[Cynthia] Mint Sauce and Taro Paste Rice Noodle Rolls are ready!
[Customer A] Rice noodle rolls? I thought it was something like macarons. The green of that mint sauce is gorgeous though!
[Customer B] Rice noodle rolls with taro paste are already an affront to humanity, but with mint sauce too? Everyone knows that two wrongs don't make a right!
[Chihori Terasaki] The mint sauce complements the smooth taro filling wonderfully, it's like chewing taro-flavored gum... This dish alone is headline-worthy.
[-] A word to the wise began spreading around the food market: Just like you shouldn't eat brightly-colored mushrooms, you shouldn't eat brightly-colored rice noodle rolls either...
[-] After a few more rounds, Cynthia and I are completely exhausted. Seeing the customers' smiles... or scowls or frowns... I feel like it's been a truly fulfilling evening.
Bamboo Cloud HQ, VIP Room
[-] After closing down the stall, Ume invites me back to Bamboo Cloud for a chat.
[player] Uh-oh... Did our dubious dishes cause that much of a stir...?
[Ume] No, I wanted to give you this.
[player] Huh? You mean...
[-] Ume stands up, picks up a small pot with a kumquat tree, and hands it to me.
[Ume] It's a kumquat tree. We know how hard you've been working on the celebration preparations, and all your colleagues have nothing but praise for you.
[Ume] On behalf of Bamboo Cloud, as your manager, and as your friend... thank you for everything you've done.
[Ume] The kumquat tree symbolizes career success. Think of it as my best wishes for your future.
[player] *sniffling* M-Ms. Ume... Bamboo Cloud takes such good care of its staff!
Memento Received: [Potted Kumquat]
[-] Just when I'm about to use the skills I've diligently honed over the last few days – "how to win over your boss in three sentences" – Ran calls on the phone to let me know that we're meeting in Bamboo Cloud's main hall.
Bamboo Cloud HQ, Main Hall
[-] When I enter the main hall, I'm surprised to see that Fuuka Minami is here too, as well as the other two of the "Four Nobles."
[Fuuka Minami] I had Ran call you over because... the four of them have presented me with another campaign proposal.
[-] Jiu Hua comes bounding over to me with a mysterious smile. She plays an edited video clip on her phone. To my surprise, it has the livestream Hibiki Himekawa filmed of my "duel" with Jiu Hua, Ume's footage of me hopelessly overwhelmed by ledgers in the accounting office, and even a photo Cynthia posted on CatChat of us at the food market...
[player] What's this...?
[Ran] Celebrity endorsements aren't the only way to promote our brand. Another great approach is to release a behind-the-scenes documentary, showcasing Bamboo Cloud's meticulous preparations for the anniversary celebration and the staff's passion for the company.
[Fuuka Minami] And you, my dutiful secretary, are perfect for the central character in this documentary. After all, you could be found pretty much anywhere the preparation work was happening.
[Fuuka Minami] As you can see, this video is just missing one final piece: an on-camera interview with you, to talk about your experience working at Bamboo Cloud.
[Jiu Hua] Hehe, don't worry! If we do more intro videos later, I'll be sure to say lots of good things about you.
[Shi Nian] I will too.
[Ume] Okay... Let's get started then.
[-] As Ume raises the camera to record the last part of the documentary, all the feelings I've experienced at Bamboo Cloud over the last few days well up from my heart... only to get stuck in my throat.
[Jiu Hua] Come on, relax! Try looking a little more natural!
[Shi Nian] There's a wrinkle in the hem of your shirt.
[-] Finally, I face the camera and say...
Welcome to Bamboo Cloud!//nAnd welcome to Bamboo Cloud's anniversary celebration!
