kilometer crater was made by an overdrive of an experimental device. And the fact was the one who made this crater was no one but the greatest professor of the galaxy academy, Professor Washyu. The hole was to be repaired in no time but the students who were played by.. excuse me.. loved by Washyu held a great campaign and tried to keep the crater after.
"Hugh. This is nothing. It's just a pore," Washyu said so.
So the students took after this and named the crater as "Washyu's pore". What a terrible naming sense, which was very likely for the students of the academy.
Watching the scene outside the window, Airi muttered.
'That area of the crater is all for the department of the philosophy. '
'The department of the philosophy!?'
No wonder for Yoshyo to be surprised. The philosophy is the department where all the results of other departments were gathered and there they tried to make up an entire integrated theory or to decide the moral of usage of each knowledge. It was also the place where the most intelligent persons wound up from the whole galaxy academy.
'I see. If it's for the department of philosophy, then I am convinced of the size.'
'No. This is only a part of the department and actually it is only for one scientist.'
'Only for one? A single person is using this whole institute?'
'For a philosopher, it's usual. But for this place the situation is a bit special. This place is also for a memorial.'
'A memorial?'
'I think you have heard about them. Called as the greatest among the academy history, the legendary philosopher, Hakubi Washyu and Akara Najya. This part is a memory for them.'
'I know about Hakubi Washyu but Akara Najya? I think I have never heard about her.'
'Well, she often worked at the backside as the stagehand. If you are interested in her then I'll show you around next time. That place is like my backyard and I know it well. Though the philosopher living there is quite an old man and sometimes he keeps you for tea time and goes on talking for hours about the old days,' said Airi showing a smile which meant that she had experienced it, too.
Yoshyo gave her the eye for her smile for a while where the dishes were severed having a delicious smell.
'Welcome Airi. So he is the guy from Jurai. It's unusual for you to take a month bringing him here,' said the waitress who brought the dishes, laughing.
'Oh no. Ma-am, he is the next guy.'
'My name is Masaki Yoshyo Jurai. Nice to meet you, ma-am.' Figuring that she is her friend, Yoshyo stood up and bowed to her.
'Oh my isn't he so polite. My name is Carsa Iglie. The mistress of this restaurant. But having Jurai on your full name means that-.'
'He is the prince of Jurai,' said Airi.
'I see. Then it's the third day now. Hmm.'
Watching Yoshyo she served the dished on the table neatly. This place was Airi's favorite. She won't bring anyone till she knocked him into shape. Usually it took about two weeks for it and most of the students ran away before it.
Airi spoke to Yoshyo who was looking at the dishes.
'The menu here is relatively suitable for any country, I think. How is it?'
Students came from all over the galaxy and they had there own taste. Some retired the academy because they couldn't get along with the foods, though most of them were related to their religion.
'Jurai used to be a multiethnic country. So any food will be all right for me. There is no discipline of religion, too.'
'Really? Glad to hear that,' said Airi in a happy voice and they started their dinner. Actually the dishes served here tasted better than that in the dormitory and it gave them heart full feelings.
'Airi-dono. Are you looking after other students, too?' Yoshyo asked her during the meal.
'No. Now only you. - Oh I see. So you're talking about the guy she meant.'
After having a drop of tea she continued.
'Before now I advised him and then he just requested for another senior. And after that I haven't met him. Well, it's an often case for me, you know.'
'I see.'
Watching Airi laugh, Yoshyo was sure that the guy she mentioned was Amaki**.
After that, they talked for a while about their hobbies or favorites and so on. And finishing their meal they both stood up and moved to the cash desk.
'Yoshyo-kun. Please wait out side. I'll pay the bill.'
'It is I who invited you. Please let me…'
'Oh no, what are you saying. You're here using the government's money and you shouldn't waste it. Any way, I'm not happy being paid by the money from your parents.'
'Is it not the same for you?'
'I'm working by myself. So leave it to me,' said Airi and picked Yoshyo's forehead with her finger.
As a prince, Yoshyo had his one planet and he eared the money from there. The fee for the academy was from it, too.
(If I say that is why it is my own money, I am sure she will bash me.)
She will never accept that as an income of his own.
Finishing her payment she walked up to him and said,
'-Sorry to make you wait. OK then let's go home.'
'It was wonderful. Thank you for everything.'
'No problem.'
'May I ask you a question?'
'What?'
'Why are you working?　You actually don't need to, do you?'
'-Hmm. Well, to show my opinion, I guess.'
'Your own?'
'And to be free,' said Airi looking up the sky, which was already dark now. She did not put it on her face but Yoshyo felt that she looked somewhat sad.
'Is it not hard? During your study and … also being my guide.'
'No at all, I'm used to it now. And Yoshyo-kun , you are a good student. .. But there is a problem actually.'
'Oh my. Have I ever troubled you?'
'You are so cute and sweet that I can't effuse my stress, you know,' said Airi tightening her fist and looking up the sky just as she did at the airport when he first met her.
'…I suppose you have done quite a lot to me in the park.'
'Hahahaha. No, no. That's not enough for me,' Airi laughed merrily and watching her, Yoshyo began to laugh also.
'Perhaps I'll start working, too.'
'Well, that good. The easiest way is to help them make an experiment over you.'
'Oh no. You are not.,' Yoshyo stopped and looked at her.
"No, I'm not. You don"t know what they'll do over you here. I'm just teaching the primary school students. Three I think is all of them now.'
Talking to him about it reminded them and Airi suddenly looked at her watch.
'Oh no. It's time for teaching them. I have to go now. See you, Yoshyo-kun. It was fun today.'
'Good luck for your work.'
They said good by to each other and parted at the station.