Chapter 221: [Don’t Fall Down The Rabbit Hole]

Chapter 221: [Don’t Fall Down The Rabbit Hole]

Watching the affectionate American couple, I ponder.

Is this a cultural gap?

<<Americans don’t seem to care about such things in public, right?>>

<<Yeah. Compared to Japan, everyone here is open. ...Even when I was a kid and went to a friend’s house to play, I could hear “sounds” from the next room.>>

<<Eww!?>>

<<And afterward, they walked around the room with just a towel. I was quite surprised.>>

Ango seems a bit embarrassed as he says this.

Is, is that okay?

<<Isn’t that something you do when there are no kids around?>>

<<Hmm. But when is there no one around?>>

<<Well...>>

Thinking about it, when do families with children find the time for baby-making activities? Probably earlier than when work ends, maybe on weekends...

<<In America, kids don’t really go out to play alone.>>

<<...Now that you mention it.>>

<<Iroha-chan, when do Japanese couples flirt?>>

<<Huh!? Um, when is it?... Maybe when we go to a love hotel?>>

<<Love hotel?>>

<<Uh, there are special rooms for that kind of thing, and you can rent them.>>

<<There’s something like that? Japanese people are geniuses! If we ever go to Japan, let’s definitely try it out.>>

Don’t talk about that in front of the kids!

I want to interject, but since only adults are present, well... it’s fine.

But really, they don’t seem to find discussions about baby-making or related topics “sensitive”.

I’m not sure if “sensitive” is the right term, but somehow, I feel like I understand why Japan is experiencing a declining birthrates.

<<But, around here, the safety is good, and you rarely get invited to such things at school. This place is really nice. It may be a bit expensive, but buying safety with money is worth it.>>

<<The place where we bought our house was a bit of a mistake.>>

<<Speaking of which, it’s unusual for a family to live in an apartment, right?>>

<<Is it?>>

<<Yeah. The rooms in this apartment are quite spacious, but in America, there are probably more people living alone in houses.>>

America is really big.

Hearing that, indeed, Papa-san and Mama-san seem like rare cases.

<<Something happened?>>

<<Actually, after buying the house, gangs increased nearby.>>

<<That really happens?>>

<<Well, we had bad luck. Once the house is sold, we plan to buy a new one and move.>>

<<Oh, speaking of which, will you take me to the shooting range sometime soon? I want to practice.>>

<<Ah, yeah. It’s safe here, but you never know what might happen in the future.>>

Hearing such a conversation, I had an epiphany.

I see. Obviously, not every American is adept at handling guns.

<<When it comes down to it, if I forgot how to shoot in an emergency and couldn’t protect my child, that would be unforgivable.>>

I thought of the shooting range as part of my ‘hobbies,’ but apparently, it’s not just that.

It seems to be a kind of rehearsal for self-defense.

In Japan, we prepare anti-crime goods and conduct evacuation drills in preparation for earthquakes.

Similarly, in America, they prepare guns and conduct shooting practices to resist robbery.

<<Huh? Are you interested, by any chance? If you want, would you like to come with us next time?>>

I realize I’ve been invited.

Come to think of it, I’ve never tried shooting in America.