Chapter 353: [Crash]
《Iroha-chan. Look, out the window.》
When I followed the gaze of the female Secret Service agent, I saw all the soldiers saluting us as we departed. I was compelled to return the salute.
The plane took off, rapidly gaining speed.
Since it's a light aircraft, it seems it picks up speed quickly.
The aircraft pushed off the ground and lifted into the sky.
And so, we left America behind, slightly behind schedule.
***
《Miss Iroha》
A flight attendant approached and informed us that we had reached cruising altitude.
I unfastened my seatbelt and stretched my arms wide.《I'll bring you a drink. Do you have a preference?》
《Umm…》
I always struggle with these situations since I don’t have a favorite drink.
Answering with “water” feels too boring… Ah!
《Then I'll have Dedecamin.》
Right now, they’re doing a VTuber collaboration, and if I collect the stickers, I can get some exclusive merchandise.
Though, after I said it, I realized—there’s no way they’d have that…
《Understood.》
《They do!?》
《We researched your preferences beforehand.》
The attendant showed me the label, as if it were a fine wine, and poured the drink into a glass.
Then, the bottle—complete with the sticker I needed—was placed on the table.
It felt embarrassingly out of place.
But the flight attendant seemed unfazed as she asked,
《We also have a meal prepared. Shall I bring it now?》
Just then, my stomach growled.
I guess it's about time for lunch.
《Ah, yes, please.》
《Understood. Do you have any allergies?》
Such impeccable service. The table was quickly set with dishes.
…This feels more like a high-end restaurant than a flight. Do they have a kitchen onboard or something?
“I-Itadakimasu.”
I took a bite—and it was shockingly delicious.
How did they manage to prepare something this good?
Did they pre-make it all and just plate it now? But if that’s the case, why did they ask about allergies just now?
《Munch, munch…》
Oh, right—they said they looked into my preferences beforehand.
Maybe they prepared most of it in advance and just made small adjustments onboard?
Hmm, no idea. Are they using magic or something?
All I know is that the food is amazing.
《I'm glad it suits your taste.》
《I can’t believe I get to enjoy this too. Perks of the job, perks of the job.》
Next to me, the female Secret Service agent savored her meal as well.
Normally, bodyguards don’t get such high-class treatment, but since we’re close, they made arrangements for her to have the same meal.
Honestly, I’d have felt awkward eating something fancy alone.
This level of service is almost unsettling—it’s like they’re going above and beyond to make sure I enjoy myself.
《Miss Iroha, would you like to watch a movie on the way to our destination?》
《Ah, no, I'm good! I brought my own entertainment.》
To avoid getting bored on the flight, I’d downloaded plenty of videos and streams in advance.
Even though I heard there’d be Wi-Fi onboard, I couldn’t take the risk of being unable to watch something, just in case.
《I thought you might say that.》
《Huh. I see.》
Compared to the earlier over-the-top service, this offer felt unexpectedly ordinary.
Maybe they worded it that way on purpose, to make it easy for me to decline.
…I also need to practice some songs for the international live event coming up.
There’s not much time left before recording.
《Haha, Iroha-chan, it's fine to watch VTubers, but try to get some rest during the flight. Things will get busy once we arrive.》
《Uh, we’re doing a… site inspection or something over there, right?》
《That’s right.》
The reason for the visit is that they want us to “see the current state of their country and share it with the world.”
There are also some infrastructure issues involved…
But that’s probably just the official reason.
If the president is involved, it must carry significant diplomatic weight.
《Well, I have my own reasons for going too, so I don’t mind.》
It just so happens that the country we’re visiting is the hometown of the person involved in the recent convenience store robbery.
I made a promise, after all.
《How much longer until we arrive?》
《Let’s see. Around this time… we’ll be flying over the Amazon.》
After confirming the flight details, I started watching my favorite VTuber's videos.
Time flew by as I watched.
Ah, the theory of relativity in action.
On the other hand, if I watched videos while keeping my hand on a hot stove, would time feel infinite?
These thoughts ran through my mind as drowsiness began to take over.
Following the Secret Service agent’s advice, I didn’t resist and let my eyelids close…
***
――BOOOOM!
I woke up to a loud noise and violent shaking.
My body was floating.
Gravity had vanished.
Defying the law of universal gravitation, cups and people were spinning through the cabin.
《W-What…!?》
My mind couldn’t process what was happening.
I couldn’t tell which way was up or down.
[Mayday! Mayday!]
I heard the pilot's voice.
I caught a glimpse of the view outside the window.
Smoke was trailing from the wing of the plane.
And… the front part was gone.
《Iroha-chan!》
The female Secret Service agent threw herself over me.
That was the last thing I remembered.
A sharp thud to my head.
A ringing noise filled my ears, and my consciousness faded to black.