The Rabbit's Whereabouts

"Looks like no one comes to eat here even during summer vacation, uncle." Jilan Jiyu joked to the shop owner while eating a bowl of tender and juicy beef steak made from Tottori Wagyu beef.

Fujiwara Takumi, wearing an apron around his waist, wiped the water droplets from his hands with a towel draped over his shoulder and said with a smile, "Who said we don't have customers? Aren't you one? And you even brought a repeat customer."

Fujiwara Takumi watched as Yoshiran happily ate ice cream made from Tottori Prefecture's specialty, the 20th Century Pear, with a spoon, and whispered to Jilan, "Hey, I remember you should still be a student, right? How come you already have such a big daughter? Did you kidnap her from somewhere? I suggest you turn yourself in; we're very strict about child trafficking here."

"Hey, Uncle Fujiwara, you don't have a girlfriend yet, do you?" Jilan said, both amused and exasperated. "Although Fran calls me 'Dad,' she's actually my sister. She just has a fatherly dependence on me."

To avoid trouble, Jilan decided to claim that Fran was his sister, since they were both blondes and the chances of getting away with it were high.

Upon hearing the first part of Jilan's sentence, Fujiwara clutched his heart as if struck by a critical blow. Just as Jilan had predicted, Fujiwara's gaze shifted back and forth between Jilan and Fran for a moment before he nodded knowingly. "That explains it. I was just thinking that you two look so alike you could be siblings. But isn't it disrespectful for your sister to address you like that towards your father?"

"We each do our own thing in our family, we don't stand on ceremony," Jilan replied casually, then immediately asked about the purpose of her return to her internship at the workplace, "Uncle Fujiwara, do you know where the director and the others went? I tried calling the public phones in the zoo, but no one answered."

Fujiwara placed another dessert ordered by Jilan on the table, wiped the water off his clothes, and said with a smile, "You're talking about the zoo run by the rabbit zookeeper up in the mountain, right? You've come to the right person!? I'm probably the person in the entire Oumagadoki City who knows the most about this."

"Then I really must listen attentively," Jilan smiled. "I remember the first time I asked you this question, you were the one who told me the approximate location, right, Mr. NC? You always seem to know things that others don't."

"You really think of me as someone who provides you with tasks? I won't be giving you any reward." Fujiwara was speechless at Jilan's description. "I just like to drive Oumagadoki Mountain a few times when others are delivering food or when it's late at night, that's how I know a little more than others."

"Yes, yes, the Oumagadoki Mountain Driving God."

"You should listen to me properly, you rascal." Fujiwara Takumi finished his work, and since there were no other customers in his shop, he took a beer from the refrigerator and sat down. "Actually, I found out about this by chance. Do you remember that circus performance in the park two months ago? After the show, it was all the rage in Oumagadoki City, becoming a hot topic of conversation."

Jilan nodded. He left Tottori Prefecture the day after the performance and returned to Tokyo. Although the circus performance at the Tottori Prefecture Zoo had become a topic of conversation, it was nothing compared to the countless major events happening in Tokyo every day, and Jilan didn't actively seek out any further information.

However, according to Yaoyorozu, who still maintains contact with the Pro Hero Snake Woman, the Rabbit Zoo director was extremely satisfied with the performance after it ended. With the support of the government, they toured several cities around Oumagadoki City. Although Koe Makoto and his band left, they left behind an original recording for the circus performances. Although the music wasn't as good as the live performance, it was still well-received.

Jilan briefly explained what she knew, Fujiwara nodded repeatedly. "You're right, but you don't seem to know what happened afterward. Although that rabbit zoo director had performed in the surrounding cities a few times, he wasn't satisfied. He was also tired of performing the same script all the time, so he recruited a screenwriter from all over the city who could write a plot that would satisfy him."

"The Oumagadoki Circus has gained considerable fame in the city, and as soon as the news spread, letters poured in from all over Tottori Prefecture like snowflakes." Fujiwara took a big gulp of beer and laughed heartily. "However, Rabbit is very strict. He only glanced at many scripts given to him before throwing them away, and he also rejected many scripts that others thought were excellent."

Jilan asked curiously, "Uncle Fujiwara, how did you know this inside information?"

"It's always Aoi Hana who comes down from the mountain to collect the mail. She often comes to my place for meals, and while eating, she complains about that dictatorial, selfish zoo director. She's the one who complains to me about many things," Fujiwara shrugged, sighing. "However, even though she's been subjected to this unfair treatment, Aoi has never thought of resigning or leaving the zoo. Maybe she really enjoys being around the animals."

Jilan pondered for a moment and said, "So now the headmaster has found a suitable script and gone to perform it in another city?"

"Young man, you got it right!" Fujiwara snapped his fingers, casually tore off a sticky note from the refrigerator, quickly scribbled an address, and handed it to Jilan. "They're here right now."

"Tottori Sand District? Isn't that a famous tourist spot in Tottori Prefecture? The director actually chose to perform there; the venue fee must be very high, right?" This was the first thing that came to Jilan's mind.

Jilan didn't doubt the director's reasons for choosing that place. The Tottori Sand Dunes were a rare desert landscape in Japan, which should have been very attractive to him. Choosing that place was understandable for a rabbit who made a living from his hobby. However, didn't Aoi Hana care? Even if the performance budget was high, it couldn't cover the travel expenses of taking all the animals in the park with her.

Fujiwara explained, "Actually, this was a decision made by the Tottori Prefecture. The Oumagadoki Circus's performance this time was an official invitation, so they didn't need to pay any venue fees, and they even took care of the animals' meals."

"I see, I understand now." Jilan nodded thoughtfully, then smiled at Fran and said, "Fran, would you like to see the rabbits?"

"A rabbit?" Fran propped her chin on her spoon, tilting her head as she tried to think. "Is it a four-legged creature with long gray ears?"

"That's a donkey," Jilan said with a smile, placing her hands on her head and patiently making a peace sign. "Rabbits are small animals with red eyes and white skin, and they're all fluffy."

Fran's eyes lit up.

Jilan continued, "Would you like to see cheetahs that are like life-sized cats, lions, rhinoceroses with thick skin, eagles with thick wings, and Fran, a seal who only knows how to sunbathe all day?"

"I want to!" Fran raised her hands and pounced on Jilan, screaming, "I love Daddy the most!"

Fujiwara watched as Jilan stroked Fran's hair, his gaze gradually turning strange: Are they really siblings? They look more like father and daughter.