Chapter 1: Part I

Sanura: Himari! | won, I won!

I burst into my dorm room, brandishing the envelope triumphantly, and my roommate's eyes widen.

Himari: Is that the acceptance letter?!

Sanura: It is! I won the internship! I'm going to Egypt!

Himari makes a sound of delight, hugging me tightly.

Himari: I'm so happy for you! Not that I'm surprised. You're the best student in the entire department. They'd be mad not to pick you!

I wave her away, but I can't help but grin.

Sanura: You're exaggerating. I've worked hard, that's all.. After all, I've been dreaming of this since I was little.

I close my eyes briefly, picturing sand dunes and pyramids.

Sanura: Best of all, I'll be learning from the leading researcher in the field-Dr. Manabu Sugiura! There's still so much we don't know about Egypt's pyramids. Just think of all the mysteries waiting to be discovered! Maybe we'll even unearth some mummies...

Himari chuckles fondly, shaking her head.

Himari: You really are something else, Sanura. You're the only person I know who gets excited about the prospect of finding dead bodies.

Sanura: They're not just dead bodies, Himari-they're history! You're studying anthropology, you should understand!

Himari: Oh, I do. I just prefer my discoveries not to involve dirt and ancient corpses.

Sanura: Then it's a good thing your upcoming field study doesn't involve any digging. Once you and I are full-fledged field researchers, you can leave all the hard labor to me!

Himari laughs before adopting a stern expression.

Himari: In all seriousness, I hope you make the most of this trip. Opportunities like this don't come around every day, you know.

Sanura: Don't worry, Himari. I will.

Suddenly, the clock on my desk begins to chime.

Sanura: Oh god, is that the time?! I have my internship briefing with the archaeology department in five minutes!

Himari: But that's on the other side of campus!

Sanura: I'll just have to make a run for it. See you later!

With a quick wave to Himari, I sprint out the door.

Sanura: Good afternoon, Mr. Suzuki!

Mr. Suzuki looks up from his desk as I walk into his office, still breathing heavily.

Mr. Suzuki: Ah, there you are, Sanura. Don't worry, you're right on time. Itsuki should be arriving shortly.

Before I can ask who that is, there's a knock on the door, and a smiling young man in a very striking outfit steps in.

Itsuki: Sorry I'm late, sir!

Mr. Suzuki: No need to apologize, Sanura just arrived. Sanura, meet Itsuki Miyashita. He's a third-year archaeology student and an expert in the study of hieroglyphics.

Oh, that's why I don't know him. He's a year above me.

Mr. Suzuki: Itsuki, this is Sanura, a very promising young student who will no doubt be leading her own expeditions before long.

I blush, turning to greet Itsuki.

Sanura: It's nice to meet you.

Itsuki's smile widens, making dimples appear in his cheeks.

Itsuki: Likewise!

Mr. Suzuki gestures to Itsuki's outfit.

Mr. Suzuki: I see you're already dressed for Egypt, Itsuki.

Itsuki beams, brushing himself down.

Itsuki: Well, I think it's important for researchers to blend in. So I began looking into modern Egyptian attire, and their fabrics are truly impressive. They're designed for hot weather, of course, and in terms of textiles, there's nothing...

I can't help but smile as Itsuki launches into an enthusiastic explanation, apparently oblivious to his surroundings.

Eventually, however, he seems to remember where he is, stopping mid-sentence with a nervous laugh.

Itsuki: O-Oh, I'm sorry-l didn't mean to get carried away.

Mr. Suzuki: No, no, your enthusiasm is infectious, Itsuki. But perhaps we should return to the matter at hand.

Mr. Suzuki takes a seat, gesturing for me and Itsuki to do the same.

Mr. Suzuki: By now, you might have guessed why you're both here at this internship briefing... Of everyone who applied, you were the two candidates the committee was most impressed with. Ultimately, we couldn't pick between you... so we simply arranged to send you both to Egypt!

Itsuki and I share a stunned look.

Sanura: Really? That's wonderful!

Itsuki: Thank you, sir.

Mr. Suzuki smiles as he reaches for a pile of papers on his desk.

Mr. Suzuki: Not at all, I'm sure you'll both do the university proud. Now, unless you have any questions, let's begin. I'd like to start by going over your itinerary.

As soon as the door shuts behind us, Itsuki meets my eyes with a slightly giddied smile.

Itsuki: That was an awful lot to take in, wasn't it?

Sanura: I can't believe we leave in just a week.

Itsuki: Neither can I.

For a moment, we stand in silence, just looking at each other as reality sinks in.

I can't believe I'm actually going to Egypt to participate in a dig.

A sudden wave of anxiety rolls Over my excitement, and Itsuki tilts his head at me with a frown.

Itsuki: Are you alright?

I force myself to smile.

Sanura: Of course, only... I've never left Japan before. Have you?

Itsuki: No, but I'm excited! Nervous too... but mostly excited.

I lean my back against the wall and take a deep breath.

Sanura: I think l'm the other way around right now...

Itsuki leans next to me.

Itsuki: Here, try this. It's a trick one of my sisters taught me to manage anxiety. Picture the one thing you're most excited to do in Egypt and then say it out loud.

He flashes me an encouraging smile.

Sanura: O-OK..

What's the one thing I'm most excited to do?

Sanura: It's hard to pick... but probably exploring the pyramids. There's still so much we don't know about them. What was their purpose? Who built them-and why?

Itsuki chuckles.

