I Came Back but the World is Still a Fantasy!?

4-42: Blue and Red’s Declaration of War I (2/6)

4-42: Blue and Red’s Declaration of War I (2/6)

Choco banana, chestnut cream, strawberry tiramisu, and triple berry. Also, give me an order of a tuna salad and a ham cheese.

When they arrived at their destination, the boy ordered that much for himself as though nothing could be more ordinary, causing the young woman managing the food cart to laugh.

Alright, give me a while, she said.

From the tone of her voice, the young woman seemed to know the boy.

She worked with the other employee in the car stall to prepare the order, but from the way she was acting, it seemed the boy habitually ordered this much.

But I gotta say, thats one heck of an appetite you got there. Not that Im complaining, of course, appreciate the business, but still The manager of the Manly Butcher was really shocked when you ate steak enough for 10.

Ha ha, word sure gets around fast, but, well I am at that age, so what can you say.

The boy chuckled dryly, but deep inside he was shrugging at how fast word spread.

This might actually be faster than the national intelligence agencies if only towns were considered.

Not to mention, the accuracy since the time, the serving, and the name of store were all correct.

Apparently, however, it was because it was him.

We dont get a lot of customers from outside, so information about our regulars are really important. Besides, youre famous among the restaurants of the academic district, the famed dark black hole.

I get what youre trying to say, but a black hole by definition is Besides, a second name like that doesnt make me happy, the boy said.

Is that so? The young woman laughed.

As the boy and the young woman shared a friendly chat while the latter worked, the boy turned behind him to call out to the girl.

So, what will you be having? You should decide while theyre working on my order.

The boy said as he pointed to the crepe menu propped up against the cart.

He had to let her hand go because of that, but the girl was more surprised by the fact that hed brought her here.

H-How did you know that I wanted to come here!? She asked.

This was the mobile crepe store that has recently gotten popularity among the female students, albeit one kept in hush.

Quality ingredients and craftsmanship unheard of for a food cart, and a young woman with the disposition of a big sister for the manager.

With its growing popularity among the female student population, Aristel wanted to try it out, but the opportunity never came Until now, that is.

Strangely enough, she couldnt recall ever mentioning this little wish of hers to him.

Just some good ol deduction and inference on my part, Watson-kun.

W-Watson-kun?

The boy spoke proudly as he used a reference that a Garestonian wouldnt understand before giving a seemingly sound deduction.

First of all, youve already once acted on your own to eat a limited time offer parfait, so theres precedence. The food at the hospital might be enough to sate your hunger, but I doubt it could sate your sweet tongue too. Its not hard to imagine that the very reason you left the hospital was to sate that need of yours. And then among the restaurants nearest the hospital, the one with a menu that fits the bill was this food cart here. Lastly, your exam break ends today and you wont have any more time later, so

My destination could only be this food cart Wow, you figured it out just like that!

But to be honest, 80% of it is that I just wanted to come here myself.

A half-baked deduction that couldve been wrong for all he cared, yet the sparkle in the girls eyes didnt dim the slightest.

Not because shed mistaken his words for humility, but because hed gotten the right answer while only being 20% invested into the matter.

Umu, what a powerful foe.

Shinichi wryly smiled, but he intentionally left out what he meant by that.

Hey, your orders ready. You know I was thinking you brought a girl for the first time, and now that I get a better look, it turns out you brought back the sneaking princess. Now thats one hell of a catch.

The manager meaningfully laughed as she handed the crepes in order.

As it turns out, the girl was just as famous as the boy.

Shinichi knew what she wanted to say, so his eyes swam all over as he received the crepes.

Since he neither denied nor confirmed her words, the manager meaningfully exhaled, then turned to the girl in question with a curious chuckle.

So, what will you be having? Or will you just be sharing with this kid?

R-Right That sounds like a very attractive proposal, but Ill have to put it off for another time. Ill be having a strawberry chocolate whipped cream topped with ice cream and a pudding a la mode please.

For another time, huh Alright give me a few minutes.

The manager smirked meaningfully at the boy as she went to work, while the boy glared at her with eyes half-opened to no effect.

Sigh, I really am weak against creators.

Further talk was meaningless, so he acknowledged his loss and held up his hand(), then turned to Aristel to point at a bench.

Ill go secure that bench for us, he said.

Thanks, she replied.

By the time he seated himself on the bench, Aristels crepe was already done.

