Once I decided to open a Baby Castella stall, the first order of business was registration. I had heard it could be handled at the General Management Office, but I stopped by to ask Elise if there were any other documents I needed to prepare.
"Honestly... I really should have kept my mouth shut."
"A-Ahaha. Well, you've been a huge help. I appreciate you teaching me the ropes."
At the moment, I was walking toward the office with a disgruntled Elise in tow.
The reason it turned out this way was simple: I had gone back to ask her more about the registration process, and after she finished explaining the details, she sighed. "I’m worried about what you might get into if I let a Human-san go off alone," she told me. "Besides, I feel responsible for my slip of the tongue, so I’m coming with you." And so, she had joined me.
Her tone was as prickly as ever, but underneath the sharp words, she was going out of her way to help me with the paperwork. Her actions were far kinder than her attitude suggested.
"By the way, have you finally decided what you're going to sell?"
"Yeah, I’m thinking of doing a Baby Castella shop."
"I see. It’s a staple, which makes it easy enough for an amateur to manage. I'll say it again, though—don't you dare set up your stall anywhere near my shop."
"Understood."
As we chatted, a certain question occurred to me.
"Changing the subject, Elise... you already have a shop on the main street of the Royal Capital. Why go through the trouble of setting up a stall for the festival?"
"Good grief."
"Why the look of utter exasperation...?"
When I asked it as a genuine question, Elise let out a long, weary sigh. Then, with her eyes still narrowed at me, she explained.
"Listen. To begin with, my shop isn't designed to handle a massive surge of customers in a short window. There's only one entrance, so the foot traffic is terrible. If a large crowd showed up, the place would be packed to the gills instantly."
"Now that you mention it, that makes sense..."
"And since I run the place alone, there’s a limit to how many people I can serve at once. In contrast, a stall allows me to limit my space and the variety of products. Since there are no doors or walls, people can move past smoothly without getting stuck. For an event like a festival, a stall is much more efficient than a permanent storefront."
"I see. That’s good to know."
I knew it; whenever I asked, she always came through with an answer. In fact, she was actually quite thorough with her explanations.
"I've thought this for a while, Elise, but you're really savvy when it comes to business."
"Is that so? I consider this common sense... but fine, I'll accept the compliment for what it is."
"Actually, to change the subject again... do you have any other plans for today?"
"I do, but as long as I’m stuck with a Human-san like this, I’m free enough. Why do you ask?"
The reason I asked was simply because I wanted to thank her for all the help she’d given me. However, even if I wanted to get her a gift, I didn't have a clue what she’d actually want. Since it was right around noon, I figured treating her to a meal was the best way to go.
"Well, you’ve done so much for me, and since it’s lunchtime, I was wondering if you'd like to grab a bite after we finish the registration? It’ll be my treat."
"..."
"Ah, I mean, I won't force you if you're busy..."
"...It’s fine. In that case, you'd better be prepared to treat me to something expensive."
"Ah, right! Of course!"
I expected a sharp rejection, but she accepted surprisingly easily. Through my Sympathy Magic, I could feel her emotions brighten just a tiny bit. I got the feeling she was actually happy about it. At the very least, I was relieved she didn't seem to mind the offer.
"...Why are you standing there making so many faces? You’re the one who brought it up, Human-san."
"Ah, no, I was just a little surprised you agreed so readily..."
"Honestly, Human-san, what exactly do you take me for...?"
Elise let out another exasperated sigh and quickened her pace. Then, once she was far enough ahead that I couldn't see her face, she muttered in a low whisper.
"...It’s not like I need a reason to go to lunch with you."
She probably meant it as a private thought and wasn't looking for a reply. Still, hearing those words made me feel a bit more at ease. I’d suspected we were on good terms, but knowing she considers me a friend—at the very least—made me truly happy.
Serious-senpai: "Forget 'at least a friend.' Considering that Kaito and Alice are the only people Elise ever drops her guard around... he's definitely near the very top of her list."