The Chanson Hat Story (Part 2) | Battle Gear

Recap of the story so far

Saori was approached by a gentleman in a fedora who was singing chanson at a shrine for some reason, and she ended up agreeing to have her fortune told. While she knew she shouldn't follow a stranger to their home, she was torn between fear and curiosity. (The first part is based on a true story, while the second part is fiction.)

A bus?

"Are we taking the bus?"

"Yes, it's just a little way from here."

The bus arrived shortly after. It was a cramped two-seater. She wanted to avoid sitting next to him at all costs. As Saori stood frozen, the Chanson Hat gentleman gestured for her to sit in the seat across the aisle. Saori felt deeply relieved by this.

Please keep this sense of distance, Chanson Hat! That was her prayer.

The scenery was becoming increasingly green. He said it was close. Just right there. What is going to happen to me now? Her heart suddenly began to race, and she blamed herself more than ever for not being able to live a sensible life.

My cute children. My husband, who I fought with a lot but who also took care of me. My family back home. Honestly, thank you for everything up until now.

And, I'm sorry.

Even though she was on the verge of tears, perhaps because she was in such an extreme state, Saori fell asleep.

How long had she been riding? When he said, "We're getting off at the next stop," she checked her smartphone and saw it had 15 percent battery left. Moreover, the signal was spotty.

The Chanson Hat gentleman paid the fare for both of them.

It's over... I couldn't pay for myself. Just now, something has changed. I have entrusted my fate to the Chanson Hat. There is no turning back. She felt her back quietly freezing over.

Even so, she made sure to check the time for the return bus. Once an hour. 4:16 PM. If she missed this, she would worry her family. She had to make sure she could calculate the time to get back.

From the bus stop, it was a short walk if she took the shortcut.

After passing through a rice field path where dandelions grew and ducking through a short bamboo grove, an old Japanese house appeared. "Here we are."

It's a one-story house. Thank goodness. There seem to be several exits! There's an escape route. Once she realized she was okay, she started to look forward to the fortune-telling.

After stepping into the entrance, she was led to the parlor on the left. The scent of sandalwood incense lifted her spirits. "Wait here a moment," the Chanson Hat gentleman said, disappearing into the back.

A wooden cat carving. A stopped clock. And is this a figurine of Kū, the Hawaiian god of war? It is staring at me with a terrifying expression.

Honestly, everything there was terrifying.

Just in case, I reached through the lace curtains to the lock on the veranda window and unlatched it.

Ready. Now I can escape at any time.
Then, Saori felt excitement start to outweigh the fear again.

It's an emotional roller coaster.
My life force is shrinking.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

The moment I turned around, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Why did you change into a Chinese cap?
And a Chinese outfit, too?

"This is my battle gear."

(Yeah. This guy is basically Chanson-Chinese now. It's too funny. I think I might actually like it... Oh well, whatever happens, happens.)

"It's pretty good, right? Thanks, Saori-chan. Is oolong tea okay?"

(Scary. I didn't tell him my name.)

"Oh, you see, when I change into my battle gear, I activate a special ability."

(...Yeah. Whatever happens, happens. Oolong tea, please.)

"Got it~"

It's scary, Mom. Saori felt like crying. I guess even when you're 40, when you're pushed to the limit, you still think of your mother.

Saori made up her mind that she would absolutely not drink the tea even if it was served.

Surprisingly, it wasn't Chanson Hat who brought the tea.
It was a soft-spoken woman who looked to be over sixty, with gentle wrinkles etched into the corners of her eyes.

"Welcome. My husband probably scared you by talking to you so suddenly. Thank you for coming. Please, make yourself at home."

Are you his wife?
I wanted to ask, but my throat tightened and no voice came out.

Just then, Chanson Hat returned, carrying a large wooden box.

“Yeah, she’s my wife.”

That was the first thing he said.

Right, he can hear all my inner thoughts. I’m not used to this system yet.
Looking at the silly ornament on top of his Chinese-style hat, Saori’s mouth twitched upward just a little.

“So, where shall we start?”

Saori silently held out her palm. He began by examining her left hand with a large magnifying glass. It bothered me that Chanson Hat’s left hand was lightly touching my left hand. It’s close. A bit too close.

“Saori-chan, you do dance, don’t you?”

Huh? Can you tell that from palm reading?

