After briefly hydrating at the drink shop beside the park, Kagura and Nice Nature followed the direction the shopkeeper had pointed them in and arrived at a shopping street near Tracen.
Finding the route oddly familiar, Kagura and Nice Nature finally remembered. This was the same street Kagura had often visited to buy groceries before she enrolled at Tracen, and Nice Nature had also temporarily lived here for a while.
"Ah… It somehow feels like it's been ages since I last came back here."
When they reached the entrance of the shopping street, Nice Nature could not help sighing with emotion.
Perhaps because Christmas was coming, the street was decorated in red and white today, with a very festive Christmas atmosphere. Quite a few children could also be seen running back and forth along the street. Unfortunately, there was no snow. If a little snow had fallen too, the scenery here would surely have had even more charm.
"Ah! It's Nice Nature-oneesan and Kagura-oneesan!!"
Before they had even walked in, Kagura and Nice Nature were spotted by the children inside. The moment the child at the very edge saw them and shouted, countless pairs of eyes around them immediately turned over. Then that cry spread at once, from one to ten, from ten to a hundred.
Before long, not only the children, but a whole crowd of shopkeepers had also been startled into running out of their stores. Before Kagura and Nice Nature could even make it inside, they were already surrounded by a large group of children, uncles, and aunties.
"What! Nature and little Kagura are back!?"
"Where, where! Let me see!"
"Champion-oneesan is back!? Kagura-oneesan! We love you!"
"Ah… everyone, long time no see~"
"Eh… L-long time no see!"
Nice Nature subconsciously grabbed Kagura's arm and hid slightly behind her. Although she had spent more time mingling with the people of this shopping street, she was still not used to directly facing so many enthusiastic gazes. Kagura, who had already stood on the Winner's Concert stage and faced countless spectators several times, seemed very composed this time. She smiled as she greeted the children crowding over, and while she was at it, greeted the shopkeepers who had gathered to watch as well.
Judging from the voices in the crowd, it seemed that eighty to ninety percent of the people on this shopping street had watched Kagura's two G1 races. She could clearly hear many people calling her "Champion-oneesan," as well as "Miko Princess Who Chased the Light."
The former was still fine. The latter title made Kagura feel a little like she was about to lose her composure. Fortunately, they were all old acquaintances, and she could tell that they were calling her by that title with praise and respect, so Kagura did not feel especially embarrassed.
Surrounded by the crowd, Kagura and Nice Nature finally managed to enter the shopping street. Today, there were quite a few stalls on the street that Kagura did not remember seeing there on ordinary days. She could also see plenty of Santa Clauses and children dressed for Christmas running along the street.
Although those stalls had temporarily lost their owners because the shopkeepers had been drawn over by her, the sheer number of stalls was enough to show that the celebration here was probably quite lively.
"All right, all right, don't all crowd around here. Little Kagura and Nature came back today because Christmas is almost here and they wanted to shop around, didn't they? If everyone blocks them like this, they won't be able to come in and enjoy themselves. Speaking of which, it's been a long time since you two came back. Even Kagura has grown so much before we knew it~ Since you've finally come back today, enjoy the holiday properly! Eat whatever you like from the stalls on the street! Just think of it as everyone's feelings, and don't mind it!"
"Thank you, Morichika-jiisan~"
"Thank you!"
The two thanked the butcher shop owner who had helped them out. As the surrounding crowd gradually dispersed, the two of them could finally move around freely again.
According to the shopkeeper running an oden stall, today's celebration seemed to have been suggested to the merchants on this street by Curren Chan, who had previously come here. After checking in at this street, Curren Chan would return from time to time. Occasionally, she would even bring some very good activity plans for the street, bringing the shopkeepers quite a decent profit. The reason this street had changed so much was that Curren Chan's operational thinking had played no small part in it. Because of that, the shopkeepers on this street were all very grateful to that clever influencer, and also very grateful to Kagura and Nice Nature, who had introduced Curren Chan to them.
"It really is as lively as a festival today… Eh, Kagura, look at that over there. The pointy orange thing that looks like a carrot—is that candy?"
Back in a familiar place, Nice Nature seemed to grow much bolder. She was no longer as silent as she had been on the way here and began pulling Kagura along to explore the fun and tasty things on the street. If there was one major shared hobby between the two of them, then there was no need to say it. They both knew it well—eating.
