DH-ST-4: The Usual Lapping Waves

DH-ST-4 The Usual Lapping Waves	Dossoles Holiday: Dossoles Warrior Champion Previous DH-9 (Story)
A bout of danger dismissed as a farce has passed, yet nothing has changed.

Characters

Ch'en Ernesto Hoshiguma Lin Yühsia Mizuki Sideroca Swire D.D.D. Fumizuki Wei Yenwu Casino Boss Manager

Backgrounds

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“

The crisis may have been brought to a successful conclusion, but this holiday is not yet over. All the parties concerned feel differently about this turn of events.

”

<Background 1>
D.D.D.	Phew...
Manager	Hey, D.D.D. You're finally awake.
D.D.D.	Waking up after catching some Z's is pretty normal, no?
Manager	You crashed straight into bed the moment you got back last night, though. That really had me worrying.
D.D.D.	How are things looking outside?
Manager	If you're asking about the city, it's just like before. Bustling. I heard a lot of people talking about what happened yesterday while I was having breakfast. Didn't seem like they care much, though.
D.D.D.	Well, things already got pretty watered down. Mayor Candela's amazing. With all that went down, nobody could've seen that coming.
Manager	I was really shocked when I saw it on TV too. I've never seen anyone calm things down like that. And quite a few people actually went and fought the terrorists.
D.D.D.	I was right there. It just felt so bizarre. Some of the terrorists were going straight after Ms. Candela, and they were really close. But she didn't even seem to care about that. All she cared about was getting the drones to the ship so she could get a good look at the action there. She was just standing, pointing at the screen and the sea while talking to the other spectators around her. It was like nothing that was happening was real. Then, those two girls showed up. It was like them being there dragged everything back to reality. It was so... so exciting!
Manager	So you want to create something.
D.D.D.	Ahaha, you know me well.
Manager	How long have we known each other?
D.D.D.	Yeah, that's right. I wanna create. I want to write a song that to document the fear, gratefulness, confusion that I feel right here right now. This is a song I'm writing for myself, but it's got to do with them.
<Background 2>
[Mizuki walks down the streets of Dossoles, giving his thoughts about the city.]
Mizuki	On its own, this city is a decent place. Leithanien's musicals, Columbia's movies, and Bolívar's coffee. I've got to experience everything I wanted to try. But the people here are so boring. I got tired of playing with them about halfway through the competition. If I'd known this is how it would turn out in the end, I would've boarded the ship with Miss Ch'en after I made sure she was alright. I probably could've helped her that way. Oh well, I'm starting to be sick of this city. Maybe I'll check out wherever Miss Ch'en's going. I bet there are just as many nice people like her where she comes from.
[Mizuki heads out to where Ch'en comes from.]
<Background 1>
Ch'en	That's way too reckless of you, Swire.
Swire	Uh-huh, yeah yeah yeah, okay, yeah. Fine, I got it. Why do I have to sit here and listen to you reprimand me again?
Ch'en	I left the L.G.D. in your hands, and you...
Swire	Oh, I know what I'm doing. Besides, what about you? I thought you jumped ship to Rhodes Island to be an operator there, but here you are on a holiday!
Ch'en	I'm... Fine, you're right.
Swire	Hmph.
Hoshiguma	Come on, keep going. Why did you stop? I don't even remember the last time you two had an argument.
Swire	We had one last time I went to Rhodes Island.
Hoshiguma	Eh, anyway, we're all here, and we got everything wrapped up. We should put all the unpleasant things behind us and have some fun instead. Right, Ch'en?
Ch'en	*Sigh*... right.
Hoshiguma	What's wrong? Are you still thinking about yesterday?
Ch'en	Yeah. I might've received the one honor that I don't ever want to receive in my entire life.
Hoshiguma	Haha, true. To be honest with you, even I thought that was pretty nasty. But it happened nonetheless. Ch'en, there's not a whole lot in the world that goes exactly as you want but can still be called an absolute win for all parties concerned.
Ch'en	I know.
Swire	Okay, enough. If we're just gonna sit here and talk, we might as well go get some shopping done and stuff our faces with food to cheer ourselves up. Let's go. I'm paying for lunch. Now where's that stupid rat?
Hoshiguma	I think I saw her heading out early in the morning. Not sure where, though.
Ch'en	I have an inkling where she might be. I'll go find her.
Swire	Let me know when you do. Hmph, she's been hiding from me since last night. She's dead as soon as I find her, I'm telling you.
<Background 3>
