Chinese Pandas Bringing Good Fortune

1: Searching for Pandas in Chinatown

Mihono: So this is Chinatown~! It's amazing! The streets don't even look like Japan anymore!
Tsugumi: It's been a while since I came here, but it's always so busy that it looks as if it's in the middle of a festival.
Yui: There's cute girls all around, so I'm feeling the excitement!
Mihono: Thanks for coming along with me on your day off, you two.
Yui: I should be thanking you, Mihono-chan, for inviting me on a Chinatown date with you and Tsugumi-san. My heart won't stop racing!
Tsugumi: I'm looking forward to seeing all sorts of unusual things here as well.
Mihono: That's good to hear. Then, let's get started on our main objective in coming here today.
Tsugumi: Main objective? Which would be...
Mihono: I was watching TV the other day, and they said, here in Chinatown, there's these Chinese dressed panda dolls that are super popular right now!
Yui: Ah-, I heard about those too! The ones that all the girls are collecting, right?
Mihono: They're cute enough just to look at, but that's not all! Apparently they're also lucky item that brings you happiness!
Tsugumi: I see, so there's some link between the dolls and good fortune... I'd be interested in seeing more data on that.
Yui: I don't know about the data, but if cute girls are into them, I want to get one. It might come in handy in the future.
Tsugumi: So, do you know where in Chinatown they might be selling these dolls?
Mihono: They're a huge fad right now, so they said on TV that any place selling souvenirs should have them.
Yui: Though, I don't see any on display in the stores around here.
Tsugumi: Perhaps the special feature on TV caused their popularity to skyrocket and they sold out.
Mihono: No way... But still, there's so many shops around here, so one of them has to be selling them! We just have to look hard enough and... Huh?
Mihono: Hey, you two~, where'd you go?
Yui: Uhyaa-! The girls walking around Chinatown give Harajuku a run for its money! I might've found a nice secret spot to go girl watching!
Mihono: Yui! We can go girl watching later, but what about the pandas...?
Yui: Whoops, sorry. When girls this pretty go walking by, I can't help myself from following them.
Yui: But don't you worry! You and Tsugumi-san are my honeys today!
Mihono: O-Okay. Thanks.
Yui: So come on, honey, let's go find you what you wanted! ...Wait? Where's Tsugumi-san?
Mihono: She was gone before I knew it...
Mihono: ...Wait!? Over in front of that shady looking shop...
Tsugumi: A Chinese herbal medicine store, operating for generations here in Chinatown... The product of four thousand years of Chinese efforts could prove useful in bolstering toji's abilities...
Yui: She looks like she's having a good time, so maybe we should leave her be...
Tsugumi: Ah-- I'm sorry. We were going to help Asakura-san with her shopping first, weren't we. I should have been more mindful...
Tsugumi: Still, none of the souvenir shops we've seen have been selling them, have they?
Mihono: Uuuu... I wonder why.
Yui: Don't lose hope yet! Maybe they have a still have a ton of them in the back! We should ask the shopkeeper! Excuse me!
Mihono: We were looking for the pandas wearing Chinese clothes that were on TV the other day.
Shopkeeper: Sorry, but to tell the truth, aradama showed up here in Chinatown this morning, and...
Mihono: Don't tell me... They stole the pandas!?
Shopkeeper: Mmm, not so much as stole them, but... They went rampaging around and the pandas got caught up in them?
Tsugumi: I see. There are an endless amount of forms an aradama can take. Many of them could easily ensnare an object by accident.
Mihono: Whoa whoa wait, no matter how easy it would be, wouldn't it be weird for all the pandas to get grabbed like that!? Don't you think the aradama are stealing them after all!
Tsugumi: If that's the case... There is a high possibility these aradama have caught onto the fad and are all collecting the dolls.
Mihono: Okay okay okay, Chinatown's pandas are just so popular, even in the netherworld, that there's just not enough for everyone~ like I'm gonna be happy with thaaaat!!
Mihono: And we just came all the way out to Chinatown to buy them too-, dangiiit!!
Yui: Hnng, Mihono-chan's so cute when she's frustrated! But I bet you'd look even cuter hugging a panda all happy... Alright, we can go get them back together!
Tsugumi: I'll join you. We might come to understand why the aradama are so fascinated by these dolls. Let's leave at once.
Mihono: You guys... Thank you! With us together, we won't leave a single panda behind!

2: Where are Chinatown's Best Meat Buns At?