"Ooh…"
Kagura also leaned in curiously to take a look. On the roadside stall, she saw a neat row of carrots standing there. But after getting closer, she could clearly see that the surface of those "carrots" had a white shell, looking somewhat like the crisp sugar coating on candied fruit skewers, which made Kagura curious.
"Is this oneesan… could she be Kagura!? The real one!?"
When Kagura approached the stall, the black-haired little Umamusume and her parents beside it also saw her, and all of them showed surprised and excited expressions.
"That's me~ The genuine Kagura, no substitutions."
"Wow! It really is Kagura! I've watched your races, oneesan! You were super cool! I… I want to become a cool, strong Umamusume like Kagura-oneesan someday too!"
The little Umamusume looked extremely excited, her eyes sparkling with yearning as she looked at Kagura. The two parents behind her smiled at Kagura with a hint of apology, as if worried their child was too enthusiastic and might disturb Kagura, who was originally out shopping with a friend.
Kagura did not mind. She smiled at this cute little fan, then took out a few coins and handed them to the stall owner, buying a carrot candy for the little fan. She bent down and handed the candy to the little Umamusume, who barely reached her knees.
"Here you go~ Happy Christmas Eve~"
"Ah! This… Thank you! Thank you, Kagura-oneesan!!"
The little Umamusume happily bounced twice. Kagura reached out and petted the child a couple times, then straightened up. She saw the little Umamusume's parents looking at her, seemingly embarrassed that she had spent money. Kagura only gave a very small wave of her hand and signaled with her eyes that they did not need to mind it. In a place where the little Umamusume could not see, the two parents nodded slightly to her in thanks.
Then Kagura paid for two more candies while she was at it, handed one to Nice Nature, waved goodbye to the family, and left the stall.
...
"Kagura… you really are good with children. I can't even imagine how I'd respond if I met a fan like that after my debut."
After they left the stall and walked a little farther away, Nice Nature finally spoke, her voice carrying a little envy.
"Mm? Am I? Once you've seen that kind of situation enough times, you naturally learn how to handle it, you know?"
"No… Even if you say that, Kagura, you're a little too practiced at it."
"I think I'm pretty normal?"
Taking the carrot candy out of her mouth, Kagura saw that the one in Nice Nature's hand seemed to be a different color from hers. It looked like they were different flavors.
"What flavor is yours, Nice Nature?"
"It tastes kind of like orange… Why?"
"I want to try! Mine tastes like blueberry! Want to try it?"
"Ah… I don't mind…"
Nice Nature nodded. Not noticing anything wrong, she reached out and moved the candy she had already eaten a few bites of slightly toward Kagura.
Kagura opened her mouth and gently bit the candy Nice Nature offered her. The scent of orange burst in Kagura's mouth, sweet and tart. Although candy could only really innovate in its shape, the happiness brought by that simple, original flavor was just that plain and unadorned.
"Mm~ So good~ The orange flavor is really nice~ Nice Nature, you should try mine too~ We can call it an exchange?"
"Okay~"
Nice Nature drew back her hand and leaned toward the candy Kagura offered her. Just as she was about to open her mouth and bite down, her body suddenly froze by instinct. She felt as though she had discovered where that strange feeling in her heart just now had come from.
Eh, wait, isn't this… with Kagura… sort of… indirectly…?
The instant she realized that, Nice Nature's face reddened. But seeing how naturally Kagura had acted just now, she knew Kagura had not thought about it at all and did not mind. If Nice Nature acted like she did mind, wouldn't that be a little…
"Mm… mm…"
After hesitating for a moment, Nice Nature, cheeks burning, finally gathered her courage and took a bite of the candy Kagura offered. It tasted like blueberry, a little tart, yet Nice Nature felt something sweet spreading through her heart.
"How is it? Do you like it, Nice Nature?"
"It's… it's good!"
Nice Nature covered her mouth and quickly turned her head away, answering in a voice that Kagura could hear clearly, though it was not very loud.
"I'm glad it's good. What's wrong? Is there something interesting over there? Why did you suddenly look that way?"
"N-nothing! Ah, th-there seems to be a place where we can take photo stickers over there! Kagura, do you want to go take one?"
"Sure~"
...
