Track 2

(Starting from South Australia’s capital, Adelaide, we'd also be able to reach today's destination by air.)

(The choice to take the ferry was made based on the chance of meeting sea life, but even if we don't, the fine weather makes up for it.)

…

…Do you not feel nauseous reading on a boat?

Oh, Lu-senpai. I'm not reading so much as simply taking in the images in this book, so there's no harm to it.

Ah… the one you bought at the South Australian Museum yesterday?

The exhibits on natural history and Aboriginal cultures are quite fascinating. I was thinking I'd share my findings with the others once we return.

(…He really is diligent, hm. It's hard to see him as the same age as the other youngsters in the Noon Team. In fact, compared to the idiot, there's every chance his mental age is…)

Did you come to feel the breeze, Lu-senpai?

No, there was an announcement that we'll be reaching Penneshaw harbour soon.

Ah, I must have been too focused to notice.

If we get lucky, we should soon be able—

Kyah!

!

Over here. Look at the sea.

Ooh, a dolphin…! Lu-senpai, there's a dolphin swimming around!

Yes, I see it.

Spotting one on the ferry to Kangaroo Island is supposedly quite rare. This is a good omen.

Had you not come out to inform me, I'd likely have been too absorbed in the book to catch it.

Right, I should take some pictures.

Same here—my younger sister requested I take some for her.

You have both an elder sister and a younger sister¹, yes? I also intend to show these to Princess and the others.

Taking pictures each time we encounter an animal will likely fill up the camera memory in the blink of an eye.

Given that we're headed for Kangaroo Island, we'll of course find kangaroos there…

But Australia is said to contain over a thousand different species of wildlife that can be found nowhere else.

May as well have our fill of the various animals while we're here.

Indeed—on that note, I hear it's permitted to hold koalas in this continent…

Right, that was in the data Sojun collected too. I didn't think to include it in the schedule, but—

!

(I didn't think before I spoke, but is holding koalas really a matter worth including in the itinerary…?)

(This trip is for studying, through and through. Changing the plan on a whim would disappoint Lu-senpai.)

…That, is indeed something I happened to learn while looking into regulations on koala conservation.

It must be quite popular with tourists. Perhaps we can decide what to do about it once we arrive?

No… we should act in accordance with our plan.

I see.

(I thought him to be very serious, but… Did he not say that because he wants to hold a koala himself?)

Seatbelt?

Fastened. Having an international driving license is just what I'd expect from you, Lu-senpai.

Much as it pains me to make my senpai drive me around… I'll be in your care on this occasion.

You can't get a licence at your age regardless. …Let's set off.

I'll handle the navigation system… oh, it's in English. Destination: "Flinders Chase National Park".

That helps. I imagine I'll be at risk of missing the guideboards until I adjust myself.

Why, this is simply the duty of the one in the passenger seat. I have a portable paper map in case of emergency too, so no need to worry.

…Do you not get worn out, acting like this all the time? If it's out of consideration for me, you should stop it now.

No, this is simply how I am. I'd appreciate if you wouldn't worry about me either, Lu-senpai.

That's all well and good, but—

…-!

Woah…-!?

Sorry. Are you alright?

Yes, nothing happened with how quickly you reached out to support me. But, what on earth…

Something jumped in front of the—

A kangaroo… no, it's too small.

Indeed, its hind legs and tail are both short. More to the point, this tiny figure must be—

A wallaby…!

…Looks like it's crossed.

I see no trailing wallabies. We can continue onwards.

The scenery distracted me from noticing, but there appear to be many warning signs about animals leaping out.

Even JPN has signs like those for deer and wild boar if you head into more rural areas…

But you'd be hard-pressed to find any for kangaroos and wallabies.

Hm…?

What animal's on that one? It… looks like a pig, but I don't think that's right.

It's a wombat. …There's some crossing the road now.

Ooh…! Lu-senpai, one of them is tiny!

Must be parent and child. …Still, we've not even crossed half our planned distance yet.

I'd heard Australia has many incidents of roadkill, but I didn't imagine it would be this much of a risk.

(Should I try driving more carefully? It'll take longer than planned, but there's no way around it.)

I'll keep a closer eye on the road ahead. And I'll be sure to share the pictures of the wallaby and wombat family with you afterwards, so you can relax and focus on driving.

Right, please do.

……Look out ahead, I mean.

This is Admirals—

… That's quite some wind.

We must be experiencing the forces of nature that shaped Admirals Arch into this form.

It's an extraordinary sight.

Those jagged rocks are rather mystifying—it baffles the mind to think that the wind and waves can mould such shapes.

Hm…?

What is it, Lu-senpai?

I feel as though that rock moved just—