Chapter 213. [Cheese!]

“Yesss! I’m watching! Freedom Lady!”

<<What in the world? A carefree woman?>>

The person asked for directions, tilting their head in confusion.

Well, of course… or rather, Freedom Lady, that’s you, Ah-nee!

Really, what a terrible forced English.

It doesn’t make any sense, but she doesn’t stop.

“You, Freedom Lady, don’t you understand? Then, Freeman! Search!”

<<Freeman, the actor? Are you a carefree woman looking for an actor?>>

“Hmm? Yes?”

“Not at all! It’s not yes at all!?”

I couldn’t help but interrupt the conversation.

At this rate, the conversation will never end, let alone start the sightseeing. I want to go home and watch the stream!

“Iroha-chan. Not yes?”

“Why the fake English for me? But well, it’s not yes.”

“Hey! Freeman is no! It’s not that… Free America!”

“What!?”

I was frozen by Ah-nee’s outrageous statement.

The locals were also astonished, then became solemn.

<<I understand, miss. I can’t understand your English at all, but your patriotism is clear. So… if there’s anything I can do, I’ll help!>>

“Oh! Thank you, very much!”

<<Ah! Together—’Let’s save America’!>>

“Yes! Free America! Together!”

Ah-nee and the locals bonded, tightly linking arms.

If I hadn’t intervened in the conversation, it would have gotten even worse.

<<By the way, patriotic miss. Is this your first time in New York?>>

“Ah, yes?”

<<I see! In that case, you must see that. It’s a symbol of our freedom and democracy! Alright, for the sake of the miss with the same aspirations, I’ll guide you there!>>

“Thank you! Let’s go!”

With that, they began to walk, laughing heartily.

And then.

***

<<Well then, miss, farewell! If you encounter any troubles during your stay in America, contact me! I’ll do my best to assist you!>>

“Okay! Goodbye!”

The local guide who helped us left with a beaming smile.

I’m sure I have a very bitter expression right now.

“…Oh, geez.”

“Iroha, I feel the same way too.”

“Even though I don’t understand much English, I can tell that your sister was acting crazy.”

The three of us shared a distant look.

In our line of sight—or right in front of us—somehow, the destination, the “Statue of Liberty,” was standing.

How did it come to this!?

A-ne looks at us with a triumphant expression.

“How about that? I told you, Iroha-chan. Leave it to onee-chan. Even asking for directions, I can handle it easily. I’m also a somewhat global streamer~.”

“No, no, no!? I’m telling you, nothing got through!”

“Hahaha, what are you saying? If nothing got through, that person wouldn’t have guided us this far.”

“Ugh!? That was just a coincidence!”

“Heh, Iroha-chan… the world isn’t sweet enough for things to be achieved by coincidence alone, you know?”

At Ah-nee’s logical statement at a time like this, tension crept into my temples.

This guy.

“Hold on, Iroha! I understand your feelings!”

“Since it’s onee-chan, after all~! Right~?”

Angu Ogu and Mai comforted me with a soothing “Don’t worry.”.

That’s right. I had forgotten because we’ve been apart for so long, but A-onee-san is like this.

She can communicate through passion alone, even if it doesn’t make sense.

When I was living in Japan, I somehow endured it.

“But anyway, this is the Statue of Liberty, huh?”

“Yeah~! Somehow it’s smaller than I thought!”

“Ane-go, you should be a bit more reserved.”

“That’s right! Since we’re here, let’s take a photo together~! Uh, excuse me!”

Ah-nee said, trying to talk to the nearby people.

I hastily stopped her.

“Wait, Ah-nee. I’ll handle that kind of negotiation.”

I don’t want any more trouble.

With that in mind, I intervened, but…

“Iroha, stop. This isn’t Japan, okay? You can’t just hand your smartphone to someone who doesn’t know about it. If it gets stolen, you can’t complain.”

“Eh. I didn’t think about that.”

“Mai has a selfie stick~.”

It’s not that it will definitely be stolen, but self-defense is important.

Especially since our smartphones contain a lot of work-related confidential information.

“Okay, let’s take the picture. ‘Say cheese’.”

“‘Cheese’!”

In response to Angu Ogu’s call, we made peace signs or heart signs.

The shutter sound echoed.

“Come to think of it, the photo call in America is the same as in Japan~.”

“I think that was originally from there, wasn’t it?”

While saying that, we all peered into the screen to check the quality of the photo.

The photo showed the four of us huddled together and the Statue of Liberty firmly in the background.

“Now, here’s the question. The Statue of Liberty, at her feet are chains and shackles, in her right hand is a torch, and in her left hand is a book. Do you know what’s written in that book?”

Angu Ogu suddenly threw a quiz at us.

Why now? I tilted my head, thinking about the answer.

“Oh!?”

I realized and checked today’s date on my smartphone—.