[Novel: Venus Syndrome] (148) To Africa by LCC

Chapter 1: Visas and Travel Preparations

Yuina Waride was a Venus child born without arms. As a woman with an "armless body," a condition occurring in one out of every 10,000 births, she is employed by the prosthetic manufacturer Saisei Prosthetics. She is not an apparel mannequin, but a "developmental mannequin" in the R&D department, wearing prosthetic arm prototypes to record their behavior and usability—standing every day at the boundary between technology and the human body. And now, she was going to Sierra Leone in West Africa, following the company's plan to popularize myoelectric prosthetic arms in developing countries, the "

SYNAPTIC Project.""Is this... really the official website?"

"It seems to be official. People have probably gotten them through this."

That answer came from Misato Agina, who was peering over her shoulder with her arms crossed. She was in charge of international relations at Saisei Prosthetics. A former member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, she had a background working in a prosthetic leg workshop in Cambodia. She looked calm, but her values were somewhat out there.

"When you say 'probably'... is it really okay?"

"Yeah. Even if we get stopped at the airport, I know someone who entered without a visa at worst."

"Wait, isn't that illegal entry?"

"No, no, they went through immigration properly. Though I think their passport was a copy."

"That's not 'properly' at all!"

Misato didn't even laugh, just pulled out an A4 sheet of paper.

"This is an invitation letter issued by a local NGO. When I told them 'prosthetic technician,' it became 'robotic technician.'"

"What kind of title is that? It sounds like a doctor on the hero's side in a superhero show."

"Yeah, but it makes a good impression, right? I heard a rumor going around the local airport that 'the robot person is coming.'"

"Ugh, the character setting is already taking on a life of its own..."

Yuina asked while looking at the paper.

"Does this hospital... actually exist?"

"It's not on Google Maps, but I confirmed the roof on satellite photos. Also, there were three goats."

"No, having goats there isn't exactly a reassuring factor..."

"It's fine, it's fine. The goats around there are friendly."

Yuina took a silent deep breath and said quietly.

"I thought... I was going alone."

"I'm going too. My business trip request is already approved. I could go to Sierra Leone alone, but throwing a girl with a prosthetic arm out there by herself is a bit much."

"When you say 'a bit much'... what is your standard, Misato-san?"

"When I was in the volunteers, I got scolded for going to take a bath on a night when crocodiles appeared in the river, so compared to that..."

"Your standard of 'better than a crocodile' is completely broken!"

After that exchange, Misato calmly handed over the next paper.

"I've booked your yellow fever vaccination at a clinic in Minato Ward for the day after tomorrow."

"Is it okay even with a prosthetic arm?"

"Well, they probably aren't used to it. When I called, there was about five seconds of silence before they asked, 'A place to inject...?' When I said, 'The thighs are intact,' they suddenly sounded bright and said, 'Oh, in that case.'"

"Can you let me listen to the recording of that call...?"

"I didn't record it. But they were laughing on the other end. It's probably a rare case."

Yuina took the paper and tightened the ring of the prosthetic arm on her shoulder.

"Then, I have to make sure it works properly. This prosthetic arm."

"Yeah. Nothing starts unless someone who knows it 'works' makes it work."

Chapter 2: Between the Sky and Landmines

"Is this really the gate?"

At the boarding gate of Narita Airport Terminal 3, Yuina looked at her boarding pass over and over. Unlike the full-service Terminals 1 and 2, this terminal dedicated to LCCs felt somewhat cluttered, with low ceilings and floor markings that looked like a gymnasium. Various languages were flying around, and the smell and air were humid.

"Yeah. The tag and flight number match. It's probably correct."

Misato Agina, who said this expressionlessly beside her, was light on her feet with just a backpack. She had her boarding pass displayed on her smartphone screen instead of paper, and she was strangely calm.

"When you say 'probably'... I've never heard the name of this airline."

"Scoot is a major carrier, at least. As for the next one, Ascension Link... well, I confirmed that people actually ride it."

"When you say 'confirmed'..."

They passed through security and sat on a bench in the narrow waiting room. Yuina kept her prosthetic arm on, leaning her arm against her bag. Her first international flight, her first long-haul flight, her first time in Africa. Her stomach felt unsettled the whole time.

"By the way, is there Wi-Fi at the airport over there?"

"There is in Singapore. In Accra and Freetown... sometimes there is, but sometimes it's down."

"When you say 'down'... so I have to buy a SIM card?"

"Yeah. You'll have to negotiate at the airport shop. Why don't you try saying, 'I have a prosthetic arm, so give me a discount for one hand'? Sometimes that works even as a joke."

"No, if it works, I'd be worried..."

"If the local people are laughing, it's probably fine."

Boarding began, and they walked toward the plane through a makeshift-looking corridor. Yuina walked while worrying about the joints of her prosthetic arm, but Misato, who was walking behind her, muttered calmly.

"When the door of this plane wouldn't close, they kicked it shut with a bang. When I rode it before."

