After Carter had finished his shopping spree at Hobby Off Harajuku, he and Yoko made their way back to meet Jake, Akane, and Luna, who had been wandering around Harajuku, shopping and exploring. Carter had accumulated so many items that Yoko had to help him carry some of the bags.

"That's a lot of stuff you’ve got there, bro!" Jake remarked, noticing that Yoko was helping carry some of Carter’s bags. Jake quickly offered to help Yoko, who gratefully accepted.

"You sure took your time shopping," Luna teased, while Carter grinned.

"Guys, I’ve got a story for you about something that happened at Hobby Off Harajuku!" Carter said, trying to stir up curiosity within the group. "But before that, let’s find something to eat. I’m starving!" Right on cue, his stomach growled, causing the group to burst into laughter.

Once again taking on the role of their local guide, Yoko led the way with pride and excitement. She took them to a small, hidden gem of a café called Café Crepe Sakura, known mostly to locals. It was tucked away from Harajuku’s busy, energetic streets, serving authentic Japanese crepes, promising the group a taste of the local culinary spirit.

"This place looks amazing!" Jake commented as they approached.

"I came here before with my classmates after school. I’m sure you all will love it!" Yoko said confidently, leading them inside.

Upon entering the café, they were greeted warmly by a waitress, who politely led them to their seats. The enticing aroma of freshly made crepes filled the air, intensifying their hunger. The waitress handed them menus, and the group began browsing the options. The presentation on the menu was stunning, each dish a culinary masterpiece.

Luna and Akane were captivated by the beautiful dessert crepes and struggled to decide what to order. The menu offered both savory crepes, also known as galettes, and sweet options, and the choices were overwhelming. Jake and Carter opted for the savory crepes, while Luna and Akane couldn’t resist the allure of the sweet ones.

When their food arrived, they all instinctively reached for their phones, letting their cameras "eat" first as they snapped pictures for memories. The savory crepes were filled with mozzarella, chicken, cheese, and ham, while the sweet crepes came with a variety of fillings, including azuki beans, matcha, brown sugar, and an assortment of fresh berries.

"Before we eat, let’s say Itadakimasu!" Yoko suggested, teaching the group about the traditional Japanese phrase.

"It means ‘to humbly receive,’" she explained. The group joined in, cheerfully saying, "Itadakimasu!" before digging into their delicious food.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/0/0d/Mega_Cat_Gundam.png]

As the group enjoyed their meal, Carter tried to strike up a conversation. "Guys! I’m going to give you a chance to guess what I got from the shop just now!" he said, trying to stir some excitement. He then pulled out the limited edition Mega Cat Gundam from his shopping bag and proudly displayed it for everyone to see.

"Tada! Feast your eyes on this—the limited edition Mega Cat Gundam! One of only 88 pieces in the world!" he announced, his voice full of pride over his prized find.

However, the reaction from the group wasn’t what he expected. As they continued eating, Carter anticipated hearing "Wow!" or "I want it too!" or even "Can you give it to me, please?" Instead, the response was lukewarm, with no one reacting with the enthusiasm he had hoped for.

"Come on, guys! I mentioned something happened at Hobby Off Harajuku just now. Don’t you want to hear it?" Carter said, trying to capture their attention.

Jake, still munching on his food, casually replied, "Bro, you can tell us while we eat. We’ll listen."

With that encouragement, Carter dove into the story, recounting the incident at Hobby Off Harajuku. He described the standoff he had with a Japanese girl with burnt orange hair, styled in two long pigtails tied with red bands. She wore a hairband adorned with brown cat ears and a matching black choker, and neither of them was willing to let go of the Mega Cat Gundam. The tension lasted for minutes until Yoko arrived and helped resolve the situation, ultimately allowing Carter to claim the figurine he now proudly owned.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

But the group’s reaction remained lukewarm.

"It’s just a figurine, Carter. You could’ve just let the girl have it," Luna remarked, unable to grasp the significance of Carter's passion for collecting, coming from a future where creativity was restricted in her timeline.

Carter, feeling the need to defend his enthusiasm, responded, "It’s not just a figurine. It’s something that connects with me and brings me happiness."

Jake, chuckling, chimed in between bites, "I’m surprised, bro. Usually, you’d be a gentleman and let the girl have it."

"Yeah, especially since she was cute with all her cat accessories!" Carter added, a little sheepish. "Speaking of which, Yoko, do you happen to know her? I remember you called her something like Naruko-san or something?" he asked, his memory of the Japanese conversation a bit fuzzy.

