A crystal-clear blue sky stretched out overhead, and a faint breeze brushed comfortably against my cheeks. The weather was beautiful and the temperature was perfect, making for an incredibly pleasant day.
It was an ideal day to be out and about, and indeed, I had traveled quite a distance from home.
Before me stood a massive, open gate, through which a constant stream of people flowed. I was standing before one of the three main entrances to the Friendly City, Hikari. While not a perfect equilateral, Hikari was a triangular city with a grand cathedral situated at its very center.
The city seemed intentionally defined by the number three, which made sense given its status as a hub where all three worlds converged. There were three gates, the city was a triangle, and the interior was divided into three districts—it was a city steeped in threes.
When I had visited during the Hero Festival, the crowds had been so overwhelming that I hadn't had the luxury of taking in the sights. Once I passed through the gate, I found myself in a plaza with a statue standing in the center. It was a monument to Noin-san... or rather, the First Hero.
Being a statue, it wasn't a perfect likeness, but it captured her features well enough that I could certainly understand why Noin-san was so reluctant to visit the city herself.
Regardless, my purpose for coming to the Friendly City today was to have a face-to-face meeting with the Pope—or more accurately, to give her a formal greeting. After replying to her letter and coordinating our schedules, we had arranged for me to visit today.
My meeting with the Pope wasn't until the afternoon, so I planned to spend the morning sightseeing.
I had invited Aoi-chan and Hina-chan to join me, of course. They were both interested in seeing the city, but neither had any desire to sit through a formal greeting with the Pope. Since they had their own work as adventurers to attend to, they suggested we come back together another time. They basically told me that if I found a good restaurant today, I should take them there next time.
They certainly were independent-minded juniors. Still, I didn't know how long my meeting would take, and trying to meet up with them afterward in an unfamiliar city would have been a logistical nightmare. In the end, coming alone was probably the right call.
As I began walking down the wide main thoroughfare, I quickly realized why this was considered the premier tourist destination of the three worlds. The atmosphere was vibrant and thick with the charm of a vacation spot.
Every few steps, my eyes landed on shops selling various souvenirs and local specialties, interspersed with an incredible number of restaurants.
"Ah, there it is... the Hikari Manju I've heard so much about."
Noin-san had mentioned that the quality was excellent, so I decided to buy a few to eat now and some more to take back as gifts.
Looking at the various stalls, it was clear that items related to the Hero were the most popular. I even saw shops selling Japanese swords, which was a bit of a rarity. Apparently, they were famous as the weapons favored by the First Hero, so their popularity made sense.
As I continued down the street, the nature of the shops began to shift. The souvenir stands gradually thinned out, replaced by an increasing number of eateries.
This was likely the city's primary dining district. The sheer variety was staggering; as one might expect from a major tourist hub, there was a truly diverse range of establishments. Some of the names and signs featured dishes I couldn't even begin to imagine, making for a fascinating walk.
It was still too early for lunch, but I figured I might as well scout out a place for later. Since I was here, I wanted to try something unique to the Friendly City.
While I was idly scanning the storefronts, one shop in particular caught my eye. It was a modest building, lacking the flashiness of its neighbors. The reason it stood out was because the architecture was unmistakably Japanese.
It had the understated charm of a neighborhood diner back home. While not extravagant, its traditional exterior gave it a distinct personality that naturally drew the gaze.
I had heard that many people in this world admired Japan—or rather, the world the Heroes came from. Just like Rei-san and Fia-san's home, it wasn't uncommon for people to build houses mimicking Japanese architecture.
However, whenever I saw those buildings, they usually felt "slightly off" to my Japanese eyes. This shop, however, was remarkably authentic. It didn't feel cluttered or overdone; it possessed a sense of understated balance, as if everything was exactly where it needed to be.
It must have been built by someone with an intimate knowledge of my world.
"The name is... Suiren? It’s simple and elegant—wait, what?"
Intrigued, I looked closer at the sign and immediately spotted the anomaly. The shop's name was written in Kanji.
Of course, with people like Blossom-san around, the existence of Kanji wasn't impossible, and the name was also written in the local script underneath. But that wasn't what shocked me. In the corner of the sign, written in small letters, were the words: "Japanese People Welcome."
It specifically said "Japanese," not "Otherworlders."
If that was the case, then the person who wrote this had to be...
"Oh, are you a customer? I'm so sorry! I appreciate you stopping by, but we haven't opened yet. We start the lunch shift at 11:00 AM... wait, hmm? Huh?"
"Eh?"
I spun around at the sound of the voice to find a woman in her twenties standing there, carrying grocery bags. She stared at me, a look of profound surprise crossing her face. After a moment of hesitation, she addressed me in hurried, fluent Japanese.
"Are you... by any chance, Japanese?"
"Uh, ah, yes. I am..."
That settled it. This woman was definitely Japanese—and most likely, she was a Former Hero-role.
Serious-senpai: "I knew it! Of course you'd run into her! It would be a crime against narrative if you didn't! A shop in the Friendly City? You're visiting the city to see the Pope? You can't just set up a flag like that and then not have a fated encounter!"