After a delicious lunch, Sakura offered her services as a tour guide for free, which Kino accepted appreciatively.

Kino removed the boxes on either side of Hermes’ rear wheel. Then she asked Sakura for a cushion and laid it out on top of the carrier rack to make an instant back seat.

Sakura sat on the back seat sideways. Kino told her to tightly hold on to her waist while they ride, but warned her not to touch Canon on her right thigh.

Kino first asked Sakura to take them to a place where a mechanic could do a check-up on Hermes.

The middle-aged mechanic accepted Kino’s request right away. He checked Hermes from tip to toe, and soon located the parts that were heavily worn-out, damaged, or in bad condition.

“Hmm? What happened here?” The mechanic asked Kino about the cracked nut beside Hermes’ engine.

In fear of Kino dodging the question out of embarrassment, Hermes spoke in her stead. “Kino fired at it with her persuader. Because it wouldn’t come off.”

“Fired?”

“The nut got stuck and wouldn’t come off no matter what she did, so using her persuader with reduced gunpowder, Kino fired at the edge of the hardened putty holding the nut in place. I told her to leave it alone though.”

The appalled mechanic turned to Kino and gave her a sour look. “Miss traveler… that’s some heroic effort, but I can’t praise you for it.”

“I suppose you’re right… I’m sorry,” Kino apologized.

“Mister, scold her a bit more,” Hermes said half-jokingly.

Soon the mechanic smiled with his oil-smeared face. “It seems like it will take some time to fix him. Miss traveler, please have some tea with Sakura while waiting. Now, shall we go Hermes?”

“I’ll leave it to you!” Hermes readily consented as though nothing could make him happier.


—

Kino and Sakura drank their tea while seated on a bench in front of the mechanic’s shop. The warm sun in the clear sky watched over them.

“He must be a skilled mechanic. It’s rare for Hermes to happily agree to get fixed, you know.”

Hearing Kino’s comment, Sakura, who was seated beside her, looked up at her and replied with delight, “I’m glad.”

Kino added, “And he had no qualms about scolding his client, either.” Sakura giggled.

“The tea’s delicious too.” As Kino remarked, a car passed in front, and through the window, a resident smiled and waved to her.

“Miss traveler, welcome to our country!”