A Certain Citizen’s Perspective
Noon.
Sunny weather.
The center of the Secondary Capital.
Fountain park.
In the middle of the stone-paved plaza stood a round stone fountain.
Water arced through the air and sparkled brilliantly under the sunlight.
Benches lined the surrounding area.
At lunchtime, it served as a place of relaxation where townsfolk and housewives returning from shopping would stop to rest.
Recently, though, an unfamiliar food stall had started appearing in one corner of the park.
A small stall decorated in white and red.
The sign displayed the words [Maryne Company] along with a small cute illustration.
“Yuki, Yuki. That one, over there.”
Ruko tugged on Yuki’s sleeve.
Yuki and Ruko were friends who lived in the Secondary Capital.
Yuki was fifteen and worked part-time at a cloth shop. She was a laid-back girl with black hair tied into a single ponytail and calm green eyes.
Ruko was also fifteen and worked at a market that sold groceries. Her short brown hair and round yellow eyes stood out.
“That stall?”
“Yeah! It’s the one people at work were talking about. They said it’s super delicious.”
“Huh... what kind of dessert was it again?”
“I think it was pudding. Apparently it’s insanely popular in the Coutny Capital, but people in the Secondary Capital still don’t really know about it yet.”
Yuki looked toward the stall.
Even though it was still daytime, the tables lined up in front of it were nearly full.
She could tell even from a distance that a crowd had gathered there.
“... That place is ridiculously packed.”
“Right!? That’s why I told you we should come earlier!”
“You’re the one who showed up late.”
“You’re the one who got the meeting spot wrong.”
The two bickered back and forth.
But eventually Yuki said:
“Well, whatever. Let’s go.”
“Yeah. Sounds good.”
Ruko agreed.
The two of them walked toward the stall together.
When they got closer, they finally saw the actual pudding.
They were lined up inside a display case.
Inside small ceramic cups sat soft, jiggly yellow mounds.
A glossy black sauce drizzled over the top.
“... This is it?”
“Yep. This. People at work said it even looks cute.”
“I mean... it is kinda cute.”
Yuki glanced around.
Almost all the tables were occupied.
It looked like it might take a while to find seats for both of them, but just then she spotted one group standing up.
“Over there.”
“A table opened up!”
The two quickly hurried over and claimed it.
What do you think about this chapter?