Itsuki: There you are, you’re excited again! Don't worry, Sanura. It's going to be incredible. We'll be doing field surveys, cataloging artifacts, speaking with local historians...

As he talks, Itsuki rummages around in his satchel, eventually pulling out a small paper bag of star candy.

He pops a handful in his mouth before offering them to me.

Sanura: Oh, thank you! I love star candy. Are these from Yamamoto's?

Itsuki gives me a look of surprise.

Itsuki: Yes! How Could you tell?

Sanura: I go to Yamamoto's all the time. Their sugar candy is

the best in Japan...

Itsuki: I don't know about that-Arashima's is really good too.

Sanura: True, but I still think Yamamoto's is better.

Itsuki: Well, you're entitled to be wrong, I suppose.

Sanura: Says the man offering me the supposedly inferior product!

Itsuki: That's only because Arashima's is temporarily closed at the moment!

Itsuki: If they weren't, I'll have you know-

I start laughing, and Itsuki breaks off to join me.

Itsuki: See, Sanura? It's going to be fine.

Itsuki: Better than fine. And if it isn't.. we can always retire to our tents and argue about candy.

Sanura: You're right.

Itsuki holds out his hand.

Itsuki: Let's make a pact. Let's do our very best to enjoy everything this internship has to offer, nerves be damned.

I smile, taking his hand.

Sanura: Done.

One week later, I lean against the window of my hotel, looking out over the city.

I can't believe I'm really here. The journey already feels like a distant dream.

I take a deep breath, relishing the faint breeze against my skin.

Even the air here feels rich with history. I can't wait to go exploring.

A knock on the door pulls me from my reverie.

Itsuki: Are you ready, Sanura?

Sanura: As I'll ever be!

Itsuki and I walk down to thebhotel lobby and out into the street, where our guide is supposed to be meeting us.

Itsuki: No sign of him yet...

Sanura: Do we have a name?

Itsuki: No, unfortunately.

I scan the street, but no one seems to be waiting for us.

Sanura: Why don't we ask someone for directions to the site? How's your Arabic?

Itsuki scrunches his nose.

Itsuki: Passable. I can read better than I can speak. My focus is more on dead languages than living ones.

At that moment, a tall young Egyptian man walks over to us.

Stranger: Good morning. You're the archaeology students from

Japan, yes? Itsuki and Sanura?

I resist the urge to gape.

Itsuki: Y-You speak Japanese?

The stranger smiles.

Stranger: Of course. You see... I'm Youssef, a university student

and Dr. Sigiura's interpreter on this excavation.

Youssef: It's nice to meet you.

Sanura: A-And you...

Youssef jerks his thumb Over his shoulder.

Youssef: The main site is just on the city outskirts, about a twenty-minute walk from here.

Youssef: Stick close, keep an eye on your personal

belongings, and follow me.

I adjust the strap of my satchel nervously.

Sanura: Should we be worried about thieves around here?

Youssef: Here, there, anywhere in the city. The locals call this area the Diggers' Quarter, since it's where the majority of archaeologists secure lodgings.

Youssef: As a result, you'll find many pickpockets hoping to separate foolish foreigners from their money.

Beside me, Itsuki shifts the pouch on his hip.

Itsuki: Thanks for the warning.

For the next few minutes, Our guide leads us through the bustling city streets, pointing out areas of interest as we go.

Sanura: By the way, your Japanese is excellent.

Youssef's eyes crinkle at the corners.

Youssef: You're not just saying that to be nice, are you?

Sanura: N-No! I'm not one for flattery.

Youssef: Oh, is that right?

Youssef leans in close and winks.

Youssef: In that case, I should warn you-I am.

I blush, making Youssef laugh.

How irritating... I hope he won't be carrying on like this when we get to the site.

Itsuki wags his finger at Youssef.

Itsuki: You remind me of my brother Akira. I'd better keep an eye on you.

Youssef just laughs again, clapping a hand on Itsuki's shoulder and almost knocking him over.

Youssef: I'll take that as a compliment! You can both think of

me as a big brother looking out for you. Don't hesitate to ask me for anything. I want you both to feel free to confide in me. Now, prepare to feast your eyes on Egypt's pride and joy-the Great Pyramids of Giza!

I follow Youssef through the dig site in a daze, Scarcely able to believe what I'm seeing.

It's just like in the photographs...I'm really, truly here!

Before long, an older Japanese man strides over to us with a beaming smile.

Walking behind him is a vaguely familiar youth with a surly

expression.

Older Man: You must be Sanura and Itsuki. I'm Dr. Manabu Sugiura. Welcome to the Giza complex!

Itsuki: H-Hello, Dr. Sugiura.

Sanura: It's an honor to meet you.

Dr. Sugiura: I'm looking forward to working with you both. Now, to start off with, I want you helping out on Site C.

He gestures to the aloof young man beside him.

Dr. Sugiura: My son Kaito will show you the way and provide you with tool kits and other necessities. I'Il be joining you shortly, but feel free to ask Kaito any questions you have in the meantime.

With that, Dr. Sugiura turns to Youssef.

Dr. Sugiura: Youssef, we need you at Site F for a moment.

Youssef: Sure thing, Doctor.

Youssef gives us a wink and a wave as he follows Dr. Sugiura.

Youssef: I'll see you two later!

Once they're gone, Kaito regards us coolly for a moment before pointing to a spot beside the nearest pyramid.

Kaito: Site C is near the west most pyramid. Follow me.

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