As it turned out, talking with someone from the same hometown really did keep the conversation lively, and I spent a good while chatting with Kaori-san about all sorts of idle things.
I listened to stories of her travels around the world, and we bonded over the topic of whether there were other immigrants like us in this world. It was a pleasant way to spend the time, and before I knew it, the minutes had flown by.
"Oh... I really should start getting ready to open the shop."
"Ah, sorry for staying so long."
"No, don't be. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize for keeping you. Talking with you was so much fun, Kaito-kun, that I completely lost track of time. Are you okay? Do you have somewhere to be?"
"Yeah, I still have a fair amount of time to spare."
Since I had originally set out early with the intention of doing some sightseeing, I still had plenty of leeway before my appointment with the Pope.
Honestly, I wouldn't have minded staying a bit longer to keep talking with her, but I didn't want to be a nuisance.
"By the way, Kaori-san, how late are you open at night?"
"This place? We don't serve much alcohol, so we close at 9:00 PM. Last order is at 8:30 PM... Wait, does that mean you're coming back tonight?"
"If I have the time... I was thinking I’d really like to try the Ginger Pork, so I thought I’d come back and actually pay for a meal this time."
Yes, the Ginger Pork Set Meal that I had agonized over right alongside the Beef Cutlet... I really wanted to try it. In fact, there were so many things on the menu of this shop—which had that classic Japanese diner feel—that caught my eye.
The Chicken Nanban looked delicious, and fried chicken was a staple... I had a feeling that whenever I started missing the taste of Japan, this would be the place to go.
"I see! That makes me happy. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you, Kaito-kun."
"Only if I have the time, remember?"
"I’m holding you to it."
"Oof."
"Hehehe."
Drawn in by Kaori-san’s mischievous smile, I couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle myself. Even if she was partly joking, she had been so welcoming that I felt I had to find a way to make it back tonight.
After chatting for just a few more minutes, I left the shop and began making my way toward the Central Cathedral.
As I walked, an idea struck me, and I called out to Alice, who I knew was likely hovering nearby.
"Alice, can I ask you something?"
"What’s up-ssu?"
"Are there other immigrants besides Kaori-san and Okura-san?"
"There are. If we're talking about those currently alive, there’s one more... a woman named Akane Mikumo."
I had been curious if there were others from my hometown ever since meeting Kaori-san. As expected, Alice had a firm grasp on all the information regarding the immigrants and filled me in on this Mikumo-san.
"What kind of person is she? The name sounds feminine..."
"She’s the Chairman of a mobile merchant association called the Mikumo Trading Company. Among the existing immigrants, she’s the one with the highest status and the most wealth. Actually, Kaito-san, you’ve already seen Akane-san before, you know?"
"Wait, really?"
That was an unexpected revelation. I had seen her? If she said I had "seen" her, it probably meant we hadn't spoken, but I might have caught a glimpse of her from a distance.
I searched my memory. Had I met anyone like that?
"Do you remember hearing that a mobile merchant association had come to the Kingdom of Sinfonia when you went to buy fishing gear a while back?"
"I remember that, but... wait, was that—?"
"Yep, that was the Mikumo Trading Company-ssu."
Now that she mentioned it, I did remember. Before my trip with Fate-san, I had heard that a major merchant group was in town.
At the time, the crowds had been so thick that I’d felt a bit overwhelmed and ended up skipping it. To think it was run by a fellow immigrant—I really missed out. If I had stopped by, I might have had the chance to meet her.
"By the way, that purple-haired woman wearing leopard-print clothes who spoke with a Kansai dialect—the one you passed right after that? That was Akane-san."
"What?! That was her?!"
I remembered her. I remembered her clearly! She had left a strong impression on me because I’d wondered why someone in this world was using a Kansai dialect... but wait a minute.
"But that woman looked really young... like she was in her teens. I didn't think she could be a Hero-role from before Kaori-san."
The woman I’d seen had been very young. She certainly didn't look like she was over thirty. If Mitsunaga-kun and Kaori-san were the most recent and previous Hero-roles, then anyone from before them would have to be nearly forty at the absolute minimum.
"Ah, she was rejuvenated by Life-san’s Temporary Blessing. Akane-san isn't exactly a subordinate, but she’s on good terms with Kuro-san’s association, so she was invited to the Six Kings Festival through those channels."
"I see..."
Shigenobu Okura, whom I’d heard about from Kaori-san, and Akane Mikumo, whom I’d heard about from Alice... fellow people from my world who had made a life here. I hoped I’d have the chance to meet them properly someday.
Serious-senpai: "Hmph. So that last conversation wasn't quite a 'flag' yet...?"
???: "Hard to say. She might be at the stage of thinking, 'Wait, could this guy actually be an exceptionally high-quality prospect?' or something like that. Well, Kaito-san clearly liked the food, so he'll probably keep dropping by and building up that flag, don't you think?"
Serious-senpai: "Kaito really does love that commoner-style food and those familiar flavors, doesn't he..."