"No, that's not something you should tell me beforehand!"

"Yeah. But it flew, and it arrived."

"That's not a 'yeah'!"

Yuina sat in her seat in silence and fastened her seatbelt. The fingertips of her prosthetic arm were trembling just a little bit.

Chapter 3: At Singapore Changi Airport

Singapore Changi International Airport. The ceiling of the arrival lobby was unusually high, and the floor was shiny, looking more like the lobby of a luxury hotel than an airport.

Yuina looked around, making the joints of her prosthetic arm click softly.

"Where am I supposed to go from here?"

"We have no choice but to enter the country once."

Misato said that and lined up for immigration with a cool face. There was no transit counter for transfers between LCCs, and they had to pick up their checked luggage and re-check it.

"Isn't there a transfer gate or something?"

"Scoot and Ascension Link don't partner with other companies. You have to do everything yourself."

"Isn't that... too inconvenient?"

"Yeah. That's just how LCCs are."

At immigration, the official's gaze focused on Yuina's prosthetic arm. Seeing her struggle to open her passport, the officer frowned for a moment.

"Can you show me your face again, please?"

"Oh, yes. My face. It's correct, it's me."

"She can’t hold it with her hands. Try from this angle."

Misato added in English from the side. The officer gave a bitter smile, stamped it, and handed it back in silence.

The baggage carousel was turning smoothly, but Yuina's suitcase didn't come out for a long time. On the second, then third round, when it finally appeared, a "HANDLE WITH CARE" paper tape was wrapped messily around the handle.

"It doesn't look like it was 'cared' for at all..."

"It's better than it being destroyed. I once saw someone whose wheelchair came out as just the casters."

"Whoa..."

The re-check-in counter was still closed. Misato said nothing, sat on a bench in the corner of the airport, and opened a small bag of nuts. She ate them crunchily while skillfully supporting the bag with one hand.

"Wait, here... how long are we waiting?"

"Last time it was two hours. I wonder about this time."

"I'm already as tired as if I'd reached my destination..."

"Getting worn out at the departure point is a common occurrence."

The check-in counter finally opened three hours before boarding. The staff's uniforms were an unfamiliar color, and ID cards served as name tags. Misato calmly presented the documents, inserted an explanation about Yuina's prosthetic arm, and sent the luggage through.

"Well, now that we've come this far, there are only two more times."

"There are... two more times?"

"Yeah. But the next one is Accra, so it'll be even more chaotic."

"Nobody gets encouraged by hearing that!"

The two headed to security again. The prosthetic arm on her shoulder wouldn't trigger the sensor if she said nothing. But even without saying anything, anyone who looked would notice.

Yuina lifted her face and moved forward.

Chapter 4: The Chaos of Accra

"Wait... is this an airport?"

Accra Kotoka International Airport. Compared to the futuristic structure of Singapore, the arrival lobby in Accra was like a suburban logistics warehouse. The ceiling was low, the walls were yellowed panels, and it was unclear whether the air conditioning was working or stopped. The fans were spinning, but the breeze didn't reach them, and the air was lukewarm.

"An airport. There are international flights, and there's a sign for arrival flights. Probably."

Misato, walking in front, answered in a calm voice. The way she stepped over cardboard boxes left carelessly in the middle of the aisle was strangely natural, which in turn invited anxiety.

At immigration, the official stared at Yuina's prosthetic arm. Seeing Yuina struggle with her fingertips, unable to open the page well when trying to hand over her passport, the official said, "You okay?" Misato casually leaned in.

"She’s fine. She just can’t flip pages. No problem."

The official stamped it in silence. Like a relief of having advanced one step, like a rite of passage of just having passed through.

Picking up checked luggage was yet another ritual.

The carousel wasn't moving. Or rather, the luggage itself wasn't coming out. The surrounding passengers were also standing there without saying anything. After 15, 20 minutes, just as Yuina was about to lose patience, the back door creaked open, and an official came out pushing a cart. The luggage was... piled up.

"You're kidding... is this... hand-delivered?"

"Yeah. Those people will call out. Like 'Nakamura? Suzuki?'"

"Oh..."

Yuina's luggage was placed on the floor with a thud without her name being called. The duct tape on the handle had peeled off, but the contents were safe.

"How do we get from here to the departure lobby?"

"Go around the back door, take the stairs. The structure on the departure side isn't properly connected."

"Isn't an airport supposed to be something that's 'self-contained within the airport'?"

The stairs were narrow, the ceiling was low, and she had no choice but to carry her suitcase with one hand. Being careful not to put a load on the joints of her prosthetic arm, Yuina climbed one step at a time. On the way, Misato suddenly muttered.

"There was an elevator here, but... it probably doesn't work anymore."

"When you say 'doesn't work,' is it broken?"

"Pigeons were nesting inside."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

The departure lobby was slightly brighter than the arrival area. But there were no staff at the counters, and someone was sleeping on a corner of a bench using a suitcase as a pillow.

