Vol 1 Chapter 3 (1/2)

Letter from the Desert

On the way back home that day, Jin and Yuuya stopped by the restaurant on the back of the school, Alf Layla

Alf Layla was a restaurant for special Persian dishes But, because the shop was catering to the current fashi+onable fee

Even so, the shop had not changed into just a place to go for cheap meals There were tables, chairs, and counter seats, and above the table stood chopsticks, and on the wall there was an unskillfully written

“W~elcome!”

Jin and Yuuya, as they opened the door and entered the shop, were greeted by a waitress with a powerful, pleasant voice She was a girl with darkish skin, and precisely bound golden hair The only daughter of the shopkeeper, she was Alf Shamshi+r

“The attractive shop girl Alf Cute right? You know she's the sae as us”

In the kitchen, the shopkeeper with dark skin and black hair was joggling the frying pan, as his counterpart, Alf, with her golden hair, was grilling so Jin to a seat at the counter, Yuuya lifted his voice to the shopkeeper

“Hey Unks, I'd like to put today's order on a tab, is that alright?”

“Watch it ya bloody fool I' me 'Unks'!”

An authoritative shopkeeper, he answered like a true Tokyoite Yuuya sat in his seat, turning to talk to Jin

“By the way, your little sister is still pretty cute herself you know”

“She's not hborhood”

“Whatever it's all the same If you compare them to Zadou, they're still just acorns”

”Who are you calling an acorn!”

Alf ca Yuuya on the head with a silver tray In a strong ht line Pressing his head, Yuuya let out a shout

“That freakin' hurts! That's why I said they were different, Zadou isn't as tomboyish as this”

“You think so?”

Jin let out what he was thinking Yuuya turned to glare at him

“What's up with your question!”

“Ah, no Nothing really”

What happened yesterday was a secret There's no way he could tell anyone With his sense of duty, there was no way Jin was going to talk Nearly spitting, Yuuya was shaking his fists as he dropped his claim

“Listen up, Jin It looks like you've got another opinion but, there's no rooentle kindness Well, there's not really any proof that she's reached perfection, but sonity in dragging down such a girl Don't you think so?”

“Nope I've never gone out with a girl up till now after all”

At Jin's response, Yuuya clutched his hand to his chest

“Ah, I see”

“Since the past I've never really cared irls It's a bit different fro to music and stuff to learn more about them and stuff”

“Nah that's”

Struggling for words, Yuuya spoke in a small voice

“Actually for one out with someone before”

“Eh!? Is that how it is?”

Under Jin's shocked gaze, Yuuya grew red, turning angry

“Don't friggin' stare at me like that!”

“What, you want me to stare at you with a fuzzy warm look?”

“Besides that, during lunch break, you taught Zadou archeology? So what kind of thing is she interested in?”

“A-Ahh That's”

“You can tell me There's no way it's a secret is it? If everyone in class finds out there's a secret between just you and Zadou, they'll hang you from jealousy

“No There's absolutely positively no way it's anything good like that”

Jin affirmed his earlier denial Familiar with histo ask again

“Well then, tell ht music to try to understand women, it hasn't worked at all Since I'ot to do my best”

“I see It deals with the ancient silk road, and how goods would be”

“Zzzz”

“You went to sleep pretty quickly”

Jin looked at Yuuya, with his head lying prostrate on the counter, in surprise At that hly setting down their cups of water

“Look here, if you're going to sit, then place your orders already! Else the shop's routine is going to be interrupted”

Looking surprised, Jin turned his gaze up to look at Alf

“Your japanese is great Just like a true Tokyoite”

“Well that's obvious I was born and raised here after all”

“Hey, Young'un! It's way too early for ya to be flirtin'! If you lay a hand on ettin' a surprise in your curry!”

Alf's father could ing to keep the frying pan going Yuuya turned to speak to Jin

“The oas born after his parents caeneration will continue as a Tokyoite,” is soeneration is Alf”

“You that are you going to do about your order?”

