"Rattata!!!"
On the other side, after the trivia ended, Gus went straight to the free food tent.
"What would you like to eat?" the chef asked, looking at Gus from the window.
"Do you have a menu?" Gus asked.
"Nope. But as long as it's within the range of these ingredients, no matter how you combine them, I guarantee I can whip up a delicious dish for you." The chef said, pointing to the ingredients and sauces lined up in front of him.
"Then... Extremely Sharp Cheddar and Uncomfortably Hot Sauce." Gus circled around the sauces, then took a peek at the cooking station behind the chef.
The chef smiled knowingly. After grabbing the sauces Gus requested, he deliberately shifted to the side a bit so Gus could observe what was going on inside.
"What kind of work do you do in the Valley?" the chef asked as he cooked.
"Uh—" Gus fell silent for a moment before making something up: "Bartender. I also work as a model occasionally."
Hearing this, Robin, who was passing by, let out a laugh.
"I really have been a model," Gus couldn't help but turn his head and emphasize to Robin. "I've helped Emily try on quite a few of her clothes."
Even though they were mostly strange, oversized clothes, there were quite a few guys in Pelican Town with a similar build to his, including Clint and Lewis.
"I see." Hearing this, the chef started chatting with Gus about the funny side of being a bartender and a model.
Gus awkwardly made up a few more stories, then heard the chef toss the pan in his hands. The chef brought the freshly cooked dish to the table and asked, "So, how's business at the Saloon?"
"It's alright. It's not exactly big business, but everyone comes to support me, so there aren't any issues with—" Gus swallowed the rest of his words a beat too late.
"That's a shame. I was thinking about opening a branch in Pelican Town in the future." The chef chuckled, handing the dish over to Gus. "Give it a try, how's the taste? I'll come by your Saloon in a while to taste your cooking too."
Robin laughed out loud from the side. She rested her arm on Gus's shoulder and teased, "The magnanimous chef, and the petty Gus."
"Hey..." Gus mumbled, then apologized to the chef. Only after apologizing did he start to enjoy the dish the chef had served.
"What's this called?"
"Nachos of the Desert." The chef introduced it. "Pan-fried with cheese and corn kernels, and finished with Uncomfortably Hot Sauce."
Saying this, he pushed a coconut over. "This is on the house."
Gus thanked him and took a bite of the nachos. Instantly, his entire face turned red from the spice.
"Is it that spicy?" Robin asked curiously, picking up a chip and trying it. "Maru would probably like this—the sauces are cheese and hot pepper, right?"
Gus was too spicy to say a word. Nodding vigorously, he chugged a huge gulp of the coconut, finally recovering a bit.
"When you're free—" Gus said with a numb tongue. "You definitely have to come to my Saloon and taste my cooking."
"Definitely."
The chef smiled and buried himself back into his work.
Time skipped to dusk.
Accompanied by Ron, Penny mustered up the courage to participate in a dress-up at Emily's stall. Wearing a long skirt that Emily had put together for her, Penny walked out feeling a little uncomfortable.
"If you stood up a bit straighter and pushed your chest out, you'd probably look even better." Saying this, Sandy, holding the Sailor in one arm, stepped forward and patted Penny on the back with the other. "You're always slouching, dear."
Startled by Sandy's pat, Penny's back subconsciously straightened.
"Right, just like that." Sandy then reached out and touched the earring by Penny's ear, and couldn't help but call into the tent: "You really picked a great earring for this."
"Right? It looks really beautiful on her ears." Emily, who was still organizing clothes inside the tent, replied loudly.
"Really?" Penny rubbed her earlobe uncomfortably.
"Yeah, just like your eyes." Sandy said. "Your eyes are really beautiful too."
She struggled to find the right words: "I can't quite describe it. It feels like—do you know what I mean? Like the name of my shop, Oasis. An oasis revealed in the middle of a parched desert."
Penny stared blankly at Sandy.
"It's a very gentle feeling, can you imagine it?" Sandy was running out of words. "All-encompassing. In the desert, selflessly giving care to those thirsty creatures."
It was a beauty completely devoid of aggression, like a soft, deep pool of water—profound but not freezing cold.
"Thank you." Penny shyly lowered her head. Then, she carefully stole a glance at Ron out of the corner of her eye, trying to see if she could read anything in his expression.
Unfortunately, the moment she looked up, she saw Emily step out of the tent and unceremoniously drag Ron inside with her.
"You should try some on too. I saved a super handsome outfit for you—yeah, it's perfect to wear to the Flower Dance!" Emily said as she pulled Ron along. "You probably don't have clothes like this, right? Even if you do, it doesn't matter. Last year's are out of style anyway; it's time for a new set."
Without giving Ron a chance to answer, he was yanked inside.
Penny withdrew her gaze, feeling a bit disappointed.
Sandy acutely realized all of this, and couldn't help but ask, "Dear, you... you don't happen to like Ron, do you?"
"Me?" Penny panicked and quickly dodged Sandy's gaze. "No, I mean..."
"It's okay even if you do like him." Sandy patted Penny's shoulder. "Freedom to love, right? Besides, Ron isn't married. Have you invited him to the Flower Dance this time?"
"Me?" Penny hemmed and hawed for a moment.
To take the initiative to invite Ron was absolutely impossible for her. To be honest, Penny had never actively fought for anything in her entire life. The only time she had truly tried was for Jas and Vincent.
Not to mention, if the invitation was rejected, Penny would probably never be able to face Ron directly again.
"Want me to ask for you?" Sandy blinked slyly at Penny.
"No, no, no, no—" Penny waved her hands frantically. Seeing Sandy looking eager to try, she fled in a panic.
"Sigh, really." Sandy had just let out a sigh when she saw Emily push the newly dressed Ron out of the tent.
"Look, how is it?" Emily asked, then looked around. "Huh? Where did Penny go?"
"Penny?" Sandy shrugged. "Maybe she forgot to take her clothes back and went home."
"Take her clothes back?" Emily looked at Sandy in confusion.
"Just a guess." Sandy continued, "This outfit is really nice, very handsome—but speaking of which, for this year's Flower Dance, have you decided who you're going to dance with?"
To make the question seem less abrupt, Sandy added, "Looking this handsome, you should be paired with this year's Flower Dance Queen."
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