Yoko laughed, amused by Carter’s pronunciation. "Her name is Pimiko Nyanko, not Naruko," she corrected. "I don’t know her personally, but she’s a schoolmate of mine. She’s somewhat of a celebrity at my school," Yoko added casually, her tone suggesting that while Pimiko was well-known, she wasn’t someone Yoko was particularly close to.

Carter, still curious about Pimiko, decided to dig a little deeper. Maybe, just maybe, she had some interest in him. "Did she, by any chance, ask about me?" he inquired, his voice tinged with hopeful anticipation.

Yoko's response was swift and decisive. "No!"

Her blunt reply punctuated the air, provoking a chorus of laughter from the group as they continued eating and chatting, quickly moving on to other topics.

Halfway through their meal, Jake’s curiosity about the next day’s plans got the better of him. "So, Yoko, what adventures do you have planned for us tomorrow afternoon?" he asked. "Since Uncle Nomura won't be back until the evening?"

Yoko, clearly excited, responded, "I’ve already got it all planned! I’ll take you on a tour of my school, Seiryu High. It’ll be a perfect opportunity for you to experience Japanese school life firsthand."

"That sounds great! I’ve always been curious about Japanese schools since I didn’t get the chance to experience them myself. We moved to the U.S. when I was young," Jake said, his excitement evident. "And I really want to learn more about how Japanese schools play baseball!"

Jake’s interest was immediately piqued, and his enthusiasm spread to the group. "Does your school allow visitors?" he asked, wanting to be sure.

"Yes! I’ve already informed the school office and made the necessary arrangements, so accessing the school won’t be a problem," Yoko replied with a confident smile.

Luna, who was more focused on her mission, chimed in. "It’d be cool to learn about the education system. Do they teach anything about the seven swords?" She remained focused on her quest to uncover more information about the legendary weapons.

Yoko was surprised by the sudden mention of the seven swords but replied, "The seven swords? Yes, they’re mentioned in our history books, but they’re considered myths."

Luna, once again, felt the familiar sting of disappointment. It was the same answer she had heard before—no one seemed to believe the seven swords were real.

Akane, meanwhile, stayed quiet, but the idea of visiting the school filled her with a quiet sense of excitement, happy to be experiencing everything with her friends.

Carter, still unable to shake the thought of Pimiko, saw this as the perfect chance for another encounter. With a playful smirk, he teased, "And hey, maybe fate will arrange another run-in with Pimiko, huh?"

"No way!" the group replied in unison, their laughter filling the café as they playfully shot down his idea.

After finishing their delightful crepes at Café Crepe Sakura, the group made their way back to the bustling streets of Harajuku, with Yoko continuing as their local guide. They strolled through the vibrant area, stopping at a Purikura photo booth to take fun, edited photos together, capturing the joy of their friendship and creating lasting memories of their time in Japan. Akane and Luna even picked up some new clothes as they shopped around.

Yoko then led them away from the busy Takeshita Street to their next stop: the Meiji Shrine. There, they each purchased an ema, a small wooden plaque used for writing wishes or prayers. Jake kept it simple, writing, "Peace and love!" Luna, focused on her mission, wrote, "Hope for a better future!"—a reflection of her desire to find the seven swords. Carter’s competitive spirit showed as he wrote, "I wish to win the next ice hockey competition!" Akane, a bit shy, wrote, "Hope he realizes soon," while Yoko penned, "I wish to go to a good university." They hung their plaques under a sacred tree, offering their wishes to the Shinto gods.

The day continued with a visit to Yoyogi Park, one of Tokyo’s largest parks, where they enjoyed the serene nature, breathing in the fresh air and appreciating the peaceful atmosphere. As they sat under a tree, they took a moment to reflect on the day—the shared laughter, the stunning sights, and the deepening bonds of their friendship.

"I think it’s time to head back. It’s getting late!" Yoko said, prompting the group to gather their things.

"Yoko, thanks for today! It was a fun day," Jake said, expressing his gratitude.

"Thanks, Yoko!" the rest of the group chimed in, their voices in unison.

Yoko blushed at their thanks, feeling appreciated. They boarded the train back to the Nomura household, their arms filled with shopping bags, especially Carter, who needed help carrying all of his new treasures. Tomorrow would be a brand-new day, filled with anticipation as they planned to visit Seiryu High to experience Japanese school life and culture firsthand.