"Check-in is...?"

"Someone usually comes about two hours before. Probably wearing a uniform."

"When you say 'probably'..."

"Also, if they tell you, 'You couldn't board, so we're switching you to the next flight,' you don't have to get angry. It happens often."

"That's not called a switch."

"Yeah. But the people over here will say with a straight face, 'Don't worry, we do happy change.'"

"It's not happy!"

Yuina sat on the bench, drained of energy. Misato was checking the weather in Freetown on her smartphone while drinking water. What was displayed was a high of 38 degrees, 92% humidity, and a thunderstorm icon.

"How's the weather?"

"It's hot. Probably all the time."

"It feels like the word 'hot' is about to lose its meaning..."

At that moment, a woman who looked like a staff member in uniform finally appeared and spread a handwritten roster on the desk. It was a style where you had to provide your own ballpoint pen. When Misato silently offered a writing utensil, the woman smiled and said, "Good thinking."

The meaning was... probably something like "That's helpful" or "You're thoughtful." Yuina thought, a bit too late, that she should have taken the English class that Saisei had started making the mannequins attend once a week "with an eye toward international expansion" a bit more seriously.

Chapter 5: Heat, Landmines, and White Paper

The moment the door of the arrival lobby opened, heat mixed with humidity, soil, and exhaust gas hit her face.
This was West Africa, Freetown, the capital of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Even though it was past noon, the sky was dull, and light brown clouds were hanging low.

The paved road was peeling in patches, and a dog was sleeping on the asphalt. Someone in uniform stepped over it while dragging a suitcase.

"Whoa... the air is just too heavy."

When Yuina muttered that, Misato said beside her without any emotion.

"Temperature 38 degrees. Humidity over 90. Mosquitoes are probably more dangerous than landmines."

"Is 'landmine' a word you can just say so casually...?"

"They're common around here. Well, I don't think there are any in the place we're going today."

"You shouldn't say 'I think'..."

A white van was parked beside the airport parking lot. An A4 sheet of paper was taped to the hood. "WELCOME: W.SYNAPTIC TEAM" was handwritten in black marker. It was slightly smudged.

"That's probably it."

The man in the driver's seat waved at them. He was thin, wore his hat pulled low, and although he was smiling, his eyes were unreadable. When he opened the van door and pointed at their luggage, he asked, "Only two?"

"Yeah, just us. The others are remote."
Misato replied calmly.

"Ah, Japanese project. Very small. But okay."
The man nodded as if convinced of something and threw the suitcases into the trunk.

The seatbelt in the passenger seat was broken. Yuina looked out the window while struggling to fasten the buckle with her prosthetic arm. Palm trees and iron fences appeared alternately. There were many bumps in the road, and the car body bounced frequently.

"The hotel... is it a proper place?"

"Yeah. A business lodging often used by NGOs. Wi-Fi is... available in some rooms."

"That's the kind of thing you say as 'it reaches' instead of 'it's available'..."

"But some people said it connects on the roof."

"Do I have to go all the way to the roof...?"

The lodging was a three-story building, and the walls were a pale pink. There was one electric fan in the front lobby. There was no one at the check-in counter, and there was no call bell. After a while, a staff member appeared from the back and asked, "You are Japanese team?"

"Yes. From Saisei."
When Misato said that, the staff member took out a paper file and wrote down the room number.

They were guided to a twin room on the second floor. There was an air conditioner, but it didn't work, and a ceiling fan was spinning whimsically. The showerhead in the bathroom was hung with a string, and the towels had a texture more like thick paper than towels.

"This is... the first night..."

Yuina took off her prosthetic arm and placed it by the bed. The metal joint made a dry clicking sound.

"The air in this country smells like wet cardboard, doesn't it?"

"Cardboard might be correct. Water, dust, and heat are all remaining."

"Don't tell me that after sleeping a little, it'll be morning, and we'll be going to the village right away."

"Yeah. But we're leaving at 9:00 AM tomorrow, so I'll need you to wake up."

"So we really are going..."

Yuina spread her luggage on the edge of the bed and took out a portable insect repellent spray from a zippered bag.

"I brought this thinking I might need it, but maybe that was the right call."

"Yeah. Mosquitoes increase from the evening. If you let your guard down, you'll get dengue fever or malaria, both."

"The order of what I should be wary of is backwards..."

"I had dengue in Cambodia a long time ago, and I lost three days of memory. I was probably swimming in a dream the whole time from the fever."

"Hey, Misato-san. I don't think that's what 'baptism of a foreign land' means..."

Misato opened the file by the pillow. On the white A4 paper, "DEMINING ZONE – KAKRI VILLAGE" was printed. Next to it, "partner observer" and Yuina's name were written in small letters.

Yuina looked at it, and without taking a deep breath, she said this.

"I guess 'mosquitoes are more dangerous than landmines' was a lie after all."

"Yeah. It was a lie."