Mihono: Phew, we finally got a Chinese panda! Look how cute it is~!
Yui: Nnn~, Mihono-chan's so cute with her panda~! I want a video of this I can put on an infinite loop!
Tsugumi: I hate to spoil such a happy moment, but many more dolls still need to be recovered. Why don't we return that to the store for now and continue suppressing aradama?
Mihono: That's right... Uuu, Chinese panda-chan... We'll meet again, okay... I'll come get you for sure, I mean it...
Yui: You just have to think positive, Mihono-chan. Once we get all of them back, we can buy as many as we want!
Mihono: Oh yeah. Let's do our best then, and beat all the aradama!
Mihono: Uh... That reminds me, since I thought we were going to eat a lot in Chinatown, I skipped breakfast.
Tsugumi: They say you can't fight on an empty stomach. Why don't we find something to replenish our energy while we wait for the next aradama to show itself?
Yui: I'm all for it~. There's so many tasty looking things around here, so what should we go with-?
Mihono: Since we're here in Chinatown, we have to at least try some meat buns!
Mihono: I saw on TV, there's this meat bun store here that's supposed to have the most delicious meat buns, and they looked super yummy too! Can we go there?
Yui: That sounds good. What's the name of the place? Do you know where it is?
Mihono: Umm... I completely forgot! Uuu... Sorry.
Tsugumi: If the store is popular, there should be a line for it, shouldn't there? Why don't we look for a place selling meat buns with a line out front.
Yui: Smart thinking, Tsugumi-san! But it'd help if we had any other hints. Mihono-chan, was there anything else you remember about that store?
Mihono: I remember there was so much meat that the juices were all spilling out...
Yui: Sounds delicious! So we're looking for a popular store with a line out front selling juicy meat.
Tsugumi: You know, the smells coming from any one of these stores are tantalizing enough to work up my appetite.
Yui: At this point, I think I'd be fine getting meat buns from anywhere.
Mihono: Just hang in there! Since we're looking for it anyway, we might as well find the number 1 tastiest meat buns! All full of meat, and dripping with juices. I just know you won't regret it!
Mihono: Sniff, sniff, sniff... Ah, how about that place...
Mihono: Yui, Tsugumi-san! This is it! We're here-!
Tsugumi: Seems we've found it at last. Let's go join her!
Mihono: Check it out, you two! In this bamboo steamer! All full of meat; in fact, it's mostly just meat! It's amazing!
Yui: Mm~, it smells so good! I think I'll take a peek in there too. Let's see... Wait, Mihono-chan!
Tsugumi: This is...
Mihono: Huh? What's up?
Yui: Yeah, this is full of meat, but...
Tsugumi: Asakura-san, these are different kind of dumpling called shumai.
Mihono: Ah-! They are-! I got so focused on finding meat that I forgot all about looking for meat buns!
Yui: Really, what are we going to do with you, Mihono-chan? Though that clumsy side of yours is so cute too!
Mihono: Uuu... Sorry I got your hopes up.
Tsugumi: There's no need to apologize. These may not be meat buns, but take a look at their sign. It says they serve the best shumai in Chinatown.
Yui: ...Wait? The shop next door has a huge line too. It looks like they're selling meat buns...
Mihono: Ah-! That's the place! The one on TV! That's crazy; we found two of Chinatown's best right next to each other! It's our lucky day!
Mihono: Why don't we take this chance to try both of them out! Ahh~, I'm so glad we kept on searching~.
Aradama: Keeeeeee!
Mihono: An aradama!? Geez, why'd you have to show up now!
Tsugumi: It may be frustrating, but we can enjoy the shumai and meat buns after we finish fighting.
Mihono: Grrh... You're gonna pay for this, you aradama! C'mon, let's go!

3: The Secret Behind Chinatown's Alluring Sweets is...!?