Sorry to have kept you waiting. Heres your order, the young woman said.

Thank you very much. How much will that be? Aristel asked.

But before she could get her foster out, the young woman laughed and pointed to the boy.

Theres no need, he paid for it already, just before he left. Astute and experienced, bet hes made a lot of girls cry. Just had to fall for trouble, didnt you? The woman chuckled despite her sympathy.

But Aristel didnt actually hear most of the latter half of that.

Uh, dont tell me it was when he raised his hand Oh, no! T-Thats no good. I-Ill pay! I mean I have to, I didnt mean for him to treat me!

The young manager was surprised to see Aristel so panicked, but she quickly recovered herself and told her gently.

Come on, youre a good girl, but you really dont need to mind so much. When a man wants to show off, the woman should just accept. With men like that, a simple thank you will go a long way better than being sorry.

R-Really?

Of course. Thats the kind of creature men are, always wanting to show off.

I see, thank you for advising me!

Aristel gave a big nod as she meekly accepted the advice of this woman who was her senior.

Touched by her meekness or her innocence, the woman took a step further and gave her another advice.

Well, good luck. That boy is known to dine with a beautiful woman, so if youre going for him, you should attack now. Im positive hes the type weak to straightforward girls!

Y-Yes! Thank you very much, Ill do my best!

When she reacted so strongly like that, the cheeks of the manager loosened.

This girl before her neither became shy nor denied her assumptions, instead implicitly confirming her words with that resolute smile of hers before running to that boy with such zeal she could see it even from behind.

Oh, boy, thats youth for you Thats why I cant stop this business *Slurp

Your taste is as bad as ever, Boss. And please wipe your saliva.

The popular food cart, Aphrodi.

The woman managing it was reputed to have a caring disposition, but the truth was that she simply enjoyed watching youthful love bloom.

Only the subordinate with a wry smile on him was privy to that, however.

&nbps;

&nbps;

Hamu, amu, un! I knew it! The crepes here are the best! Shinichi said.

Yes, Ive eaten at plenty of restaurants myself, but this is really something! Aristel said.

The boy and the girl sat neither too close nor too far from each other as they meticulously tasted the crepes they ordered.

Sweet harmony unfolded with every bite, painting a smile on the boys face.

Amu, fuu, ahh This is happiness

Fu fu, Nakamura-san, you make it look so delicious.

A smile could be seen on the girls as well, but it was not owed to that sweet harmony, but to the bliss drawn on the boy.

The crepe was delicious, yes, but the sight of his smile moreso.

Hmm, you think? Actually, I only got into sweet stuff like this after I came back to this world.

Really?

Yeah, I didnt realize how blessed I was until I was drifted off to another world. It was only then that I realized just how good and safe the food Ive been eating every day was. I managed to make up for the taste through various tricks, but I never could make anything sweet. It was really difficult, Shinichi shrugged.

Sweetness like that of candy and cake was not something readily found in nature.

The most I could make was some fake ice cream when I found the right ingredients and environment.

Perhaps that was the reason why he looked into the distance, reminiscing, as he ate his banana-choco.

The ice cream he made then was well received by the people of that world since they didnt have a culture for sweet food, but as a man whos had a taste for the plethora of sweet delicacies modern Japan had to offer, it was simply too lacking.

Huh!? You can make ice cream!?

Aristel was about to praise him again, but Shinichi shook his head.

I said fake, remember? It was really poorly made, even for an amateur. I made a mess of the place too, and cleaning up took a long time. The whole thing just reminded me how hopeless I am when it comes to creating.

He could cover up for his clumsiness by relying on Skill rank, but it didnt work for something as complex as cooking that involved many steps and stages, so when he tried to brute force his way through, the kitchen had to pay.

Oh, so youre bad at cooking? Fu fu, by talking with you like this, I get to learn the things youre bad at too, Aristel smiled.

She wanted to learn more about him, she wanted to see all of his different faces.

Aristel didnt hide any of her feelings as she looked at Shinichi, but it was exactly that straightforwardness that left him a loss, scratching his face.

Its not just cooking. There may be some things that I can do, but Im not good at any of them.

But the things that you can do, you do properly, thats why youre amazing.

The boy mocked his own incompetence, but the girl accepted it just like that and gazed into him with a feverish gaze even stronger than just a few days ago.

The boy didnt know, but the irresponsible remark of a terrorist had given color and shape to the once unknown feelings swirling within her.