MTL: Dexter, Kael
FTL(Hardest Part): KayL
TLC/Editor: Alisa
Final Editors: Kakarotto (aka G-String)
Note: We are using the Chinese Official Translation and Original Japanese Raw in our translations. Our Editors and Raw Readers (Translators) have done their best to give you the best quality English translation. We hope you enjoy reading Chiramune as much we do!
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13
And then, we jumped into every shops that caught our attention.
Besides the soft serve ice cream, there were many shops that used gold leaf in their products.
A shop selling crafts and accessories made by local Kanazawa artisans.
A shop selling unique hand towels and chopsticks.
Shops selling ceramics, Japanese sweets, wheat gluten, and tea…
Yuzuki muttered in exasperation. “I didn’t expect that guy to be so difficult to please.”
“I know, right?” I nodded vigorously.
Choosing souvenirs had a different difficulty than selecting a birthday present, for instance. Expensive gifts might make the recipient feel obligated to return the favor, but not using or eating the present given with care could be equally upsetting.
Yuzuki continued as we walked along the cobblestones.
“He doesn’t eat sweets that often. If we give him chopsticks or dishes, he’ll only use them when he can’t use his current ones anymore. As for tea, he’ll just throw it somewhere and forget about it until Uchi sees the tea one day when she makes dinner and brew it, so I’m not too keen on that idea.”
“That last one seems very plausible! I don’t want that!”
Hearing our discussion, Nazuna looked like she couldn’t take it anymore.
“Aren’t you guys overthinking this souvenir thing?”
I pursed my lips and replied, “You wouldn’t understand the feelings of a girl in love.”
“Huh? Then I’ll also buy a souvenir for Chitose-kun.”
“You should get one for Atomu-kun instead.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Aren’t you two always together?”
“I don’t like high-maintenance guys.”
“Saku is also super high-maintenance, you know?”
“You…”
While we were chatting, we found a new shop with a sign that read ‘For Busy Modern Women Who Want to Stay Beautiful All Day’ in bold letters.
Peering inside, Yuzuki remarked, “Oh, it’s a specialty store for oil blotting paper!”
According to the handwritten sign next to the shop’s name, oil-blotting paper was originally a byproduct of gold leaf production. It made sense that there would be a specialty shop for it here.
As we stepped inside, the interior of the shop was surprisingly chic and pop, not what one would expect from a shop specializing in oil-blotting paper. Colorful packages covered every inch of the walls.
Nazuna looked around and exclaimed, “Wow, is all of this oil-blotting paper? Do you use them, Yuuko?”
“Hmm, not really, since my foundation does a good job at preventing oil. I used to carry it in my bag when I was in middle school, though.”
Yuzuki picked up a nearby product from a shelf and examined it, “These bring back memories. I used to use them after club activities before I started using facial wipes as my go-to.”
“That’s right,” I said, clapping my hands together, “Since we’re here, why don’t we each get one?”
Nazuna nodded, “They have cute designs, so it’s a good idea for a souvenir.”
As Yuzuki wiped her neck with a handkerchief, she muttered under her breath, “Actually, we might need it right now.”
“True,” we replied in unison.
The items lined up near the entrance of the shop were sold as a bundle, so we headed to the section where individual items were sold in the back.
The colorful packaging displayed various items related to Kanazawa, I chose a Kaga1 Mizuhiki pattern while Yuzuki picked a Kanazawa paper umbrella and Nazuna selected Kaga Temari.
It was interesting how we naturally gravitated towards our respective choices without planning it in advance. It was similar to when we were shopping for clothes, where our preferences were subtly different.
As we were about to pay, I suddenly grabbed a package and exclaimed, “Hey hey, I’m getting this for Saku’s souvenir!”
I immediately liked it at first sight and showed it to Yuzuki and Nazuna.
On the package, there were three men dressed in happi coat with the words “Kaga Tobi” written on them, and they were wearing Kabuki-style makeup. They looked like firefighters from the olden days.
All three of them had a stern expression while dabbing their face with oil-blotting paper in front of a mirror, making the scene both goofy and cute.
“Oh my god, this is hilarious!” exclaimed Nazuna, “It says ‘A true warrior takes pride in his appearance.‘”
That was a phrase written on the package.
“Right? Don’t you think this subtle narcissistic vibe suits Saku perfectly?”
“I get it, those smug looks and the pretentious mouth are so his style.”
Even though I brought it up myself, it was amusing that they criticized him like that. I smiled wryly as I turned the package over.
Apparently, this was a dialect series, as it had conversations in Kanazawa dialect.
“Hey, you, your face is really oily, you know?”
“Really? But I have to meet people now!”
“Try using Hakuichi’s oil-blotting paper. It’ll make your face feel super smooth like you just washed it!”
“That’s true. It feels so smooth!“
“Ooh…” Yuzuki, who was reading it with me, seemed impressed, “Even though it’s just the neighboring prefecture, the dialect is completely different.”
“Right? Hey, hey Yuzuki, try saying it in the Fukui dialect!” I asked, remembering how often she often talked in dialect with Uchi.
Yuzuki cleared her throat and began to speak.
“Well well, you’re really oily-looking!”
“No way! I have to see people soon!”
“Try usin’ some Hakuichi blotting paper. It’ll make yer face so smooth, it’ll feel like you’ve washed it.”
“Whoa, my face is so smooth now!”
We burst out laughing at the sight of a beautiful girl changing her tone and facial expressions while using Fukui dialect.
Nazuna’s shoulders were shaking as she spoke, “Wow, that’s some high-quality dialect.”
I followed her lead, “Yuzuki even knows dialects that only old grandmas from the countryside use.”
“Exactly, my grandma is a real countrywoman. When I was little, I couldn’t understand what she was saying half the time.”
Yuzuki then turned to me with a serious expression and asked, “Are you sure about this?”
I knew immediately what she meant. She was referring to the souvenir for Saku that I had chosen.
It was obvious that my choice was more of a joke than a serious gift. If it was for a friend, it would be fine, but as a gift for someone I liked, it might not be the best choice.
But I…
“It’s fine. This is actually better,” I replied, holding the oil-blotting paper gently against my chest, “I’ll weave our story from scratch again.”
“I see,” Yuzuki softly narrowed her eyes, not saying anything more.
I looked at the package I held in my hand once again. I hope he’d laugh and shake his head in disbelief when he saw this.
For now, that would be enough.
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Translator Note:
1 Kaga clan during Japan’s Edo period, roughly equivalent to Ishikawa prefecture where Kanazawa is located now, and the entire Toyama prefecture
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Plebian Translation 