Chihiro's past two days could be described as utter chaos.
First, she had passed through a long, moss-covered tunnel into an open plain, where she saw those restaurants and ancient shops.
Then, her parents were turned into pigs because of their gluttony, and she had mysteriously had her name taken away by an ugly old woman, becoming an employee of the Bathhouse.
Only now did she have the time to let her inexperienced little mind start working.
As it did, she happened to notice a few things—for instance, the incredibly beautiful long-haired girl beside her who had been looking after her like an older sister from the start.
"Ah, me?"
Sen Getsusa pointed to herself. Chihiro and Haku both nodded; it seemed this individual with high status in the Bathhouse was also curious.
He frowned and began to ask, "Humans can only come here through the 'tunnel,' but it's been many years since that happened. Chihiro is the first. What about you?"
Haku knew very well that Sen Getsusa definitely hadn't come through the 'tunnel'; otherwise, it wouldn't explain how she appeared at Yubabas Sister's place.
After all, in the Bathhouse, Yubaba could sense any creature that didn't belong here.
Chihiro & Haku: Stare... Sen Getsusa looked at the two people who were looking at her thoughtfully and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Hey, what's with those looks?"
She pointed toward the sky. "I just fell 'whoosh' from the sky, of course."
"Are you joking!" Haku furrowed his dark brows.
Sen Getsusa shrugged. "That's just how it is." After saying that, she turned to Chihiro. "Chihiro, you're from this World, but I'm not. I didn't enter here from the human World. I crossed over from another World to get here, understand?"
Sen Getsusa gave a brief explanation.
Haku looked bewildered. "A... World-Walker? I've never heard that name. Traveling between Worlds? How is that possible?"
Chihiro didn't care about those things; the young girl obviously wanted Sen Getsusa to talk about things on the other side. "So, is it also a human society? Are there monsters? Are there also a Chihiro and a Mr. Bai? Are there cars, trains, and planes?"
Then, the two modern city girls huddled together and began whispering, occasionally shooting wary glares at Haku when he tried to lean in and listen, completely ignoring his feelings.
"So, Sister's World is more developed than ours." Chihiro compared the technological and informational progress of both sides, counting on her fingers. "There's at least a twenty or thirty-year gap, right?"
Sen Getsusa nodded. "Probably. There are some slight differences, but it's mostly the same. This seems to be the similarity of Worlds. But speaking of which, why did you come here, Chihiro?"
Chihiro got huffy just thinking about it.
"It's all because of the move. My father changed jobs and was moving me and my Mother to another city. I didn't even have time to say goodbye to my friends... In the woods, it was that tunnel. My Mother... I wonder if they're okay."
Sen Getsusa felt that her parents were most likely on their way to eating or sleeping.
"Don't worry. Although Yubaba turns those people into little pigs, it's very rare for her to actually kill them for their crimes." Haku finally found a point where he could interject.
Chihiro nodded, still feeling a lingering fear.
—But in the next moment, she actually bypassed Haku and ran to Sen Getsusa's side, taking her arm in an affectionate manner. "Sister Yuesha, tell me quickly, in your World... a new brand! Is there that brand? Is Miwako a star in your World? Oh, and have you seen 'The Great Lovers' Battle'? Ah... you haven't? Then let me tell you about it..."
Haku: "..."
Fine then.
————Yubabas Sister is pitiably cooking for herself————
In the days that followed, Chihiro and Sen Getsusa often spent time together. Every time, Sen Getsusa would bring her lots of delicious food and have her share it with her friends—like that girl Lin, who was said to be Chihiro's best friend now.
Of course, it wasn't that they didn't want to include Mr. Bai; it was just that he was always being sent out by Yubaba to do who-knows-what.
Sen Getsusa wisely didn't ask, while Chihiro simply didn't think that much about it.
Her recent conversations with Sen Getsusa were already enough to fill her head.
"Is this the'similarity of Worlds' that Sister Yuesha talked about?" Chihiro sat on the floor by the railing, holding a bowl of takoyaki. Before her was a vast sea.
The two of them were happily eating and drinking on the balcony outside her room.
This beautiful sister brought her gourmet food in different varieties every time. If her parents hadn't turned into pigs and she didn't have to work every day, Chihiro might have even thought staying here was quite nice.
Thick, juicy steaks paired with a bit of mint sauce; fragrant stir-fried plant roots; fried Star Grass tempura served with sweet, clear long-grain rice—and Sen Getsusa's handmade cake, sprinkled with colorful konpeito.
Using cream cheese and small pieces of cheese mixed with fresh milk, topped with boiled fragrant tea leaves.
Rich and sweet without being cloying... It was so delicious!!
Truly, a complete satisfaction! A gourmet journey!
Ah... such a virtuous and gentle sister would surely be in high demand when she gets married in the future.
She didn't realize that her thoughts coincided perfectly with a certain witch named Zeniba.
Sen Getsusa sat beside her, the tip of her fork between her teeth as she let out a satisfied sigh. "I have to say, the ingredients in this World are really fresh. Ah, that's right. The general direction is about the same, but there are always some strange variations... However, are you sure your World is exactly as you described?"
A booming economy, advanced technology, an endless stream of wealthy commoners, a red-hot stock market, and that slogan: 'We can buy up all the land and property in the United States and then rent it back to the Americans.'
That era was a bit subtle... Sen Getsusa leaned back against a blue stone, breathing in the scent of grass carried by the wind from the lake, unconsciously licking her fork.
How should I put it?
Whoosh—
Chihiro, who was eating snacks, suddenly stood up. "Sister Yuesha! Look! That's Haku-kun!"
The lake in the distance had clear, rippling water, and the stones at the bottom were transparently visible.
Above, a white shadow was flying. Sen Getsusa leaned on the wooden railing, shading the sun with her right hand. "It looks like a white dragon. Wait, you mean Haku-kun?"
Sen Getsusa knew Haku was a dragon, but this was the first time she had seen his true form. Hmm, he looked quite majestic.
Chihiro nodded with certainty. "I don't know why... but that's definitely him!"
The dragon swung its tail wildly and frantically, sweeping across the lake's surface and kicking up sprays of water and fish. He seemed to be surrounded by a patch of white mist that pursued him closely as he dove and soared.
It wasn't until he got closer that Chihiro realized the white mist was actually a flock of cross-shaped paper birds. Under their attack, the white dragon was covered in blood.
He flew lower and slower until, with a'splash,' he plunged into the lake.
Water splashed everywhere.
Chihiro watched the scarred white dragon and the 'flock of birds' that continued their pursuit without hesitation, stomping her feet in anxiety. "Sister, what should we do? That's Haku! It's Haku!"
Sen Getsusa put down her fork and stared at the two fighting sides below. "Call him."
"What?"
Sen Getsusa slowly turned her head. "Call his name, Chihiro. Let him in." She then pointed to the window beside them that could be closed at any time.
"I understand."
Chihiro took a breath, gripped the wooden railing with both hands, and poked her small head out.
"Haku!! Come here!!"
"Haku! Haku!! Come over here!! Come to me!!"
It seemed the white dragon below really heard her. He looked up at the two girls standing on the balcony and, without hesitation, soared upward!
He bypassed layers of paper birds and charged toward the balcony like a bolt of white lightning!
"Sister! Get ready!"
Sen Getsusa nodded. Haku rushed into the room with a howling gale, and the entire balcony, including the floor and walls, was splattered with blood.
"Close it!"
She quickly pulled up the window on her side, then pushed aside the struggling Chihiro and nimbly pulled shut the window on her side as well.
Bang bang bang!!
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