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Wowww! Soo many booths, and with so much food! I'm worried I can't eat it all...

Calm down, Cardigan, the festival runs all day.

Why are you following me at a time like this?!

It is precisely at a time like this that our little Lava needs to watch what she eats—

What a uniquely sweet smell—

Tell me about this thing. It's a custard tart, right?

And this one's a berry cake! I'd love to know the exact ratios at play in the recipe!

It would be my pleasure...

Treeaaaaats! I smell treeaaats!

Woooow! So many people! And so much food!

Little Cub made those snacks! They smell sooooo goooood!

Kay, slow down, no running!

How was the berry cake over there? Gummy only just brought out a tray and before I knew it, they'd all been snatched up.

Unusually delicious.

What do you think, Ifrit?

...not spicy enough...

But the one with the light blue hair, she's dressed very pretty.

Watch this, Popukar—

You threw the pastry up in the air, then caught it in your mouth on the way down—awesome!

You wanna try? I can teach you—

Gah!

I don't want Popukar learning any stupid and dangerous tricks from you!

I've known for a while that Maggy has a very unique palate, but I never knew it went this far...

Oh, is that some kind of puzzle thing over there?

I've gotta check that out.

What do you think of the puzzle Istina and the girls designed, Doctor?

(Istina did a fine job.);(It's uncomplicated, but subtle.);(Just right for a food festival.)

Is something wrong, Doctor? Why are you so quiet?

(chewing)

Show a little restraint, Doctor, you've already eaten so much.

The food festival's over...

I asked Midnight to wake me up, but the clown slipped out without a word.

Guess I shouldn't have stayed up all night reading comics.

What are those girls doing over there instead of packing up their booth?

I can't make out what they're saying—Huh? A shaved ice stand behind the stairs? I didn't even know it was there.

Yep, got plenty of cans left! Here you go!

(Takes a deep breath)

Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

Is that the legendary Ursus's Roar?

It's awe-inspiring.

Our booth was a big hit at the food festival.

We had a steady stream of operators coming to try things. Some came to eat, some came to try the puzzle, and some came just to look at my outfit...

Lada had to keep the ovens hot, and we went through all our spare supplies.

Sonya and Rosalind had to keep running back and forth between our booth and the kitchen.

Natalya explained all our treats to the customers. She talked her throat sore.

I had the most relaxed job, spending the day watching over the puzzle.

Istina speaks directly into the 'recording device for self-diagnosis and treatment of trauma using exposure therapy'.

I might have had a feeling about it, but I was surprised Sonya failed to solve the puzzle. The solution was so obvious.

It was Rosalind's idea, but everyone agreed on the punishment. That Sonya would have to eat an entire bowl of Magallan's signature canned shaved ice.

Magallan's other flavors are plenty delicious.

But her signature canned shaved ice...

How should I put this...? The look on Sonya's face as she brought the ice to her mouth...

Pfft... I can't even describe it.

What a wonderful day.

Standing in the crowd, looking at all the smiling faces around, listening to the delightful conversations that had nothing to do with me...

While I normally wouldn't look to avoid such things, I also wouldn't be able to enjoy them.

But after throwing myself into this festival, all the noise and excitement started to mean something, it even became a reward for all my efforts.

Looking back, all that exhausting preparation was no trouble at all.

Really, going all out on a happy little thing was a ton of fun.

In the old days, several of the middle schools in Chernobog would hold events like this.

At the time, I found them pointless in comparison to reading a good book.

So I was clever, avoided all the prep work, then spent the day of the event at home reading.

It wasn't a big deal, honestly.

Something so typical. What's the point?

Don't these kinds of things happen every year?

Even after graduation, we could still attend as alumni, or the general public... why work hard for something like that?

I never imagined. I could never have imagined.

But it's true... there will never be another one.

Never, ever again.

Istina shakes her head vigorously.

So I spent a hundred and twenty percent of my energy on this food festival. Was that a sort of... memorialization?

And the facts show that my efforts were worth it.

I've never experienced an event with so many people that was so enjoyable.

If there's another such festival...

I dare not hope it could be as happy as this one.

But I certainly want to try.

Now, that's enough for today—

Anna, I'm home—

Welcome back, Sonya.

Wasn't today fun?

Of course!

But if we're talking about fun, I just found out there's still some food left, so I had the whole U.S.S.G. share it. And we've got a bit for you.

Didn't I see Natalya drink all the borscht? What could be left?

What else? Magallan's cans!

I'm going to bed. Good night, Sonya. Sweet dreams—

You're not going anywhere. You're the only one who hasn't had any—

Umm... which one should I wear?

This one's sort of tight, but this one has kind of short sleeves. This is the first time I've ever had so much trouble picking clothes!

I used to just wear whatever I found...

How about this one, perhaps?

Oh... I remember this. Rosa bought it for me... I bet Mama and Papa would say it's pretty, wouldn't they?

Nff, unf... mmrgh...

L... Lada, I think you might have it on backwards? Your hood's ended up in front...

Here, I'll turn it around for you.

Hehe. Thanks, Istina!

Honestly.

You're finally seeing your Mama and Papa after so long, and yet you're still so clumsy as you've always been. Will this even do?

...Mm.

I know! It's okay. It's all okay as long as I can see them!

I've recorded all my stories with you and the girls in my books, and I'm going to tell them every single one! And I took a lot of pictures of life at Rhodes! My photo album's thiiis thick!