As we walked toward the shop, the conversation about our food preferences continued.
"Come to think of it, I don't know much about what the rest of you like to eat. I only really know that Luna-san likes marshmallows when it comes to sweets. What do you like besides the sugary stuff?"
"Hmm... If I had to pick something, I suppose it would be cream stew pie. My mother used to make it for me quite often."
"Heh, that sounds delicious."
Since I hadn't heard much about anyone’s favorites besides Lilia-san’s, I decided to keep the momentum going. Luna-san liked marshmallows and cream stew pie; it was just a vague impression, but she seemed to have a penchant for creamy, rich flavors.
"What about you, Sieg-san?"
"Let’s see. It isn’t something I've liked since I was a child, but I've recently developed a taste for white fish. The meuniere at that shop we visited together was truly wonderful."
"The seasoning there was excellent. I’d love to go back if we get the chance. And for sweets?"
"I prefer things that pair well with black tea. I suppose simple cookies are what I eat most often."
I remembered Sieg-san mentioned she had started liking fish after we went to a coastal city in the Demon Realm and ate some by the sea. Since she was from Rigforresia, an inland town far from the ocean, and had moved straight to the Sinfonia Royal Capital, she hadn't had much experience with fresh saltwater fish. Now, it seemed to be a genuine favorite.
The fact that she specifically liked white fish would be a great reference point when choosing restaurants for future dates. I made a mental note to remember that.
"How about you, Hina-chan?"
"As for me, umm... for regular food, I love carbonara. But when it comes to sweets, it has to be parfaits! Parfaits all the way!"
"You've got a lot of energy behind that choice. You really love them, don't you?"
"Yes! Whoever invented the parfait was a genius. They are the literal taste of happiness. Well, the calories aren't happy at all, so I can't indulge too frequently, unfortunately."
I might have been stereotyping, but Hina-chan’s favorites felt very much like what you'd expect from a girl her age. While she had to think for a moment about the carbonara, her enthusiasm for parfaits was so intense that it was clearly her absolute favorite.
"And you, Aoi-chan?"
"For food, let me see... I’d say a Caesar salad topped with croutons, cheese, and a soft-boiled egg."
"That does sound like a great combination."
"It is. As for sweets... I don't have one specific favorite, but I love the taste of oranges and other citrus fruits, so anything in that category is my go-to."
Aoi-chan's preferences were exactly as I’d imagined—they felt a bit refined. She seemed to love citrus in general; I knew she even picked her shampoos based on those scents. I wondered if she’d like the one Kuro lent me once. Maybe I should introduce it to her sometime.
"By the way, Kaito-senpai, what do you like for dessert? You mentioned earlier that your favorite meal is hamburg steak, but..."
"Ah—hmm. That’s a tough one. I like so many things that it’s hard to pick a definitive number one. But if we're talking about what I eat most often, it’s definitely baby castella."
Since I ate them almost every day, they certainly qualified as a favorite. I genuinely loved the taste and texture. However, whenever I said I liked baby castella, Kuro’s face immediately came to mind. Her obsession was on such a legendary level that a part of me felt like I couldn't claim the top spot.
"Then, on the flip side, what does everyone hate? I think you all know my nemesis is the green pepper..."
"What about me, I wonder? I don't have a specific name that comes to mind, but I’ve always been poor with things that are excessively spicy or bitter," Lilia-san answered.
She didn't seem to have any major hang-ups. Indeed, she always gave off the impression of someone who wasn't a picky eater.
"In my case, it isn't the flavor, but rather the texture. I can't stand things that are sticky or slimy."
"For me, it’s bee—ah, beer, was it? I'm not fond of ales or lagers."
So, Luna-san’s issue wasn't the taste but the texture. Things like okra or natto were likely out of the question. I wasn't even sure if natto existed in this world, though. Meanwhile, Sieg-san seemed to dislike beer. Come to think of it, I’d really only seen her drinking wine or fruit liquors.
"I’m not a fan of crustaceans or shellfish. It’s not an allergy or anything; I just don't care for them."
"For me... let’s see. I just can't handle the unique smell of things like liver or offal..."
Hina-chan didn't like shellfish, though her tone suggested it was just a mild dislike. Aoi-chan, however, looked genuinely disgusted at the mention of organ meats. Her reaction was much stronger, bordering on a total refusal to even have them near her mouth. It felt very similar to my relationship with green peppers.
Hearing everyone's tastes like this was actually quite interesting. We hadn't really talked about this much before, and it made me think it might be fun to ask my other friends about their favorites and loathings too.
Extra: Other Characters' Preferences
Kuromueina [Favorite Food] Baby Castella [Disliked Food] None in particular
Isis [Favorite Food] The lunch boxes Kaito makes for their picnics [Disliked Food] Spicy food
Lilliwood [Favorite Food] Does not eat [Disliked Food] Does not eat
Megiddo [Favorite Food] Spicy food [Disliked Food] Sweet things
Magnawell [Favorite Food] Has recently taken a liking to appetizers and snacks [Disliked Food] None in particular
Alice [Favorite Food] Likes almost everything [Disliked Food] Baby castella that deals fixed damage
Shallow Vernal [Favorite Food] None in particular [Disliked Food] None in particular
Chronoa [Favorite Food] Does not eat. Quite likes alcohol, though [Disliked Food] Does not eat
Fate [Favorite Food] Anything that can be eaten while lying down [Disliked Food] Anything that is a hassle to eat
Life [Favorite Food] Fruits [Disliked Food] Meat products
Anima [Favorite Food] All kinds of fish (especially salmon) [Disliked Food] Bear meat
Caraway [Favorite Food] All kinds of fish (especially Pacific saury) [Disliked Food] Onions
Eta [Favorite Food] Chicken [Disliked Food] Raw fish
Theta [Favorite Food] Sashimi [Disliked Food] Chicken
Illness [Favorite Food] None in particular. For drinks, black tea [Disliked Food] None in particular
Nebula [Favorite Food] None in particular [Disliked Food] One is an Absolute One only by accepting all tastes
Machina [Favorite Food] Street foods like hamburgers and takoyaki [Disliked Food] Jelly drinks and canned food
Serious-senpai [Favorite Food] Spic—Sweet things [Disliked Food] Swee—Spicy things
Serious-senpai: "Hey! Who rewrote my entries at the end?!"
???: "............I wonder............ Who indeed?"
Serious-senpai: "...You little brat!"