Ocean Dogs III🐕 Episode 17: Today's Mission Isn't Steamed Buns

Nankinmachi, Chinatown.
Red lanterns hang densely, and steam from steamed buns rises from everywhere.
Anne and Luna walk skillfully between people's legs."Smells good..."
Luna's stomach growled softly.
"Don't forget the mission, Professor Luna. Our mission today isn't steamed buns. It's cold-weather gear."Anne laughs.
Beyond the crowd, a particularly striking silhouette could be seen.
Long, thin legs.A slender body.
Form-fitting clothes.
And sunglasses.An Italian Greyhound.
"Ghibli, you're looking sharp today too!"
"May I take a picture?"A crowd has formed around them.
A small yellow bird was perched on the dog's shoulder.
"That..."Luna's eyes go wide.
"Kiiro-chan?"
Kiiro the cockatiel noticed them and fluttered its wings."Anne! Luna!"
The dog in sunglasses quickly looks their way.
"You must be the crew from Shiba Zero, right?"A low, yet soft voice.
"I'm Anne. This is Luna. And you are... Ghibli?"
Ghibli lifted the sunglasses slightly and smiled."That's right. I'm Ghibli, a model dog for Full of Vigor. And this is my housemate, Kiiro. My Mai has been talking about you guys for a while now."

A human woman nearby bows with a smile.
She was wearing a shark hoodie.
Jagged teeth lined the edge of the hood.There was a little dorsal fin on the back, and even small pelvic and tail fins near the waist.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Mai. I've already spoken with Full of Vigor. I'm fully committed to helping with the cold-weather gear that can be worn even in the Arctic Ocean."
Anne's ears twitched."Wait a second. Why a shark? Wasn't this a dog clothing store? Are you the shark specialist?"
Mai-san chuckles at the retort.
"I just love sharks. Besides, when I wear a suit like this, the dogs look at me like, 'She's a bit weird, but she doesn't seem like a bad person.'"Luna chimes in to support her.
"Actually, the placement of that dorsal fin and the way the fabric wrinkles when you move... it feels like the way someone who thinks about 'clothes that are easy for animals to move in' would dress. In a way, the shark suit is a 'test subject' too."
Anne stares at the shark hood and smiles just a little."...Well, the 'she's a bit weird but not a bad person' part definitely came across."
Anne's tail wagged vigorously.
Ghibli points to the wagon behind them with his chin."These are the samples for today's shoot. They're called 'Dog Play (R) Brushed Lining Rash Guards'."
Colorful dog clothes were lined up on the wagon.
Even though they were form-fitting, they looked soft somehow.The inside had a fluffy brushed lining.
"Want to try them on first?"
Anne chose red, the same as her bandana.Luna chose a calm pink.
With Ghibli and Mai-san helping quickly, Anne and the others try on the clothes.
"How is it?"Ghibli tilts his head.
Anne jumps a few times on the spot and spins around.
"It's light. And... it's warm! I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like my whole body is being gently protected."Luna also bends and stretches her front legs.
"The joints stretch properly. The seams aren't bulky either. It doesn't restrict blood flow at all. ...This gets the 'Luna Seal of Approval'."
Kiiro laughs."It's actually quite comfortable for me when I sleep on her shoulder, too."
Anne gets a serious look on her face.
"Ghibli. They say the wind and ice in the Arctic Ocean are brutal. We have to keep running even through that. Can we really rely on these clothes?"Ghibli took off his sunglasses and said,
"Italian Greyhounds are sensitive to the cold, you know. But with these clothes, I can run on winter mornings in Kobe. I don't think clothes made with 'dogs sensitive to cold' as the standard could possibly be useless in the Arctic."
Mai-san nodded as well."Use them in the field, and if there's anything lacking, I'll improve them as much as needed. The best data is you guys coming back safely and telling me, 'This part was good, this part was cold.'"
Anne took those words to heart.
"We'll definitely come back. And when we do, I'll come show you the photos and say, 'I wore this at the top of the world.'"Ghibli laughs.
"I'm looking forward to it. I'm interested in the clothes that have been exposed to the Arctic wind, as a model, too."

To be continued