Chapter four (segment eight), twenty four years earlier, May, Ryu

A week passed, and the contacts with their Swedish counterparts grew more sporadic. Apparently the third years were busy partying.

Ryu didn't understand fully what was going on in Sweden late May, but Urufu-kun promised that the third years spent most of May and all the few school days in June in a frenzied haze as graduation grew closer. The haze resulting from large amounts of legally questionable alcohol.

Skype conversations with their first and second year contacts only confirmed what he said.

A long summer was looming closer in Sweden, and most of the students there were openly concerned about being scattered for over two months. As far as he could understand they had no club activities to build continuity with, but apparently a few in the exchange club planned to stay together during summer break.

One of them was even headed for Japan mid July and wondered if they could meet up. He was a bit taken aback when told about final exams, but early August presented an opportunity.

On the Japanese end things were progressing smoothly, and Urufu-kun was planning something for late June together with Kuri-chan.

Summer solstice held some special meaning for people in Sweden, and both of them wanted the members of the club to have a shared dinner outdoors. Kuri-chan even went as far as saying that voiding that dinner was tantamount to sacrilege in Sweden.

“So, Urufu-kun, what's up?”

Urufu-kun flipped open the lid to his laptop and it flashed alive in a second.

You sure got expensive taste. Never even seen one of those.

“I'm setting up the Skype call, but this time we'll need a projector.”

“Eh?”

Urufu-kun fished out a compact device from his bag.

“That's a projector? Looks like speakers.”

“Yeah. Wireless. Love it. Projector's built in.” Urufu-kun was setting up the box with the eyes of a child in a candy shop.

“Why?” Ryu asked.

“You'll see. OK, people we're ready. I'll call Sweden.”

Shortly afterwards a face surrounded by blond hair waved at them from the wall. “Ready?” the projector blared.

“We're ready in our end, run your presentation,” Urufu-kun answered in English.

On the wall the face was replaced by a white screen, and then the screen wasn't white any more.

The Japanese exchange student stood by it. The word 'Welcome' was replaced by it's counterpart in kanji, and she started her presentation.