TMiL Alterverse
Pride and Survival (part 10)
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As a mixture of Eastern and Western musics played, Tantei A 
leaned against a wall and watched as friends and families danced 
and clapped, and even sang along.

"Please?" Ainoko asked him.

Tantei A followed Ainoko onto the 'dance floor'. There were a 
few couples' dances. Then their host, a man of Japanese-American 
descent, treated them to a Western-style square dance which they 
all enjoyed immensely.

After a while, they took a break and enjoyed a tasty afternoon 
meal.

"Are you my sister's boyfriend?" Chibiko asked.

Tantei A blushed a little. So did Ainoko.

"I hear you used to be a cop." Ainoko's uncle asked.

"Something like that." Tantei A nodded.

"So, why'd you give it up?"

"I got stranded here." Tantei A finished his meal and set his 
plate aside. "Plus I was injured in the line of duty and 
couldn't continue to serve as an operative."

"Operative." Ainoko's aunt asked. "Like that British fellow, 
Jack Brown or something...?"

"James Bond." Chibiko offered.

"James Bond?" Tantei A asked, he looked to Ainoko for help.

"I have a couple of the novels." she told him. "One of my second 
cousins goes to college in the city and she sends me books now 
and then.  You can have one if you like."

"Thanks."  Tantei A agreed.

With meals out of the way, the dancing and merriment resumed. 
Finally, the moon began to rise and everyone bid each other a 
cheerful goodbye and returned to their own homes.

Ainoko's home was between Tantei A's and the Nagasaki farm, so 
Tantei A walked her to her front door.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Tantei A told her.

"Wait here. I'll get you one of those books." Ainoko left the 
door, returning a few minutes later with a copy of a book.

"Thanks." Tantei A smiled, "Sleep well."

"You, too." Ainoko replied, as walked back into her house.

Tantei A returned to his own home and got ready for bed. Once 
all was done, he settled down to read the book Ainoko had given 
him. As he sipped a cup of tea, he looked at the book's title, 

'Supai Watashi-ga Ai Suru.'