Volume 3 - CH 95

After a few business days, the ice cream shop was closed again. Alme did not take it easy on this day, but instead was busy since the morning.

At the Citrali Hardware Workshop, Tania, Kaya, and the workshop manager sit around a table.

In order to give shape to the idea of ​​monaka ice cream that Alme came up, she immediately went to a meeting to make a baking mold.

She also wanted to make branded irons for advertisements, so she asked Tania, who was in charge of design, to attend.

Kaya’s father, the workshop manager, shook his red hair that matched his daughter, and said in a cheerful voice.

“Could that monaka crust be made with something similar to a waffle baking machine?”

“Yes, you place the dough in a mold and press it in the top and bottom molds to bake it. You can use a stove flame or an oven–“

When she conveyed the rough idea of what she had in mind, the workshop manager nodded. He turned and talked with Kaya next to him.

“If it’s a tool that doesn’t use magic stones, it seems like I can ask Kaya to do the work.”

“Well, let’s see, you’re using the waffle shape as a base, but you’re changing the shape of the plate part–the crust is thinner than a waffle, right?”

“Yes. Also, I would be happy if I could make a lot at once.”

“Um… In addition, the branding iron will be a large advertising design, so the surface of the crust should be flat so that it can be burned cleanly…”

In addition to Alme, Tania also offered her opinion. On the table, she laid out a design proposal for the branding iron to be used for the monaka crust.

Shirotaka-chan, the mascot, and the name of the shop. And an advertisement showing the location of the second shop with a simple map. As soon as the opening date is decided, they plan to place an order as a separate branding iron.

Kaya jotted down several notes, and then spoke to her own spirit dwarf, which sparkled in her hand.

“Mr. Dwarf, let’s take a look at the waffle shop next time for mold reference.”

“Kaya, please don’t say next time, it’s good to move as soon as you think about an idea! It’s lunchtime, so why don’t you take a peek while taking a break? While you’re at it, you can also bring back some lunch for your father.”

“I was going to go later…but if you don’t mind, I’ll go now.”

Kaya looks a little nervous. It seems that going shopping is not uncommon.

They had just finished discussing the molds, so Alme and Tania decided to join as well.

“We would be happy to take a look at the waffle shop with you. It would be nice if we could catch a glimpse of them making waffles for our reference.”

“I think there is a waffle shop on the main street that has the kitchen displayed behind glass. I think I could peek in there.”

“I’ll go to the waffle shop with you all! So, will you all join me at the waffle shop?”

Kaya stood up excitedly with a goofy smile on her face.

The conversation was settled, and Alme and Tania stood up as well.

After a quick lunch break, the three of them decided to go check out a waffle shop.

They left the hardware workshop and walked down the street. As they approached the waffle shop, Kaya’s behavior became even stranger.

One minute, she looked like she was smiling and the next, sweating as if she was nervous. Thinking that it might be a possibility, Alme asked her about it.

“Kaya-chan, now that I think about it, you said before that you have a crush on someone at a sweets shop, could it be…?”

“Eh, ah, you found out!? Well, it’s embarrassing, but the waffle shop’s clerk is really cool…!”

The moment Alme asked her, Kaya started blabbering. It seemed that she was trying to hide it. Though it was obvious.

Tania shielded her eyes with her hand as she looked at Kaya, who was beaming with excitement.

“Wow…a maiden in love…is radiant!”

“Hehehehe~, don’t you have someone you like, Miss Tania?”

“There’s no way…for a person like me who shuts herself in a dark room all day…”

“Huh? Miss Tania is beautiful, so I thought you would have a boyfriend. Miss Alme, you have a boyfriend, right?”

“No, no, no. Unfortunately, I don’t either…”

“What!?”

Alme and Tania were frightened by the conversation with this cheerful, exuberant girl.

In a whisper, they exchanged words such as “Is this youth?” …even though they’re both young enough.

