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Chapter 101 – Arrival on the American West Coast

“‘Welcome, Lady Reiko, Kouryuu-sensei. We have been expecting you.’”

On August 26, the Zeppelin airship we were aboard arrived at Mines Field in Los Angeles. There, we were greeted by Tokita and Shizu—who had crossed to America earlier by ship—as well as, for some reason, Yagami-san, Wan-san, and a dozen others.

All of them were dressed in that classic American style of the era, the kind you’d see in an American movie, making the whole scene feel like something straight out of a film.

And not only that—waiting for us were the mayor of Los Angeles, the president of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where Kouryuu-sensei would give his first lecture in America, the president of the California Institute of Technology, and a crowd of newspaper reporters.
Of course, their focus was not on me, the clown, but on Kouryuu-sensei.

I was quickly escorted by Tokita and Shizu into a big, bulky American car typical of the time, sandwiched front and back by escort vehicles, and taken straight to the hotel.
Leaving behind Kouryuu-sensei, his attendants, and his security detail, I promptly made my exit.

Since I already had plans to meet Mr. Hearst on the East Coast, I had no further need for the airship. It had been a valuable experience, but honestly, I no longer felt like riding one ever again.
A bit of a shame, really.

As for that airship, since it took the great circle route, it didn’t arrive in Los Angeles all at once.
On the way to the West Coast and over San Francisco, we were able to see from above that the Golden Gate Bridge had not yet been built.

Though it was not to my liking at all, the Zeppelin’s achievement itself was truly remarkable—it marked the first-ever nonstop transpacific flight.

After we disembarked, it continued its journey, spending one day in Los Angeles, then flying on to pass through Chicago on the 29th, before finally landing in the U.S. Navy’s Lakehurst Air Station in New Jersey on the East Coast, thus completing its round-the-world voyage.
Incidentally, this Lakehurst Naval Air Station would be the very site, eight years later, where another German airship, the Hindenburg, would explode and burn.

As for Los Angeles, it seems that at this time the city was in the midst of rapid development, but it was still not that large.

To begin with, the population of California—and the entire West Coast—was nothing like that of the 21st century. In the 21st century, California is a massive state with a population of 40 million, about the size of a country, but nearly a century earlier it had only about one-tenth of that.

The main products of Los Angeles were oil, orange cultivation, and the rapidly developing film industry.

Speaking of American oil, Texas is what comes to mind, but Texas is vast. The largest oil field, located near the eastern edge of Texas around east of Dallas, has not yet been discovered.

And when it comes to Texas oil fields, they are the kind where oil gushes out with the ease of digging a simple well—the kind you might have seen in old movies.
Moreover, Texas is not the only place in America with oil fields. The central states, such as Pennsylvania and Ohio, as well as this California, are also major oil-producing regions.

That’s why I’m thinking of stopping by Texas for a bit—to see if my “intuition” will work.

As for Los Angeles, it has already been decided that it will host the Olympics in 1932, three years from now, but since the Olympics of this era are not on the scale of massive public works, there’s no visible sign of it from the car window.

And what I’m personally looking forward to is, of course, Hollywood, the capital of movies.

Apparently, because films of this era require large amounts of light for shooting, Los Angeles, where it hardly ever rains, is an ideal location.
However, there is also an under-the-surface rumor that, since the equipment needed for filming generally uses electricity, the movie industry moved from the East Coast to the West Coast to avoid the strict enforcement of patent rights held by the great inventor Edison.

And now, Hollywood accounts for over ninety percent of all film production in the United States. It truly is the city of movies.

That said, it’s not that I want to watch America’s staple, the Western. My purpose is to meet one of the “gods” in my life.
Privately, I can even say it’s the number one reason I came to America.

I feel like going right this moment, but since an appointment has already been arranged for me, it won’t be today.

Besides, as someone who has now become a full-fledged celebrity young lady in both mind and body, I first want to relax in a spacious bed.

“Ojou-sama, please wake up. We have arrived at the hotel.”

“Ah, uh, yeah. Good morning—wait, whoa!”

I had fallen fast asleep in the car and even ended up drooling.
When I hurriedly tried to wipe it with my hand, Shizu quickly grabbed my hand, then scrubbed my mouth with a handkerchief she was holding in her other hand.

Indeed, wiping it with my hand would be unbecoming of a celebrity young lady.

“There, all set.”

“Thanks. Ah, so we’re staying here. It’s been so long!”

“Eh?”

Everyone riding in the car with me threw puzzled looks.
It was “Why would you know this place if it’s your first time seeing it?” look.

“Uh, well, you see, I stayed here in a dream. More importantly, this place is amazing.”

