Panta Panta 

This is the mysterious world of the Gunma Prefecture, where talking animals and humans live together in harmony.
Situated there is Safari City, where many animals live happily every day.

Safari Shopping Street has many shops, and since it’s currently lunchtime, delicious smells waft out from every eatery. Just walking down the main street makes your stomach growl!

The sweet, tender aroma of bread also drifts from the bakery “West & East”, run by the panda Panta Panta.

Panta really loves delicious food. His hobby is going on food tours with his childhood friend, the sun bear Jackson.
While Panta loves all kinds of tasty treats, his absolute favorite is, of course, bread!
That’s why every loaf served at Panta’s shop is one of his proud creations.

“Hey everyone! Fresh-baked white bread and curry bread are ready now! We also have lots of other delicious breads!”

Customers gather one after another at Panta’s call. His shop is hugely popular in Safari City.

Sweat glistens on Panta’s forehead as he works busily. But he looks incredibly happy.

(Everyone loves my bread and says it’s delicious! I’m so happy~!)

Just seeing his customers’ smiles makes Panta’s heart feel warm and fuzzy, like freshly baked bread.

One day, Panta’s childhood friend Jackson came to visit his house.

“Hey, Panta! I heard a new bakery opened nearby!”
“Huh? Really?”
“Yeah, let’s check it out!”

Panta and Jackson’s hobby is “food tours”. With their eyes always on delicious food, there’s no way these two would ignore a new eatery.
Especially a bakery.

(…It makes me happy to see more bakeries like mine opening in Safari City! I wonder what kind of bread they have? I’m so excited!)

Panta and Jackson headed to the new bakery.

“Welcome! …Huh? Are you Panta from West & East?”
“Huh? You know me?”
“Of course! Your bread was famous for being delicious even back in Fujioka! …Well, if you’d like, please try some of our bread!”

The owner, an old asian small-clawed otter, smiled as he guided them inside.

“Wow! What a lovely shop!”

The bright, spacious interior was packed with all kinds of bread.
One corner was set up as a cafe where one could eat the bread they bought.

“Alright! Let’s eat a lot!”

Panta and Jackson started choosing bread with excitement.

And a little while later…

“Whew~. I ate too much! My tummy is pandastically full~”

Having enjoyed the bread to their hearts’ content, Panta and Jackson rubbed their enlarged bellies.
Just then, the otter shopkeeper came over.

“How was our bread?”
“It was really tasty!!”

Jackson answered with a beaming smile.

“…Yeah, it was tasty.”

After Panta’s hesitant reply, the otter shopkeeper asked.

“…Panta-san, you can be honest.”
“W-well… um, there were lots of delicious breads… but the melon bread might have been a bit off.”

Hearing Panta’s answer, the otter shopkeeper sighed.

“…As expected of Panta-san. You really noticed it. I just can’t get the melon bread right… I was really struggling with it.”
“…Then, let’s think about it together!”
“Huh?”
“If we think together, I’m sure we’ll come up with a great idea.”
“That would be wonderful! Please, let’s do it!”

And so, Panta and the otter shopkeeper decided to work together to figure out how to make delicious melon bread.

The next day, the otter shopkeeper came to Panta’s shop.
And the two of them were researching how to make delicious melon bread!

“…Let’s try adding a little more butter.”
“…The bench time should be about this long…”
“…For the cookie dough, we should emphasize a more crunchy texture…”

…The two challenged themselves over and over, determined to make delicious melon bread.
Then, as the sun completely set and the stars began to rise…

“…i-it’s done! This is the ideal melon bread!”
“W-we did it, Panta-san!”
“Yeah! Now, let’s taste it immediately!”

Panta called Jackson over and had him try the freshly baked melon bread.

“Oh, it’s delicious! Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside! It’s completely different from yesterday! This one is way better!”

Hearing Jackson’s words as he devoured the melon bread with shining eyes, Panta and the otter shopkeeper couldn’t help but smile.

“We did it!”
“Yes! This is all thanks to you, Panta-san! Thank you so much!”

As the two shook hands…

“…Helping a rival shop… Still too naive, Panta!”
“Y-You…!!”

Someone entered Panta’s shop.

“Oh! If that’s not Connie!”
“…Long time no see, Panta.”

The one who entered Panta’s shop was his childhood friend, Connie.
Connie was a lesser panda, slightly smaller than Panta, and his father was a very talented baker.

…However, when Panta and Connie were young, Gunma experienced an unprecedented pasta boom.
Bakeries fell out of favor, and sadly, Connie’s father’s shop went out of business. His family left Safari City.
Panta was overjoyed to see Connie for the first time since he moved.

“Long time no see, Connie! I’m so happy to see you! You look great, and that’s what matters most!”
“Yeah, you too, Panta… But listen, I… I became a baker just like Dad.”
“Huh? Really? I bet you make wonderful bread, just like him!”
“Of course. I’m just as good as Dad… No, I’m a much better baker than him!”

Panta was genuinely happy that his childhood friend had chosen the same profession.
But… something seemed a bit off about Connie.

