"Uchimura, take our guests to the guesthouse to rest first."
Makiyama Hayata gave this instruction to a man behind him, then apologized to the exchange delegation with an apologetic expression before turning and hurrying out of the airport.
The middle-aged man he had just addressed immediately stepped forward in his place and gestured for everyone to follow.
"Everyone, please come with me."
With that, he led the way.
The director turned and nodded to everyone, and the group followed.
Their guide was Uchimura Takuto, one of the vice presidents of the Japanese Defense Society. He was also in his forties, balding, and spoke good Chinese.
Vice President Uchimura seemed to have a good grasp of the proper boundaries when receiving foreign guests. After the somewhat tense exchange earlier, he made absolutely no further mention of work, instead cheerfully introducing various local Japanese customs as he led the way.
The others paid little attention, listening off and on as they followed in silence.
"Ring, ring..."
A sudden chorus of ringing and vibrating phones interrupted Uchimura's introduction.
Everyone in the exchange delegation stopped at once, took out their phones, and tapped them a few times to check the messages they had just received.
"What's wrong?"
Uchimura and the other Japanese people also stopped instinctively and looked over in puzzlement.
"Oh, nothing. Push notifications from back home."
The director merely glanced at his phone before putting it away and calmly shaking his head.
The others likewise quickly put away their phones, looking as though they had merely glanced at a news item.
"Vice President Uchimura, please continue," the director said.
"Of course. This way, please."
Uchimura thought nothing of it. He smiled obligingly and continued leading the way.
They left the airport and boarded the vehicles arranged by the Defense Society, which took