With her hand on her hip, Alf had asked Jin All Yuuya could do was laugh

“Even if you ask e're going to do, without the ht Jin? Naan and shi+sh kebab sound like some kind of incantation With that said, two shi+sh kebab specials please”

Afterit

“Understood, two special shi+sh kebabs!”

Next, she began putting the servings of rice on two plates When the ridiron, Jin turned a curious gaze over to watch

“So there was a Persian restaurant this close after all”

He began looking around the shop Just like Yuuya had said, the restaurant did indeed have a lot of cheaper dishes, and it really was full of classmates from Harusha Academy

“The wait's over! Here's the two sets of shi+sh kebab!”

With some force, Alf set the tray down before Jin and Yuuya On top of the large plate, was a donburi bowl filled with a mountain of rice, on top of which was spread the beef skewers, which was spiced with a curry setables There was also a tomato stew to top it all off

“Excellent A,” is all Jin could utter in his overwhel in

“In the grilled chicken bowl, there's even salad and miso soup It was the same for me when I was in middle school and a senior tookabout this place being a foreign restaurant But since the food from the middle east is soft, you can use chopsticks to eat it”

Jin picked up his skewer, covered with meat The mix of herbs and spices was combined to form a miraculous flavor After the teeth bit into the meat, the flavors in the condensed bullion were released

“SUPERB!”

Jin screah he had never seen the endless Arabian sands, the ies seemed to surface on the inside of his eyelids Due to the added s of the flavor of rock salt Standing with a caravan of camels in the desert, were the ruins of an ancient city in the sand

So that's the kind of place ht to himself

(Solomon's Treasure huhI wonder where it could be)

Jin was thinking deeply as he savored the ists and adventurers, but had yet to find anything The treasure had yet to be found The last resort he could see, was only in thinking about the birthplace of the ic lamp which was Sierra's, that, and the fact he didn't knohat else to do as he couldn't contact his parents At his wits ends, Jin could only cradle his head in his arms

Just then, a plate was placed in front of him It was a massive omelet with spinach inside

“I'll be leaving this with you~”

Jin quickly tried to hand the plate of omelets back to Alf, only to have her shake her head and push the omelets back towards him

“That's my treat Haha, the Persian Wind Omelets”

“Your treatwhy?”

“The spinach has a lot of nutrients in it It's so the Silk Road here to japan Since you ht to have been graced with a great deal from there”

“But, I' like this?”

“It doesn't disturb the business to keep the ht”

Alf puffed out her cheeks while crossing her ar rapidly

“Sorry It's really delicious, it's just I had to think for a bit”

“Don't worry, I'irl yet I couldn't explain very well But what you said earlier, actually made me really pleased with you”

Raising his finger to point at Jin, Yuuya s Alf to turn a bit red

“Don't say weird things to this dope!”

“Quit hitting me with each and every tray! This isn't Yoshi+eki!”

Rubbing his face Yuuya drew hi Jin's thumb, he pushed it into Jin's mouth

“If it's JinYou know he's a weirdo, it's like he's always looking up stuff about the Middle East Until yesterday, our dorm room was stuffed full of book after book about that stuff And since he likes the Middle East so much, he must like Alf too”

“Don't say such stupid stuff! You're troubling her!”

Jin scolded Yuuya seriously But, surprised, Alf rested her elbow on Jin's shoulder

“Heeeh, so you've got some interest in the Middle East”

“Not really You say interest butit's just thinking about if the hts could have made it to japan”

After Jin's statement, both Alf and her Father's faces froze, followed by a stiffening expression

“N-N-N-N-N-No way That's just talk right? Right Dad?”

Looking a bit confused, Alf turned the direction of her speech to the shopkeeper He also turned a cold shoulder on the conversation

“T-T-T-T-T-That's right, bloody fool! What's up with ya? So a Genie of the La out, you believe that?”

“Jin, even though you're always thinking and studying about archeology, you're still thinking about stuff like that? Unexpectedly, you're pretty childish”

Yuuya was bouncing around in his laughter Jin siers, and though about how disappointing it was

“I seeno matter how many Middle Eastern people there are, they don't know after all If it's a japanese person, there's no way anybody would know anything about a wicked pedestal”

“U, uhic lamp in japan, who did you hear that from?”

