The Mahjong Soul Shrine...

The Mahjong Soul Shrine...
Mai and I arrive at Mahjong Soul Shrine and see Wanjirou and Ichihime basking in the sun there. Now it's the perfect opportunity to ask them about Tubby.
[Mai Aihara]Have either of you seen Tubby?
[Wanjirou]Nope, woof. Ichihime, you were in the corridor the whole time. Did you see Tubby?
[Ichihime]I didn't see him either, maybe because I fell asleep, nyaa!
[Wanjirou]How can you sound so proud about dozing off, woof?
[Ichihime]Because I dreamed that Master had come to see me, and then Master really came, nyaa! Wanjirou, you wouldn't understand, I wasn't dozing off, I had a prophetic dream!
[Ichihime]Master, do you want me to help you search the courtyard, nyaa?
[player]That would be great, thanks, Ichihime!
[Ichihime]Wanjirou, don't slack off! Come and help me, nyaa!
With Ichihime and Wanjirou's help, it doesn't take us long to search Mahjong Soul Shrine thoroughly but we still fail to find Tubby as there is only one cat in Mahjong Soul Shrine—Ichihime.
[Mai Aihara]He's not here... Where could he be if he isn't in Mahjong Soul Shrine?
Mai looks a little crestfallen. The reason we came here first was that she said Tubby had come to Mahjong Soul Shrine a few times before and thought we would have a higher chance of finding him here.
[player]Don't be disheartened. Tubby can't go that far since he likes to rest for a while every two steps he makes. At least now we can cross one place off the list.
[Ichihime]Don't worry, Mai, Tubby is a smart cat. He'll be fine, nyaa.
[Wanjirou]Although I want to tell you not to worry, I know it won't be easy since that cat is like family to you, woof.
[Mai Aihara]Yea... Tubby and I have been together for four years already...
As Mai takes a trip down memory lane, she tells us about how she met Tubby. At first, Tubby, who was a kitten at the time, was just a stray tabby who came to beg for food in the neighborhood every evening, but at some point in time, he started to sleep in the courtyard of the Temple of Moons.
The kind-hearted Mai was worried that he would catch a cold, so she made him a basic cat house. Over time, the cat became a member of the Temple of Moons and was given the name Tubby.
Especially after Mai's grandfather passed away, Tubby became Mai's only remaining family. One can imagine how anxious and sad Mai must be feeling after Tubby disappeared.
[Mai Aihara]It's almost time for lunch. I wonder if Tubby has managed to have a good meal outside...
[Wanjirou]Meal... I remember, woof! There's an animal shelter near the commercial strip. They have been providing canned cat food to stray cats there recently, so Tubby might be attracted over there, woof.
[Ichihime]Canned cat food?!
[Wanjirou]Be careful, Ichihime. You better not get lost because of this too, woof.
[Ichihime]Nyaa? I won't eat any canned food, nyaa! Because Master will give me a big snack pack with lots of yummier food, nyaa!
After Wanjirou reminds us of a place where Tubby might have gone, Mai thanks him and starts pulling me toward the animal shelter.
[Mai Aihara]I hope we can find Tubby soon.
[player]Let's go. Hopefully he likes the food there and will stay there for a little longer.
[Ichihime]Master, you can do it, nyaa! Call me at any time if you need my help, nyaa!
[Wanjirou]I'll keep an eye out for you when I go outside later. Let's keep in touch, woof.
A large group of cats is gathering around the meal trays at the animal shelter, meowing constantly as they eat. Mai and I enter this "car paradise" with the staff's permission.
[player]There are many cats here... but I don't see Tubby among them.
Tubby should be quite conspicuous among stray cats with its chubby figure, so I quickly come to the conclusion that Tubby isn't there.
However, Mai is not willing to give up so soon. she calls Tubby's name a few times, hoping he will appear.
[Mai Aihara]Tubby! Tubby! Stop playing hide and seek! I'm worried sick about you. Tubby!
[Mai Aihara]Master... I don't think Tubby is here.
I pat her shoulder gently because I can see her getting more and more depressed.
[player]There are still many places that cats would go to. Let's look around nearby.
But we can't search aimlessly. It would be best to find some other clues.
