The three in the mansion were taking a short break from their girls-talk because it had taken a slightly weird turn, and everyone had to cool down first. While that was happening, Sophia and Ari were still playing tourist guides for Eve and Theo, a married couple from the cat beastfolk that had gotten lost in the capital and didn’t know their way back to the inn they were staying in.

"By the way," Sophia eventually addressed the couple again while the group was walking around together. "I think I had already asked, but what brings the two of you to the capital? Is it just sightseeing?”

“Well, our son had left the nest a few years ago to explore, and our bratty daughter did the same in spring. She also wanted to train and better her magic or something like that.” Theo answered her. “As we were alone at home at that point, we also felt like taking an extended vacation.”

“We haven’t been in the capital for over 30 years, a couple of years before we got our son, and we thought that now's the time for it."

“We forgot how big it is, though…”

“And cold during this time of the year…” Eve suddenly sounded much less enthusiastic about their vacation.

“Ahaha…” Sophia felt more than just sympathetic. “And it’s just starting to get cold, too…”

“S-Seriously…?” The couple didn’t like the sound of that.

"Yes." Ari nodded. "Compared to what is yet to come, the current weather is closer to the hottest summer days…"

“S-Seriously?!” This time, the blonde also joined in with the two cats.

“We might’ve picked the wrong time for going on a trip, huh?” Theo looked at his wife with a complicated expression.

“Maybe…”

“Don’t worry, the weather will stay okay-ish for a little longer. Also, on the bright side, while it’s on the colder side right now, it basically never rains, either.” The jaguar tried to cheer them up a little.

“That sounds a lot better.”

“To add to that, the capital has many public gardens, and they look absolutely beautiful with the current fall foliage.”

“My, that sounds lovely!” Eve got a lot more cheerful. “Dear, let’s go and visit them soon!”

"Gladly." He nodded a few times. "Although, I think we should first find our way back to the inn."

"A-Ah.”

"Do you remember anything else that could help us find it?" Ari hoped to get more pointers.

“Hmm…” Theo thought about it again. “We had dinner in a restaurant roughly a five-minute walk away… It was quite big, so maybe it’s well-known? It was called Night… Night… uhh…”

“Night Flower.” The female cat finished his sentence.

“Hmm…” Ari tilted her head. “I’ve never been there, but it feels like I’ve heard that name before… I think it's in the eastern district, not too far from the main gate. Many establishments and places have something related to flowers in their name around there. It would perfectly match your Sunflower Inn, as well.”

"Well, if that doesn't sound like a solid hint!" Sophia raised her voice a little. “Let’s go!” Energetically raising her hand, she then started walking again.

“That street leads further into the western district.” The jaguar quickly stopped her again.

“…” Slightly flustered, she then decided to hand over the lead to Ari again.

----------------

Roughly half an hour had passed since then, and the group had eventually arrived in the eastern district where the jaguar thought the restaurant and their inn should be.

“Does anything look familiar so far?” She glanced at the couple who was looking around in the vicinity.

“Hmm…” Eve concentrated a little more. “I think we’ve been here before, yes. It definitely feels familiar.”

“I think so, too.” Her husband nodded in agreement.

“Perfect!” The blonde was happy that they were getting closer. "We, with that, I mean Ari, we should be able to find it now!"

“Thank you so much for helping us.” The couple felt like thanking them again.

“It’s fine~!”

"Yes, we're glad to be able to help." The duo didn't mind it at all.

“Really, such good girls!” Theo was a big fan of their friendly attitude. “It’s so unfortunate that both of you are taken. I would’ve to introduce our daughter to either of you. She really could learn a thing or two from you. Or 13.”

“Ahaha…” The two only reacted with a small laugh. Both seemed slightly happy about being praised like that, though.

“Wait, I think I remember this shop!” While they were chatting, Eve suddenly pointed at a store that seemed to be selling items related to pottery.”

“Oh, you are right!” He also took a better look at it. “Didn’t you want to get a vase here when we were on our way to the inn?”

“Exactly!” The black-and-white-haired cat got a little more cheerful. “If I remember right, we followed the street for a little longer before turning left right before the inn!"