While talking about that, they arrived at the waffle shop with the fluffy Kaya in the lead.

The shop has a cooking space facing the street and is surrounded by glass. It is a fun structure that allows visitors to see the cooking process.

Without hesitation, Alme took a look at the waffle baking machine. There are two large waffle makers in the kitchen.

“I didn’t realize you could bake six slices in one baking machine.”

“It smells good, it looks like you can eat inside ……, what do you want to do ……?”

“I’m sure we’ll have a bite to eat, right, Kaya?”

“……”

When she looked next to her, Kaya was cowering with her face covered. What happened to the commotion that had been going on earlier?

Alme looked at her in surprise, and Kaya let out a groan.

“…Hey, eating inside…it’s impossible…I’m so nervous…I’m going to die…”

“Ah, is the person Kaya-chan likes the boy in the back?”

“Which one? …… Oh, the young blond one?”

Alme and Tania turned their eyes to the back of the shop. There is a young boy who is busy working. He has blond hair and is probably in his mid-teens.

“Maybe you can talk to him when we buy some waffles.”

“You got this, girl.”

“Hic…please don’t…”

Alme and Tania dragged Kaya from both sides, who was cowering and complaining, inside the shop.

The counter is a glass case with waffles lined up inside. If a customer eats in the shop, they can also order drinks and fruits.

The three of them each ordered a waffle and moved to sit down in the shop.

Unfortunately, Kaya’s crush didn’t come out to serve customers. She had a complicated expression of both relief and disappointment.

Once they had settled in, the three girls began their lunch meeting over waffles served with fruit and cream.

It is a girl’s gathering that is different from the usual members, so it is somewhat refreshing and comfortable.

Alme popped a chocolate waffle into her mouth and enjoyed the exquisite sweetness and savory flavor.

“Yeah, it’s really delicious. After all, chocolate is wonderful… If we can open a second shop, I’d like to buy chocolate too.”

“Are there no chocolate ice creams in the shop right now…?”

“Chocolate is expensive, so it’s a little out of reach for a small shop to purchase. But from now on, the scale of the shop will grow, and we might be able to obtain a contract.”

Although it depends on the grade, chocolate is basically expensive. Since cheap confectionery chocolate for the common people is not on the market, it is something that a shop with a certain amount of power makes a contract and purchases.

Although the title of a private shop in the back alley was not encouraging, she planned to become a shop of a size where they can think about stocking chocolate. Hopefully.

“Chocolate ice cream, I’m looking forward to it. The waffle with milk ice cream that Miss Alme treated me to last time was delicious, but…waffles with chocolate ice cream seem to go well together.”

“Chocolate goes well with anything, so I’m sure it will be delicious. If you want ice cream with a chocolate flavor, plain waffles would be good.”

Kaya, who was nervous and kept her mouth shut, was left alone. Alme and Tania chat and ate the waffles together.

Then an unexpected voice joined in the conversation.

“I’m curious about the combination of waffles and ice cream.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly a low male voice entered the conversation. Alme turned her eyes.

Before she knew it, a large older man was standing nearby.

He is a stern, strong-looking man with a larger build than the tall Falk. He is a big man, but wears a cute apron that doesn’t match his appearance at all. He seems to be a clerk at a waffle shop.

The clerk turned a strong gaze at Alme.

“Excuse me, you were just talking about something that’s been bothering me. Miss, you’re the owner of the ice cream shop at the end of the alley, right?　Are you here on a scouting mission? Do you serve waffles at your shop too?　You’ve got some nerve to walk into a competitor’s shop and blabber on and on.”

“No, that…I’m not a competitor. No, I’m sorry…I don’t intend to compete with this shop…in any way.”

Alme suddenly broke into a cold sweat.

Tania rounded her back in an instant and disappeared into the background. As for Kaya, she was preoccupied with other thoughts.

No choice, Alme is left alone to deal with the situation.