Lin Yühsia	I'm leaving you in charge of the place once I'm gone. You remember everything I taught you, right?
Casino Boss	Of course. You can rest assured it's in good hands.
[Ch'en approaches Yühsia.]
Ch'en	What are you two chatting about?
Casino Boss	Oh, Miss Ch'en. The boss is lecturing us right now.
Lin Yühsia	Don't tell her that. She might arrest you.
Ch'en	I'm not a cop anymore.
Lin Yühsia	I've never seen such a big busybody of a tourist.
Ch'en	Hmph.
Lin Yühsia	Leave us.
Casino Boss	Of course.
[The casino boss leaves.]
Lin Yühsia	Do you need something? I doubt you looked everywhere just to have a drink with me.
Ch'en	What if I tell you that's what I'm doing?
Lin Yühsia	Then... let's have a drink.
Ch'en	I know the President of the Lungmen Young Entrepreneurs' Association to be a decisive, resolute person, strict on both herself and others. And now I've finally seen her decisiveness for myself.
Lin Yühsia	And the L.G.D. Special Inspection Unit Chief I know is an impartial person who shows criminals absolutely no mercy. I finally had the pleasure to meet her.
Ch'en	Did Wei Yenwu send you here?
Lin Yühsia	Lady Fumizuki sent me here as his representative. At first, I didn't understand why, but I figured it out when I saw you.
Ch'en	You aren't mad?
Lin Yühsia	Not at all. This is an opportunity for me. The Rat King's daughter won't necessarily become the Rat King. But that also means she could be.
Ch'en	So that's why you helped him?
Lin Yühsia	I won't answer that, Hui-chieh.
Ch'en	Why not?
Lin Yühsia	Because I'm not like you.
Ch'en	You want to say I abandoned Lungmen.
Lin Yühsia	The thought did cross my mind at first, but not anymore. This is a simple declarative sentence. I am not like you.
Ch'en	That kind of grates on my ears.
Lin Yühsia	That's your problem.
Ch'en	Hoh.
[Ch'en's phone rings. She answers the call, which is from Swire.]
Swire	Hey, did you find that stinking rat yet?
Ch'en	She's right here.
Swire	Where are you?
Ch'en	In a bar on Coastal Highway 26.
Swire	The 26? Perfect. I see a decent place there. I'll send you the address. You two head on over and get us a table. And drag that ngong gau lou syu there if you have to. Don't let her get away.
[Swire hangs up.]
Ch'en	You heard her.
Lin Yühsia	*Sigh*... Will that woman ever be less of a pain?
Ch'en	Shall we go?
Lin Yühsia	Let's go.
<Background 4>
[Ch'en and Yühsia walk down the beach of Dossoles.]
Ch'en	That's quite a lot of people on the beach.
Lin Yühsia	The ship's one of the city's symbols. Now that it's sunk, people here are bound to be curious.
Ch'en	The cruise ship, huh?
Lin Yühsia	It doesn't matter what you think about it. We are the ones who blew it up. That's the truth. We should be thankful that Lady Candela wrote it off in exchange for our prize money.
Ch'en	To be precise, you blew it up.
Lin Yühsia	You had a better idea?
Ch'en	No. Hmm? Who's that over there...?
Ernesto	......
Lin Yühsia	Ernesto?
Ernesto	Miss Ch'en, Miss Lin.
Ch'en	What are you doing here?
Ernesto	Ms. Candela spared everyone except my father. Most of us are being exiled. She's only letting me stay because of my service in the past few years. Of course, I'm most definitely losing my job.
Ch'en	You're thinking of staying?
Ernesto	No, I'm planning to leave. Rafaela and I are trying to figure out where to go. I spent the whole night thinking and still don't have anything. That's why I'm sitting here, gazing out at the sea to see if it gives me any ideas.
Lin Yühsia	Rafaela is the little girl?
Ernesto	That's right. She's the daughter of my father's old war friend, tío Pugh. He died rescuing my father from prison and entrusted her to him before he died.
Ch'en	......
Ernesto	Have you two given killing me here on the spot any thought?
Ch'en	I don't have the right to pass judgment on you, yet.
Lin Yühsia	Had you succeeded, I'd kill you the moment we saw each other again. As for right now... I'll pass.
Ernesto	Haha, it's just like you two to say stuff like that. Miss Ch'en, Miss Lin, I suppose, in Yan, they'd call me an unfilial son?
Lin Yühsia	Yes.
Ch'en	We could also say you betrayed your father in the name of righteousness, but you aren't there yet.
Ernesto	Hahaha, you're right. There wasn't anything righteous about what I did. The thought of betraying my father never crossed my mind during this operation, though. Do you remember what I told you on the ship, Miss Ch'en? That wasn't a lie. I'm not sure if this has crossed your mind during your time here. I know very well what this city was built on top of. However, whenever I look at the skyscrapers and the blue sky up above, I can't help but feel that there is some sort of legitimacy to it. I can't think of it any other way.
Ch'en	But you choose to leave now.
