Ballade of the Lost Child - Prologue
Characters: Niki, Yuzuru Proofreaders: Aru, Oli
Niki: Nomnom…♪
Kuu~u. This “hashimaki¹” is super yummy! Guess I was lucky there was a food stand here.
It’s so delicious, why don’t more people know about this?
This world truly is weird~. Society should acknowledge “hashimaki” so much more.
It’s a flour-based food and it’s super easy to eat. You can even choose its flavour.
(In falsetto) Welcome ♪ Which flavour sauce would you like? Soy sauce flavour? Or how about cheese? –Hm~m, I just can’t choose!
…Whoops. Woah, that was close. I almost passed that place by accident…!
Nahaha. I suddenly forgot why I’d come out here since I came across such delicious food~.
Ooh, this line is huge!? Is this for those doughy churros that are trending at the moment!?
I thought I could avoid the crowds by coming earlier, but there are already so many people here.
I guess people gather at places with delicious food after all~.
In other words, it’s not an exaggeration to say that “delicious food creates world peace”...!
Right, this is no time to be messing around. I need to get in line before it gets too long.
<At the same time>
Yuzuru: Let’s see. I believe all the necessary purchases should be complete by now.
One, two, three… I bought this too, and that one just a moment ago. This one was sold out, so I shall have to come back at a later date.
… Hm, it appears all is in order. I don’t seem to have left any oversights.
Niki: I’m really looking forward to it~. Coming across new food is always so exciting. ♪
Yuzuru: Oh my, do I hear a familiar voice?
Ah, so it belongs to Shiina-sama. He seems to be at the end of a queue.
Season Avenue is always bustling. Hence it’s odd to see so many people lined up in a single queue.
They all seem to be queueing outside that stand. I wonder what exactly is being sold?
If Shiina-sama is lining up, it’s likely to be some type of food or drink.
… (Looking around)
… The people who’ve moved away from the stand all seem to have brightly-coloured sweets in their hands.
From their shape, I would guess they were donuts… No, perhaps churros?
Churros…? Come to think of it, I believe the Young Master mentioned those the other day…
Something about a speciality store selling cute churros on Season Avenue.
I see. He must’ve been referring to this stand.
……
Hm… He truly seemed to want to eat them, so perhaps I’ll buy them as a gift for the Young Master.
I wouldn’t usually let him eat this kind of thing, but…
Recently, he seems to be putting more and more effort into both his studies and work. Why not spoil him once in a while…♪
Shiina-sama.
Niki: Huh? Fushimi-kun?
How strange seeing you here~? Did you also come to try the churros?
Yuzuru: I believe they would be a good gift for the Young Master. Would you mind if I accompanied you?
Niki: That’s fine by me~, let’s get these trending churros together! A journey is most fun with a companion after all²…♪
Yuzuru: It’s not a journey, we’re merely waiting together in line.
Niki: Nope nope. This line is the “Food Road”! In other words, it’s kind of like the Silk Road³, isn’t it?
Yuzuru: Well, um. Are you trying to compare this long queue to a road?
Niki: Yup!
Yuzuru: sighs. Since the “Silk Road” isn’t about food, but rather silk, I feel like it’s a bit of a strange analogy in the first place.
Niki: It’s instinct, Fushimi-kun. I thought I should express it to you in some way or another. Anyway, I don’t really care as long as we can get these churros.
Yuzuru: Please stop talking based solely on reflex⁴.
I don’t often find myself surrounded by your type, Shiina-sama. If I had to say, Hibiki-sama comes the closest.
Niki: Really?
I don’t keep any company that’s like Fushimi-kun~. I only have irresponsible and weird people around me.
Oh well, thanks to that I can usually take it pretty easy, so that’s a plus.
Yuzuru: By the way, Shiina-sama. It seems that most people here are eating their churros as they leave, so do you know if I could order them to go?
Since they’re not for me to eat and are instead a gift for the Young Master, I’d like to get them for takeout if possible.
Niki: Hmm~? Is that so? I was also planning on eating while walking around here.
Truthfully, this kind of food is usually eaten on the spot or while walking, so I’m not sure if they’d be alright to take home.
Ah, Fushimi-kun. Take a look at that guy over there!
Yuzuru: Sure.
Niki: It looks like he only just bought some churros.
They’re wrapped in a paper bag from the stand too! I bet that means you can get them to go–
Man: Uwahh!?
Niki: Eh, what happened!? A fight!?
That guy was shoved over and knocked down by another man in black!?
Man: My bag! Wait, get back here! Bag thief!
Niki and Yuzuru: A bag thief!?
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¹ Hashimaki is Okonomiyaki wrapped around chopsticks
² Japanese proverb which means something alone the lines of “no road is long with good company”
³ The Silk Road was a series of trade routes connecting Europe and Asia spanning over 6,400km (4,000 mi) named for its primary use of trading silk. Niki is trying to liken the queue that they’re standing in to a long road where food will be traded at the end.
⁴The literal translation of what Yuzuru says is for Niki to stop talking based on “spinal reflexes”. These reflexes being involuntary and based on instinct without input from the brain. It’s effectively the same phrase as “knee-jerk reaction” in English.
