Chapter 59: This is Fashion, You Know!
Melon pan, as the name suggests, is bread shaped like a melon, typically filled with chocolate, matcha powder, or cream, with a crispy and fragrant crust.
However, this particular shop differed from standard melon pan; they actually added real melon jam and melon syrup for extra sweetness inside, making it incredibly delicious for those with a sweet tooth.
Miko also really liked this bread.
She took small bites of the outer crust, which was as crispy as a cookie, and asked Hana-chan: "Where are we going next?"
"Of course, we're going to buy Lamu Rabbit!"
Hana-chan said happily, holding a melon pan in each hand, eating heartily from both sides.
Watching Hana-chan squint her eyes enjoying the dessert, Miko looked at the chain hanging from her bag, the charm on her phone, and thought about the huge pile of Lamu Rabbit plushies she had seen at her home:
"Don't you already have a lot of Lamu Rabbits at home?"
Lamu Rabbit is a type of rabbit plush toy, mostly with a ∧-shaped mouth.
Because of its cute appearance, it's very popular among girls.
So, Hana-chan swallowed the last bite of melon pan, rubbed her round face against the rabbit plushie, and said happily: "Because it's the latest version of Lamu Rabbit! And, and, cute things like Lamu Rabbit plushies are definitely cuter when there are more of them!"
"Alright."
Hana-chan still likes Lamu Rabbit so much.
Miko smiled gently and turned her head.
Since Hana-chan wanted to go, she would accompany her.
Hana-chan put down the Lamu Rabbit plushie and looked at the Buddhist prayer beads, gleaming with magnificent luster, covering Miko's wrist as she ate the bread.
She couldn't help but say:
"And Miko-chan~ aren't you also wearing lots and lots of prayer beads?"
She thought that string of prayer beads was actually several strings... At least logically, one wouldn't assume a single string could have so many beads, nor would anyone tie prayer beads like that.
"Because things like this only become powerful when there are many of them~"
Miko showed off the numerous prayer beads on her arm, a sense of security welling up in her heart.
She had used these beads before to block an evil spirit's attack, and they could also keep some less powerful evil spirits away.
Just looking at them brought a sense of peace.
"Powerful~?"
Hana-chan didn't understand Miko's meaning.
"Does it mean it's trendy? But, hey—are prayer beads really popular now?"
Miko didn't want Hana-chan involved in that world of evil spirits, so she casually made up an excuse: "Of course, they're trendy. This is fashion, you know."
"Fashion?"
Hana-chan licked the jam from the corner of her mouth with her finger, thought for a moment.
It seemed she hadn't seen anyone wearing prayer beads...
Thus, she uncertainly glanced at the arms of the people coming and going around them, but most people only wore watches or bracelets as accessories...
"But, it seems, I haven't seen anyone wearing so many prayer beads," she said doubtfully.
"That's because I'm at the forefront of the trend," Miko explained matter-of-factly.
"So, does that mean prayer beads will become popular soon?"
Hana-chan didn't doubt her, just pondered.
"They will, they will."
"Then should I buy a string of prayer beads too?"
"Hmm..." Miko thought for a moment.
"You can buy one string."
At least she could compare the prayer beads bought from a store with the ones Sensei gave her to see how different they really were.
"Then after buying Strawberry Daifuku, let's go to Don Quijote to buy Lamu Rabbit and prayer beads!"
Hana-chan raised her arm, excitedly planning it out.
"You're still buying sweets!"
Hearing Hana-chan's plan, Miko couldn't help but be startled, reminding her: "Hana-chan, eating so many sweets will make you gain fat."
"Mmm..."
Hearing the issue of gaining fat, Yurikawa Hana's steps faltered, and she lowered her head.
"Sorry, I didn't mean..."
Miko, thinking her words had discouraged the other, hurried to comfort her.
But Hana-chan looked down at the two soft orbs blocking her downward view and spoke helplessly: "Then... my chest will, will grow bigger again..."
"Er..." Miko's words stopped, her arm frozen in mid-air...
So that was the reason...
Miko walked over to a nearby pillar, leaned her hand against it, tilted her head powerlessly to the side, and let out a discouraged sigh.
"Sigh."
She shouldn't have reminded Hana-chan...
"Miko! Miko! What's wrong? Are you anemic?"
Hana-chan grabbed the devastated Miko, asking urgently.
"Do you want another melon pan?"
"No need... There's a cockroach there." Miko pointed near her foot.
"Ah!" Hana-chan quickly hugged Miko tightly, hiding her head behind her friend, her eyes darting frantically across the ground.
"Okay, it's gone now."
Miko watched the evil spirit walk past them until it slowly moved away...
Near the coffee shop on the side of the street, she thought she saw a figure hiding behind the signboard.
"Hmm?" She stared doubtfully at the signboard.
"Is, is the cockroach-roach gone..." Hana-chan timidly scanned the ground.
"Mm." Miko nodded lightly.
"I keep feeling like someone is following us."
"Maybe because Miko is at the forefront of the trend and is also so cute, maybe a talent scout is studying you~" Hana-chan said without thinking.
"Let's go first, I hate cockroaches."
"Is that so... Then let's go."
Miko managed a small smile.
Watching Hana-chan return to normal, swinging her arms widely like she was marching, she couldn't help but glance back.
Apart from scattered groups of shoppers, there was nothing particularly strange.
The clean street didn't seem to have any places for a stalker to hide.
That signboard and lamppost couldn't possibly conceal an adult...
"...Was it my imagination?" Yotsuya Miko murmured.
"Miko, hurry up! Or the Strawberry Daifuku will sell out!"
Hana-chan waved her arms continuously from ahead, calling her.
"Coming," Miko replied, dismissing her wariness and slowly walking over.
Only after the two figures slowly departed did a petite girl emerge from behind the coffee shop's signboard advertising today's specials.
Her yellow hair with pink tips made her look quite cute.
A nearby passerby was also quite startled by the sudden appearance of the 'elementary schooler'.
"Just as I thought..." Niguredou Yuria murmured.
The way Yotsuya Miko made that girl with the exceptionally large chest avoid the evil spirit just now had been completely seen by her.
"So she can also see 'things that don't exist in this world'?"
"Hmph hmph."
Niguredou Yuria chuckled, placing a small hand lightly on her hip.
"Let me see if you're the real deal."
...
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