ch41-ch60 · 051-ch50

Chapter 50: The Shopping District Has So Many Delights

　　While you often hear about local shopping districts struggling with the rise of large shopping centers, the Fukishikano Shopping District has maintained its bustling atmosphere since the old days.

　　Even among the many people coming and going, and the foreign tourists who aren't particularly rare in this area, Chartreuse stood out.

　　With her well-proportioned figure and beautiful features, her platinum blonde hair tied up catching the spring sunlight, she shone with a beauty so striking you might mistake her for having stepped out of a famous painting.

　　And what this ethereal beauty held in her hands... was a piping hot, freshly-made taiyaki.

"Wow, what is this black stuff? It's so sweet and delicious!"

　　Fuchsia followed behind Chartreuse with a somewhat exasperated expression as the other woman squinted her eyes happily while enjoying her taiyaki.

"Ah, that smells good! Let's try that next!"

"Chartreuse-sama, haven't you been doing nothing but eating? We've been here for three days now, you know?"

　　Chartreuse puffed out her cheeks at Fuchsia's scolding, her eyes still wandering over the foods displayed at the shopfront.

"That's not true, I haven't just been eating. Besides, I've been searching properly too."

"I won't deny that the food here is delicious... but you're not thinking that it's fine to extend the search period just so you can taste more of it, are you?"

"Th-that's not true at all!"

　　As Chartreuse turned toward the shop to hide her face, Fuchsia felt yet another gap between the image she had and the reality before her.

"...I never knew Chartreuse-sama was such a glutton."

"How many times must I say it—please stop using that '-sama' honorific? I'm not your superior, nor am I nobility."

"However, in this country without knights, calling you Lord Lime would attract too much attention."

　　Just like their previous exchanges, Fuchsia rejected Chartreuse's request to change how she addressed her, and Chartreuse sulked once again.

"...You could just call me Charru."

"Did you say something?"

"It's nothing... Now then, let's go try that fragrant-smelling food over there..."

　　As Chartreuse turned her whole body back toward Fuchsia, her eyes caught a group of girls walking up from behind.

　　Young girls chatting happily as they passed by, just like any other girls their age.

　　At that moment, a spring breeze blew through the shopping district.

"!"

　　It wasn't a strong wind that would make you close your eyes. Neither the girls nor the people around them paid it any mind.

　　But Chartreuse's eyes were captured by the smallest girl walking at the front of the group.

　　Blue, lustrous hair swaying in the wind, and an adorable profile.

'——She looks like...'

　　She tried to follow the girl with her gaze, but once the wind settled and the hair fell back into place, it looked black again.

"...It couldn't be, could it?"

"Chartreuse-sama?"

　　Chartreuse smiled at Fuchsia, who was looking up at her with a curious expression.

"It's nothing. Now then... may I have the wallet, please!"

"...Understood."

　　―　◆　―

　　The four of us walked through the shopping district, heading together toward Rock Kitchen.

"Hey, that person just now was, like, super pretty, wasn't she?"

　　Sumi said with a bit of excitement.

　　She definitely was super beautiful. Sumi's used to seeing models from her magazine work, so if she says that, she must really be something.

"Didn't she kinda look at Ai for a moment?"

"I thought so too! After all, Ai-chan is so cute!"

　　Kiriko's words were met with Mikato's excessive agreement.

"No way, no way, that couldn't be it. She looked like she was from overseas, so she was probably just curious about a group of high schoolers, that's all."

"Even though we weren't wearing uniforms~?"

　　Well, when you put it that way... I mean, maybe she wouldn't have known we're high schoolers? We were just walking around being noisy, so maybe that caught her attention.

　　Chatting like that as we walked, we reached the end of the shopping district when—

"Oh, what a coincidence running into you here."

　　A refreshing handsome guy with brown hair, munching on a croquette in front of a shop, called out to us.

　　Is this... a pickup attempt?

　　Ah, of course I know it's not for me. This happens sometimes when I'm walking with Sumi~

"S-Shudo-san!? What are you doing here?"

　　I was on guard, but the one who reacted was Mikato.

　　Huh, so it's not a pickup, they know each other?