"Uuu… I'm sorry. I'm an idiot…"
Inside the cramped photo booth, Nice Nature lowered her head with a despondent expression, looking as if several black lines were hanging down over her face. One hand covered her face, and she looked like she had lost all will to live.
Beside her, Kagura was wearing a smile she could not suppress. As for the reason, naturally, it was because Nice Nature had seen that there seemed to be a place to take photo stickers here and wanted to come take a look. Then she pulled Kagura over to the self-service ID photo booth by the roadside. Only after entering did Nice Nature discover that it was for ID photos, and that the place for taking photo stickers was inside the shopping mall behind that little booth. The entrances had simply been close together.
"Haha~ That little metal box is for taking ID photos~ It's quite a great invention. Nice Nature, make sure you don't mistake it next time, okay?"
"I know…"
Nice Nature sighed. Originally, she had wanted to behave a little more mature and reliable in front of Kagura. She had not expected so many accidents to happen after they came out, making her realize that she really was still inexperienced. She could not even handle a child as pure as Kagura.
After adjusting her mood, Nice Nature pulled herself together. Since she had brought Kagura here to take photos, she could not stay in this state. That would be far too embarrassing.
However, Nice Nature was a child from the countryside after all. Before today, she had only heard of things like photo stickers. This was her first time operating one, and she was a complete beginner when it came to how to use it. Seeing her fiddle with it for ages without getting anywhere, Kagura, who knew how to use this thing, finally decided to personally step in and help this somewhat clumsy child.
"You use it like this, Nice Nature. Here, go stand over there."
"Ah… okay…"
Nice Nature, who had absolutely no idea what to do, could only give up her spot and let Kagura step forward to operate it while she retreated in front of the camera.
After making the adjustments, Kagura also stepped back in front of the camera, patted Nice Nature on the shoulder, and seeing that Nice Nature still seemed nervous and at a loss, smiled and patted her shoulder again.
"Hey! Think about something happy from today! Smile~"
"Something happy…"
There had been too many things today that made Nice Nature happy, and for a moment, she could not sort through her thoughts.
If she had to say it, the fact that she was out together with Kagura made Nice Nature happy in itself. But was that something she could say directly to Kagura? Nice Nature asked herself this in her heart, then got a negative answer.
"Speaking of which, we met a very famous singer today, at that candy stall."
Aside from Kagura, the other thing that had surprised and delighted Nice Nature today was the little Umamusume's father from the candy stall earlier.
"Eh? You mean that little Umamusume's parent?"
"Mm~ That little one's father is a very famous singer. You can often see him at all kinds of festivals."
As she spoke, Nice Nature smiled shyly.
Because Nice Nature often helped organize festivals back in her hometown, she also knew about celebrities like that. Being able to meet that legendary famous person today could be considered the fulfillment of one of Nice Nature's dreams.
"I see~ Very good! Hup~"
Kagura answered while taking advantage of the moment before Nice Nature's smile faded. She immediately hugged Nice Nature's left arm and pressed herself against her, then leaned against Nice Nature's shoulder and smiled at the camera before pressing the button.
Click!
"Eh!?"
"That was a very nice smile~ Shall we change poses and take a few more?"
...
A few minutes later, Nice Nature, her face bright red, followed Kagura out of the shopping mall.
Looking at the photos in her hand, there were ones where Kagura was pressed close to her, ones where she had cooperated with Kagura to make a heart, and ones where they had made funny faces. No matter which photo it was, Kagura looked so lively and adorable in it. By comparison, Nice Nature felt that she herself looked stiff as a wooden puppet, and even her smile seemed a little rigid.
Why… when I'm clearly older…
Looking at Kagura in the photos, seeing how relaxed and happy she looked, Nice Nature could not help wondering in her heart.
Kagura, walking ahead, put her photos away safely in her pocket and looked up at the sky. It was still early, not yet time to go back.
"Ah, Nice Nature, let's go look over there! There seems to be something fun there! And there's also a place that sells apples!"
"Oh… oh! Okay! I'm coming!"
...
——Hiss. This kid… Such frequent attacks, and she's so proactive too… Even if it were me when I was young, I'd freeze for a few seconds…
——How strange. She's clearly a blockhead, so why is her attack power so high?
——How mysterious…
---
T/N: OOOH was that kitasan?
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