Chapter 49: My Favorite

It was a holiday a little while after the Korin Festival ended, and as usual, the three of us had gotten together to go out.

"What are we doing today?"

"Hehe, today… I thought we could each pick something we like, and the other two come along for it~"

Something each of us likes, huh…

Maiha loves cooking and eating more than anything. Masa’s hobby is gaming. And as for what I like… that would be stuffed animals.

"As for me, I really want to go eat sweets~! Where do you two want to go~?"

"Me? I’d like to visit a game shop."

"I would like… to go to a toy store. One that sells plushies."

"Then it’s decided," Maiha said with a smile, and we headed off to Masa’s destination first.

We drove out to a suburban area a bit removed from Trinity Academy and parked the Royalty in the lot before climbing out. The game shop was impressively large. They stocked rare games—ones discontinued after tiny production runs, those recalled before ever reaching the market, and even doujin titles distributed only at events.

Inside, rows of shelves stretched out like apartment blocks. The plan was to split up and search for whatever caught our interest. But…

"…What’s wrong, Maiha? Why are you pacing in circles over there?"

"I’m not really familiar with this kind of stuff… I don’t know what I should even be looking at."

Masa and I both play games to some extent, but it seems Maiha doesn’t. Watching her wander helplessly nearby, Masa sighed, then gave in and decided to help her choose something.

"Maiha, what kind of games are you interested in?"

"Hmm, maybe… something with cute characters~?"

Masa thought for a moment, then pulled several game cases from the action-game shelf and fanned them out.

"Let’s see… then how about the Star Cleaner series? Umm… this one. The protagonist is a cute little pink round character, and—"

"Oh, this one’s adorable~!"

"This series is pretty easy for beginners to clear… but it also has tons of completion elements, so hardcore players like it too."

I feel like I recognize this game from my previous life… But anyway, Maiha placed a few Star Cleaner titles into her basket and turned back to Masa.

"Okay, I’ll buy these first~. Oh, that reminds me—don’t some of these game consoles have other features too? Like cooking recipes~?"

"Yes. There are titles with health logs, music creation, even educational software. Although nowadays, smartphones handle all that, so they’re older types of software…"

And so, Maiha bought a handheld game console and some games. Masa and I picked out a few titles as well, and then we left the shop.

By early afternoon, we were getting hungry, so our next stop was a luxury hotel in Trinity’s central district. The restaurant on the first floor hosts a lunch buffet, and we’d come to enjoy it. Naturally, the one who suggested it was—

"Mmm~, so tasty~"

—Maiha. This buffet especially prided itself on its sweets. The desserts glimmered like jewels, arranged as if someone had overturned a treasure chest.

"Munch munch…"

Following the two who had already started eating, I took a bite of mikkan tart. This must be the result of repeated selective breeding—the citrus tartness was mild, the mikkan unbelievably sweet. Combined with mellow whipped cream, the flavor was wonderfully rich.

"Oh? Could it be…"

I recognized this mikkan. The texture, the taste, the fragrance—something I grew up with.

"What’s wrong~?"

"This mikkan… I believe it’s from my family’s orchard…"

"Umm… the sign says the mikkan tart uses ‘100% Shiny Eyebrows’ fruit~"

After checking the display sign, Maiha confirmed it was indeed the variety we grow at home. To think a high-class hotel restaurant uses our fruit… My family really is amazing.

"Heh, so it’s from Aika’s home…"

"Hehe~ See? I knew picking this place was the right choice~"

It’s not exactly “the taste of home,” but since it’s what I’ve always eaten, it definitely feels comforting.

"Oh! Speaking of mikkan, how about that parfait over there? It says it uses fruit from Aika-chan’s place too~"

"That sounds good. I’ll go get some."

"I shall have the salmon carpaccio…"

We enjoyed the buffet—filled not just with sweets but with all sorts of dishes—right up until our time was nearly up, and then we finished our lunch.

The last place we visited was the toy section of a department store not far from the restaurant.

"Hmm hmm, I see~"

I’d heard this store carried a wide selection of dolls and plushies, so I’d wanted to visit at least once. That’s why I chose it as our final stop.

"Aika, the thing you like was… what was it again? That weird drugged-looking duck*1?"

What Masa pointed at was a giant Peroro plush. Peroro gets roasted by people pretty often, and sure, if you stare long enough, you might find it strangely charming and kind of cute… No, actually, the eyes really are a little scary.

"No, not that one… this Angry Adelie over here. She’s part of the Momo Friends, just like Peroro."

Saying that, I hugged an M-sized Angry Adelie doll. Masa tilted her head, studying my expression.

"I can understand that more than… Beroro?*2 But how should I put it… your taste is kind of subdued."

"Really? I think she’s quite cute, don’t you?*3"

She’s pink and adorable—at least in my opinion. There are other pink characters in Momo Friends like Pinky Paca, but Adelie-san is my number one.

"Oh! Look, look~! Isn’t this plush the character from the game we bought earlier~?"

"It is. That’s Cleaner."

What Maiha picked up was a plush with a round pink body, tiny hands, and red feet—a one-head-tall figure. Cleaner, the protagonist of the Star Cleaner series.

"Hehe, so cute~"

The brown-haired girl lifted the plush with a bright smile, looking her age for once. With her tall height, sharp mind, and mature way of thinking, it’s easy to forget she’s the same first-year student as me. But moments like this remind me she really is just a girl.

"Does anything catch your eye, Masa?"

"Me? Let me think…"

She slowly looked around, and once something seemed to interest her, she walked toward it.

"Maybe this one."

What she picked up was a fairly large snake plush. While animal plushies are pretty common…

"T-that’s quite unusual…"

"Look, aren’t its beady little eyes cute?"

The snake plush was somewhat stylized, but if you saw it in a dark room, you’d probably jump.

"If you think it’s good, then I think it’s good too. Now that you mention it, the eyes are pretty."

I also love animal plushies—marine mammals like dolphins and seals, little ones like rabbits or hamsters, and pretty much all kinds of birds*4.

After visiting each of the places we wanted to go, we headed back. All three of us walked side by side, carrying bags stuffed with game software and plush toys.

"How was today~?"

"Let me see… It was very enjoyable. I feel I was able to learn more about the things the two of you love. I consider it a very meaningful time."

After I answered, the girl with long blue hair swaying in the wind gave her reply.

"I feel the same as Aika. I was able to spend some wonderful time with both of you."

Hearing that, Maiha smiled gently.

"Hehe, then I’m glad~"

Her smile was contagious. We faced one another and laughed as we walked beneath a sky now tinged with orange. A peaceful time passed.