Calmly, Alf took hold of both of Jin's shoulders, and enquired of him with serious eyes Because what had happened between Sierra and hiation

“It's fine I'”

“Ah, it's fine, don't worry don't worry For us too, we're sorry we couldn't be of more use”

Even though Alf ended it like that, Jin suddenly noticed sos Beco a bit worried, Jin asked about it

“You s?”

“Ah, no It's nothing”

Sniffing quickly, Alf turned to her side Just then Jin was elbowed by Yuuya

“You know, it's probably because off all the garbage in the dorm room, so you just smell like mold”

“I wonder if it's an outbreak of a new life-form”

Someone like Jin, who always cares about hisdirty clothes that hadn't been washed, was cos, si “Ahh”

“Isn't this the smell from the Dorm Head?”

“Ah, you mean that whatever it's called incense?”

In the ripped Jin's collar, the incense he earing had probably been captured by Jin Alf, who couldn't have thought of this, was taking this in stride

“That's right It's that s, you've already finished eating everything You know, you eat pretty quick”

Alf was looking at Jin's plate There was nothing left Yet on Yuuya's plate, there was still at least half of hisof water

“Really, I don't think I eat all that fast”

“It's fast, fast, yet you're still so thin even with your gluttony”

Co for Solo and excavating, he had gotten really hungry froht have to eat ainst his sto a mouthful of shi+sh kebab

“This shop, fits you doesn't it? The food tastes good, it's not too expensiveNext tie Persian Curry? If you can eat it within 30 ht, Alf”

With Yuuya's state with her nose around Jin, when her body started to shake

“A-Ahh That's a delicious scent”

“Delicious?”

Wondering what she was talking about suddenly, Jin lifted his eyebrows in puzzle a short start, Alf proceeded to shake her head

“Ah, no I just misspoke”

“Alf, you're drooling”

Being pointed at by Yuuya, Alf quickly shut her mouth It was kind of suspicious

“Ah, that's right What you said about coain, it can't be today,” said Alf as she focused her attention onto Jin

Rubbing his stomach, Yuuya could only shake his head

“It's alright, today's fine as it is Anyet fat”

“I wasn't talking to you So Jin, won't you coain today?”

Alf's waitress side was so developed Different froiven him the omelets earlier, she used the voice of a cat, and afrom her body

It would be his eveningmore and more, but he couldn't eat too much on credit, he had also received quite a lot of shi+sh kebab, so he wouldn't be able to really fithis restraint, Jin shook his head

“I'ood with today as well”

“Well, if you say you won't eat anyranates so they will restore your energy, and you can eat as much as you'd like”

“To so on credit, to make a recommendation like that”

“It's fine Isn't that right Dad”

Alf raised her voice so it would carry to the kitchen, follohich a response came from the shopkeeper

“Yep If that's what Alf said, then eat as much as you'd like bloody Fool!”

“Yeah, like he said, so you don't have to show restraint So eat to your hearts desire, and become round round fat”

“Round round fat, what's with that?

A part of what Alf had just said was strange Before Jin could think too hard about it, Alf had already stretched out her arly

“Ah, ah, no you don't need to worry about it So, coreat service!”

Alf was laughing sweetly For her to not smilewas unthinkable, indeed whatever it see else besides her s like he wanted to reply, he was stuck on her chest, unable to say anything

After returning to the dores, but in the end nobody had called

“After all, nobody returnedaround at”

There were plenty of tiet a call and he wouldn't answer, but for them not to pick up when he wanted to call, Jin was a bit worried

Flipping the phone shut, Jin tossed it onto the upper bunk-bed In order for the dorym clothes, as the dorm had chosen the uniform for the exercise club, so that's what he and Yuuya were unwillingly wearing Unaffiliated with the exercise club, Jin and Yuuya earing their gy his shorts, while Jin had on his jersey While looking at a aze to the clock on the wall

“It's five-thirty, about tiry?”

“Starving Even though I ate so much at Alf Layla”

“As expected of a glutton, you have quite so skills Anyhat if you went on a diet for just today?”

