A car driven by the Secret Service stops in front of the airportâ¦
only to pass by as if itâs just a show.
Apparently, with a private jet, thereâs no need to even use the airport lobby.
It heads directly to the runway.
ãWhen treated this specially, it makes me a bit uneasy.ã
ãOh, come on, itâs great. After all, itâs special. Enjoying this kind of experience is the real win, right?ã
ãIs that how it is?ã
Alongside the runway, dozens of small to medium-sized jets were lined up.
After a quick check, we drove into the premises.
And then, we stopped in front of a certain jet.
The door opened from the outside by a large man in a military uniform⦠not the airport uniform!?
ãMiss Iroha, weâve been waiting for you.ã
ãAh, um⦠thank you.ã
I grabbed the offered hand and, supported, got out of the back seat.
W-what is this VIP treatment!? No, I really am a VIP right now.
Anguog said, âHome is uncomfortable,â but I can kind of understand that now.
If this is how Iâm treated, how does the usual First Family get treated?
ãI mean, this is quite a welcome.ã
ãIf youâre this happy, I should have arranged for a more extravagant reception.ã
ãPlease, no!?ã
The military man said it jokingly, perhaps trying to ease the tension.
I appreciate it, but thatâs actually counterproductive!
There were more than ten soldiers in total.
Each one took their positions, keeping watch around us.
Are they all working just for me?
No, to say that, this jet is also flying solely for me.
ãThis is my first time on a private jet, but is it usually like this?ã
Not even a chartered plane, but a government-owned aircraft.
The one I was about to board was even smaller than the plane I took for sightseeing in New York.
ãHaha, is it not enough for you? But this is quite a good aircraft.
It may not be as luxurious as Air Force One, but I promise you a comfortable flight.ã
ãAh, no!? I didnât mean to disparage it!? Wait, Air Force One?ã
ãYes, thatâs the president's aircraft. Iâve heard youâll be boarding that on your return trip?ã
ã!?!?!?ã
Wait!? I didnât hear about that!
So, for the return trip, Iâll be stuck in the sky for hours alone with Anguogâs mom!?
Hiiiii!? Nooooo~!?
Help me, Ogu!?
ãOh, I havenât introduced myself yet. Iâm the pilot for this flightââã
The military man⦠the pilot greeted me.
He mentioned that there would also be a co-pilot and flight attendants on board.
Moreover, it seems none of them are just ordinary crew members.
Theyâre military personnel with special training.
ãA-as expected of a government aircraft.ã
ãNow then, Miss Iroha. Please proceed to the cabin.ã
I climbed the air stair and stepped inside.
Despite its small exterior, the interior was surprisingly spacious.
And it was incredibly luxurious.
It felt more like a high-end hotel room than an airplane cabin.
ãAhaha, you donât need to be so stiff. Iâll be going with you.ã
Saying that, the female Secret Service agent gently nudged my back.
Despite the spaciousness, the only passengers were her and me.
I was shown to my seat by a flight attendant, who briefly explained some instructions.
Then, after fastening my seatbelt, within five minutesâ¦
[We will be taking off shortly.]
ãHuh, already!?ã
The pilot's voice announced through the cabin.
I see, since there are no other passengers, thereâs no wait time.
The sound of the engines roared, and the plane began to move.
However, it suddenly stopped once we reached the runway for some reason.
ãWhatâs going on?ã
The surroundings became frantic.
As I tilted my head in confusion, the announcement echoed through the cabin again.
[Thereâs an intruder on the runway. We will temporarily halt takeoff.]
Drawn by the voice, I looked out the window.
I could see soldiers restraining someone.
No wonder there was tension among everyone. However, with such tight security, I felt a different kind of reassurance!
ãIroha-chan, you donât need to worry⦠well, yes.ã
ãYes, there are plenty of reliable soldiers here.ã
At first, I thought there were âtoo many,â but once a problem arose, I understood.
The ease in handling situations was different.
The suspicious person was escorted away by the soldiers.
As I watched that, I was nudged gently by the female Secret Service agent, prompting me to turn.
ãIroha-chan, itâs good news. We can take off as soon as the check is done.ã
It seems she confirmed the situation with the flight attendant while I was looking out the window.
Oh, right. This could have been the reason for a delay!
Really, I was right to arrive on time.
Itâs said that troubles are part of travel, but Iâd prefer to avoid them.
[Thank you for waiting.]
I heard the pilot's voice again, and the plane started moving once more.
But what was that all about earlier?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
I felt a sense of foreboding.
The anxious expression of Angu Ogu, who had seen me off, floated in my mindââ.