Part 2

Why do you have a sumo loincloth in your bag…!?

This is… my first time, seeing, a real one…

Right? This ain’t any old decoration, it’s the real deal and… Umph! You wear it like this!

Dosukoi—!¹

Dosukoin’t! Why do you even have one?

I heard from Renga-san that sumo wrestling is Mongolia’s national sport!

Like, think about it~ If the whole country does it, then the chances of a sudden showdown on the streets is inevitable, yeah?

No, idiot.

You know that famous scene where warriors of the great plains duke it out for recognition? Think about it, a duel between JPN rikishis² and Mongolian rikishis!! And in the end, we’ll lie down side by side amongst the grass to feel the breeze.

I… I don’t, think…

It ain’t the Japanese spirit unless you take on whatever comes flying at you, amirite–!

Dude, you listening?

And, I also have this horse riding helmet! Its toughness has Nagi-san’s seal of approval, ain’t gonna find anything safer, nor tougher. You’d survive even an elephant stomp wearing this!

Wouldn’t they have those at the actual place as well?

We also have a fire starter!

…Looks like, something, from the Yayoi, period.³ …A manual one.

I don’t think your bag counts as a carry-on anymore with the size it’s at.

Wait, for real!?

Yea, for real. For starters, don’t bring camping goods. It’s in there, right? The compact stuff…

Wait, why am I giving you advice…

Thanks, Nanaki~! I knew I should’ve gotten you guys to check things over for me!

Now all that’s needed is the life of the party—the hypebeast! The heart of JPN, the heart of all that’s “Japanese”—the wooden fish!⁴

You definitely don’t need that.

…Aagh, ok, whatever, got it. At any rate, we got it. You’re super prepared for the trip.

Yea… you should, put your, luggage, away now. It’s almost, dinner time.

Aye aye!

Man~ I’m super stoked for Mongolia~! Renga-san and I talked a lot and planned all sorts of stuff…

Hm? Huh?

What’s, wrong?

Hmm? Uhhhhhhhhhh… Huh? Huh???

I-It’s not in here!!

Wait, I’m pretty sure I left the wooden fish in my helmet earlier though…?

But now… Hoi! Come out! Umph! Appear! Pah! It’s ROLLING!?

H-Help me please, Nanaemon!!⁵ Kirokkuma~!!!!!⁶

H-Huh…?

What did I tell you…!

For starters, if you don’t finish packing all this up, we won’t have anywhere to sleep, let alone move.

…C’mon Kiroku, let’s help him.

G-Got, it…

Maybe the true packing was the friends I made along the way~!

Sheesh… only this time, ‘kay? And also—

We gotta lessen the load, keep things to the bare minimum. I’ll help you sort through it now, so only pack what you need.

Uuu…! G-Got it.

Bye bye… my casting net…!

No… for real, where did you, get all this stuff…?