Thinking like a stranger, Yuuya was laughing lightly However, until breakfast the next day, it would be over 12 hours, which he didn't think he could y books either, so there was nothing to read as well He also didn't have the willpower to do his hoh

At thatup from the bed, Yuuya went to answer it

“Yes?”

Standing there was a first year ards to the Senpais, he wasn't even tre

“Hey, weren't you that first year handing out onigiri this ?”

Bowing his head, the boy came into the room

“I'm Himuro Keita Araki Senpai, there's a letter that came for you”

“Letter? Aah, thanks”

Keita handed the letter to Jin, as sitting up on his bed With a tone of admiration, Yuuya spoke to him

“You've got so a letter to a Senpai's room, usually people would be pretty scared, and just wait in the hallway or so”

“But, in order to follow the dor lost or stolen, all private letters and the like have to be relayed quickly to whoever they're ”

“Hah? Wait a minuteHimurothe vice president of the student council?”

“That's right Eriko is my older sister”

“Ah, so that's why you've got guts”

At that, Keita turned a stern gaze on Yuuya

“I a profit froh you're ive you!”

“S-Sorry sorry I didn't et so mad”

“Well then, please pardon my intrusion”

Oncehis head, Keita left the rooh

“Geez geez, it's so hard to get along with that honor student type, their prides are so high and all Doesn't he look like his older sister, Jin?

“I'm not sure, I don't know his older sister after all”

“Aah, that's right it's iirls But I can ask you stuff about cuneifor can't I?”

“I'd belike that”

“It's a joke Who'd ask about that stuff”

“The oldest cuneiform written laere Hammurabi's Code”

“The Student Council Vice President's na down a job now to help cover living costs After getting peroes to a part-time job after class”

Matching himself to Jin's pace, Yuuya explained it all

“But apart from that, what's the letter about?”

“Ah Uhm”

Jin turned his gaze back towards the envelope It had a stamp frolish The paper was rough, and the quality wasn't that high, and with it's scent, it gave off a very ethnic feel There was also 'Global Express' stuck to the paper It's postmark date was labeled as a week previous Written cursively and with a blue fountain pen's ink, the nao Araki] was clearly written

“It's from my Dad!”

He had just been thinking about his parents as well, so the ti On the letter in the blue fountain pen ink, was definitely his Dad's handwriting

To Jin

Are you doing well? Since we started the excavation over here, half a uide named Sawaad, and he had some reliable information about Solomon's Palace When the preparations are done, we'll enter the excavation phase tomorrow It seems like a place where there's no cell phone service, so for a while on't be able to coot the satellite phones for your mom, but with the service now she's pretty upset

Every day your mom worries about you She's not too sure about life at a dorht or not, she's pretty worried

Foryou a lot of trouble, which I'm sorry for It's fine if you're ards to the progress of finding Solomon's Treasure,

At that point the letter began turning into a romance play, so Jin took it, put it back in its envelope, and put that in his shi+rt pocket Suiting his own convenience The contents of the letter just ry

“That's right, you causebut trouble You think I wanna hear your excuses?”

With Jin in his elevated anger stage, Yuuya raised his voice to speak

“With a mood like that, is it Haraheri's fault? Sorry if it's in Haraheri, but I' hall now”

“Already? It's still pretty early though”

“Well, to not have et one close to the upper classo eat chicken soup, beef and miso, but don't feel bad”

“Then don't give out the menu!”

With that Jin's sto maliciously, Yuuya exited the room Hoas he supposed to live off just a cupcake

“Geez, what a bad personality”

Trying to figure out what to do about his hunger, he reh Jin sincerely believed Solomon's Treasure was in japan, he couldn't help but recall the lines written that said, “We've obtained so with Solomon's Palace”

“What does that mean? That it's different from my hypothesis? Just how reliable is the information?”

Thinking to read the letter all the way through this time, he reached his hand into his pocket to take it out

At thatEveryday between school and the dorm, there was practically no free time, so their cellphones were always set to silent mode

Maybe it's froht have to do with so him directly about Solomon's Palace That's hen he heard Sierra's voice, he was extremely disappointed

“What, it's just you”

“[W, what do you mean by that!]”

