Chapter 4: Determination
'Incredible...' thought Vahn, riding in the back seat of a black sedan, his gaze fixed, unblinking, on the world outside the window. He had dreamed of what it might look like and gained insight into it through the anime and manga he had seen, but it was more wondrous, more alive than anything he had imagined.
"Do you have any preferences regarding your lodgings?" asked Fumiko, glancing at Vahn through her rearview mirror as they stopped at a stop light.
Following Sis's advice, Vahn responded, "Someplace private and close to Kuoh Academy."
"There are a few nearby apartment complexes that cater to transfers from out of town," revealed Fumiko. "But a hotel would be more convenient and provide greater privacy. You can order room service, and the one I have in mind has a gym and a pool."
"That sounds amazing," responded Vahn, adopting a broad smile. He had used a pool in the past for physical therapy, and while the experience was less than pleasant, he enjoyed the feeling of the water and had wanted to learn how to swim after reading several manga Chapters dedicated to the beach.
"Splendid," said Fumiko, adopting a smile of her own before revealing, "We should be able to arrive there within ten to fifteen minutes. Before that, is there anywhere you would like to stop? As splendid as Vahn-dono's outfit is, ordinary citizens might find it unusual if they see you walking around in it."
"Thank you for the offer, Fumiko-san, but I'm more interested in resting at the moment," responded Vahn, once again at Sis's suggestion. If she was right, the Church and Heaven could be trying to curry favor with or indebt him to them. So, while he had little choice but to accept their generosity regarding his lodgings, he should aim to become self-sufficient as quickly as possible.
"I understand completely," responded Fumiko, offering a close-eyed smile before returning her attention to the road. The light had just turned green, so she put the sedan into gear and accelerated gently so as not to disturb Vahn's wide-eyed enjoyment of the sights and scenes they drove past. It was almost painfully obvious he had never visited a large town or city, but since it wasn't her place to question him about his background, she didn't ask. Instead, she took the scenic route to the hotel, allowing him to enjoy the view a bit longer before getting him checked into a luxury hotel room. She tried booking him the 35th floor's penthouse, but since Vahn refused, citing it was much too luxurious, she got him a room on the sixth...
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