Tsugumi: Nicely done, you two. There should only be a small number of aradama left for us to defeat.
Yui: I wonder when the next'll show up. It'd be nice if they all came at once so we could finish it all up.
Mihono: They probably won't be here right away, so let's go back to where they were selling meat buns and shumai! My tummy's rumbling~.
Mihono: Oh no...
Yui: "Sold out, closed for the day."
Tsugumi: They must have sold out while we were suppressing the aradama. What now? Should we find another store?
Mihono: Uuuu... We finally the place they were calling Chinatown's best too...
Yui: Hang in there, Mihono-chan. Chinatown has more number 1s than just meat buns and shumai.
Yui: Ta-dahh! Look what I've got! One of Kiyoka-chan's magazines had a special feature on Chinatown, so I borrowed it!
Mihono: Whoa~, all the food in here looks so tasty! Oh, there's a tapioca juice shop. It says it gets the longest lines in Chinatown; we should go check it out!
Tsugumi: That sounds like a good idea. The sugar will quickly convert into energy, so it's optimal for a pre-fight meal.
Yui: Hmmm, it looks like the tapioca shop should be straight down this street.
Mihono: Ah-, look! That looo~ng line, maybe that's...
Tsugumi: It seems to be the store from the magazine, doesn't it.
Yui: Uhyaa-! Look at all the cuties waiting in line! We've gotta line up next to them!
Mihono: Okay!
Tsugumi: I went and got their menu. What should we buy?
Mihono: Look at all the flavors besides milk tea! Wow, I can't make up my mind~!
Yui: They all sound tasty, but... What do they make tapioca with, anyway? It's all round and squishy.
Mihono: Huh, I never thought about it. I don't know.
Tsugumi: They closely resemble frog eggs, don't they? In early spring, you can find them bunched up around ponds and riversides...
Mihono: Gehh... Now that you said it, I think I see it too...
Tsugumi: Actually, I've handled both of them before, and it isn't just their appearance that's alike. They feel very similar to the touch as well. You know, it is spring now, so it wouldn't surprise me if...
Mihono: Ehh-, I don't think I can do this!
Yui: Hey, hang on, Mihono-chan! Where are you going-? We're almost to the front of the line-!
Mihono: I can't eat frogs~!
Tsugumi: I may have teased her too far. She's long gone.
Mihono: Ahh, I can't believe it... All this time, I never thought about it, but the yummy tapioca I've been eating was actually...
Tsugumi: Finally, there you are. I'm sorry about before, Asakura-san. I only meant it as a joke, but I didn't expect you to believe me...
Mihono: Eh? A joke? Then...
Tsugumi: Tapioca is made from starch extracted from a tuber that grows in southern countries. They roll it into round shapes and then boil it. None of its ingredients involve frogs in any way.
Mihono: Wait, really~? If I'd have known that, I would've never left the line~!
Tsugumi: I thought you might feel that way, so I left Yamashiro-san keeping our place in line. We were nearly at the front, so let's go back and buy our drinks.
Mihono: Really!? What a relief~! Thanks so much, Tsugumi-san!
Yui: Welcome back, you two~! You came just in time for us to order.
Mihono: Thanks, Yui!
Mihono: What should I go with~? Okay, I made up my mind! I'll have...
Aradama: Keeeeeee!
Mihono: EHHHHH!? Why'd you have to show up right now-!?
Tsugumi: First the pandas, then the meat buns, then the tapioca. It seems our target aradama are sensitive to trends after all...
Mihono: Arghh-! Let's just get this over with!!
Tsugumi: Of course, of course. Let's proceed then.

4: Where's Our Lucky Break...?

Mihono: Haa~, we've gotten rid of all the aradama, and gotten all the pandas back. Now our mission's complete, right!
Tsugumi: We've worked hard. Now we can enjoy the sights of Chinatown at last.
Yui: For now, why don't we go back to that tapioca store we almost got to try?
Mihono: Yeah, let's go back!
Mihono: Oh no...
Yui: You've gotta be kidding. They closed the shutters...
Tsugumi: The magazine says, "They close as soon as they run out of stock."
Mihono: Uuuu... First the meat buns, and now the tapioca...
Yui: Hey now, cheer up, Mihono-chan! I know you were looking forward to trying the different foods, but we still took care of your main goal today; we got the Chinese pandas, didn't we?
Mihono: We did! After all our hard work, we got them all back. We should go pick up some for ourselves before they run out!
Tsugumi: She sure took off in a hurry.
Yui: Well, she did want to come to Chinatown and fight those aradama all for the pandas. We'd better catch up.
Yui: Wait for us-!
Mihono: Uuuuu...
Tsugumi: What's wrong? You look disappointed. Don't tell me...
Mihono: They're all sold out of pandas...
Yui: Ehh-!? But we got so many of them back though?
Mihono: They said news that the lucky pandas were getting returned from the aradama spread all over the web, and they sold out instantly...
Mihono: Even though the whole reason I came to Chinatown was to get those pandas...
Yui: It's not the end of the world, Mihono-chan. If you can't get a Chinese panda of your own, then I'll put on a China dress and you can hug me all you want!
Tsugumi: While making it seem like you're cheering someone up, you move straight into skinship. You're a natural, Yamashiro-san.
Mihono: Yui... I'll be fine. Just... Uuuu... My pandas-!!
Shopping District Helper: Excuse me, are you girls the toji who cleaned out the aradama just now?
Tsugumi: Yes, that would be us. Is there something you needed?
Shopping District Helper: I've been looking all over for you, to reward you for bringing our valuable merchandise back.
Yui: Eh, a reward!? Like what? Something like a full course meal of high class Chinese food?
Shopping District Helper: Sorry, would you have preferred something like that? I heard you were young girls, so I only have these for you...
Mihono: Ehhhh---!? Chinese pandas, and three of them!!
Tsugumi: But weren't they all sold out from every store?
Shopping District Helper: We wanted to be sure to give something back to the toji who defeated the aradama, so everyone in the shopping district made sure to leave enough for the three of you.
Shopping District Helper: This is our show of appreciation, so please, by all means, take them.
Mihono: Thanks so much! Wow~, I finally got one~!! It's so cute~!
Tsugumi: Wasn't that nice of them, Asakura-san. Now you've accomplished your starting goal.
Yui: With these pandas, plenty of good things are sure to happen from now on!
Mihono: Yeah! Good things'll happen for sure! I can't wait~.