Volume 1 - CH 20

At home on the second floor of the ice cream shop, Alme quickly gets ready in front of the mirror as usual today.

It’s been about ten days since she got her hair cut, and she’s finally gotten used to her appearance in the mirror.

During work, her black hair is loosely gathered to the side and tied up with a ribbon. The fact that she was able to create a stylish appearance even by quickly putting her hair together in this way was thanks to the skill of the hairdresser’s cut. Every time she looks in the mirror, she is impressed by the professionalism of the hairdresser.

Today’s outfit is a white blouse with an open collar and a blue fluttering skirt that she bought to match her new hairstyle.

Compared to the clothes she wore until recently, she felt like she’s dressed quite daringly. That said, compared to Ena, who energetically wears a dress that reveals her chest, Alme is still at the level of a beginner in fashion.

“Well, let’s do our best again today!”　

In front of the mirror, she finally put on her apron and her favorite white sandals.

She locked the door on the second floor and went down the stairs leading to the store on the first floor.

And so it was again this morning when the ice cream shop opened its doors. She prepared the ice cream counter and lightly clean the shop. When she was setting up the table in front of the shop, she saw a figure coming from the back of the alley toward the small square.

He is tall and slender, with dark brown hair. Despite his elegant gait, the man had a somewhat carefree air about him. –That must be Falk.

She hadn’t seen him for about half a month, and she wondered if his work had finally settled down.

She couldn’t help but wave at the sight of him, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.

“Mr. Falk! Long time no see.”

“-Eh, what?”

When Alme called out to the other side of the small square while waving her hand, Falk turned to her and stopped for a moment.

With a dumbfounded face, he immediately started walking again and approached with long strides.

“Miss Alme! It’s been a long time. I was surprised because you changed your appearance.”

“Oh, I’m sorry I surprised you. I recently had my hair cut.”

“It suits you very well”

Falk narrowed his eyes and smiled softly. Just like that, he stared at her so intently that it makes her feel itchy.

“You have changed the atmosphere of your attire. You were ladylike before, like the beautiful moon, but today you are as light and airy as a spring fairy.”

“Wow, please stop! I’m not used to that! It’s getting itchy…!”

Such glamorous words should only be given to glamorous women. She didn’t want him to say such fancy words to a commoner woman such as herself who is nothing special. She has no tolerance for it, so she is at a loss for a response.

To cover her embarrassment, she hurriedly switched the conversation in the other direction.

“Well, the sun is shining and it’s hot again today, so if you’d like to have an ice cream, please come inside.

“Yes, excuse me!”

Without hesitation, he heads to the ice cream counter and looks around at the ice cream. His seriously worried face is still very well put-together and picturesque.

“I’m getting lost in the growing number of ice creams…I want to eat them all! Would I be scolded for being too greedy if I said I want to eat it all?”

“Well, I won’t scold you, but I do think it’s a bit childish, I’m also worried that you might get a stomachache.”

“Okay, then I’ll stop…”

Looking at Falk, who dropped his shoulders, she couldn’t help but smile. She felt that her heart is loosened by the friendly exchanges with him for the first time in half a month.

“…Then, today I’d like lemon and mango, please.”

“Of course.”

After hesitating for a while, he finally decided on the ice cream, and Falk sat down at the counter where he had already sat several times.

She took a bowl from the shelf and quickly prepared his order. A large spoon is used to scrape off chunks of ice cream from the container.

With great force, she inserted the spoon into the hard ice cream. – At that moment, a small tingling pain shot through her wrist.

Lately, her wrist on her dominant hand has been hurting every time she works. She is sure she must be suffering from tendonitis or something, since she suddenly started to overuse her hand.

The other day, a fortune-telling gave her the result of “injury” so it might be the pain in her wrist. If that’s the case, should she think it’s good because it’s a minor injury?

To cover her right hand, which is not in good shape, she put her left hand on top of it. As she was scooping ice cream using both hands, Falk, who was watching, called out to her.

“Is your hand hurting? Are you protecting your right hand?”

“No, it’s not so much that I’m hurting. I guess I’ve been using it a little too much lately, and I just don’t have the strength.”

“If you let it go, it will hinder your life, so I recommend that you go to the temple as soon as possible.”

“No, going to the temple… it seems expensive. I have medicine at home, so I think that’s enough. Thank you for your concern.”

She finished serving the ice cream, laughing and letting the conversation go. When she put it in front of Falk, he looked miffed.

“Medicine…still hurting, isn’t it?”

“Haha, Mr. Falk is quite the worrier.”

“It’s no laughing matter. Please don’t make fun of it.”

“Come on, the ice cream will melt. Please eat it before you start talking.”

“…I’ll eat then.”

When she diverted the topic to the ice cream, Falk eyes were glued to the bowl. With this honest reaction, she finds him to be kind and cute.

While watching him stuff his cheeks while whispering “It’s delicious.” made her smile even more.

