3 bar menu

Interstitial Sea – Part 04

Victorique widened her eyes dramatically, resuming her peculiar dance steps. “I do not need to work, for I am the chosen one!”

“You’re chosen? With so many immigrants here today? By whom, exactly?”

“By her, of course!”

She pointed at the Statue of Liberty. Kazuya raised an eyebrow, straining to hear for a moment.

“I don’t hear anything.”

“She told me earlier.”

“No way.”

“Absolutely true. Anyway, Kujou, since you’re so eager to start a new life, you’d better hit the ground running for the both of us. Because you’re the type who thrives on that sort of thing, right?”

“Huh, I thrive on that sort of thing? What do you mean by that? Oh, I see now, Victorique!” Initially attentive, Kazuya grew increasingly frustrated. “Are you just gonna go back to reading books all day, like you did back in school before the war? You odd, odd Gray Wolf? This is the United States of America. You’re not some mysterious student from Saint Marguerite Academy anymore. Immigrants here are expected to work their socks off from dawn till dusk. Yeah… I’m gonna give it my all! I mean, really put my back into it!” He nodded to himself.

“Suit yourself,” Victorique responded grumpily.

“I bet you’re just going to ignore me while I work my butt off.”

“What exactly do you expect me to do?”

“Well, there are plenty of things you could excel at. You’re incredibly intelligent, intimidating, and just overall amazing. So, um, for instance… Uh… What?” He cocked his head.

Dragging the fluffy cloth along the ground as she walked, Victorique said, “See? As a citizen of the new economic powerhouse, Kujou, you’d be perfect for working like a horse. But can you think of anything a Gray Wolf could do? In other words, Kujou, you have to hustle all on your own. You were the most stubborn fellow on the immigrant ship. Meanwhile, I’ll just lounge on the porch of the ramshackle house you’re struggling to pay rent for, staring at the city sky all day, waiting for the candy tornado to sweep in. Because what else is there to do? Hmph! I promise you. I will show you just how patient and determined I can be when the time comes. Tremble in fear, you ordinary mortal!”

“I can’t with you… Is that really what’s coming out of your mouth as soon as you step on land? You’re going to transform from the proud Gray Wolf of the Old World into a lazy watchdog of the New World? Well, you’d be as terrifying as Cerberus, I suppose. Wait, there’s even a bigger problem!” he cried. “You’ll probably keel over from boredom. That’s just how you are. I’ve, uh… known you for a long time now.”

Blushing slightly, Kazuya turned his gaze away. Victorique maintained her sullen demeanor.

“Let’s get moving already!”

For some inexplicable reason, Kazuya’s blush deepened.

They stepped onto the ferry. It was brimming with weary travelers from the Old World. Slicing through the waves, they set course for Manhattan Island, the pulsing heart of New York.

Clusters of rectangular-shaped skyscrapers dotted the skyline. Unlike the grand edifices of the Old World, these structures gleamed with modernity, each one reaching skyward in its unique form and hue. Central Park sprawled at the island’s core, a verdant oasis unlike the manicured French-style gardens, diverse trees stretching their limbs in every direction. The cacophony of car horns grew louder as they approached. The ferry pressed onward toward these fresh sights and sounds.

A new land…!

The harbor bustled with welcoming faces. Dressed in chic suits, top hats, and canes, the New Yorkers contrasted sharply with the immigrants, their once-vibrant traditional garb now muted in shades of brown and gray. While faces of various origins—Italian, German, Irish—mingled, they had all assimilated into shiny denizens of the New World, making it difficult to discern their heritage from afar.

Greetings varied among the crowd. Some sang, danced, and embraced in jubilant national pride, while others shared quiet tears, their gazes locked. Youthful laughter filled the air.

Following Kazuya off the ferry, Victorique spotted something and began dragging her cloth along the ground. Kazuya hastened after her with his suitcase, asking, “Where are you off to?”

A girl, wrapped in cloth like a cocoon, confronted a young man with a rugged beard. His worn jacket, punctuated by holes at the elbows, contrasted with the once-vivid attire of the immigrants. Victorique quietly addressed him, her gaze fixed on his face.

The man’s eyes widened. The girl responded without hesitation. He shook his head initially but then sighed, shoulders slumping. Kneeling, he accepted defeat, and the girl gently placed her hand on his forehead.

Trembling, the man took the baby into his arms, embracing it tenderly.

Kazuya caught up, noticing the resemblance between the baby and the man.