Froe With all that energy it seeh

“You're already in top gear”

“[I already told you to call !?]”

“Don't ask for the absurd School ends at three, and the dorm doesn't close until six, so there's no way I could call you right?”

“[I heard fro dinner, so you should be alone now, right?]”

Shocked, Jin couldn't come up with a reply She was unexpectedly sharp

“So did you get my phone number from him as well?”

“[You idiot, if I did that it would turn into aWhen I saw your phone at noon break, your nuht?]”

Shocked again, Jin looked at his phone Written beneath the LCD screen in thin ic marker was his phone number

“[A lot of coet their phone number from the company]”

Sierra laughed with her nose Above her intelligence was little she would overlook She gave off the impression of someone in a secluded world, but in reality it was co is that she doesn't understand the world, but that's not it either It was a misrepresentation of herself as a humble person, when it was realized how she really acts

“That's right Right now I'm in the room alone, and Yuuya won't be back until seven”

“[Since it's in a roo me in the maid uniform, then it should be safe So hurry up and rub the lamp]”

“The word Genie really does suit you perfectly”

“[That's rude! Where does that fit me!]”

“It's obvious, 'evil spirit' and 'God' are what make up the symbols for 'Genie' after all”

To not continue riding on the ot off his bed, went over to the desk and pulled the la his hand in the process

“Ah, that's right! Hey, Zadou”

“[Don't put off calling me, commoner!]”

“More i me a commoner”

“[You need so?]”

“When you co with you? Is there any kind of food you could come with?”

Thinking to hiood idea he'd had, he asked for Sierra's help On the other side of the phone, Sierra let out an 'I see' sound

“[That's a good idea I'll co, and you'll thank ht?]”

“Ah, of course! I'll be sure to give you loads of thankfulness”

It was hell Jin said this as he pushed his hand against the ru

“[Then after ten ot that?]”

“Ahh, you've let me reach ultimate happiness today”

Holding the Magic Lamp on his knees, Jin was unusually cal in anticipation, five minutes had already passed

The waiting ti, and the sounds of his empty stomach were painful to hear And so another five , Jin took the la sound, a violet smoke came out fro a boith an unknown nus in it

“Bon cohty Matsusaka Beef Sukiyaki!”

“Yahooo!”

Even with Sierra shouting insults, before his hunger they paled in coo 'Banzai!' when he suddenly opened his eyes wide, looking at Sierra in front of him

“uh, so where is the sukiyaki?”

“Huh?”

Sierra looked around her feet There an iron pot was spread out with a tiny portable gas stove, but that was all

“Wh, what's this mean? It was definitely here, the finished sukiyaki! There was also some rice definitely in here as well”

“Well there isn't anything but ingredients and cooking tools So to raise your ic levelmaybe you have to cook yourself?”

Jin shook his head as he looked at the raw egg Sierra stuck her fist worriedly by her mouth

“Cooking What a problem”

“Don't you have any cooking practice from home economics class?”

“The people that are insince I'm an idol I shouldn't have to do that stuff”

“Being pa for yourself”

“Well, just wait until I get started Then I'll let you try the cooking I have pride in”

“How can you have pride when you can't cook anything?”

Jin raised his eyebrow at the htly, Sierra withdrew her cellphone from out of her apron's pocket

“Ah, hello? Yeah, it's Zadou Sierra I ondering if I could have the usual pizza delivered?”

“You mean it's delivered pizza!”

Heatedly Jin took the phone away from Sierra

“Food that gets delivered is banned here, so if a Pizza Store delivered here, they'd be chased off!”

“That's fine, we can just have theh the ”

Sierra snatched back her cellphone With an “ahh,” Jin clapped his hands

“You're pretty smart”

“Isn't that obvious Don't compare me with a commoner like you”

“I thought you were supposed to be nice and happy when you get praised”

“How's that supposed to be when I get praised by some commoner like you!”

“[UhmIs anybody there?]”