For a while after Agni left, I continued tending to the stall at a leisurely pace. Perhaps it was the festive atmosphere, but the customers all seemed to be in high spirits, allowing me to truly enjoy the work in a relaxed, comfortable rhythm.
"Kyu!"
"Hm? Over there? You certainly have a sharp ear, Vul."
I heard a familiar cry followed by a slow, relaxed voice I was hearing for the first time. I turned around to see a woman with bluish-white hair walking toward me, cradling Vul in her arms.
She stood about five-foot-three, with straight, flowing hair and an elegant dress that wouldn't have looked out of place in a noblewoman's manor. Tucked into her hair was a Blue Crystal Flower hair ornament. She had the aura of a refined, graceful lady—this had to be Spica.
"Kyu-kyu! Kyu!"
"Welcome, Vul. And... it's a pleasure to meet you. You must be Spica, right?"
"Indeed I am. I have recently joined Isis-sama’s household. I look forward to our acquaintance."
"I'm Kaito Miyama. The pleasure is all mine."
She spoke with a slow, melodic cadence that reminded me of a Kyoto dialect—or perhaps Kansai? It was a unique, charming way of speaking that sat somewhere in between.
She radiated a gentle air, and the atmosphere surrounding her felt soft and airy. It might have been my imagination, but she seemed like a very easygoing person.
"Let’s see... Could I have seven bags of the plain ones and seven of the chocolate, please?"
"Sure thing, seven of each."
"Now, as for the money... hmmm, please wait just a moment. I haven't had much occasion to use money myself. I'm not entirely certain which of these I should offer."
"Kyu! Kyuu... Kyu!"
"Oh, is it this one and this one? You're so clever, Vul. It was a huge help having you come along with me."
According to what I'd heard from Isis, Spica had never manifested in a physical body outside of her spirit state until recently, so she naturally lacked any experience with shopping.
She seemed a bit confused by the different types of coins, but Vul was right there to support her, pointing out the correct ones with her tail.
"...I see Vul can even handle the calculations for the total. She really is a genius."
"Kyuu!"
When I reached out and patted her, she happily nuzzled her face against my hand. She was incredibly cute.
"By the way... this might be a sudden question, but do you like Blue Crystal Flowers, Kaito-san?"
"Eh? Yes, they're flowers I have very strong memories of. Out of everything in this world, they're the ones that have left the deepest impression on me. They're beautiful, so I like them very much."
"I see. Fufu, I suppose asking that to everyone I meet has become a bit of a habit for me. It makes me happy to know there are so many people who cherish the Blue Crystal Flower."
In truth, the Blue Crystal Flower was deeply tied to my memories of Isis, and it remained a permanent fixture in my mind. I still carefully preserved the very first Blue Crystal Flower she gave me when we met. Maybe I should buy a glass case to display it properly.
"Come to think of it... Spica, you have a very distinctive way of speaking. It sounds a lot like a dialect from a specific region in the world I came from. Is there a reason for that?"
"No, not particularly. Somehow, I’ve simply spoken this way for as long as I can remember... though I suppose I never really had anyone to talk to before. I’ve just grown used to it, and I figure there's no need to fret over the fine details."
"I see."
Well, it certainly wasn't a problem. I was just curious because she was the first person I'd met besides Akane who spoke with that kind of accent. Then again, if someone like Spica existed, there were probably others with similar dialects out there.
"...Well then, it would be rude of us to overstay our welcome, so we shall be going now."
"Ah, right. Thank you very much. Please give my regards to Isis as well."
"I shall."
"See you later, Vul."
"Kyu!"
Spica gave a small wave and Vul wagged her tail like a hand as they walked away. They really were a heartwarming duo.
"...Look, look, Kaito! Someone in a strange outfit is coming this way. Isn't that what you call a kimono?"
"...Ah—"
Walking toward us were Amaterasu and Mana... Man, I really wanted to savor that peaceful atmosphere for just a little longer.
Wait, why did I just think that their arrival would be the end of my peace? It wasn't like Eden herself was coming... was it?
Serious-senpai: He might not have his memories, but the instinctive impression that Machina is dangerous has clearly left a permanent mark on his soul...