“My son… I’ve missed you. Welcome to America. Ah…”

The man nuzzled the baby’s cheek, eliciting joyful giggles.

The Gray Wolf observed them impassively.

“Victorique, you never fail to amaze me! How did you know who the baby’s father is in this crowd?”

Victorique turned away. Surprised by Kazuya’s commendation, she blinked in confusion, her normally inscrutable face softening slightly, like ice thawing.

“It’s all in the scent. After all, I’m an animal. Well, in this new land, I might just be fit for guard dog duties.”

“Incredible. Oh, I see. Perhaps your ideal role is as a people-finder!”

Kazuya grinned, but Victorique denied it.

“No way. I refuse to do anything.”

“What about becoming a private detective? You’d likely be the best in all of New York at tracking down people.”

“Don’t be absurd. I’ve said it before—my ideal life is to be a little silver watchdog on the doorstep.”

“But, uh, there’s probably not much to guard against for a while, so I don’t think we’ll need a watchdog at our place.”

They bantered as they strolled away.

From behind, the man called out, “Hey… Thanks!” When the pair turned, he added proudly, “I work in that building over there. If you ever need help, come find me. You’ll recognize me—I’m ‘Bearded Joey’ in the kitchen.”

Kazuya nodded, glancing in the direction he indicated. A towering black skyscraper sliced through the dusky sky, its futuristic design reminiscent of the Tower of Babel, crowned by a glistening golden sphere. A symbol of the material world.

Victorique nodded silently.

“That’s the ‘Apocalypse’!” Joey boasted.

Puzzled, Kazuya asked, “Apoca… lypse? What’s that?”

The man appeared genuinely surprised. “Huh. You don’t know? Well, you just got here, I guess. It’s the world’s tallest building, completed just this week! Tonight’s the grand opening party. I’ve been hired as one of the chefs. The founder, also an Italian immigrant, wanted an expert in Italian cuisine. So, they brought me in…” His voice trailed off sadly as he lowered his gaze.

“It’s an enormous tower indeed. I’ve never seen anything that tall even in the Old World,” Kazuya remarked, impressed.

The man nodded, cradling the baby in his arms. “You’ve made it here, my son. You were born at the right time, you know? Every day might have been tough, but those struggles are over now. From now on, this old man will teach you the joys of living in the New World. They say that the beginning of a family’s history is crucial. So, what we do today is key. Exciting, isn’t it? Look at that view. Look.”

Victorique and Kazuya too turned their gaze toward Manhattan Island.

Buildings of black and brown stood side by side, bathed in the fading sunlight. New constructions gleaming with light. Vast stretches of untouched land. The bustling presence of people. Car horns. The youthful hustle and bustle of the New World. Even the distant sound of bells ringing from a church seemed more playful than solemn, as if a mischievous child were chiming them.

The man’s profile was lit by the red glow of the setting sun. “This is a country of opportunity and equality!” he said brightly. “If you put in the effort, good things will come your way. Everyone here believes in that and works hard. Look at that massive tower! Even La Guardia of the Bluecandy family, who built it, sailed here from Italy at the young age of fifteen, sixty-five years ago today. That’s why they’re throwing a party tonight to mark the occasion. Oh, I better get back to give some cooking instructions. Anyway, the point is…”

The newly finished skyscraper shimmered in the setting sun, reaching towards the sky.

The man, animated like a boy yearning for distant lands, added, “Even a little girl who crossed the sea alone can amass immense wealth in just one generation here. Now, La Guardia is a multimillionaire, and her successor, Emigré, is the mayor of New York. Well, the grandson, Bon Vivant, is a bit of a… well…” He suddenly frowned, then put on a smile. “This is a city where dreams come true. A new world indeed. We’re going to work hard too!”

A strong, foreboding wind swept through.

Victorique’s silver hair and the tattered gray cloth she wore fluttered. In the sunset, her locks seemed to blend into shades of gold in places. Her cool green eyes and pale skin still bore traces of the storm’s anguish. Beside her, Kazuya’s short black hair swayed. His expression was earnest, determined. But the pile of suitcases seemed poised to topple over at any moment.

The sky and the sea, tinged with the same color, began to darken. Birds soared overhead as Victorique and Kazuya stood on the pier. The Statue of Liberty loomed in the midst of the sea. Waves of people streamed towards New York Harbor. From a higher vantage point, the harbor seemed frozen despite the summer’s heat.