“Alright, let’s give that a try!”

----------------

“Thank you sooo much!” Roughly five minutes later, the group was standing in front of a rather large building. Above the entrance, a fancily decorated plate advertised the place as the 'Sunflower Inn'.

“Yay!” Sophia sounded happy. “So glad we managed to find it!”

“Yes.” Ari was also smiling.

“How can we ever repay you?” Eve looked especially grateful. "Oh, how about we invite the two of you for dinner today? The restaurant we mentioned earlier, that's the least we can do!"

“That sounds like a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the time we spent together, but…” Sophia had taken a liking to them, but the two already had plans for the evening. “Ari and I actually ran into you after we finished grocery shopping for dinner today. We planned to cook together with a friend and our girls later on…”

“My, that sounds like a lovely plan. We can’t compete with that.” The cat-woman didn’t sound disappointed. “Well, our invitation definitely stands.”

“You really don’t have to be so concerned about needing to thank us.” The tiger gently shook her head. “All that counts is that we were able to help you. Just enjoy your vacation to the fullest! Oh, and maybe get a map~.”

“Ahaha.” Eve had to chuckle at her remark. “Really, you are such a wonderful girl. I’d love to get an extra daughter like you. I hope that mine can find someone half as good as you once she gives romance a try…"

“T-Thank you…” Sophia got a little bashful again. “You’re putting me on a way too big pedestal, though… As I said, I know how to behave when it’s important, but I can also be quite bratty myself. I’m also pretty sloppy most of the time…”

“Humble, too! Impressive.” It had the exact opposite effect on the couple.

"A-Ari, a little help…?”

“Just enjoy being praised.” She just shrugged in response and leaned closer to her to whisper the following words. “Right now, you are a good girl. Also, it’s not like a random couple you have no relation to needs to know how unhinged you can be.”

“I guess that’s fair… Also, hey!” The blonde just had to complain a little here. "A-Anyway, just make sure that the two of you have a great time in the capital and enjoy your vacation to the fullest! If we manage to run into each other again, I'll gladly take you up on the dinner invitation."

“That’s good enough for me for the time being!” Eve could live with her reply.

“Well then, enjoy your stay~.”

"Oh, and definitely visit the public gardens for the fall foliage!" Ari repeated her own suggestion from earlier.

“We definitely will!” The cat-woman seemed to really like the idea. “Okay, we don’t want to hold the two of you up even longer!”

“Yes.” Theo nodded a couple of times. “Again, thank you sooo much for helping us!”

“We were happy to help!” Afterward, after waving to each other several times, Ari and Sophia finally left them and walked away from the inn and back to the mansion.

“Wow, they were such nice girls!” After they were alone, Theo addressed her wife.

“Yes!” She smiled back at him. “I can’t believe we’ve spent the afternoon with a real tiger! The capital is amazing!”

"Yes, I had no idea the royal family just runs around here like everyone else! That’s so cool.”

“I was also really surprised!” Eve kept nodding. “I also had no idea that tigers are so blonde. I thought they had a darker orange hue?”

“Maybe she was someone particularly important?” Theo tilted his head. “I mean, even for a tiger, she felt special, didn’t she?”

“I thought so, too! She also was so friendly and helpful! I bet she was some sort of representative or the like.”

“What a day!”

“Really!” The cat-woman still had sparkly eyes. “Too bad she’s not single… I doubt our daughter would have a chance with her, but I wouldn't complain about getting such a daughter-in-law!"

“Neither would I.” Her husband agreed with her. “Our brat could also definitely learn some things from her.”

“Don’t be so hard on our girl.”

“Ahaha, you know that I’m mostly joking. Our girl’s the best, after all! I really want to see her right now!” In the end, he was just a doting father. “That being said, visually speaking, I think I’d actually prefer Ari as a partner for her. I think her pitch-black hair and the snow-white of that from our daughter would complement each other incredibly well!"

“My, aren’t you a smooth-talker, dear~?” Eve didn’t fail to miss how he looked at her black-and-white hair while he said that.

“Ehehe.”

The couple soon got lost in their own little world and flirted for a bit longer before they finally entered the inn.

 

 

 

---

---