HOTEL STAFF: Hey, Chudai?
CHUDAI: Yeah?
HOTEL STAFF: Can you clean the halls? Our cleaner guy is out sick today. (Frown & eye roll)
CHUDAI: You got it! I'm here to help out. So where's the stuff?
HOTEL STAFF: Should be in the little closet down that hallway. (Gestures toward a small hallway on the other side of the lobby)
Chudai walks over and the screen cuts to him opening the closet in the hallway.
CHUDAI: 「Hmm... woah, this closet is really big. And dark too. Why is there no light switch?」
Chudai feels something push him into the closet and turns around. A small girl, maybe 6 or 7 years old stands behind him, grinning.
GIRL: Hi mister! Who are you?
CHUDAI: 「Oh, it's a cute little girl. She certainly doesn't look nearly aggressive as she feels...」 Hi, I'm Chudai. Chudai Akaya. And who might you be? (Annoyed)
GIRL: Oh, I'm Juju. Did you know that my mommy's still asleep? (She explains this while Chudai struggles to pull out the mop)
CHUDAI: Well, um... Juju. What's your mom's name? 「I might be able to get her back to her room if I can look through the catalog with the host's name...」
JUJU: Ummm... I think it's... Mommy?
Chudai sighs and then starts mopping the hall. Juju walks with him.
JUJU: You know, I just wanted to talk to someone. If you leave me here, I'll tell my mommy and you could get in trouble.
CHUDAI: Okay, fine. If you want to follow me, great, but you're really annoying. Try not to bother the other guests.
JUJU: Fine by me!
Screen cuts to the second floor with Chudai mopping the halls and Juju annoying him.
JUJU: So, do you have any family here, Mister Chudai?
Chudai tenses up at the question.
CHUDAI: Uhh, my dad owns this hotel, which is why I'm volunteering here today. Other than that, I think my little sister Ayu is at home.
JUJU: What about your mommy? Don't you have one?
CHUDAI: No... she died.
JUJU: Oh. I'm sorry.
CHUDAI: Oh, it's fine. It's been a year now, I think I'm over it.
They continue to mop the halls in silence. The screen cuts to Chudai speaking with the front desk.
CHUDAI: Do you know this little girl? He points to Juju.
HOTEL STAFF: Uhh, yeah. I think she checked in with her mom last night. Let me call her. He picks up the phone. She's down at the front desk. He puts the phone down. Okay, she's coming to pick up this little one. What's your name, hun?
JUJU: Oh, I'm Juju. Mister Chudai is super nice! You should give him a more interesting job than mopping the halls.
The Hotel Staff raises his eyebrow. Chudai shrugs.
HOTEL STAFF: Okay I've got it from here. Thanks, Chudai. You can go home early.
Chudai nods and walks towards the door.
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YOU ARE READING
Planeshifter: Volume 1: Chudai Akaya
General FictionThe first volume in my series and the first in the arc in which Chudai Akaya starts to explore the wondrous yet scary world of planeshifting.
