The World Is Surprisingly Small

Author: Ryusui
Raw: https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2121hw/14/
Translator: Lilia v4
Editor: Yuriko AYA

“There’s this too.”

When I turned at the guide’s voice, he was holding something like a red soup. He set it on the table, and it has a slightly unique smell. I can tell from the smell. This is a spicy one.

“Is spicy okay?”
“Mm. Of course.”

I try it with the spoon he brought along. The lots of whitish stuff, is that tofu? When I put it in my mouth, it’s spicier than I expected. Spicier than curry. But I don’t know, it’s the kind of spice you could get used to.
This goes really well with rice too. Delicious.

“Eheh…”

‘Ahh geez what delivery am I even supposed to get!’
‘Just get all of it?’
‘Gyoza and mapo tofu is rough on an old guy’

Ah, so that’s the name of this dish. Um…

“Mabaa tofu?”
“Maba… nfu…”

Ah, the guide kind of laughed at me. I guess that’s wrong.

‘Mabaa tofu lmao’
‘Well, if you don’t know how to read it and only see the kanji you wouldn’t know lol’
‘Rita-chan, it’s maa-boh-doh-fu’

“Hoh hoh. Maa-boh-doh-fu.”

‘The pronunciation feels a little off, but well, it’s fine!’

A funny name. The reading too, of course. As long as it’s delicious I have no complaints.
After that the guide brought out all kinds of things called Chinese food. My favorites were the gyoza and mapo tofu, and also spring rolls. The spring rolls had a crispy skin and were a lot of fun.

“That was delicious… Gochisousama.”
“Yeah. You ate like you were enjoying it, so it was worth making. It wasn’t much.”

I drink water while watching the guide start clearing the plates. This easy time after a meal is nice. I’m happy.
While we were taking it easy like that, the shop door opened.

“Pardon the intrusion. Rita-chan, it was here after all.”
“Mm? Um…”
“What? You don’t know? I’m the one who was doing Rita-chan cosplay.”
“Ah.”

Now that she says it, it is that person. Just changing clothes and you change this much. Completely different impression. Amazing, like a transformation.
But why is she here.

“Ah, Nee-san. You’re late.”
“No, this is me hurrying, I’ll have you know.”

I see, family.

‘For real, the guide and the cosplay person are siblings!?’
‘It’s a small world, huh (dead eyes)’
‘She was doing Rita-chan cosplay because she watches Rita-chan’s stream, and her little brother is a viewer too. Not impossible, maybe…?’

I’ll just think, these things happen. No point thinking about it.

“Mm. Onee-san. After that, was everything okay?”

The magic should already be gone, but I wonder if everyone managed to prep for the rain.
I asked thinking that, but the older girl made an indescribable face.

“Yeah. So, Rita-chan. It turned into a huge fuss.”
“Mm?”

‘See?’
‘If you suddenly use real magic of course it becomes a fuss’
‘And it wasn’t something only some people would notice; it was magic anyone could see’

Apparently that’s how it is. I did it thinking I was helping, but maybe it was no good.

“No no, it helped a lot! It was a huge fuss, but everyone was grateful to you, Rita-chan!”
“Really? Then I’m glad.”
“Off… That faint smile is so cute…”
“Can you believe it? This is my Nee-san…”

‘All I can say is my condolences lmao’
‘I get how Nee-san feels though’
‘It’s because Rita-chan is usually cool with not much expression that the smiles she shows now and then are so cute. She’s an angel. Be grateful’
‘Don’t do a long weird feelings statement lol’
‘Sorry lmao’

Yeah. I don’t really get it, but everyone seems to be having fun, so that’s fine.
All right, I’ve eaten, so maybe I should head home soon too.

“Before that, about money…”
“Don’t worry about money. The advertising effect is probably going to be pretty big.”
“That so?”
“No question.”

‘There will be, yeah’
‘Tokyo resident here, already starting to get ready to go’
‘Even if you go now you won’t get to meet Rita-chan?’
‘After seeing her eat like that you have to go!’

I don’t really understand this thing called advertising effect, but if the guide is satisfied with that, I have no complaints and I’m glad.
I don’t have that much Japanese money, after all. If I can save, I want to.

“Mm. Then I should go home soon.”
“Ah, wait, Rita-chan! Just ten more minutes!”
“Mm?”

I wonder. Does she have something to talk about. It’s not like I have to hurry home, so waiting is fine.
But I want to leave before this shop’s hours start. It might get annoying.
When I sat back down, the older girl sprang up instead. She shouts at the guide.

“PC!”
“Yeah yeah. It’s already on upstairs.”
“Thanks!”

Then the older girl runs into the back room. Should I wait here? I should, right. I’ll wait at an easy pace.

‘What’s she going for?’
‘Hint: right after cosplay’
‘Ahh… A printout?’

I don’t know what a printout is. Not that I particularly want to remember it.

“While Nee-san’s getting it ready, here. A souvenir from me.”
“Mm?”

What the guide handed me was a vinyl bag. The vinyl bag has some shop’s name on it. Um… right. This shop’s sign was this.

“A takeout set. Twelve gyoza and two spring rolls. I want you to eat them with the Great Spirit.”
“Ohh… Thank you.”

This is a pretty nice souvenir. I wanted to eat with the Great Spirit too, so I’ll try it as soon as I get home.
I wait for the older girl, smelling the faint good scent drifting over. Gyoza smell really good. A smell that stirs your appetite. I really want to eat them, but patience, patience. I’m eating them with the Great Spirit.
After a little, the older girl came back. There’s an envelope in her hands.

“Rita-chan. Since we have the chance, take this.”

When I take out what’s in the envelope she handed me, it was photos.
A photo of me and the older girl. The two-shot we had taken at that venue.

‘Hoh hoh. This came out well’
‘The lighting’s nice too’
‘Wearing the same clothes they look like sisters, cute’

The same clothes, yeah. She was doing my cosplay, so I guess that’s obvious. But I don’t know. I’m really happy.

“Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”

When I said that to the older girl, she smiled like she was happy too.

 

“And so, Spirit-sama. I had a photo taken.”
“I don’t know what ‘and so’ is supposed to mean, but let me see.”

Once I was back in the forest, I promptly showed the Great Spirit the photo.
By the way, I’ve already put preservation magic on the photo. As long as I don’t die, that photo should stay as it is now.

“She’s wearing the same clothes as you, Rita.”
“Mm. Apparently I’m pretty famous over there.”
“I would think so.”
“Eh.”

‘I would think so lmao’
‘The Great Spirit seems to get how things are over here pretty well’
‘Meaning Rita-chan was the only one who didn’t get it!’

I don’t like being told that. When I glared steadily at the sphere of light, the word sorry flowed by. It was just that my knowledge wasn’t enough, so I don’t really mind.

“And this, gyoza. Let’s eat.”
“Gyoza? Itadakimasu.”

By the way, the Great Spirit’s impression was that she wanted rice. I should have gotten rice too. I’ll reflect a little.