Kaori continued their casual chat while serving the food, placing the finished set meals in front of Akane and Frau.
"Thanks for the wait!"
"Ooh, looks delicious!" Akane exclaimed.
"I’m fairly confident in the flavor... though, honestly, the sauce isn't quite right yet. Since you’re from the place where this kind of cooking comes from, it might not meet your standards, Akane-san."
Hearing this, Akane reached for the bottle on the table, dripped a single drop of sauce onto her fingertip, and gave it a lick.
"...Hmm. It’s not bad, but the flavor is a bit muddled."
"Right? But out of everything I could find, that was the best one."
"I see. Hang on a sec."
With that, Akane produced her Magic Box and pulled out several different bottles, lining them up on the table.
"Are those... all different sauces?"
"Yep. The right sauce depends entirely on the dish. Now then, as for this croquette... Hmm. I see. For a croquette like this, this is the one!"
Having tasted the croquette plain first, Akane knew exactly which pairing was needed and picked up a specific bottle.
"Want to give it a try, Kaori?"
"Just a bite... Oh! This is amazing! It has a fruity finish. It’s so smooth and light."
"Isn't it? For the record, this stuff is produced in the eastern reaches of the Arclesia Empire."
"The Empire? That’s so far away. It looks like getting a steady supply would be impossible."
The eastern part of the Arclesia Empire was a vast distance from the Friendly City. Sourcing items from so far away would naturally drive up the price, making it a difficult investment for a small restaurant.
"In that case, how about I act as your intermediary?"
"Wait, really? That would be a lifesaver, but... are you sure?"
"I’m a specialist in teleportation magic, and I’m flying all over the place for business anyway, so it’s no trouble at all. We’re from the same neck of the woods, so I’ll keep the middleman fee low. If there’s anything else you want to stock, just let me know."
"Thank you so much. My shop has actually become quite famous recently, and I’ve been wanting to step up the quality, so this is a huge help."
"Well then, let’s have a detailed meeting later... Still, famous? What, did you get mentioned in a magazine or something?"
After proposing to handle the sourcing through the Mikumo Trading Company, Akane tilted her head curiously. To her, the restaurant felt like a cozy piece of home, but since the food was so obscure by this world's standards, she figured it would be a niche novelty at best.
"No, nothing like that... just word of mouth, I guess?"
"Hmm... Come to think of it, I see a 'Reserved' sign on this table. Is it so busy you need reservations? The place seems pretty quiet right now."
"Ah... that customer is actually the reason we're famous. She usually comes in the evening, so she should be arriving soon."
"Oh? Is it some kind of celebrity?"
"It’s Pope Olivia-sama."
"Huh? Wh-Wait a second. The Pope? The City Representative? No way... that woman never leaves the Central Cathedral except for the Hero Festival!"
Akane, naturally, knew of Olivia—including the legends that she remained strictly reclusive outside of the festival season.
"Kaito-kun brought her here once. She’s been a regular ever since."
"Kaito again? Seriously, what is wrong with that guy?"
"Tell me about it. He gives me nothing but stomach aches. But anyway, yeah—word got out that this is Olivia-sama's favorite spot, and now we’re 'famous'."
"I see... Man, you've really had a rough time of it too, Kaori."
"I’m just so glad I finally met someone who understands the struggle."
Since Akane also had plenty of experience being blindsided by Kaito’s antics, she understood Kaori’s feelings perfectly. The two women bonded instantly over their shared hardships. Whether it was Kaito's fault or Kaito's doing, it was the moment an unbreakable bond was forged between them.
"Business is good, but I'm so busy I haven't even had time to check out the Six Kings Festival."
"Why don't you just ask Kaito? I'm sure he could sort it out."
"I know, right? It’s scary because he could probably solve most of my problems with a single word. But I have my pride as his senior. I’m not about to go crying to my younger junior over every little thing."
Kaori looked determined for a moment, clenching her fist, but then her expression shifted into deep thought.
"...Though, I have to admit, I’m wavering on the rejuvenation thing. Lately, my skin hasn't been as firm... I mean, I'm sure I'm still fine! But I'm starting to feel the effects of age..."
"Kaori... as someone who's been through it, let me give you a piece of advice. Be careful. Once you hit thirty, if you let your guard down for even a second, your skin will go south at a terrifying, exponential speed."
"Stop it! That's horrifying!!"
Face pale with dread at Akane's warning, Kaori began to seriously struggle with the temptation to ask Kaito for help with a rejuvenation blessing after all.
Serious-senpai: "Huh? No middle part this time?"
???: "Well, it wasn't a 'sugar' chapter, after all."
Serious-senpai: "Stop casually acting like we're only going to have extra segments when there's romance involved..."