“…Panta, I hear you became a baker too? Hey, let me try some of your bread. I’ll give you some of mine.”
“Really? I’m so lucky to try your bread! I wonder what it tastes like!”

…And so, the two ended up comparing each other’s bread.

“Here you go! My latest creation! ‘Panda Cream Bread’!”

Panta handed Connie a cream bun decorated with a panda face that looked just like him. With its adorable appearance, it was a hugely popular menu item with kids and women.

Connie put Panta’s bread in his mouth and savored it for a moment before grinning.

“…I’m relieved. I should win easily with mine. I heard your bakery is famous in Safari Shopping Street, so I had some expectations. But your bread is nothing special at all.”
“Th-that’s… Cruel! Connie! Why would you say something like that?”

Panta was hurt by Connie’s words. The lesser panda offered his own bread.
At first glance, it was an ordinary, unremarkable loaf of white bread. No jam spread on it, nothing sandwiched inside. Just plain white bread.

“…Here we go.”

Tears welling up, Panta took a bite of the bread Connie offered.
…And at that very moment…

“D-DELICIOUUUUUUUUUUUS!!”

Panta’s tears vanished instantly.

“It’s incredibly tasty!”
“Right? I’ve endured rigid training to climb out of rock-bottom. I’m not like you, who bakes bread while daydreaming!”
“Connie…”

Panta was hurt again by Connie’s words, but he couldn’t say anything back.
He knew Connie’s bread was far, far tastier than his own.

“Panta, I’m grateful. Thanks to you, I’ve gained confidence. I’m opening a shop here in Safari Shopping Street too. And I’ll become the best baker in Safari City… no, in all of Gunma! I’ll become the Bread Emperor! …First, I will win the upcoming Takasaki Spring Bread Festival! Hahahaha!”

…Leaving the heartbroken Panta behind, Connie simply walked away.

…Ever since tasting Connie’s bread, Panta had been really depressed.

“Haa…”

He was only able to sigh. …And no wonder, the very idea of “bread competitions” had never crossed Panta’s mind before.

(Until now, I just enjoyed baking bread. Seeing people smile after eating my bread made me happy… That was enough for me. But was I being naive?)

Panta didn’t think his approach was wrong.
But after tasting Connie’s bread, he started feeling something was missing.

(Until now, I focused on making things “cute” or “fun” to make customers happy. But now I have to improve the taste of the bread itself… I have to make truly delicious bread!)

The more he thought about it, the more worried Panta became.

“…What is truly delicious bread?”

Jackson watched Panta, who was holding his head in worry, with concern.
He had seen the exchange between Panta and Connie. And he was bothered that he hadn’t been able to say anything to either of them.

“Panta… Are you okay?”
“Jackson… I’m fine! Don’t worry about it!”

As his childhood friend, Jackson could tell Panta was forcing a smile.
This only made Jackson worry about Panta even more.

(Panta… Is there anything I can do for him?)

What exactly is “truly delicious bread”? …Panta kept mulling this over, eventually closing his shop for days on end and staying holed up inside.

The people of Safari Shopping Street were disappointed that they couldn’t eat Panta’s bread.

“…I wonder what’s wrong with Panta? Did he get sick or something?”
“I’m worried.”

Listening to the townspeople’s voices, Jackson made a decision.

(…All right!)

…The next day, Jackson arrived at Panta’s house carrying a large bundle.

“Hello, Panta. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to try this.”
“Is this…”

What Jackson had brought was melon bread.

“It’s nowhere near as good as yours, though. …I baked them with all my might.”
“Did you make these, Jackson?”

Looking at them, they were all different sizes; some seemed overbaked, while others weren’t quite done.
They weren’t exactly pretty to look at.

But when Panta took a bite of the bread Jackson had made, he was surprised.

“Whoa, this is delicious!”
“Really? I’m so glad!”
“Hey, Jackson. How did you make these?”
“How, you ask… I followed the recipe you taught me the other day. But I put my feelings into them, hoping they’d cheer you up.”
“Put your feelings into them…”

Panta ate Jackson’s bread with gusto.

(It tastes so warm… This flavor reminds me of something.)

Seeing how Panta was enjoying it, Jackson smiled and spoke.

“…It makes me happy to see you enjoy it so much. …But still, I really do prefer your bread. I want to eat it again. So please, get well soon.”
“Jackson…”

Touched by Jackson’s kindness, Panta finally realized.

(The most important thing in baking is “putting your own feelings”. What matters is the desire to make someone smile!)

And at the same time, he remembered. Why did he want to become a baker in the first place?

(…It’s because when I was a kid, I saw everyone in town smile after eating the bread made by Connie’s dad. I thought I wanted to make bread like that, too. To me, bread is magic that creates smiles!)

With his doubts swept away, Panta gripped Jackson’s hand tightly.

“Thank you, Jackson! I remembered what’s important!”
“…Are you okay now, Panta?”
“Yeah! Panta is fully back! …Now, we’ve got to hurry and get ready for the Takasaki Spring Bread Festival!”

