"Let’s go to the Castle Town. I’ll be your guide."
It was our first day off since I’d started my modest life at the Academy while monitoring the impostor’s movements. Alicia suddenly made that declaration, standing tall and resolute before me as I sat in the living room, nursing a cup of coffee and working on my assignments.
"And while we’re at it, I need to buy some seeds for the garden and the vegetable patch."
"In other words... is this a date?"
"It is."
The way she nodded so boldly was truly gallant; there was no longer any trace of the fragility she’d possessed when she first arrived in the Brave Territory. Furthermore, I was incredibly touched that she explicitly stated the date wasn't just a side note to her errands—rather, the errands were the side note to the date.
The fact that her ears were flush red suggested she was pushing herself to be bold, which was a point of pure cuteness. She was the ultimate being, a perfect fusion of bravery and adorability.
◇
We arrived at the Castle Town early that morning.
"The foot traffic is incredible, as expected."
"Summer Vacation starts next month, so let’s enjoy ourselves while we have the chance."
"You’re right."
Exchanging small talk, the two of us strolled down the main street, which was bustling with the holiday crowd. By the time I’d enrolled at the Academy, three months had already passed. It was already early summer. Since we’d decided to return to the Brave Territory when Summer Vacation began in August, the time we actually had to spend in the Royal Capital was quite limited.
The world of this Otome Game was an Other World with a medieval European fantasy setting, yet the people in the Royal Capital operated according to a calendar established by the Ancient Sage. One year lasted from January to December, and a week consisted of seven days from Monday to Sunday. A proper calendar existed here.
As you’ve probably guessed, the Ancient Sage was just the game’s development team. Since they marketed the game on a system where events in town changed depending on the day of the week, causing major shifts in how flags progressed, they had likely implemented it even if it shattered the world-building.
It was almost laughable how high-ranking nobles would openly frequent the town without any sort of disguise, but since the Heroine’s family home was located in the Castle Town, everyone visited regularly to stage "accidental encounters." Picturing them wandering around aimlessly waiting for a flag to trigger was hilarious.
By the way, if you headed into town on Friday the 13th, you would encounter a mysterious figure wearing a Jason mask and find yourself in a rather dangerous situation. If you survived it, your Love Meter would jump up instantly, and you’d be rewarded with a special illustration.
"Ragna, I already looked up the location of that food stall you seemed interested in. Let’s stop by on the way back, all right?"
"Are you sure?"
"It’s my turn to guide you today, so leave it to me. I imagine you’ll find these crowds exhausting compared to the Brave Territory, though."
"Not really. During night raids, it gets so crowded you can’t tell if the people around you are allies, enemies, or corpses."
Compared to a battlefield, a daytime crowd was nothing. When a place is overflowing with people, everyone is indifferent to one another; it was actually easier to notice malice or hostility and easier to protect her than it was at the Academy.
"Ah... yes, I suppose so."
She just brushed it off?!
Alicia was actually starting to develop a resistance to my Brave Jokes. As I reeled from the shock, Alicia shot me a look of exasperated disdain.
"Make sure you don't say things like that to anyone but me."
My only source of humor... what a tragedy. And yet, I didn't quite understand why, but hearing her say "don't say it to anyone but me" felt wonderful.
Woof.
"If we go straight here and turn into the alley, there’s supposedly a shop that serves delicious coffee. Shall we have lunch there and then look around?"
"Ho."
Now that was intriguing. Since there was no coffee provided at the Academy, I had been worrying about what to do once my personal stash ran out. I figured I’d eventually find some if I scoured the Castle Town, but I was deeply moved to find that Alicia had searched for it on my behalf.
"Alicia, where on earth did you get that information?"
"A friend told me."
W-What...?!
The social situation Alicia and I were placed in was a serious concern for young students. I had personally decided that being a loner didn't matter—I’d just attend classes, pass my tests, and graduate—so I’d been ignoring the stares of those around me. But to think she had actually made a friend.
As expected of a Gifted Woman. Even though I was still a loner, was our social caliber really that different? I knew I had to at least become an acquaintance of Mariana, but I hadn't even figured out how to strike up a conversation.
I wasn't jealous, okay? If anything, I was proud of her. Though, I definitely planned to check later to see if this "friend" had any ulterior motives.
"I was studying alone at lunch while drinking the coffee I brought to the library, and she struck up a conversation. She was also lamenting the lack of coffee at the Academy, so we hit it off and she told me about her favorite shop."
"I see."
There certainly were some eccentrics out there, in more ways than one. When asked if she liked coffee, Alicia had apparently replied that it was surprisingly delicious. Before she knew it, they were friends, and she’d been introduced to a recommended shop in the Castle Town.
"The coffee problem is a major issue, so this is a godsend."
"I honestly can’t function without coffee at this point."
I was a hopeless caffeine addict.
"By the way, it’s a girl, okay? So you don't have to worry."
"I'm not worried. If anything, it's the opposite—you have nothing to worry about from me, okay?"
We teased each other like that, and then both of us burst into laughter. It was peaceful.
"It’s here."
Turning from the main street into a narrow side road, Alicia pointed toward a specific building. It was a three-story house. The first floor served as a cafe, while the floors above appeared to be living quarters.
I read the sign.
"Let’s see... Specialty Coffee Shop Ocean...?"
Ah.
Wait, what?
"Hee, I hadn't really paid attention before, but there are quite a few varieties of coffee, aren't there? What’s wrong, Ragna? Don’t just stand there, let’s go inside."