CH 31

“Hum… I-I come to this cafe all the time! They’re known for their pancakes! Order whatever you want!”

“Really? All right then.”

Sieglinde is dressed in civilian clothes, and weirdly fired up as she speaks fast and talks about this place.

I look at the menu, and see said pancakes have an eye-catching illustration introducing them. I get the feeling that the two thousand zeni price is a bit on the steep side, but I don’t have to be listening closely to hear that most people are ordering them.

“…I wish we could’ve brought Ririi.”

I came all the way to the commercial street because Sieglinde called me here on a day off, but Ririi is staying home. Sieglinde told me she wanted it to be just the two of us, if that was possible.

I imagine she brought me to a cafe instead of talking at home because she wants to talk about something related to the ministry of magic. I promised to help with her work in return for keeping Ririi a secret, so I guess my first job is finally here.

“Can we get these pancakes to go?”

Ririi went berserk when I told her I was going out alone. I don’t think she’s going to let me back inside if I don’t bring her something.

“Hn!? A-ah… I think so.”

“I see. Then I’ll just have coffee. Instead, I’ll take pancakes to go.”

I’m not going to eat everything by myself anyway. I’m not a big fan of sweet things. And it’s kind of weird to talk about work with a pancake in one hand.

Sieglinde calls an employee, and orders like she’s used to it. Two coffees and two doses of pancakes, one to go.

“…Two?”

“For me. I’ve actually never had them.”

“I see.”

…That’s surprising.

She’s never had the most popular item in a place she goes to all the time? And ordering a dessert while talking about work kind of goes against the image I have of her.

In fact, I thought she was going to come dressed in her uniform from the ministry of magic, but she’s actually wearing a plain, but clearly expensive one piece.

Maybe she’s not as strait-laced as I thought. Or maybe she learned how to let loose a little in these past ten years.

“…Don’t you think it’s nostalgic?”

Whispers Sieglinde as she looks out the window.

“What is?”

I follow her eyes and look outside. There are men and women of all ages and races walking around.

“We used to go all around the street like this back when we were in school.”

“…Ah, that’s right.”

And by go around, she means mostly me following her as she took care of errands and stuff like that. Mostly going to magic book stores and magic item stores, and I don’t really remember us going to a cafe like this. She used to have a curfew after all.

“I never thought I’d be facing you again like this after ten years.”

“You got that right.”

I wouldn’t have come back if I didn’t take Ririi in. Zenith was a pretty easy place for me to live.

As we talk about the past, the employee returns with our coffees and pancakes.

Sieglinde is looking at the pancakes with an iffy look on her face for some reason.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Well… I don’t like sweet things all that much.”

“Ah…? You didn’t order them because you like them?”

“I just figured it was a good opportunity. At the very least it’s true that I was curious.”

Sieglinde stops for a second.

“…Do you… Want half…?”

She asks as her face turns bright red.

“Are you sure?”

“Y-yes… It’s all right, go for it…!”

“All right then. But if you don’t hurry up and eat too, they’re going to get cold. I’m sure they’re better while they’re still warm.”

Not that I know the correct way to eat pancakes or anything, I’m just using a knife and fork to bring them to my mouth.

“…T-this is good.”

I figured all this syrup was going to make them incredibly sweet, so I was braced for it… And the sweetness spreading throughout my mouth feels very high quality without being overpowering.

“Sieglinde, this isn’t that sweet. You should be able to eat them too.”

“I-I see… Let’s try them then.”

Sieglinde looks at the pancakes that are half gone already with a serious look on her face… And brings her knife forward like she’s determined to go through with it.

“…Yes, they’re pretty good.”

She’s been looking sort of nervous all day, but the pancakes finally make her relax, as a smile forms on her face.

We, the people who don’t like sweet things, finish the pancakes quickly, and leave the cafe.

“Thank you for coming here with me, Weiss.”

“No problem, and thanks for the pancakes. I’ll make sure to tell Ririi they’re a present from you.”

I’m sure that will raise Sieglinde’s stock inside her.

“Is that all? If it is, I’ll be going back.”

“Ah… Weiss!”

“What?”

Sieglinde yells when I turn my back to her. I turn around, and see her facing the ground with a timid look on her face.

“You don’t mind… If I invite you again… Do you…?”

“…? Of course not, invite me any time. We’re friends.”

I turn around again and hurry home.

…Wait, what happened to talking about work?