“Yes, I am aware since I have already done a preliminary inspection. And not only in terms of luxury, but I believe this is also the most suitable place in terms of safety.”

Makes sense. I hurriedly tried to cover it up, but they brushed it off as just the usual.
After all, the one driving is old man Yagami himself, and the only others here are Tokita and Shizu.

As for old man Yagami, I’m not sure if he knows my secret or not, but since the other two aren’t reacting, it should be fine.

And the hotel we’re staying in is, unbelievably, the same luxurious hotel I once stayed at in my previous life as a special treat to myself.
Its appearance is exactly the same, with luxury so over-the-top it feels almost millennial. 

Even at this point in time, it boasts a grandeur worthy of being called a landmark of Los Angeles, and since it is in Los Angeles, its exterior and interior are full of sights I’ve seen in movies.

The Ootori Hotel in Sannou was partly inspired by this building, but in terms of luxury, it doesn’t even come close.
And unlike when I stayed here in my previous life, it’s still brand-new and gleaming. After all, it’s 1929—the Golden Twenties.

Since this is my “second time” here, I’d like to stroll around the hotel, but after just taking a quick look at the lobby and the adjoining tea lounge and feeling a wave of nostalgia, I end up holing up in the most luxurious suite.

Of course, it was because it was deemed necessary for security. Meals would also be brought to the room, so even with guards, touring the hotel was out of the question.

“As expected, a big bed really is the best~!”

The moment I stepped into the bedroom, I dove onto the enormous bed.
When it comes to hotel stays during a trip, this is something you just have to do.

“Ojou-sama, if you’re going to get on the bed, please take off your shoes.”

“Ah, sorry, sorry. But compared to the cramped space on the airship, this is like heaven and hell!”

“Is that so? Even though it looked so big.”

“That thing is basically just a bunch of bags filled almost entirely with hydrogen and stuff. The cabin’s only thiiiiis tiny.”

I used both my whole body and my fingers to show how big and how small it was, but Shizu only gave a half-interested “I see.”
It seemed she was more preoccupied with making tea for me.

Since this is a hotel, normally the bellboys and such should take care of everything, but it seems she’d arranged it so she would look after me herself.
The hotel staff seemed used to VIP treatment as well—so long as you pay, they don’t complain.

Given that even presidents will eventually stay at this hotel, I suppose that’s only natural.

After thoroughly enjoying the fluffy bed, I sat down on a chair provided in the room and elegantly took a sip of the tea Shizu had prepared for me.

On the table, there were also some light snacks to go with the tea, making it a flawless moment of luxury.
As I calmly sipped my tea in that mood, I noticed the shadow of a person standing in front of the open bedroom door.

“Reiko-ojou-sama, when you have settled down, there is someone I would like you to grant an audience to. Could you please come to the living room?”

“Oh? Someone’s here?”

“Yes. They begged me to let them meet you first as soon as you arrived, so I had no choice.”

Tokita said this, but there’s no way he would let some strange person meet me.
Still, Tokita is a representative investor for the Ootori family and a mysterious steward who has even attracted attention in America.

There are probably plenty of people who would want to meet me, someone who is either his boss or closely connected to his boss.

However, unless they were incredibly foolish, no one would try to force their way through.
Besides, the Morgan conglomerate has already been informed, and it’s the same with the other big conglomerates. 

The newspaper magnate Mr. Hearst had also been spoken to back when I was still in Tokyo.
I can’t imagine there’s anyone who would insist on meeting me immediately and be allowed through.

And since Tokita used the word “audience,” it means the person is someone who serves or works for either me or the Ootori family.

“I’ll go as soon as I’ve changed, so make them wait thirty minutes.”

“Understood.”

Saying that, I closed the open door.
At the same time, I turned my gaze toward Shizu.

“Shizu, you brought the furisode, right?”

“Yes, three of them. Which one would you like?”

“It’s not for the main event, so something a little plain.”

“Understood. However, we’re a bit short on time, so may I call one more person to help with the dressing?”

“Do as you like. My new servant is coming, right? We can’t afford to mess up.”

“Yes, understood.”

From there, things got a bit hectic.
It was fine that I decided to change into a furisode to make an impression, but indeed, we had little time.

After all, I was currently wearing casual Western clothes, and my hair was still straight.
Both Shizu and I were perfectly capable of dressing me, but we mobilized one more servant and hurriedly changed, managing to finish exactly in thirty minutes.

Putting on the performance of a proper young lady is no easy task.

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Golden Gate Bridge:
Completed in 1937. Too bad.

Hotel she stayed at:
Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles
Completed in 1923. A luxurious Renaissance-style hotel with a Southern European touch.
In the 21st century, considering its splendor, the rates for an ordinary stay are actually quite reasonable.