Kaito and Elis-san stepped out of the gym and began walking down the street side by side. Their current situation was the result of a chance encounter where Kaito had invited her along; now that the intended gym session was over, they had no prior arrangements for what to do next.
Consequently, it wouldn't have been strange if they had simply parted ways then and there, but Kaito felt that would be a bit bland. On the other hand, he worried whether it was right to keep dragging Elis-san along—who had originally come to the city for her own purposes—just for his own sake.
Since he had no specific destination in mind, his thoughts were leaning toward heading home... however, for better or worse, Elis-san was highly experienced in dealing with people within the Social Circle. She sensed Kaito’s hesitation to some extent and offered a suggestion as a helping hand.
"……Kaito-sama, do you have any plans after this?"
"Ah, no. I really only came to try out the gym, so I hadn't thought at all about what to do afterward."
"In that case, how about this? We've exercised quite a bit, and although it's a little late for lunch, it is about that time... if you’d like, would you care to go grab a meal together?"
"Oh, that sounds good. Each exercise was light on its own, but it adds up to a lot of movement, so I’m definitely feeling hungry."
"Regarding the restaurant, there is a place I was planning to visit; how does that sound? As you can see from my current attire, it’s not a high-class establishment, but a general eatery……"
"I actually prefer that. I don't have to be so on guard, so that sounds great to me."
Elis-san certainly found herself being dragged into Kaito’s pace on a daily basis and had suffered many instances of Stomach Pain because of it... but fundamentally, she found Kaito’s personality likable.
Furthermore, she was the type who could firmly switch gears, and she was fundamentally good-natured and kind-hearted. While she had been startled when she first ran into Kaito today and had already endured one stressful Stomach Pain, that was a separate matter. Since they were already together, she wanted Kaito to enjoy himself while she enjoyed her own time as well.
That was why she had sensed Kaito’s mood and invited him to lunch herself. Out of consideration for his tastes, she judged that the commoner-oriented shop she had originally planned to visit would be better than a high-class restaurant.
Of course, she wished to be spared from accidentally encountering outrageous individuals like Magnawell again... but the time spent with Kaito itself was not a burden; she found it genuinely enjoyable.
Combined with such consideration and her kind nature, Kaito’s evaluation of her continued to skyrocket—a result that only left the lady herself tilting her head in confusion.
At any rate, they agreed to eat together and began moving toward the restaurant under Elis-san’s Guide.
"……By the way, Elis-san, do you visit the city like this quite often? How should I put it……"
"It’s not exactly frequent, but I do visit like this occasionally. It isn’t because I find life as a noble stifling. If I had to say, I believe that nobles should venture into the city more and experience things firsthand. While I think the rigid aristocratic mindset of 'nobles above, citizens below' is foolish, there are many things one cannot understand from a single perspective. I believe one can broaden their horizons by actually experiencing things rather than just knowing them as facts. As is the case in the Hydra Kingdom, the power of the citizens is something that grows with the times... We nobles should also change, and this is a part of that effort."
"That is, how should I put it, a very admirable way of thinking."
"……That is the official stance, at least."
"Hmm?"
Despite being younger than Kaito, Elis-san spoke with a mature, noble expression... Sensing a pride and responsibility in her words that one might call Noblesse Oblige, Kaito looked impressed. Seeing this, Elis-san’s composure broke, and she gave a Bitter Smile.
"In reality, it's just personal preference and a way to unwind. I don't find life as a noble stifling, but sometimes I just want a change of pace in a different environment, so I come here."
"Ah, I see. Being a noble does seem like it would be mentally exhausting in many ways."
"Yes. So, to put it bluntly, it's a breather and a hobby. However, official stances are important for a noble in all things. Therefore, the answer to Kaito-sama's question is... as a noble, this is an inspection based on duty. As Kaito-sama's friend... it's a hobby. I simply enjoy seeing and experiencing new things."
Elis-san looked delighted as she laughed, and Kaito couldn't help but smile along with her.
(……Regardless, I feel like if we act under Kaito-sama's lead, we'll encounter another outrageous person again. I can't help but think it's at least slightly safer if I decide the destination……)
Serious-senpai: "That's why I think Kaito's affection for her keeps rising."
???: "Elis-san basically switches to acting like a friend rather than a noble when she talks to Kaito. She probably knows that Kaito is happier that way. Compared to Cornelia-san, the casualness of using joking expressions like she just did is likely a major factor in why Kaito likes her so much."