The Takasaki Spring Bread Festival was just around the corner. Panta, who hadn’t decided on a menu yet, frantically began brainstorming ideas.

“Hmm… What should I do?”

Just then, he happened to glance out the window and saw a huge rainbow arching across the sky.

“…That’s it!”

The Takasaki Spring Bread Festival has finally arrived!
This is a grand festival where not only all the bakeries in Safari City participate, but any bakery in Gunma Prefecture is welcome to join.

Each shop is showcasing its pride and joy, a special dish made just for this day.
The venue is filled with the delicious aroma of baking bread, and both the judges and the audience can’t wait to dig in.

“…And now, the ‘Takasaki Spring Bread Festival’ is officially open!”

The Takasaki Spring Bread Festival began at the host’s signal. Every single loaf on display looks delicious… But the one attracting the most attention seems to be the bread at Connie’s bakery, “Imperial Bread.”

“My bread is called “Imperial Bread”, named after the shop itself! …Let yourself be intoxicated by the taste of the ultimate bread I’ve created!”

The judges who tasted Connie’s bread were so surprised their eyes widened.
“What a delicate flavor!”
“Butter, wheat… the flavors of the ingredients blend together to create a delightful harmony!”

“Hmph… My Imperial Bread uses the finest ingredients. And since I’m the finest baker, that’s only natural.”

Just as it seemed Connie’s bread was a sure winner, given the rave reviews… Panta’s bread was brought out.

“My bread is the “Rainbow Flower Bread”! Please, have a treat!”

Panta’s bread was shaped like a flower with seven petals.

“Hmm, it’s cute… but it’s quite a simple-looking bread, isn’t it?”

However, the judges’ eyes began to sparkle the moment they took a bite of Panta’s bread.

“Wow! Does each petal have a different flavor?!”
“What a fun bread this is!”

Panta had filled the fluffy bread with different fillings, like cream and jam. It was truly rainbow magic!
True to its name, Panta’s bread lets you enjoy seven different flavors, and just eating it brings a smile to your face.

“…The finalists are Connie and Panta! And the winner is…”

Panta and Connie. Which one will the Goddess of Bread smile upon?

“…We have two winners! Panta and Connie are tied, so they’re both champions!”

The match between Panta and Connie ended in a surprising tie. Both of them were declared champions.

“Wow! I won? And I get to share my win with Connie? I’m so happy~!”

Panta is overjoyed, but Connie doesn’t seem convinced.

“A tie!? No way such a lenient result can be allowed! This is a competition!!”

Panta hands Connie the bread he made to calm him down.

“Come on, come on. Have a bite of this and calm down a little.”
“…isn’t that the bread you made…?”

Connie took a bite of Panta’s “Rainbow Flower Bread” and couldn’t help but groan in surprise.

“D-delicious! …But that’s not all, this taste…”

In the flavor of that single bite, he recalled a nostalgic memory of his father.

(Ah, that’s right… Dad’s bread used to have this gentle flavor, too.)

With all his bitterness gone, Connie murmured to Panta after the awards ceremony ended.

“…It’s a tie, but in reality, I lost. I’m leaving this town.”
“Huh!?”
“That’s how I’m going to settle this… Goodbye.”

Just as Connie was about to walk away, Panta grabbed his arm.

“…Connie, it’s thanks to you that I was able to realize what truly delicious bread is. I think we make a really good pair, we both complement each other’s shortcomings… So please, don’t say you’re leaving! Connie!”

Seeing Panta desperately trying to stop him, Connie gave a wry smile.

“Seriously… that’s what makes you so naive.”

With that, Panta and Connie exchanged a firm handshake, both smiling.
Jackson, who had been watching the two from a short distance away, smiled broadly as well.

(I’m glad they made up. …It looks like even more fun days are ahead!)

Ever since the Takasaki Spring Bread Festival, both Panta’s bakery, “West & East,” and Connie’s bakery, “Imperial Bread,” in Safari Shopping Street have been busier than ever!

“Here they are! Rainbow Flower Bread and chocolate croissants, fresh out of the oven!”
“Croissants and Imperial Bread are today’s specials!”

Today, too, Panta is baking “happy” bread that brings smiles to people’s faces, while Connie is baking “elegant” bread that moves people’s hearts.

Both are truly delicious, and the people of Safari City are completely satisfied!

…Though, every now and then…

“Panta! You need to pay more attention to where your butter comes from! Don’t use such cheap stuff!”
“W-what are you talking about…? It might be cheap, but it tastes amazing!”

…Panta and Connie sometimes end up arguing like this.
But this is actually an essential part of baking delicious bread.
The townspeople understand this, so they watch the two of them bicker with a smile.
Besides, when push comes to shove…

“Come on, what’s going on with you two?”
“Ah! Jackson!”
“Perfect timing. Try a taste test and see whose bread is better, mine or Panta’s!”
“I like both of your breads, though. …Oh well! So, can you bring them over?”

…Since the fair-minded Jackson steps in between Panta and Connie, there’s never any trouble.

And so, once again today, the Safari Shopping Street remains peaceful as delicious bread is baked.