“Um, well, our shop doesn’t serve waffles, so I don’t think we could be a competitor…”

“Oh? I thought you said you were going to bring it out in the future?”

“For home use, I happened to eat ice cream and waffles together… I was just talking about that..”

“Hmm, I was in a cold sweat, thinking there was going to be a similar shop nearby.”

The clerk said so, but he does not appear to be in a cold sweat at all. His stern, strong face and large frame are imposing.

As Alme was cowering, a voice called from the back of the shop to give Alme a helping hand.

“Manager! Don’t scare our customers away like that again! It’s always your useless chatter that drives customers away!”

“You can’t talk to me like that! I’m trying my best to get along with my customers!”

A young man with blond hair called out to her from the back—Kaya’s crush. Kaya lifted her face as if she had been attracted to his voice, and her cheeks turned bright red.

The large man, called the manager, faced Alme again.

“I’m sorry. I was just thinking about chatting with other shopkeepers in the same district, but it seems like I’m not good at small talk. When I talk to them, everyone shrinks like a young lady.”

“That’s… umm, because the manager’s speech is quite powerful.”

“Oh, this is the first time I’ve been praised by a customer! Young lady, you have a good eye!”

(Hey, I didn’t mean that as a compliment, but…!)

That’s what she thought, but she kept quiet.

The shop manager proudly puffed out his chest and began to talk again.

“Actually, my daughter took me to your ice cream shop once. See, the white falcon bracelet raffle is very popular, you know. So I was thinking, it must be a popular shop and that waffles would go well with your ice cream, and that if you started offering them, you would be a formidable opponent, so I got impatient and talked to you like that.”

“Huh, that’s very kind of you…thank you. But we don’t have any plans to make waffles in our shop, for now…”

“For now? What does that mean? What about the future?

“I-I still have plans for the future…”

“Still!”

“Uh…”

Alme shrank back as a large body and strong face approached.

Perhaps unable to see this, she now received direct help. Kaya’s favorite clerk came over and gave the manager a tug on his arm.

“That’s what I’m saying! The manager’s face is scary, so stay away from the ladies!”

“Ha! This face is natural!”

The shop manager became even more stern and sulky. Not caring about the manager, the clerk spoke to Alme.

“Excuse me, he’s not threatening you. The shop manager has been saying for a long time, ‘Ice cream and waffles go well together!’ and seemed to be interested. He just wanted to get to know you…”

“Ha…ha…”

When Alme looked at the shop manager timidly, he was making the best smile he could with such a stern face.

“I heard a rumor on the wind that your shop provides ice cream to the café. I was thinking that if we get to know each other, maybe you could partner with us too! How about it!? Let’s cooperate!”

“Heh, yes…”

A pressured smile loomed and Alme replied in an awkward voice.

Just then, another clerk called out from the back.

“Manager, may I have a word? I’d like to place an order for a fire magic stone.”

“Oh, what? I’m coming. I’m sorry, excuse me for today. Let’s talk again!”

“Yes…”

The manager swaggered languidly to the back of the shop.

He told Alme to cooperate with his shop, so he seems to have a good impression of the ice cream shop. It may have been a greeting of social etiquette.

For the time being, the difficulty passed, and Alme breathed a sigh of relief.

The blond clerk also greeted her lightly and walked after the manager – or so she thought – but he suddenly turned around and walked back.

He talked to Kaya, who was frozen in love.

“You often come to the shop, don’t you? Thank you for your loyalty to our shop. Don’t be afraid of the shop manager, come again.”

“Huh!? Yes!!”

After saying that, the clerk smiled and left.

Shortly after he left, Kaya collapsed onto the table.

“…He spoke to me for the first time! We spoke for the first time! He remembered me…!”

Kaya, red all the way up to her ears, was in high spirits.

Seeing this, even Alme felt somewhat flustered.

Love is a wonderful thing, she thought deeply about it.

Yes, the more she thought about it, the more she felt a tingling sensation deep in her chest. It was a breathtaking feeling.