The Flower That Spreads Through the Land

“I can’t wait, I want to see it all.” Because of her excitement about these activities, Tamami had to hold herself back a bit to not run off to where they were taking place. The only things that could stop her from seeing everything, were if they happened on the same time, or if she suddenly had to leave by the magical method of travel she used to get here. But that was an issue for later.

Thinking she had seen the takoyaki stand they were looking for, she pointed at a stand with a lot of people in front of it. “Is that it, over there?” Then, reading the sign that was barely visible over all the people, she added. “Nevermind.”

“You’re close, though!” Tsubomi chirped happily, carefully navigating through the crowded walkway. “It’s the booth next to it. Over here, Shigemori-san! It looks like the line isn’t that long either!”

Yuko was happy to see that the two of them enjoyed their meals. She smiled at the other girl.

“Thank you for coming all this way to Omori Bento! I hope you’ll find Pikarigaoka is a nice town. Is there any particular reason you’re visiting today?”

It wasn’t every day that she met someone who knew one of her friends. And it was Hime no less! The Princess of the Blue Sky Kingdom had surely come a long way!

“W-well.” Tsubomi’s face turned bright red when Yuko asked why she was here today. It was a little embarrassing to admit that she’d come here to see Yuko in person! After all, she was naturally interested in her fellow Precure- even if she didn’t know how to express that to the brunette.

No, this wouldn’t do! She had say something!

“I absolutely believe so, Tsubomi. But it will take some time. The Great Heart Tree needs more time to grow. Trying to bring Cologne back now would be like asking Futaba to play a concerto on a piano.” Itsuki shrugs. “You understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes, of course.” Tsubomi nodded her head. “I’m sure that will make Yuri-san very happy when that happens. She really wasn’t dealt a fair hand in all of this.”

Yuko observed the two other girls eat their meals. With Tsubomi’s exclamation, Yuko couldn’t help but smile. It went without saying that Yuko was very passionate about food. It was a frequent topic brought up in her family, after all. But the reason Yuko loved cooking so much wasn’t just because of the food. She liked to make people happy after all!

Yuko waited for the two girls to finish their meals. It would be rude to interrupt them after all.

“Ah, Futaba, you have a bit on your face.” Tsubomi noted, reaching over to wipe off some crumbs from her younger sister’s face. Finishing up her own meal, she set down her chopsticks on the bento box, wiping her own face.

“It was delicious, Omori-san. I can see why Hime-chan loves this place so much.”

“He is growing rather quickly. But remember, he came into this world before we almost lost it all. When confronted with an apocalypse, most people will grow up. Fairies too.”

The oden is placed in front of the girls, and Itsuki thanks the vendor for the food. “Let’s eat!”

“I suppose that’s true.” Tsubomi observed, nodding her head. Snapping her chopsticks apart, she turned to her oden, for a moment simply swirling her chopsticks in it.

“I have some pictures if you want to see them.” Itsuki opens her phone to show off the adorable image. “These were taken before Futaba started drooling. Isn’t it cute?”

The picture shows a very happy Futaba cuddling Potpourri against her body, while the little fairy beams as if he’s just found a lifelong friend.

“Afterwards, Potpourri washed up and did this.” She scrolls to the next to last picture taken where the golden fairy is lightly kissing Futaba on the forehead. The last picture is of Potpourri blushing the same shade of pink that often adorns Tsubomi’s face, and this blush is caused by the realization that the kiss was caught on camera.

“I do!” Tsubomi quickly nodded her head. How could she not want to see such surely adorable pictures? Combining a fairy as cute as little Potpourri and her little sister, who was of course, the cutest one in the world, there was no doubt that the ensuing scene must have been very cute!

“Ah, you’re right. They look very content like that... although I guess it must have surprised poor Potpourri-chan when she started drooling.” Tsubomi couldn’t help but smile in spite of this, even more so when Itsuki showed her the next picture.

“I think that events such as this festival are more enjoyable in good company.” Not having an idea where the takoyaki stand was, the delicious smell seemed to come from everywhere, Tamami made a gesture in a random direction. “So please, lead the way.”

“So besides the takoyaki and your workshop, what other things can I expect to find on this festival?” Given the limited time she had here today, Tamami thought it a smart idea to plan beforehand where she wanted to do and what she wanted to see.

“I agree, actually.” Tsubomi was quick to say. “Exploring them by yourself has it charms, but it can also be kind of lonely.”

Blinking at the girl’s question, she pursed her lips, trying to recall what she had heard about other classes and clubs doing. “Ah, I think one of the third year classes are putting on a haunted house cafe. All the servers are dressed up as monsters. Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

“You didn’t make me wait long at all, Tsubomi.” Itsuki shifts her weight on the stool and turns to face her girlfriend. “I’ve already ordered so you can take a seat and share this summer day with me.”

With a smile, she starts telling a cute story. “Did you know that Futaba met Potpourri the last time I visited your house? Potpourri wound up snuggled against her for two hours while she slept. Though, as is to be expected, Futaba drools in her sleep.”

“Eh, did she?” Tsubomi blinked, more than a little startled by this information. “And he got drooled on... I can’t help but feel a little bit sorry for Potpourri-chan. I hope he didn’t get too sticky.”

Yuko took Tsubomi’s order happily. She always loved new customers! And could the other girl be a new friend? She hoped so! To see her friends enjoying her food and being happy…

That was her dream!

It didn’t take long for the food to be served. Phantom was a hard worker! Yuko was glad to have him around, and not just because he was technically an employee of Omori Bento!

“Here you go! One daily special bento and croquette with chocolate milk!” She was sure that Tsubomi and Futaba would enjoy their meals!

“Thank you very much!” Tsubomi bowed her head as Yuko delivered their meals. “I’ve heard very good things about this place from Hime-chan, so I’m sure it’s all very delicious.”

Glancing back towards Futaba for a moment, Tsubomi carefully placed her food in front of her, pulling apart the croquette into smaller pieces so that her little sister would be able to eat it without worry. Opening up the chocolate milk, she popped a straw inside, before placing that within her sister’s reach as well.

Once that was done, Tsubomi turned back towards her own meal, breaking apart her chopsticks. “Then, let’s eat!”

It took only the first bite to confirm everything that Hime had told her- the food here really was amazing!