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...Hm? Something is happening to the Status Screen...!

Treat me to a Ko-Fi to give me more motivation!!!

*****

Well now, when you think of the Third District, you think of Flora-chan the Greengrocer.

I wonder how she’s doing?

The vegetable stall is... ah, there it is!

My goodness!

「Pork Miso Soup: 100 Yen per Bowl」! Am I buying it? Of course I’m buying it!

I pulled my wallet (total funds: 2,000 yen) from my bag and was floating toward the soup stall as if drawn by a tractor beam when Franz grabbed my arm in a firm grip.

Oi, what do you think you’re doing?

「What is it?」

「There’s still two weeks left until your next allowance. Are you sure you should be wasting money right now?」

Guh...!

The money I earned from my part-time job at Hana-chan’s place vanished into that high-spec induction pressure rice cooker.

I’ve hidden it under my desk this time so it won't be confiscated. This time, I’ve really hidden it.

Even though I’m the daughter of a Marquis, to think I have to survive two weeks on 2,000 yen...

But the pork soup is only 100 yen, right? That leaves 1,900 yen, right? I've got plenty of room, haven't I?

「Plenty!」

The word slipped out.

Franz looked at me with a face full of pure exasperation.

Plenty, plenty! Hahaha-nn♪

I clutched my favorite clasp wallet. By the way, inside the wallet, I keep a tiny golden frog—since they say it helps your money "frog" (return) to you. ...Though only a fixed amount of 5,000 yen actually returns to me every month!

As I approached the stall, I found myself stopping in my tracks.

Because something had already begun.

「Ah, it’s that brat from the Duke’s house.」

It’s the Greengrocer’s love interest—the guy who’s way too overconfident about radishes. Today, he’s once again in "noble style" with zero intent to hide. Well, he’s not as famous as the Crown Prince, so people probably just think, 「Oh, a nobleman.」

Facing off against the Radish-Bro was Flora-chan (the Greengrocer), wearing a stern expression.

Wh-what’s about to start...?

「I’m going to say this clearly today!」

Flora-chan spoke to the Radish-Bro in a sharp, unwavering voice.

「Could you please stop stalking me already?!」

Stalking?!

「...At that point, isn't this a matter for the Knights?」

「You’re right.」

I mean, Radish-Bro, you were doing that? That’s creepy. I’m totally repulsed.

「I am not stalking you! I am merely keeping watch to ensure no strange riff-raff approaches your precious shop!」

That’s the classic line of a stalker—!!

「That’s exactly why I’m saying it’s a nuisance!」

Flora-chan said with a tone of soul-deep disgust. Well, of course. Her parents are away right now, so she must be incredibly uneasy.

Flora-chan stepped into the back for a moment and returned holding something.

It was about the size of a B4 sheet... a flip chart? Eh? Is that seriously a flipboard?

「Let’s have a contest. I will ask you some questions. If you get them all correct, you win. I won't say another word. If you get even one wrong, I win. You must promise never to come to this shop again.」

「Very well! I accept your challenge!」

Radish-Bro accepted with a mysterious surge of confidence. I can't see a future where he doesn't lose.

「There are three questions in total. Here we go!」

Flora-chan flipped the board she was holding.

It really is a flipboard! Did she make that specifically for this?!

「Question One! Which of these is a Garlic Chive? Ready... Go!」

The board was divided into four sections, showing four types of long, thin green leaves. They all looked like long, slender leaves.

「Maybe... number two?」

「I think so too.」

I’m pretty sure number one is a daffodil. I’m not sure about three, but number two feels the closest to the garlic chives in my memory. Number four is probably a scallion(wakegi).

「Well, what is your answer?!」

At Flora-chan’s prompt, Radish-Bro announced his answer with a booming, confident voice.

「It’s number one!!」

「Answer Check!」

As she spoke, Flora-chan peeled back a layer on the board. These props are so detailed!

When she peeled it, the names were written over the respective images.

As expected, number one was a daffodil. Number two was the correct answer, garlic chives. Number three was labeled as a wild rocambole, and number four was indeed a scallion.

「Too bad! Incorrect!」

「Dammit...!!」

Radish-Bro slumped to his knees.

Radish-Bro being melodramatic is par for the course, but hasn't Flora-chan become a bit strange too? Is she okay?

Flora-chan looked down at the orz-positioned Radish-Bro with cold eyes.

「A promise is a promise. Never show your face around my shop again. If I see you, I will call the Knights without hesitation.」

「Kh...! I... understand...」

Speaking through clenched teeth with a look of pure regret, Radish-Bro stood up and walked away.

Flora-chan watched him go and sighed, 「Phew...」 as if all the tension had left her.

「Flora-chan, that’s a relief. You finally drove that nobleman away.」

Was that a regular customer? Flora-chan nodded with a smile to the lady who spoke.