“Yes, I can tell. I’m amazing. It’s good to dance with a clear mind and let yourself go. Keep doing it. You could even call it your mission.”

Here comes the mission talk!

“There’s also a sign of a crossroads in your destiny here. You’re 40 now, right? It’s the perfect time.”

Maybe today really was a special day. Maybe I’m glad I gathered the courage to come here.

After putting down the magnifying glass, Chanson took a card out of a small, dirty box.

“Alright, I’ll draw a tarot card. Oh, you draw one, Saori-chan.”

The card that came out was The Lovers.

“See, we’re destined to be together!”

“……No, we aren’t.”

(I bet all these cards are The Lovers. You tell every woman you bring in here that it’s destiny, don’t you, Chanson?)

“That’s not true, Saori-chan. Look here. They’re all different cards, see?”

Right, he can hear me. I hate this system.

“Oh, the tea is fine, so please drink it.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“It’s fine, Saori-chan. It’s one of the important rituals for proceeding with the reading, so please drink it.”

One of the important rituals, huh.

I sniffed it just a little.
Hmm, what is this scent? Floral. It's a scent I quite like.
My face was naturally drawn to the cup.

Before she knew it, Saori had taken a sip.
Huh? This is delicious. It's easy to drink.

"See? It was pretty good, wasn't it, Saori-chan? ...You drank it, didn't you? You went and drank it."

Oh no! I drank it.
My vision blurred softly.

God, I made a mistake.

It was already too late.
Just like that, Saori slumped onto the desk and fell into a sleep as if she had lost consciousness.

Where is this...
A beach in Hawaii.

Covering my chest with a halved coconut and dancing in a grass skirt made of leaves is... me?

I am dancing single-mindedly toward the ocean.
At first, I couldn't see well because of the sunset, but it seems I am offering a dance to a god on a ship.

The focus shifts more and more toward the ship.
The waves are getting rough.
The god is looking at me and smiling while being tossed about by the rough waves.

Or rather, he is smirking.

...It's Chanson Hawaii!

A jolt of electricity ran through my body, I woke up, and the vision cut off.

"I knew it! We were destined to be together!"

As if to cut off Chanson, who was speaking eagerly, Saori tried her best.

"That is not true."

"No, no matter how you look at it, it's a bond from a past life. Saori-chan's mission is to dance here. Now, take this."

I was handed a wooden box.
Even though I had nothing but a bad feeling, my heart was racing without me knowing why.

The box was old and splintered. Taking the utmost care not to get hurt, I gently opened the lid.

What jumped into my eyes were a giant halved coconut and a withered leaf skirt.

What is this? What cup size is this?

"Come on. Dance, Saori-chan. Freely. Go ahead."

No. This isn't mine.

"Just try putting it on and everything will make sense. This is Saori-chan's battle suit. Shall we activate your special ability?"

Activate a special ability...
I was almost drawn in by those tempting words for a moment.

"No."

I came back to my senses immediately after seeing the oversized coconuts.

"It's not mine!"

Saori hurriedly got dressed and bolted out of there.
I was able to leave through the front door normally.

When I looked back slightly, the wife and Chanson were standing side by side at the entrance, waving with smiles on their faces. Why are they smiling?

"No. It's not mine."
I kept repeating those words.

Once I reached the bamboo grove, I felt safe, but at the same time, my heart began to pound violently.
It seemed my heart was reacting strongly because I couldn't process what had just happened.

I ran through the bamboo grove in a frenzy, and then I saw the bus stop.

Thank goodness! I can go home.

Wait, what time is it now?
4:15 PM.
One minute left.

Saori made it to the bus just in the nick of time.
My phone battery was at 5 percent.

The moment I sat down, tears welled up.

That was close. I was one step away from going down the wrong path.

I don't need rituals.
I seriously don't need a mission.
My life is my own.

I don't want to be swayed by anyone.

But, what would have happened if I had actually changed into that battle suit?
What kind of special ability?
That thought crossed my mind, but I quickly shook it off, telling myself no, no.

No, more importantly, what should I have for dinner?

I already made miso soup.
I should have some chicken. I'll make fried chicken today.

Wait, wait, on a day with such strange events, my combat ability is zero.
I'll just play it safe and buy some pre-made food on the way home.

I will never follow a stranger again.
Saori made that resolution in her heart.