Chapter 40 - 40: Date with Audrey

Due to the Ministry of Magic's strict control over Portkey usage, Edward opted for a more 'official' mode of transportation—flying on a plane to Japan. As for Audrey, Dumbledore had taken care of her identity. Whether it was done legally or with magic, Edward didn't know, but the two of them boarded the plane without any issues. Audrey had changed into casual attire—a light-coloured hoodie paired with jeans. Her golden hair cascaded down her back, an everyday look that should have been unremarkable. Yet, on her, it looked exceptionally stunning. From the moment they stepped into the airport, she became the centre of attention. Truly, good looks can make anything fashionable. As the plane took off, a wave of weightlessness washed over them. Audrey instinctively pressed her back tightly against the seat, gripping her pants with both hands. Her cheeks flushed slightly with nervousness, and even her delicate nose glistened with tiny beads of sweat. —Ten minutes later— As the plane stabilized, she patted her chest and let out a soft sigh. "For a moment there, I felt like my soul was leaving my body…That was terrifying." She eagerly lifted the window shade, peering out at the vast landscape below. Everything seemed miniaturized, even the towering skyscrapers now looked no bigger than a fingertip. "So this is what the world looks like from the sky…I wonder if I'll ever be able to fly by myself someday." Edward chuckled. "You could just use a flying broomstick." "It's not the same," Audrey said, a little embarrassed. "Besides…I've always thought the way people ride broomsticks looks weird." "Then you've got a long wait ahead of you," Edward mused, thinking back. "For the Spectator Pathway, you won't gain flight abilities until Sequence 4, when you achieve your Mythical Creature Form." Her reflection in the window showed clear disappointment. "Sequence 4? But I'm only at Sequence 9…That's going to take forever." "Well, it's just—" Before Edward could comfort her, the plane suddenly shook violently. Audrey instinctively grabbed his wrist, the colour draining from her face. "W-what's happening?" "Don't worry, it's just turbulence. Completely normal." Edward spoke gently to reassure her. "And even if something did happen, I could use Apparition to get us out safely." This was their first time holding hands since the Unbreakable Vow. What did it feel like? Strong grip. Painfully tight. "By the way, you still haven't gotten over your fear of Apparition?" Audrey glanced nervously out the window and gave a small nod. "Mhm…The image of my arm and leg separated from my body last time…too vivid to forget." The plane trembled again. Audrey squeezed her eyes shut and lowered her head, almost like an ostrich trying to hide from danger. Just then, the captain's voice came through the intercom: "Ladies and gentlemen, our apologies. The turbulence was caused by shifting air currents…" —A few minutes later— The plane finally stabilized. Audrey let out a long sigh of relief and released Edward's hand. "I can't even imagine…If something really happened at this altitude, what could the passengers do?" "Mm, statistically speaking, the chance of a plane crash is one in a million." After a brief pause, Edward added, "…Though if it does happen, the fatality rate is basically 100%." He had barely finished speaking when a middle-aged man in the row ahead turned around and scowled. "Hey! If you don't know how to talk properly, just shut up!" "Uh…" "Pfft—" Audrey burst into laughter. "Ahem." Edward coughed. "Let's just get some rest. The flight is nearly 20 hours long." ——— By the time they arrived at Tokyo International Airport, it was already the next day. Their first stop was the currency exchange counter. Then, they took the subway straight to Akihabara. As they walked through the bustling streets, Audrey couldn't help but stare at the completely different-looking people around her. In the Lord of the Mysteries world, she had seen people from various countries, and while there were differences in height and facial features, they all still looked somewhat similar. But Japan was different. Nearly everyone had black hair and black eyes—clearly a distinct ethnicity. ——— [Akihabara] Stepping out of the subway station, the sight of a bustling street filled their vision. In the 1990s, Akihabara wasn't quite the otaku paradise it would become in later years. For the past few decades, it has primarily been a hub for selling TVs, refrigerators, and VCD players. It wasn't until the 1980s, with the rise of video games and popular manga, that Akihabara's fate began to shift toward becoming the otaku capital of the world. "So many people…so many shops!" Audrey wandered the streets with wide, green eyes, completely captivated. Compared to the streets of London, the variety of stores here was overwhelming. Everywhere she looked, there were bright, colourful displays selling strange but fascinating products she didn't quite understand. Edward took on the role of tour guide, introducing her to manga and anime culture, gaming culture, and otaku culture. As someone with exceptional artistic skills, Audrey was astonished. "So…illustration can evolve into an entire culture and industry?" She had never imagined that drawing could lead to something so vast and influential. They stepped into a large store, and Audrey was immediately drawn to the anime playing on the TVs. Seizing the opportunity, Edward went to talk to the store owner about purchasing high-quality life-sized dolls. Of course, the conversation took quite a bit of effort. Even though there was a college student part-timer in the store, Edward still had to say: "Japanese people's English is absolutely ridiculous." He had to switch to the broken Japanese