「Hey, Flora-chan, there are two more questions, right? Show us, show us!」

Another lady pressed in excitedly. Flora-chan picked up the board again and said, 「Then, here is Question Two,」 starting the quiz joyfully.

By the way, the second question was 「Which of these is a pumpkin seed?」 It was a trick question...

The photos showed seeds from bitter melon, cucumber, pumpkin, and luffa, but my memory was fuzzier than I thought. The photos were extreme close-ups of a few seeds, so you couldn't tell the actual scale.

The third question was 「Which of these is a shiitake mushroom?」 and I was completely stumped. Telling mushrooms apart is impossible, right? Even pros get it wrong sometimes...

I mean, Flora-chan really wanted to repel Radish-Bro, didn't she... The difficulty of the questions tells the whole story.

But for now, I guess that’s the end of Greengrocer Flora-chan’s Otome Game?

...Though there wasn't a single 「Otome Game development」 at all!

***

After ordering the pork soup and finishing it off in the eat-in space, I headed to the next spot.

The pork soup was absolutely delicious. The white miso was seasoned slightly sweet, which was great. The big chunks of root vegetables were also excellent.

As a side note, the word 「Tonjiru」 was written with those specific phonetic characters. There was also a small note saying: 「*No arguments allowed.」

I don't have any arguments, personally. I guess factional wars lurk in every time and place...

Leaving the Third District area, I headed toward the First District area.

Hana-chan said she’d be grilling various meats. ...That’s a pretty vague description, but since Hana-chan said it, it must be true.

Compared to the other two districts, the First District area is so peaceful...

Maru-san is a gentleman, and the love interest Taurus-kun is a refreshing, handsome guy.

Maru-san had a young boy hanging from each arm and was swinging them around. The boys were squealing with delight, and their mothers were laughing happily.

What is with the First District?! It’s so incredibly peaceful!

There’s no broken fish-trivia radio, and no stalker who lost a quiz.

It’s wonderful! Hana-chan, you did a great job!

The Otome Game for the First District is already over, right? I mean, it hasn't even started, but it’s finished, isn't it?

Since there's talk of Taurus-kun becoming a son-in-law and all.

In that case, I guess the only thing left is the movement in the Second District...

But even if I say 「movement,」 that place is just His Highness-kun-san talking to himself...

It hasn't started, and I don't even feel like it’s going to start...

Thinking about these things, I searched for Hana-chan’s stall.

Ah, there it is! It says 「The Shop That Grills Meat」! I mean, isn't that stall name weird?!

「Ah! Ann-san, Franz-san! Welcome!」

From across the stall, Hana-chan looked over and gave us a happy smile.

The true identity of 「The Shop That Grills Meat」 appeared to be a place where they use griddles and charcoal-style grills to cut various meats to your preferred size and grill them to your liking.

The chicken was cheap, but the chateaubriand from the brand-name cattle, 「Komezawa Beef,」 was priced at an outrageous 3,000 yen for 100 grams.

Apparently, once it's grilled, you can season it however you like.

Salt, pepper, garlic powder, soy sauce, miso, grated radish soy sauce, yakiniku sauce, ponzu, yakitori sauce... a whole line of them was laid out.

「Does this 3,000-yen-per-gram meat actually sell...?」

When I asked Hana-chan, she laughed cheerfully.

「Well, I never said I wouldn't sell it in units other than 100 grams, so it goes fairly often.」

「Even 10 grams...?」

「I don't mind, but it’s only about a single bite, you know? Rather than that, wouldn't these non-brand beef skewers be better?」

Hana-chan pointed to the beef skewers inside the glass case.

They were regular beef skewers. Three large chunks on a stick. All for 400 yen.

That definitely feels like a better deal.

As I was browsing through the case, Hana-chan spoke to me in a low voice.

「Ann-san. ...Actually, that status screen I mentioned? It’s evolved a bit...」

「Eh?」

I looked at Hana-chan in surprise.

Hana-chan looked at me and gave a slow nod.

Really, what does this 「nod」 signify in these situations?

「Evolved...」

That useless status screen did?

「Yes. It’s become subtly convenient.」

What do you mean, 「subtly」?

Hana-chan put up a 「Preparing」 sign on the stall and led me around to the back.

「Status Open.」

Hana-chan said it with a practiced air, and the pink board I’d seen before appeared soundlessly.

「Look here.」

Hana-chan pointed to the right edge of the pink board.

There had definitely been nothing there before, but now there was a white 「＞」 symbol.

Normally, this would be a symbol indicating that another page exists to the right if you tap it or swipe the screen.

Hana-chan pressed it lightly with her fingertip.

The status screen shifted to the left, and a second page appeared.

「Look! It now displays skills!」

Skills!!

