I went around the festival stalls with Alice one by one. Our momentum was such that we were practically out to conquer every single one of them.
"……That’s strange."
"What is it, ssu?"
"It's not like you're moving so fast that the paper doesn't get wet or anything. Even to my eyes, it looks like you’re moving quite slowly…… so why won't your poi break?"
Superball scooping—a classic festival staple. You use a poi made of paper to scoop up superballs, but since the paper is inherently fragile, aiming for the large balls is usually considered unrealistic.
The trick is supposed to be scooping up the smaller balls as quickly as possible…… or so it should be, yet Alice was calmly hauling in large superballs one after another. It didn't look like she was doing anything particularly special, but there wasn't even a hint of the poi tearing.
"Ah, that’s because I applied Status Preservation Magic to the poi."
"Hey, cut it out…… stop cheating."
It wasn't a matter of technique; she was cheating by physically ensuring the poi couldn't break.
Next was another classic: the ring toss. Well, in this context, it was just a normal ring toss and not the Super Exciting Battle Sport……
"Hey, Alice…… don't try to use an Announced Shooting Star."
"Fufufu, actually, Alice-chan is the World Rank #1 Nightmare, you know!"
"I know that…… Or rather, I find it more mysterious why everyone else doesn't realize who you and Kuro really are."
I’d had several chances to see WANAGE after the Six Kings Festival, and I’d even seen a Baby Castella Mask match once. But really, he was just wearing a mask shaped like a baby castella; from his clothes to his mannerisms, he was unmistakably Kuro.
As for Alice, she still dressed in a way that concealed her face…… but even then, she called herself a Transcendent Beautiful Girl Nagelist and the like. You’d think someone would notice.
"……Ah, Kaito-san, let me tell you why. It’s because you, having received the Blessing of Shallow Vernal-sama, nullify Recognition Inhibition Magic. That’s why you notice. It’s actually the people around you who don't notice who are the normal ones……"
"Ah…… is that how it works? Then, the reason no one realizes the identities of the Legendary Blacksmith or the Legendary Modeler is also……"
"Exactly. When it comes to that kind of magic, I’m top-level even in this world. Not even a Count-class should be able to see through it. It's just that you, Kaito-san, who nullify it without question, are too much of an exception."
"……I-I see…… I feel like I've finally found the answer to a question that's been nagging at me for a long time."
Of course, we stopped at food stalls along the way as well. Alice continued to eat with her usual gusto, but seeing her look so cute while enjoying her food meant I never grew tired of watching her.
"Come to think of it, Kaito-san, what do you call this?"
"Ah, I call it Obanyaki. That’s what my mother called it. But I think a lot of my friends in elementary school called it Imagawayaki."
"It really brings out the regional flavors, doesn't it? Rarer names include Taikoyaki or Nijuyaki."
"Was it called the same thing on the Earth you used to live on, Alice?"
"Hmm, I wonder. Back then, I wasn't gathering information like I do now, so I don't remember the details that clearly."
Well, that was only natural. For Alice, that must be a story from an incredibly long time ago, and since she’d been traveling the world, she probably wasn't even in Japan for most of it.
"Mmm, talking about it makes me want to try some."
"Want a bite? I still have some left."
"No, a whole one is a bit much for now…… just give me a bite."
"Yes, here you go."
I took a bite of the Obanyaki Alice held out to me. When I did, Alice looked at the spot where I'd bitten with a strange expression.
……She was probably thinking about the indirect kiss again.
"……Alice?"
"!? Ah, n-no, I was just thinking for a second. Y-You know, I was wondering if a kiss right after eating bean paste would taste like bean paste or not…… Ah, no, sorry. I messed up my excuse—mmph!?"
In her attempt to hide that she was thinking about an indirect kiss, Alice had managed to completely self-destruct. Knowing exactly how I would react to a line like that, Alice hurriedly tried to take it back…… but it was far too late.
To solve Alice's mystery, I leaned down and kissed her. Her face turned red in such an obvious, endearing way; she really was adorable.
"……Well? Did it taste like bean paste?"
"……I can't tell, ssu. I was eating it until just a second ago, too…… Ah, but, that’s why…… m-maybe if we do it a little more…… I won't know for sure, I think."
"Fufufu."
"Don't give me that warm smile! I'm squeezing out every last scrap of my courage over here!"
True to her earlier declaration to be bolder today, Alice voiced her desire for more kisses, even as her eyes darted around nervously.
Naturally, I had no reason to refuse my lovely lover's wish. In fact, being completely alone together made us both feel at ease…… and the truth was, we had been exchanging kisses like this every now and then for a while now.
Especially since the shy Alice was consciously trying to be proactive today, it felt like we were closer than ever before…… and that filled me with happiness.
There is a mountain made of what looks like white sand.
Apparently, it is not sand, but sugar.
It is a massive amount. Enough to completely bury a person.
Beside the mountain of sugar, something resembling a flag has been placed.
The flag has "Lovey-dovey" written on it, and there are signs that someone had tried to break it.