Ernesto	To tell the truth, if it wasn't for you two, I think I would willingly stay here and work under her. But your words left me bewildered. You two are foreigners. Perhaps, elsewhere, things could have been different. Phew... It feels much better now that I got that off my chest. Thank you for not bludgeoning me to death the moment you saw me, much less listening to me talk about all this.
Lin Yühsia	It's all a matter of perspective.
Ernesto	Well, I'm done bothering you. I will likely be around for a little longer. Please don't hesitate to come to me if you need me for anything.
Ch'en	Alright.
[Ernesto leaves.]
Lin Yühsia	I can't help him...
Ch'en	Neither can... What do you mean?
Lin Yühsia	I just think it's a pity to leave him wallowing in misery like that.
Ch'en	I'll think about it...
[Hoshiguma approaches Ch'en...]
Hoshiguma	Hey, Ch'en.
Ch'en	Hello.
[...followed by Sideroca.]
Sideroca	We were just leaving the city hall, and Ms. Swire here invited us to lunch with you.
Ch'en	I see. How did your talks with the mayor go?
Sideroca	Thanks to you, we've played a role in this little incident. The mayor didn't think twice before she agreed.
Ch'en	It's just like her to do that.
Swire	Finally caught you, you stupid rat!
Lin Yühsia	I wasn't running away. Perhaps you've got a few loose screws, Beatrix.
Swire	You're the one who's got loose screws!
Lin Yühsia	Most girls aren't so jealous of their friends going on a holiday that they follow them there in secret.
Swire	I'm built different!
Lin Yühsia	*Sigh*...
Hoshiguma	Right, Missy said we'll be going shopping in the afternoon. Grabbing souvenirs, too, while we're at it. Ch'en, Miss Lin, how about it?
Ch'en	Sure.
Swire	The stupid rat has to come.
Lin Yühsia	Fine, I don't have much else to do.
Swire	Let's go get lunch, then.
Sideroca	Hm? Hey, you four, come. Pose for me.
Hoshiguma	What's the matter?
Sideroca	It just occurred to me this could make a really great picture. I'll snap one for you. Something like a memento of your holiday.
Swire	Sounds lovely. Hey, ugly rat, it's time for a picture. Get in.
Lin Yühsia	*Sigh*... Whatever.
Hoshiguma	Haha, it's not often that the four of us get to spend time together. How about it, Ch'en?
Ch'en	Sure.
Sideroca	Alright. 3, 2, 1, cheese–!
[Sideroca takes the photo of the four Lungmenite ladies to commemorate their action-packed R&R in Dossoles.]
<Background 5>
Dossoles's handground coffee is known for its unique aroma, and the finest of the finest has a particularly rich fragrance. Even before you take a sip of the coffee, you are blessed with its aroma, and while your first sip may seem bitter, you will be greeted with its true, fine flavor soon thereafter. It is tart, but not overly so. It is fragrant, but it does not overwhelm. Above all, it leaves a rich aftertaste. Even the most demanding critics find no faults in its many qualities. Some Leithanien nobles even compete against each other in the procurement of Dossoles's finest coffee, and whoever that has the most has the definitive standing in their social circles. A small cup of this rare coffee is now in the Chief of Lungmen Wei Yenwu's hand, its aroma wafting in the air.
[Wei takes a sip of the Dossolesian coffee gifted by Yühsia as Fumizuki asks him.]
Fumizuki	Are you reading Yühsia's report on her trip to Dossoles?
Wei Yenwu	Yes, I am. It's been a while since I last saw Candela. It sounds like she hasn't changed. A crazed woman, as always.
Fumizuki	You dare say you're not like her?
Wei Yenwu	Of course I'm not like her.
Fumizuki	From what the Messengers I sent there told me, Yühsia and our little Ch'en did really well. I am not quite sure why the young lady of the Schwire family and Hoshiguma were there, however.
Wei Yenwu	They did a wonderful job, indeed. But my guess is they weren't very happy about it themselves.
Fumizuki	Why not?
Wei Yenwu	You said Candela wouldn't dare to hurt them. I agree. But they are still too young to know how to endure her generosity. That woman doesn't see right and wrong. Results are the only thing that matters.
Fumizuki	So you're beating around the bush, trying to tell me I should never have sent the two of them there?
Wei Yenwu	No, quite the opposite. You're right. There was no harm done in letting them see the sights there.
Fumizuki	My, it's not often you say something so nice. In that case, let me show you something nice as well.
Wei Yenwu	What is it?
Fumizuki	It's a photo that Yühsia brought back.
Wei Yenwu	......
Fumizuki	Look, isn't it wonderful? All of them are so young, so full of energy. That used to be us. Do you remember?
Wei Yenwu	Of course I remember.
Fumizuki	I'll sleep better knowing Ch'en is doing well. I'll frame this picture and cherish it forever.
Wei Yenwu	As long as you're happy.
Fumizuki	Yenwu.
Wei Yenwu	Hm?
Fumizuki	Is our little Ch'en going to come back?
[Wei takes a look at the photo for a bit, and...]
Wei Yenwu	Yes.
Fumizuki	I'm glad.