Future Pet Shop

"Saitama Prefecture? Well, it does have some places to visit." Although she looked down on the Kantou region a bit, Sakai Kaori was honest and pointed out the local scenic spots for Shen Yibin. "The Clock of Time has chimed punctually every day for the past three hundred and fifty-plus years. The Thirty Hammers Ice Pillar and the Rock Stacks are both rare and beautiful sights. Oh, right, and in Kawagoe City, the entire street of Fruit Shop Alley sells traditional Japanese sweets. I wonder if Hah’Er will like them?"

"If it’s edible, this guy will definitely be interested!" Shen Yibin said, stroking Hah’Er’s head. "By the way, what are the Thirty Hammers Ice Pillar and the Rock Stacks you were talking about?"

"The Thirty Hammers Ice Pillar is a wonder that appears every winter in Otochi Village, Ochiizu City. Water seeping from the rocks upstream along the Arakawa River freezes in the harsh winter cold, forming countless icicles that become works of frozen art. These icicles can be fifty meters tall and six or seven meters wide. At night, they’re illuminated with colorful lights, making them especially mesmerizing." Sakai Kaori pulled out her phone to show Shen Yibin photos. "It’s the perfect time to go now. As for the Rock Stacks, they are a type of crystalline schist. Looking at them from above, it’s as if the ground is paved with tatami mats..."

’Oh, I get it! The Clock of Time is basically like the bell tower in Chang’an, and Fruit Shop Alley is like those snack streets—Sichuan’s Koi Carp or Jiangcheng’s Hubei Lane. The Thirty Hammers Ice Pillar is no different from the ice falls I often saw in the Northeast, and the Rock Stacks are just some geological formation. None of this is particularly rare in China.’ Shen Yibin himself wasn’t all that interested. Still, since Sakai Kaori was so earnest in her explanation, he figured they might as well go for a visit. Perhaps it would give Sun Qian some inspiration. ’Oh, and hopefully Hah’Er will like the sweets at Fruit Shop Alley,’ he thought.

"Let’s head out now, then. Saitama Prefecture is just north of Tokyo, so it’s a quick drive. I’ll go have a car prepared and book us a place to stay." With Sakai Kaori handling things, Shen Yibin didn’t need to worry about such trivial matters; all he had to do was get the little critters into the car.

The drive from Tokyo to Saitama Prefecture was indeed short. After just three hours on the highway, they arrived. A place to rest had already been arranged. Shen Yibin had no idea how Sakai Kaori had managed to procure a detached villa, but it was far more convenient and comfortable than staying in a hotel. After a brief rest and a taste of the local cuisine, the group headed out.

They drove to the Thirty Hammers Ice Pillar and the Rock Stacks, the places Sakai Kaori had just highly recommended. The ice falls were about what you’d expect. Hah’Er, having seen plenty with Shen Yibin in the Northeast, wasn’t particularly interested. Sun Qian, on the other hand, excitedly pulled out her camera and started snapping away. She had spent more time in the south and had rarely seen this kind of natural landscape. Still, a quick look was enough; they didn’t plan on waiting around for the night scenery.

Next, they drove to Kawagoe City, a part of Saitama Prefecture. As they entered Fruit Shop Alley, they found the street lined with the classic Japanese buildings Shen Yibin had only seen in anime. Old-fashioned sweets, toy figurines, and other trinkets were displayed at the shop entrances to entice tourists. The moment they arrived, Hah’Er, who had been a bit sluggish before, instantly came alive. He stretched his neck, sniffing the air nonstop. As soon as he caught a scent from a shop that appealed to his appetite, he would immediately duck inside!

Entering the first shop, he gave the owner quite a scare. However, the owner’s child quickly recognized him as the star of *Panda Hero*, the film that had recently broken box office records in Japan. The child hurriedly and respectfully led Hah’Er and Shen Yibin’s group to a table and served them the shop’s specialty: sweet potato cakes.

"Mmm! Mmm!" Without any ceremony, Hah’Er was the first to grab two pieces to try. He nodded in approval. ’As expected of a shop with such a long history. Their craft is not bad at all.’

Soon, the entire street knew of Hah’Er’s arrival. Shop owners rushed out, holding trays of their own sweets at their doorways, inviting Hah’Er in for a taste. Any shop Hah’Er chose was overjoyed, eagerly ushering Shen Yibin’s party inside. They pulled out all the stops, using their most treasured recipes to prepare their absolute best treats for him. Those who weren’t chosen were crestfallen, shaking their heads in disappointment, and their business even seemed to take a hit as a result.

"Well, I guess we won’t be needing dinner tonight!" It was still only afternoon; a bit too early to head back. ’Where should we go next?’ Shen Yibin turned to Sakai Kaori. "Are there any other fun places around here?"

"Here in Kawagoe City?" Sakai Kaori frowned slightly. She had rarely visited Saitama Prefecture before, so she only knew the mainstream tourist spots like the Thirty Hammers Ice Pillar and Fruit Shop Alley; she wasn’t familiar with anything else. However, when her eyes landed on Maphario, she suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "Actually, there is one place I think Mr. Bin might find interesting!"

"Oh? Where’s that?" Shen Yibin asked curiously. Judging by her expression, this place might actually be interesting.

"It’s getting a little late today, let’s go there tomorrow morning. Mr. Bin and Sun will probably recognize it once we get there!" ’Huh? Hearing her say that, could it be a place I’ve seen before?’

Filled with curiosity, Shen Yibin followed Sakai Kaori back to the villa. The next morning, they set off for the attraction. Sakai Kaori didn’t name their destination, but Shen Yibin had already seen on the map that they were likely heading to Sakai City in Saitama Prefecture. The car drove swiftly through the Narrow Mountain Ridge, flanked on both sides by lush, green forests. The more Shen Yibin looked, the more familiar everything seemed. ’Huh, this scenery... I feel like I’ve really seen it before. Was it in a famous movie?’

"Sakai, is this a filming location from a movie? Which one?" ’But why can’t I remember it, no matter how hard I think!’

"So you’ve noticed, Mr. Bin. But be patient. Once we go around the small hill up ahead, you’ll definitely understand," Sakai Kaori replied with a smile.

The car quickly rounded the small hill and entered a little plain. As far as the eye could see, a few small huts with red and blue roofs were scattered beside a stretch of flat farmland. Near the huts stood two large trees, growing very close together.

Even though it was winter, the green leaves on these two great trees showed no sign of withering. Their dense branches had been neatly trimmed. From a distance, their lower portions looked as round and plump as Hah’Er’s belly, while the tops of the trees tapered to points, just like the tips of Maphario’s ears.

’Huh? The two trees together... they look like some kind of animal, don’t they?’ A spark of insight flashed through Shen Yibin’s mind. He finally understood what this place was! He pointed at the large trees and said to Sun Qian, "Sun Qian, look! It’s Totoro!"