>>20491>>20492>>20504 Well...its a small bookstore, and focused on local stuff, so the English books they have is mainstream fiction only. Thanks for the recommendations. There was a Twilight shrine there though and the official reviews seemed good...
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[] Let Renko say her piece.
[] Ask a bit about this delinquent of her’s
[] Let’s not blow this out of proportion. No one was hurt after all. You need to head back to prepare anyway.
[] Resolve to eat here in the future.
“You!” Renko gasps, looking over the petite manager’s shoulders, right to another girl, who’s just emerged from behind a curtained doorway.
“Is there a problem manager-san…” though, her vice trails off to nowhere when she notes a livid Ren staring her down- not to mention the elder and yourself for that matter. Understandably, she’s more focused on Renko - your old friend could be quite intimidating, for her size when the situation warranted it. Wisely, the maid hasn’t worn that white wig this time.
“You lying little-“
“Enough! Let’s talk this over civilly.” The manager requests firmly- though, from her tone, it’s more of an order than a request. “Frisca, prepare a private dining room, and bring us some…tea or coffee, Miss, Sirs?” she asks, brooking a no nonsense demeanor.
“Tea’s fine.” Renko stumbles, looking abashed at the rather odd turn in events.
“Your hospitality is appreciated, Tea would be fine,” the elder laughs, and you find yourself nodding along without much thought.
“Tea then. Please follow Frisca.” She nods, business like, and glides off, seemingly more at home in a high society function, rather than in a cosplay café. “I’ll be along shortly.”
“What’s with her?” Ren asks, animosity quite forgotten at that.
“Oh, that’s how she is- she’s not acting,” the maid claims, as you follow her lead towards a side room, which turns out, against your expectations of the place, to be a well it, airy place, set neatly with solid wooden furniture and a good window view overlooking the street to add to the deal. Pristine white tablecloth impeccably set with cutlery and glasses, you supposed that it was rather tastefully done.
“Manager san joined us about two weeks back- and wow, she just bowled us over with her personality.” The maid gushes. “Like some sort of nobility- the boss and the customers liked that so…”
“Right, right.” Ren interrupts sharply. “Now, tell me, what did you tell that,” she puts some emphasis on “that”. “-horrible person to get her so worked up so as to attack someone in broad daylight?”
“Me?” the poor girl exclaims. “I didn’t do anything! All I did was go in and then she was shaking me and yelling something bout what that fellow did to me!”
“What did I do to you again?” you, rather curious rather than angry. After Chiko, most of these situations were cakewalks.
The girl stops short, face reddening. “Nothing really…she just wanted a go at you because you ignored me- she’s a bit overprotective you see.” She admits. “Especially when guys are involved.”
“You don’t say.” Ren comments dryly.
“Well…” she continues in a small voice. “She came in few days after manager-san- perfect for the job- her hairs already white- I think she dyed it or something, so she got hired, but she’s not suited for this job…but I appreciate her protection! I really do!” she stresses. “But, you know…I think she’s got trouble with her fami-“
The door opens, revealing the manager, moving in gracefully, arms laden with a tray bearing a teapot and several teacups, European style. “Please sit,” she ushers, setting the cups down with little ceremony and finally placing the steaming pot in the center of the table.
“I suppose that you would like to know more?” she asks.
“That’s why we’re here.” The elder replies smoothly.
“Very well, but first, I would ask you not to blow this out of proportion. She’s had a hard life as well.” The manager requests- quite sincerely much to your surprise. You had expected perhaps some formality so as not to implicate the shop but…ah well…
“It’s up to you, young man.” The elder urges.
There’s no point in really pressing the matter, is there? You’re not injured in any way, besides your dignity of course, though… She’s right though- you could be (and should be) magnanimous.
As it turns out, that spitfire of a girl calls herself Fujimoto, and is supposedly estranged from her family. Also a steadfast punk and self proclaimed anarchist, and, as the manager states in utter seriousness, keeps babbling something about rabbits on the moon.
“You serious?” you just had to ask.
“Well, young man, it’s no more hard to believe than demonic cherry trees. You get a lot of these stories when you’re on the streets.” The elder laughs.
“And, a flying teacher- that one is a good one.” The manager states, flat faced, still every inch the perfect façade of a noblewoman despite the out of the ordinary material that she’s using for the topic of the conversation. “Ah! Not to mention an imperishable night.”
“Oh!’ Ren chips in happily, finally having a topic she can relate to. While often dragged along unwillingly on Mari’s adventures, even more so than yourself, Ren is, after all, a co founder of the occult club- which entails a certain amount of willing participation. “You know about the sealed land of Gensokyo right?”
The effect is rather good to say the least- with everyone staring at her like she’s turned yellow or something. Till…
“Of course, Miss,” the old man laughs finally. “Fairies, youkai and miko. I’ll tell you, one of my old customers, talks like he’s lived there. Good times, good times…” he trails off, looking distant.
“She’s mentioned it, once or twice.” The manager admits, looking at Ren curiously, “Though it appears that this little tidbit is better known than I’d have expected. Odd.” She pauses, looking pensive for once, deep in though till she looks up, right at Ren, appearing to have decided something, visibly relaxing. “I’ve heard this from our Miss Fujimoto,” she stresses that part. “That-“
Good gracious. You could really bang your head against the table now. Listening on as all three of their stories grow progressively more and more exaggerated, and their laughs more and more forced as they realize what nonsense they’re spouting. There are no trials of guts” through the bamboo forests, so far as you know, nor people who spend more time a day eating than doing anything else- and Reimu’s grandmother didn’t fly about on a turtle and...oh forget it… But is fairly ironic that you’re not considered a reliable source on this matter- still, it’s a good thing and you intend to leave things as it is.
