Chapter 214. [California Roll]

The book is held in the left hand of the Statue of Liberty.

What is written there…?

“Independence Day, huh… I see. July 4th is tomorrow.”

“It might have been good timing for Mai to rush over here with her reckless actions.”

“Oh, is that so~? Is there some festival?”

“It’s not like there’s nothing like that. There are things you can only do on Independence Day.”

I knew about Independence Day itself from studying society.

But what exactly are the things that can only be done on that day?

“Well then, shall we buy something on the way back later?”

“Even if I don’t understand, of course!”

Ah-nee wouldn’t miss events like this.

Naturally, she agrees.

We left the Statue of Liberty behind, not as the Freedom Lady.

But as the Statue of Liberty.

***

“Wow~. Before we knew it, it was already a good time, huh?”

Mai looked up at the darkening sky and said.

While Angu Ogu was busy buying ‘something’.

We were casually checking out various shops.

Time had melted away in the blink of an eye.

And it was all because of Ah-nee reacting to everything one by one.

But even more than that.

“The first time, getting lost and wasting time was a big deal, right?”

“You don’t get it, Iroha-chan! Tourism is about enjoying everything, including those detours!”

“That’s a meaningful line only when someone other than Ah-nee says it, right?”

“More importantly, let’s eat~! Onee-chan is hungry~!”

“Hey!”

Ignoring our conversation completely, Ah-nee was saying whatever she pleased.

Freedom!… No, that was exactly right.

“But I’m hungry too.”

“Come to think of it, we haven’t had lunch.”

I did have a light snack on the plane, but being a domestic flight, it was more like a snack.

“Oh!? That shop over there looks interesting! Alright, let’s go in!”

“Eh~!? Onee-chan, are you serious~!? We’ve come all the way to America~!?”

“Wait, Anego! If we’re going to eat, let’s go to another place…!”

“Hello!”

“Well, too late now.”

Ah-nee opened the door of the restaurant and barged in.

We had no choice but to follow her.

Before she could start talking enthusiastically, I informed the staff.

<<Hello. There are four of us; do you have any available seats?>>

<<Sure, go ahead and sit over there. – ‘Irasshaimase’!>>

The response from the staff was a Japanese greeting.

Moreover, everyone was dressed in uniforms resembling white happi coats.

Furthermore, as we moved deeper into the restaurant, the scent of seafood and vinegar wafted through the air.

Yes, this place was.

“Why is the first meal we have in America sushi?”

“I honestly don’t like American sushi.”

“Well, it’s fine, it’s fine!”

Of all things, it had to be a sushi restaurant.

Well, to be accurate, there are hardly any “specialty stores” in America, so it’s more like a [Japanese restaurant].

“Eh~, what should I get~!”

Ah-nee began to happily choose from the menu.

Since we were already here, there was no helping it.

We tried to choose sushi as well.

“I, I have no idea about any of these dishes. Hey, Ogu, I know California Roll is inside out, but what about Dynamite Roll here?”

“It’s the one with shrimp tempura rolled up.”

“O-Ogu-san! Th-this one here! Spider roll, does that mean!?”

“Don’t jump to conclusions. It’s called Spider Roll, but it’s not rolled with spiders. And the Caterpillar Roll over there doesn’t have caterpillars rolled in, okay?”

In this lively manner, we made our choices from the menu.

Since we were in America, we focused on American-style sushi rolls.

We placed our orders with the staff and after a while.

As we looked at the sushi that arrived.

“American sushi looks visually extravagant, huh~.”

Seaweed was rolled inside, salmon was layered on the outside, or there were toppings like tobiko.

Sometimes, the sauce was drizzled from the top.

It was a colorful array of dishes.

“Alright then, let’s dig in!” “Bon appétit~” “Itadakimasu” “…Itadakimasu.”

After joining our hands, each of us reached for the sushi.

I also bit into a sushi roll. Its taste was.

“Mmm, delicious~!” “””……”””

The only one who raised her voice was Ah-nee.

Angu Ogu let out a sigh and said.

“That’s why I didn’t want to.”

“I wonder why. Is there something different? Even though the ingredients seem to be not that different, apart from the shape.”

There’s vinegared rice, there’s seaweed, there’s seafood.

Soy sauce is also on the table.

But something feels off.

“That’s probably because of the law.”

“…? Why are we talking about the law here?”

“The seafood served in these restaurants has to be frozen once.”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t know why, but tuna is an exception. It might be a bit better. Here, aaah.”

Angu Ogu offered a roll of sushi with a reddish sauce on it.

In the flow, I also bite with an “aaah.”.

“What!? Ogu-san, that’s not fair~!?”

“What’s the name of this one?”

“It’s the Spicy Tuna Roll.”

“Oh~ mgh!?”

“How is it, Iroha-chan? Is Mai’s sushi delicious~?”

“…Don’t shove things into my mouth while I’m talking.”

Mai stuffed sushi with soft-shell crab into my mouth.

I chewed on it, and Angu Ogu screamed as if she couldn’t endure it.

“Aah, seriously! Why is American sushi so f*cked up? Anego aside, isn’t it unacceptable for Iroha and the others as Japanese!? This is blasphemy against sushi—”

“Well, not really?” “Mai probably doesn’t mind?”

“Eehhh!?”

As Angu Ogu began to criticize American sushi harshly, we tilted our heads.

For some reason, she, being an American, was the only one rejecting the sushi rolls, creating a strange reversal.