When I woke up in the morning, Alice was no longer by my side. In her place, a faint, mouth-watering aroma drifted through the room.
Assuming she was making breakfast, I quickly changed and headed to the living room.
"Ah, Kaito-san! Good morning."
"Morning, Alice."
In the kitchen adjacent to the living room stood Alice, wearing her usual mask and a white apron. She greeted me with a bright smile, and I responded as I shifted my gaze toward the counter.
Sitting there was a large, unfamiliar magic tool that looked like an oven, and the savory scent was definitely coming from it.
"...Is that the smell of baking bread?"
"Yep! It’s Alice-chan’s Special Breakfast. Just a little longer, okay?"
"Man... it smells incredible."
"Hehe. Like I told you before, I’ve mastered just about everything... so my bread-making skills are top-notch!"
Now that she mentioned it, she had said she was a master of many trades, and I’d already seen her incredible skill with musical instruments. My expectations for breakfast were rising by the second—though something else caught my attention.
"...I didn't realize you kept so many ingredients at Alice's Home."
"Whoa, did you just casually diss me? Well, to be fair, I actually went out and bought them after I woke up."
"Wait, really? It’s still so early..."
"I have plenty of subordinates who run their own shops, you know."
"I see."
As she spoke, Alice pulled several freshly baked buns out of the large magic tool. They were round and about the size of a palm. With a single, swift flick of her knife, Alice sliced through all the buns at once, perfectly dividing them into top and bottom halves.
"This is a dish I used to eat all the time back when I was an adventurer. Though this isn't exactly the same; I’m using much higher-quality ingredients, and the fillings are fresh rather than preserved."
"Fillings... so is it like a hamburger?"
"Yeah, something like that. It’s more of a sandwich, really. A hamburger is essentially just a Hamburg Sandwich, after all... though the chains in your world, Kaito-san, seem to serve everything from fried fish to whatever else."
"...How do you even know about hamburger chains from my world?"
"Alice-chan knows everything! Anyway... and done!"
I threw a half-hearted retort at her for bringing up fast food so casually while I looked at the finished breakfast. Fresh vegetables and what looked like scrambled eggs were piled onto the beautifully toasted buns. It was simple, but it looked delicious.
"It’s been a really long time since I’ve cooked for someone else."
"It looks amazing, Alice."
"Oh, I guarantee the taste. My cooking can hold its own even against Ein-san’s."
"Hahaha, I’m looking forward to it."
I gave a wry smile at her boast and sat down as prompted. After a quick "Itadakimasu," I picked up a sandwich and took a bite. The flavor was every bit as incredible as she’d claimed.
The bread was light and airy on the outside but wonderfully chewy on the inside. The simple seasoning of the vegetables and eggs enhanced their natural flavors, which burst across my palate. But that wasn't all—tucked inside the scrambled eggs were tiny, diced pieces of meat that added a delightful texture.
Since it was morning, the meat was seasoned lightly, pairing perfectly with the eggs. Despite the small portions of meat, it was immensely satisfying.
"This is great. Even though the pieces are small, the meat flavor is really distinct."
"I seared the meat as a large steak first to lock in the juices before dicing it, so all the umami is trapped inside. I kept the spices to a minimum so the juiciness could really shine."
"I see... It’s delicious."
"Ahaha. Hearing you say that... actually makes me feel a little bit shy."
When I offered my honest praise, Alice scratched her cheek bashfully. Since she was wearing her mask again, unlike yesterday, it was harder to read her expression. This reminded me of a question I’d been meaning to ask about her mask.
"By the way, Alice... have you been wearing that mask since you were in your old world?"
"Ah—no, I didn't back then. I started wearing this after I came to this world... as a way to tell myself I was a different person from who I used to be. But after wearing it for so long, it became my normal. Now I feel exposed and shy without it."
"You had it off the whole time yesterday. Was that okay?"
"W-Well... you know... I wanted Kaito-san to see... the real me... I mean, it’s definitely embarrassing... but it’s not like I don't want to show you. It’s different with you than it is with everyone else."
She seemed fully aware of how sentimental she was being, as her gaze darted around nervously. It might have been a simple gesture, but hearing her say I was special to her made me incredibly happy.
"...Alice, if it's okay with you..."
"Yes?"
"Just when we’re alone together... would you consider taking the mask off?"
"Ugh, t-that’s... well..."
"I want to see the real you. Is that too much to ask?"
"Auu... I-I understand."
Because she had worn the mask for so long, removing it felt like a vulnerability. Yet, true to her word, she shyly reached up and took it off, revealing her lovely face with a bashful smile.
"W-Well, I guess now Kaito-san gets to see my pretty face whenever he wants! You must be thrilled!"
"Yeah. I really do think you're cute."
"Nyaah?! Y-Y-You're supposed to give me a witty comeback there! It's so e-embarrassing when you answer me seriously like that!!"
"Hahaha, sorry, sorry... But thank you, Alice. For listening to my request."
"Auuuuu..."
As Alice tried to hide her embarrassment with jokes, I gave her my honest thoughts, causing her to turn bright red and panic. Watching her flustered reaction was so charming that I couldn't help but let a smile slip.
"U-Uugh... you're definitely enjoying this. I feel like I've just discovered Kaito-san’s secret fetish."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"A-Anyway, it’s still embarrassing! Don’t look at me so much..."
"Hehe, alright."
I continued eating breakfast, savoring Alice's indescribable cuteness and soaking in the happiness of the moment. I think this kind of playful back-and-forth is one of her greatest charms. It’s so easy to be around her; I never feel the need to put up a front.
As I reflected on Alice's appeal, I looked down at the sandwich in my hand.
"Come to think of it, everything got so chaotic that our date ended up being canceled... Alice, do you want to try redoing it today?"
"Huh? Oh—yes! A date with a fancy meal! I’m in!"
"Great. Then let’s finish breakfast, rest for a bit, and head out."
"Okay!"
When she heard my suggestion, Alice beamed at me with a smile as radiant as a blooming flower.
Dear Mother, Father—
Now that we’re officially a couple, the way we interact has changed a little. But as I thought, my relationship with Alice is one where I can just be myself, and it’s wonderful. Anyway, I’ve decided to redo the date that was cut short by Eden-san’s arrival.
The Miracle Sugar Carnival is about to begin!
Serious-senpai: "Aaaaaaaah... No way, no waaaaaaaaay!?"