As we sat enjoying our tea with Kuro now part of the group, Tiana-san once again produced that particular snack of hers—the one that looked like a glass marble but tasted like a cookie. Kuro hadn’t tried them yet, so it was a kind gesture to let her experience ingredients from another world.
"Kuromueina-chan, please, have some."
"Umm... is this a glass bead? No, maybe it's a marble of some kind?"
"I gave some to Kaito-kun earlier, but it’s food from my world. It’s quite similar to what you’d call a cookie here."
"Oh, so this is a cookie... Well then, thank you for the—!? W-Wow! It felt so hard when I picked it up, but the moment I bit down, it was perfectly crunchy. It really does taste like a cookie!?"
Kuro’s eyes sparkled with genuine wonder as she ate. Watching her reaction, Tiana-san wore a satisfied smile.
"I’ve been treated to quite a few things myself," I added. "And as you’d expect from otherworld ingredients, many of them are completely beyond the common sense of this world. It’s been a lot of fun."
"I see... otherworld ingredients..."
Hmm. I’d known Kuro long enough to tell what was going on in her head. Right now, this girl... she was definitely thinking about Baby Castella.
"U-Umm, Tiana-san... I’m really interested in ingredients from your world, and I’d love to hear more about them. Also, I know I’m being unreasonable, but... could I... maybe have just one kind? If you could just let me have one...?"
She had the look of someone who had just discovered a brand-new frontier for Baby Castella. The desperate desire in her expression and her fidgeting made it all too obvious. However, when she heard Kuro’s plea, Tiana-san looked conflicted.
"U-Umm, I have Shallow Vernal’s permission to let you eat them here, so that’s fine... but when it comes to actually giving them away, I can’t decide that on my own. After all, this is Shallow Vernal’s world..."
"Ugh, right. That makes sense. There’s the contract with Shiro to consider. I’m the one being pushy, so I guess it can't be helped."
Hearing that Shiro-san’s permission was required, Kuro’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. She seemed to have expected as much, as she backed down more easily than I’d anticipated.
...Or so I thought. A moment later, she shot a quick glance my way before gliding over with a swift movement and clinging to my arm.
"Kaito-kun... I really, really want those otherworld ingredients... Please, won't you help me...?"
She pleaded in a sweet, spoiled tone, looking up at me with those charming, upturned eyes. She really wanted them that badly, huh? Well, of course she did.
And Kuro understood the situation perfectly. There was no reason for Shiro-san to cooperate with Kuro’s Baby Castella research; if Kuro asked herself, she would almost certainly be rejected. But if I was the one to ask, there might be a chance. That was clearly her strategy.
And sadly, I had to admit it was remarkably effective. This kind of pestering, which she likely only reserved for me as her lover, was hard to resist.
...Umm, Shiro-san, you were listening, right?
(I was listening. But why should I have to help that Baby Castella maniac?)
I think that’s a very valid point, but I really want to fulfill Kuro’s wish... You’re the only one I can rely on, Shiro-san!
(...I see, I see. Say it one more time.)
...Excuse me?
(Please, say that again.)
That part? Umm... Shiro-san, you’re the only one I can rely on!
(...As your beloved lover... Yes, once more, please.)
...Umm... You’re the only one I can rely on, my beloved lover, Shiro-san! Please, help me out!
(It can’t be helped, then. I was the one who told you to seek me out when you were in trouble, and if Kaito-san is going to ask so fervently, then as your lover, I must respond.)
I got the distinct feeling that she sounded... quite happy. Come to think of it, she had complained quite a bit when I relied on Machina-san before. She really did enjoy being the one I turned to.
While I was musing over that, Tiana-san suddenly twitched, reacting to something.
"Eh? Shallow Vernal? Huh? Eeeeeh!? A free visitation permit? Just in exchange for one item? No, I don't mind at all. In fact, that's almost too generous... I’ll even throw in that thing I was planning to use for negotiations later. Yes, that... I imagine it will be limited to situations involving just you and Kaito-kun, but yes. I’ll give you the details later... Right, it looks like we’ve reached a mutually beneficial agreement."
It appeared Shiro-san had taken action immediately. She seemed to have exchanged words with Tiana-san and reached a consensus right then and there.
"Well then, Kuromueina-chan. It’s definitely thanks to Kaito-kun, but Shallow Vernal has given her permission. I’ll give you one kind of ingredient from my world."
"!? Th-Thank you... Kaito-kun! I love you!"
Kuro was so overcome with emotion that she practically tackled me with a hug. I suppose I really am a bit soft on her, but seeing her this happy made me feel that asking Shiro-san had been well worth the effort.
Serious-senpai: "It’s peaceful. It’s all so very peaceful... My skin is stinging from the casual lovey-dovey atmosphere, but at its core, it's peaceful... How on earth are they going to turn this into a stomach-ache scenario?"
--- A scene from a few chapters ago ---
Tiana's Aura: "...I’m not like those vulgar beings who pointlessly intimidate everyone around them. I don't project pressure; instead, I allow others to naturally perceive the sheer difference in our calibers—that I am an absolute superior. That is the refined etiquette of the Aura of a Superior Being..."
Little End of the Story <Little Epilogue>: "..."
Tiana's Aura: "...Wait, no, that’s not it... really, it’s not. That was just a general statement! Kaito-sama is, of course, an exception. I’d never project pressure toward Kaito-sama. I’ll immediately bow my head and adapt to him, so..."
Tiana looked at Kaito’s reaction and decided her aura adjustments were perfectly fine. Kuro took one look at Tiana and immediately felt she was an entity of outrageous power. *When Electrone first appeared, everyone except Kaito clearly felt the overwhelming presence of a superior being, and she adjusted only after seeing their reactions.
Serious-senpai: "...Ah. I see. Tiana is going to head over to the Stomach Pain Duke’s estate while still projecting her superior aura without even realizing it..."