“I’m sorry for making fun of your concern. I recently ordered some magic tools for making ice cream, so once I have the tools, I won’t have to do any more work that is hard on my hands. So I’m hoping it won’t get any worse.”

“A magic tool?”

“Yes, a mixer to mix the ingredients. And a spoon with a magic stone of fire to melt the ice cream with heat and make it easier to scoop.”

Since she had recently received a large sum of money from Campbellina, she decided to buy all the necessary magic tools.

She got a little excited and custom ordered the ice cream spoon. The tools will be arriving soon, so the work should be much easier from now on.

When she explained, Falk finally relaxed his difficult expression.

“If that’s the case, I’m glad. Please take care of yourself until then.”

“Thank you for your concern. –Oh, by the way, the temple reminds me…”

Suddenly, the word “temple” reminded her of a topic. It was a topic that Falk and Alme had a lot of fun talking about the last time they met – Shirotaka.

“The other day, I was able to see Mr. Shirotaka when I saw off the army. It was a little far away, but I could still see him even though there were a lot of people.”

“That’s it! How was Shirotaka? Did he look exactly as you imagined? Did he look good?”

“Huh? Well…”

Suddenly Falk leaned forward and asked her quickly.

(I wonder if Mr. Falk is also a fan of Shirotaka? We had a nice conversation the other day.)

According to Ena, the heroic and brave soldiers have many male fans, and Shirotaka may have male fans as well.

Alme didn’t feel the aura of bravery, but she felt that there are many fans, both men and women, who are fascinated by his mysterious aura.

She smiled and answered Falk, who had bitten into the topic.

“He was very good looking. He was like a prince, as they say.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Do you think you’ll be able to sell the Shirotaka ice cream?”

“Since the send-off was so lively, it looks like Shirotaka ice cream will sell a lot. In fact, sales are going well.”

When she replied, Falk was smiling with satisfaction, puffing out his chest as if it were his own achievement. He is an interesting person.

After that, while talking about some things such as impressions of the ice cream and thanks for the honey he had given to her, the bowl was empty in no time.

Falk reluctantly left his seat and paid the bill. After handing in and stamping his loyalty card, he counted the rest of the squares.

It was almost lunchtime. People were beginning to trickle into the small plaza.

“Well, thank you for the food. I’ll come again.”

“I’ll be waiting for you. Ah, Mr. Falk, the sun is strong today, so shall I cast you some ice magic? To accompany you on your way home.”

“Could you please… I’m sorry to bother you.”

“It’s fine, take it easy.”

As they parted, she performed a little ice magic as a small service at the front of the shop. She held both hands over Falk’s body and softly covered him with magical cold air.

After a while of working her magic in front of the shop, she noticed a group of tourists who had gathered in a small plaza walking toward them.

Falk noticed and said goodbye.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been cooling off for so long. I’m afraid I’m interrupting other customers. Well, I’d better be off. Thank you for your consideration using your ice magic.”

“No, it’s fine. Please be careful on your way home.”

“–Miss Alme.”

He suddenly called out to her and held out his hand.

Falk held out his right palm upward, waiting for Alme. Could this be an invitation to shake hands?

“Eh, uh, huh?”

“I thought I’d say goodbye with a handshake today. That’s the mood I’m in.”

“Huh, the mood you’re in?” 

She wondered if he was excited to have his favorite ice cream for the first time in a while. Even though she was dumbfounded, she slowly put her hand out as she was guided by the hand that was held out to her.

Softly grasping the hand that was on his hand, Falk said with a smile.

“Miss Alme, thank you for the delicious ice cream and ice magic. Have a nice day.”

“Yes, Mr. Falk, have a nice day.”

They shook hands and exchanged what seemed like a casual goodbye.

–But for a brief moment, she saw a flicker of light around their overlapping hands.

When she turned to look at him in wonder, Falk’s hand loosened and moved away.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

He bowed and walked away. After that, she looked away with a dumbfounded look on her face.

(I wonder what it was just now? I wonder if my eyes were just flickering in the sunlight. Or rather, my hand… I shook it. Tall people have long fingers.)

With her right hand held in the air, she pondered this and that.

There are many scenes where people exchange handshakes as greetings, but she thought this was an interesting timing.

Even though it wasn’t a special farewell scene, yet he suddenly asked for a handshake…

When she moved her hand that was being held, the feeling of being touched revived and she felt embarrassed.

Even though his hands were big and bulky, they touched her softly and were so gentle that they almost tickled her.

(–So, what am I embarrassed about? I’m not a child. Look, just go to work, work, work, work!)

She quickly shook off the girlish thoughts that pop into her head and switch to work mode.

She invited a customer who had come nearby into the shop and took his order for ice cream.

“One lemon and one berry.”

“Yes, please wait.”

Grabbing a large spoon, especially for this purpose, she inserted it into a block of ice cream.

-Then she suddenly realized. Somehow, the pain in her right hand had completely disappeared.

Apparently, her own hand was so distracted by the handshake that it forgot the pain. Truly, self-serving.