The capital of the Kingdom of Sinfonia was alive with the excitement of the Founding Anniversary Festival. Three figures moved through one of the bustling streets: Akane, the chairman of the Mikumo Trading Company; Frau, her guard and maid; and Kaori, who ran a set-meal diner in the Friendly City Hikari.
"Mm, it’s incredible. The atmosphere is totally different from the Hero Festival. There wasn't a Founding Anniversary celebration during the year of the Hero Festival, and I was traveling so much afterward that the timing never lined up. This is my first time seeing Sinfonia's Founding Festival."
"Hoh? So, if you’re specifyin' the one here in Sinfonia, does that mean you've been to others?"
"I’ve been to the Imperial Festival in the Arclesia Empire. Chris-san—the current Emperor—has looked after me in various ways, so I went for that."
"My, my, you're quite the dark horse, Kaori. If you’ve got connections with big shots like that, maybe you’ll end up just like Kaito one of these days, eh?"
"I won't, and I don't want to. I’d end up with a hole in my stomach halfway through, for sure..."
Akane laughed playfully while Kaori replied with a weary, wry smile.
"Still, I probably wouldn't have had much of a chance to come if you hadn't brought me along, Akane-san. Teleportation fees are expensive, after all."
"Ah, yeah, reckon so. It’s one thing for me since I can use my own teleportation magic, but for most folks, the trip from the Friendly City to the Sinfonian capital costs a pretty penny. And the wyvern service just takes way too long."
"Exactly. So, I really lucked out befriending you this year, Akane-san."
Kaori had come to the Founding Festival because Akane had invited her. Ever since meeting through Kaito, the two had become close friends, bonded by their shared origin as fellow otherworlders.
Frau quietly interjected.
"...Kaori-sama. It is fine to be friendly with the Chairman, but do take care. This woman is well past her marriageable prime."
"Gha—!?"
"Hey now, Frau! Who are you callin' an old maid? I’ve got... you know... my work is my lover!"
"Chairman, do you have a fever? Work is not a biological entity."
"Don't go reactin' to that so seriously! It’s a metaphor, a metaphor!!"
Kaori giggled at the manzai-like banter between Akane and Frau. After a moment, a thought seemed to strike her.
"By the way, Akane-san. You mentioned Kaito-kun was running a stall, right?"
"Ah, yeah. I got a message about it too. Sounds like he’s sellin' Baby Castella. It seems interestin', so shall we go have a look?"
"I’m in. Oh, but since it’s Kaito-kun’s shop, do you think things have gotten out of hand? There might be a massive line or something."
"Hmm, I wonder. Still, there’s only so much a single stall can put out, and there are mountain-loads of Baby Castella stalls around. People won't usually go out of their way to wait in a long line just for that."
"I guess so. Though maybe he’s got some incredible big shot minding the shop?"
"If he did, it might cause a stir, but knowin' Kaito's personality, he wouldn't use famous people just to lure in customers."
Akane’s intuition was mostly correct. Kaito’s stall wasn't overflowing with customers. While word of mouth about his "shockingly delicious" Baby Castella was spreading, Alice was skillfully manipulating the information flow to ensure the stall wasn't swamped by a mob.
In terms of "big shots," Alice was indeed present... but since the two women knew nothing of her kigurumi antics, even if they saw a strange stuffed animal mascot, they would likely just assume it was some eccentric hobby of Kaito's. A regrettable assumption for Kaito, to be sure.
"Aren't you going to open a shop, Akane-san?"
"Hmm, I ain't exactly a festival merchant. I’m not used to the stall format, and the hurdles are high if you actually want to turn a profit. Even if I opened one just to enjoy the atmosphere like Kaito... well, once I get started, my merchant blood would probably start boilin'. I’d end up chasin' profit margins, so I couldn't really do it casually."
"I see. If you did open one, though, what would you sell?"
"Takoyaki... is what I’d like to say, but I’d want to do an Okonomiyaki stall to help spread the word. You see takoyaki stalls every now and then, but there ain't a single one for Okonomiyaki."
"Now that you mention it, you don't see Okonomiyaki stalls much. I quite like it, too... Is that the one with the yakisoba? The noodles under the batter are so good..."
Kaori was speaking happily, but as she reached that specific detail, Akane’s eyebrows twitched.
"...Hold on a second, Kaori."
"Yeah?"
"Are you talkin' about Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki, or are you talkin' about Modanyaki?"
"Aren't those two the same thing?"
"The same... you say? ...It seems I’m gonna have to sit you down and tell you exactly what Okonomiyaki is all about."
"Oh no. I’ve definitely stepped on a landmine... Frau-san, help me."
"Please prepare yourself, Kaori-sama. Once she gets like this, the Chairman’s lectures are quite lengthy."
"Nooooooo..."
By the time Kaori realized her slip of the tongue, it was far too late. She was subjected to a heated, passionate lecture on the intricacies of Okonomiyaki from the fired-up Akane. Needless to say, their arrival at Kaito’s stall was significantly delayed.
Serious-senpai: "By the way, the difference between Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki and Modanyaki is mainly in the preparation. Hiroshima-style is cooked by layering the ingredients one by one. Modanyaki is made by mixing the ingredients first—just like Kansai-style—then adding the noodles and finishing it with an egg. It’s hard to tell them apart just by looking, but the key difference is whether or not you mix the ingredients before they hit the grill."