[Mai Aihara]Master... Although Tubby isn't here right now, is it possible that he has finished eating and left? Should we ask the staff?
[player]That's a good idea, but so many cats come here to eat every day... would they remember?
[player]...We can still try though. Mai, do you have a photo of Tubby on your phone?
Tubby is so conspicuous, we might really be able to find some clues if you show them his photo.
We show Tubby's photo to the staff at the rescue station and are fortunate enough to find some clues.
[Staff]Oh! This chubby cat came here today. He seemed to have gone to play in the commercial strip after eating his fill.
[Mai Aihara]R-really? Thank you! Um, well, the cost of the food...
[Staff]Don't worry about that. You're the priestess of the Temple of Moons, right? The neighbors here say that things seem to get better if they pray at your shrine when they are down on their luck.
[Staff]Just treat the cat food as a donation.
[Mai Aihara]E-even if I have helped anyone... that's my duty as the priestess. It shouldn't be like that.
[player]Haha!
[Mai Aihara]Eh... Master, why are you laughing? Did I say something strange?
[player]No, it's nothing. Mai, you're right. You're a very principled person.
[Staff]Haha, you're such a serious and adorable person.
The staff beside us also starts laughing because of our conversation. It's really like what he said, the way how Mai treats people so seriously is a little ditzy and cute.
[Mai Aihara]Master, did I really say nothing strange?
[player]No, I guarantee you didn't. Let's go to the commercial strip now. If we ask around while showing the photo, we should be able to find Tubby soon.
[Mai Aihara]Y-yes! Let's go, Master.
Excellent, I manage to change the subject.
[Shop Employee]This chubby cat did come to our store. I was eating corn at the time, so I fed it some.
[Shop Employee]Then I was busy greeting a customer that entered after that, and he had left by the time I turned my head. Sorry, I don't know where he's gone.
[Mai Aihara]Please don't say that. I should be the one apologizing because Tubby bothered you.
[player]Another dead end...
We ask around the commercial strip and follow the passerby's instructions to the shop Tubby had visited, but we seem to be one step too late again.
[player]Other places... I can only think of that grill house. I often see cats hanging around there when I pass by.
[Mai Aihara]I hope Tubby hasn't left the commercial strip. There are fewer cars here, so he should be safer here...
[Shop Employee]Are you leaving now? Are you sure you don't want to pick a few pieces of clothing? Our clothes are high-quality and inexpensive!
[Shop Employee]Especially this priestess. You look so lovely—we have lots of clothes that suit you!
[player]I'm sorry, you know we're looking for a cat. We'll come again next time. I promise.
[Shop Employee]It won't take long—just a few minutes. Let me give you some recommendations. Take a look, this hat just arrived. It's incredibly trendy!
The shop employee plops a hat on my head just like that. When I look in the mirror, I see a hat with two fluffy decorations that resembled Wanjirou's ears on the brim. It looks like a hat people would wear to play a prank.
[Mai Aihara]Oh, I've seen this hat in a magazine. It looks surprisingly good on you, Master.
[player]Is this hat really popular right now? Well... I actually quite like it. H-hold on, didn't I just say we were busy? It won't be convenient to be carrying something right now. I'll come again another day after we find the cat.
[Shop Employee]Customer! If you see something you like, you've got to buy it now! We happen to be doing a promotion right now, so you can get this hat for a special price!
[player]Ha... haha... Don't tell me that I can probably get anything I like for a special price...
After saying that, I grab Mai and run away from the enthusiastic employee and that shop. Sometimes, social anxiety is caused by "social terrorists"...
Unfortunately, we don't manage to find any clues at the grill house after that.
[Mai Aihara]Master, Miss Nanami's café is nearby. You've been so busy all afternoon and haven't had a chance to drink anything. Do you want to have a drink and take a break there, or do you want to rest back at the shrine and see if Tubby has returned at the same time?
[Mai Aihara]Maybe... Maybe Tubby is just hiding somewhere and taking a nap. It would be great if that's the case...
Mai and I are exhausted after running around all afternoon looking for Tubby. She seems to notice my exhaustion while we were sitting on a bench by the street, so she makes a gentle suggestion.
I want to say I don't need to, but I see her apologetic eyes and feel that she would definitely feel guilty if I forced myself to continue at this time.