Chapter 66 - Sixth Avenue Sightseeing
We had just finished the paperwork for the used car transfer and were now heading to the Princess's Shelter Inn on Sixth Avenue. It was lunchtime, so we decided to take a break at the tavern run by Sophie. Apparently, the midday service she started a while ago has been quite successful, and today was no exception—the place was packed. It's a good sign for the local economy.
Thanks to our special status, we were given the bodyguard seats and ordered the much-talked-about lunch.
"Sorry to bother you, Sophie. I just brought this young lady along and thought we'd stop by."
"Not at all, Yukari-san. We welcome you and your guest anytime. Please wait just a moment for your order."
Today, Sophie had her hair in a high ponytail, a youthful look that always impressed me. I couldn't help but admire her—no wonder she has a loyal customer base.
While we waited for our lunch, I explained the area to my younger sister and chatted idly. We decided to hand over the Jeep we arrived in to a trainee returning to the Branch. Our plan was to walk and show her around Sixth Avenue after this.
"Here you are. Please be careful, it's hot."
After a short wait, the server brought out a lunch set that smelled divine. One by one, the dishes were placed on the table: a hearty gratin loaded with cheese, a salad featuring potatoes and tomatoes, fluffy bread from a nearby island, yogurt with homemade jam, and a fresh drink.
We dove into the food, enjoying a pleasant meal together. While the portions weren't as large as I'd like, the quality was top-notch and left nothing to be desired. The price was a bit steep, but considering the quality, it was worth every coin. We lingered over a leisurely cup of tea before leaving.
"That was delicious. I might have to come back again on my own."
Sophie's tavern never disappoints. Valeria and my sister seemed satisfied, and I felt good about bringing them here. However, the clientele being mostly older men, many of whom are regulars, is a bit of a concern. They seem to be fans of Sophie, and while they're good customers as long as they don't get too handsy, it can be a bit much.
The flower shop next door was also bustling with customers. However, Lily wasn't there. The front of the Princess's Shelter Inn had been repurposed as a branch office, and the main store had opened near the Kikyo Society Branch, with Lily now running the main store.
The branch office is staffed by women I helped find jobs, who are always bright and cheerful. The Kikyo Society pays well and offers paid leave, a unique benefit that has earned them immense loyalty from their employees. This has led to a surge of qualified applicants, improving the quality of service and customer satisfaction, which in turn has boosted business and wages. It's a perfect cycle.
While still limited in scope, the Kikyo Society's efforts have created a social phenomenon, and there are rumors that other workplaces with poor conditions have been forced to improve.
For my part, I don't have any grand plans for social reform. As long as my work runs smoothly, I'm happy. Overthinking things would just waste time. For now, I'll keep doing what I'm doing.
Next up, we were heading to the flower shop my sister had been eager to see.
Elegance Balloon, run by Lily, is a crucial new hub for the Kikyo Society. Located at the edge of Sixth Avenue, it was once a quiet spot. However, things changed dramatically after the Kikyo Society Branch opened a cafeteria and a gambling hall in the area. The gambling hall became a hit, drawing in more people, and soon, other businesses followed suit.
Lily's main store, which had always been popular, opened with great fanfare, and the area quickly transformed into a lively hub. Word of mouth brought in more visitors, and soon, the edge of Sixth Avenue was bustling with activity.
"…What is this place?"
Upon arriving at Elegance Balloon, my sister muttered in awe, then fell silent. I understood her feeling. The sprawling garden and mansion-like shop were beyond stylish—almost too much. But it was impressive.
Everything in the garden was for sale, from the hedges and flower beds to the arches and large trees. While there haven't been any major purchases yet, the range was impressive. Inside the mansion, you could buy cut flowers, potted plants, and floral arrangements. They even offered classes on arranging flowers, though it seemed more like a hobby for Lily.
The garden was a shopping and viewing experience in itself, attracting visitors from far and wide. Employees in aprons were busy tending to the plants and assisting customers.
We strolled through the garden, and my sister seemed fascinated. When we reached the main building, it was bustling with activity, as expected.
"Surprised? It's even better than I heard."
Lily was working on some paperwork when we interrupted her. She immediately invited us to have tea.
"Did you design this whole setup? It's incredible. Everything here is beautiful."
"Thank you. It was a joint effort with the staff."
Lily's laid-back demeanor hadn't changed, but the sales figures were impressive. The Kikyo Society considered this a key location, and Lily seemed to be enjoying her work, despite not being overly interested in the business side.
We stayed at Elegance Balloon until my sister was satisfied, then headed back to the Kikyo Society Headquarters. Her ride was waiting, so we said our goodbyes. I reassured her that she could visit anytime and told the office staff to let her know if anyone was interested in her.
"Really? I'll definitely come back soon. Next time, I'd like to see the training sessions."
Training, huh? Sure, why not? She seemed like a fighter, and it might be a good opportunity to do her a favor.
"Come back anytime. Some of the members who weren't here today are also interested in meeting you."
"Of course, I'd love to. Thank you all for a wonderful day."
She left with a graceful bow, a perfect lady. Sometimes, it's nice to have a day like this.
A few days later, a gift from the McDallian Family arrived. It was a statue, just as they had hinted. Yes, a statue. No doubt about it. But there was a catch.
"This is amazing!"
"Wow, that's impressive."
"It looks just like you."
"Very well done, indeed."
"Haha! I didn't expect something like this."
Indeed, a statue of me. The quality was high, but this was too much. Was it a prank?
"What are we going to do with this? No way I'm putting it in a public place."
"Not the entrance."
"Not the office."
"Not my room."
"Not Yukari's room. Guests might see it and think I'm a narcissist. No way."
"Not the stores or the Branch. No, absolutely not."
"It's a gift from a town elder and valuable. We can't just throw it away. The rooftop garden might be the only option."
The rooftop garden was mostly seen by Kikyo Society members and rarely by guests. It was the best place for it.
"Fine. Someone move it to the rooftop garden. I need to clear my head. I'm going out of town for a bit."
I wanted to drive the Bloomstar Galaxy and feel the wind. Maybe it would help me relax.
I was thinking about driving through the snow when I noticed Angelina lifting the heavy marble statue with ease. But as she tried to carry it, the head came off.
"Wait!"
"No way!"
Valeria caught the head just in time.
Sigh. A heavy sigh was inevitable. The head had come off!
"What kind of structure is this? Are they trying to start a fight?"
I quickly reattached the head with mineral magic. Not a good omen.
"Maybe that's what they meant."
"Should we go confront them?"
Why so eager? I was more exhausted than angry. I told them to take the statue to the rooftop and headed to the Bloomstar Galaxy.
The gifts from the bosses had all been excellent, but this one was a bit much. Still, we received a lot, including vehicles and alcohol. I decided to send thank-you notes, especially a sarcastic one to the McDallian Family.
Next chapter: "Money-Making Methods."