he picked up from watching anime in his last life to get his point across. When the owner finally brought out five exquisitely crafted life-sized dolls, Audrey's attention instantly shifted. She curiously poked one of the doll's faces with her finger and commented, "I never thought vampires would like something like this…It's nothing like the mysterious image I had in mind. This is such a…bizarre hobby." "Ahem." Edward cleared his throat. "Well, his tastes are definitely unique, but he's never harmed anyone. He even buys all his dolls with his own money. He's so broke that he has to steal blood from hospitals just to survive…Uh, well, I guess blood theft is the one stain on his record." Audrey chuckled. "Now I'm actually kind of curious to meet him." "Sure, I'll introduce you if we get the chance." After paying for the dolls, Edward noticed that Audrey seemed very interested in anime. So, with a grand wave of his hand, he bought her a TV, a VCD player, and a huge stack of discs. Then, he added some portable music players, walkie-talkies, and other electronic gadgets, filling up several large boxes. Audrey, thrilled with her haul, couldn't help but ask, "Wait…When I go back to my world, will these things even work?" "Don't worry," Edward reassured her. "We'll find a place to buy a small generator and stock up on a few cans of fuel. That should keep everything running for a while." Then he reminded her, "But it's best not to take these things out of your suitcase…We don't want to attract any unwanted attention." "Got it!" She playfully made an OK gesture with her fingers. ——— With their shopping spree complete, the two of them made their way to a nearby food street. Audrey took a deep breath and sniffed the air. "It smells so good! Are you hungry?" "I've been starving," Edward grinned. "Let's try some local specialities." As they wandered through the street, they sampled some Ramen, Yakitori, Oden, Tonkatsu, Tempura, Takoyaki, Sushi…and the most famous of all, sashimi. Audrey enjoyed almost everything—except for the sashimi, which she found a bit hard to get used to. Their dining experience was eerily similar to when Edward first arrived in Backlund. "Eat, eat, eat! Keep eating! No food in Tokyo is safe from me hahaha!" After washing down the last bite with ice-cold cola, Audrey couldn't help but let out a small burp. She pinched her nose, looked at the red Coca-Cola can, and said curiously, "This drink tastes so strange…The first few sips felt like I was drinking potion. But the more I drank, the better it tasted." Edward never imagined that, one day, Coca-Cola would be compared to potions. Hmm…If I had to assign it a Sequence Pathway, Sequence 9 would probably be something like…Blissful Couch Potato. "Then let's buy some more to stock up, along with some snacks to take back." Audrey beamed, her green eyes crinkling with delight. "Yay~!" ——— After resting for a while, they continued their adventure, visiting—Arcades, where they played classic games. A Maid Café, where they had coffee served with cute gestures and even a Capsule Toy Shop, where they spun gacha machines. On their way back, Audrey even picked up some cute stuffed animals from a Plushie shop. By the time evening rolled in, they had explored every spot Audrey found interesting. As night fell, the two happened to walk past a haunted house attraction. It was themed after a creepy hospital, and even the promotional posters at the entrance looked terrifying. From inside, shrieks and screams echoed down the street. Edward immediately explained, "This is a haunted house. They use scary props, sound effects, and costumed actors to frighten visitors. There's nothing like this in Loen, right?" Audrey thought for a moment and shook her head. "No, we don't have anything like this." Then she frowned in confusion. "But…this place charges money, right? So why would anyone pay to be scared?" "Uh…thrill-seeking?" Edward shrugged. "I haven't played in a haunted house much myself, so I don't really get it either." He glanced at her and asked tentatively, "Do you…want to try it?" Just then— "AHHHHHH!!!" A young couple came sprinting out of the haunted house. The girl buried her face into the boy's chest, trembling. The boy held her tightly, whispering soothing words into her ear. Edward clicked his tongue. Tch. This guy's plan worked perfectly—not only did he get some intimate moments, but he also got to show off his "manliness." …Wait a second. As the couple passed by, Edward caught a glimpse of the girl's fleeting smirk. His heart skipped a beat. "Damn! The most skilled hunters really do disguise themselves as prey!" Unfortunately, Audrey didn't notice. Instead, the couple's interaction had sparked an idea in her mind. She suddenly activated her Spectator state, her gaze locking onto Edward like a hawk. Edward immediately felt a sense of injustice, as if he were being falsely accused. "Hey! What's with that look?! You were the one who got interested in the haunted house! I was just offering a suggestion! What's with those suspicious eyes?!" 'I swear on my life! My feelings for Audrey are 100% pure friendship! Not a single impure thought! If I'm lying, may the lights—' Click! As if on cue, the neon lights of the entire street flashed on at once. In an instant, Akihabara transformed—the vibrant glow of the city painting a dreamlike scene, as if fantasy had become reality. Audrey tilted her head back, staring in awe at the illuminated cityscape. Her emerald-green eyes reflected the colourful lights, and her delicate profile looked even more breathtaking under the glow. Click! Edward swiftly raised his camera and captured the moment forever. …Forget the vow I made earlier! It doesn't count! ——— [Note]: Don't forget to VOTE. It keeps me motivated.