「A system that actually feels like a 'Game Reincarnation'!」

「Yes. Please take a look.」

True enough, at the top of the second page, it said 「Current Acquired Skills.」

I wonder what Hana-chan’s skills are?

Maybe it’s the standard Otome Game heroine skill, 「Charm」?

Excited, I looked at the skill screen, and my face immediately went blank.

The first line read: 「Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bookkeeping Level 3.」 It even had the date of acquisition written out neatly.

There were others like 「Food Sanitation Supervisor,」「Fire Safety Manager,」「Practical American English Proficiency Level 4,」 and 「Kanji Proficiency Level 2.」

...I don't really care, but Hana-chan said she had Eiken Level 4, so her Rice-ken (American English) is Level 4 too... Level 4 is so awkward you can't even put it on a resume...

I mean, when you say 「Skills,」 it’s not the game-like kind; it’s the Professional Qualifications(Skills) kind!

「Well, they are skills, I suppose...」

「Yes. I actually got the Bookkeeping Level 3 during a skill-up seminar hosted by the shopping district.」

True, people do take bookkeeping for 「skill-ups,」 but still!

「The ones I want to aim for next are the Hazardous Materials Category 4(Otsu-yon) or Arc Welding...」

Wait, Hana-chan! Where are you going with this?! Putting aside Category 4, where are you going to use a welding qualification?! Are you going to become a carriage mechanic?!

By the way, 「Otsu-yon」 is shorthand for 「Hazardous Materials Engineer, Category B Class 4.」 Out of the six classes in Category B, Class 4 is the only one that’s incredibly famous because it allows you to handle 「flammable liquids」—namely gasoline, kerosene, and diesel. It’s an essential qualification for gas stations.

Also, there’s always an Otsu-yon holder at any home center that sells kerosene!

「The acquisition dates are listed here too, so isn't it incredibly convenient for tracking qualifications that have an expiration date?!」

「...I suppose so...」

It’s true. She’s right.

But what is this lack of wonder...? It’s just the qualifications section of a resume...

And here I was getting excited when I heard 「Skills」!

Hana-chan dismissed the status screen and gave a big beam. 「If it evolves again, I'll let you know!」 ...Yeah, it definitely became a bit more convenient... If you're happy with that, Hana-chan, then fine...

I ordered a beef skewer at Hana-chan’s stall, sprinkled some salt and pepper on it, and sat on a nearby chair munching away when I heard a commotion in the distance.

「It’s getting noisy?」

「Yeah. I wonder if something happened?」

Franz-kun was having some grilled large intestine with yakiniku sauce. That looks delicious too...

Just as I was thinking of asking Franz for a piece, I heard the conversation of people heading toward the noise.

「They say His Majesty has arrived!」

「By 'His Majesty,' do you mean the King?」

「What other 'His Majesty' would there be?」

His Majesty?!

The King is at an event that feels this much like the downtown slums?!

Come to think of it, I haven't seen the Freshness Prince yet today. I’ve seen the other love interests, though.

...So, what exactly is about to start?

*****

No one liner today, trivia corner here.

The stall has a sign for Tonjiru with a small note saying: 「*No arguments allowed.」In Japan, there is a legendary, never-ending debate over the pronunciation of Pork Miso Soup. People from Eastern Japan usually say "Tonjiru," while many in Western Japan/Kyushu say "Butajiru."

Ann has a tiny golden frog in her wallet because she wants her money to "frog."This is a classic Japanese pun (goroawase). The word for frog is "Kaeru," which is a homonym for the verb "to return" (kaeru).

Rafanas (the Duke’s son) claims he isn't stalking Flora, but "keeping watch to ensure no riff-raff approaches." This parodies the "Protective Male Lead" trope found in many older Shoujo manga/Otome games.

The first question of the quiz asks to identify the Garlic Chives (Nira), and the Prince confidently chooses the Daffodil. This is a very specific, real-world PSA in Japan. Every year, people are hospitalized because Daffodils (Suisen) look almost identical to Garlic Chives (Nira) before they bloom. Daffodils are toxic.

Hana-chan’s "Status Screen" evolves, but instead of "Fire Magic" or "Super Strength," she gains Bookkeeping Level 3 and Food Sanitation Supervisor. These are the most basic, "boring" vocational qualifications in Japan.

Hana-chan wants to get her Otsu-yon (Hazardous Materials Category 4) and Arc Welding license. Otsu-yon is the most famous certification in Japan for working at gas stations. Arc Welding is for heavy industrial labor.

The stall sells "Komezawa Beef" at 3,000 yen per 100g. This is a parody of Yonezawa Beef, one of the "Big Three" high-end Wagyu brands in Japan.

The Prince slumps into an "orz" position after losing the quiz. orz is a classic Japanese emoticon (from the early 2000s) representing a person kneeling on the ground in total defeat (o = head, r = arms/back, z = legs).

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