As we made our way toward East Street to satisfy Cento's request, I glanced back at her and Sien trailing behind us. Much like Tre and me, the two of them were walking hand-in-hand. It was a charming, heartwarming sight.
"Come to think of it, Cento mentioned she likes ceramics. Do you have a particular interest too, Sien?"
"Yes. Actually, it's quite similar to Cento's. I collect handicrafts as well."
"Sien is a fan of glasswork," Tre chimed in.
"I see."
So Cento liked ceramics, while Sien preferred glass. From the sound of it, they were both avid collectors. They shared the same hobby, even if the medium differed.
"In my case, I prefer decorative glass pieces over things like tableware," Sien explained. "I'm still just an amateur, but I've actually tried my hand at making a few pieces myself."
"Sien is quite gifted with her hands, so her glasswork is actually quite impressive," Cento added. "Miyama-san, if the opportunity ever arises, please take a look at her work."
"I’d look forward to that. I’ll definitely take you up on that if I can. By the way, are there no glass shops on East Street?"
We still had plenty of time, so I thought it would be nice to look at some glasswork for Sien, but her expression suggested she wasn't particularly interested in the idea. I wondered if the selection on East Street was poor. Seeing my confusion, Sien offered an explanation.
"The Kingdom of Sinfonia is famous for its ceramics, but the quality of its glasswork is a bit lacking compared to other nations."
"Ah, I suppose every country has its own specialty."
"Indeed. When it comes to glass, the Arclesia Empire is the undisputed leader. Their history with smithing naturally led to the development of glassmaking, giving them a very deep heritage. The Hydra Kingdom, on the other hand, produces many avant-garde, glittering pieces—those are quite wonderful too. Sinfonia's glass doesn't have much in the way of a defining characteristic... though there are certainly high-quality pieces to be found."
The Arclesia Empire was a mountainous region with many mines, so it made sense that they would be strong in industries like glassmaking. Meanwhile, since the Hydra Kingdom was always at the leading edge of fashion and trends, I could imagine them producing many novel and experimental glass designs.
"With its lush greenery, the Kingdom of Sinfonia is known for its woodwork," Sien continued. "And as for pottery, it’s famous because the local soil is excellent—especially the kind used for the Five-colored Pottery Cento mentioned."
"Think of it like this, Kaito," Tre added. "That’s only how it looks to an expert like Sien. From our perspective, the glass here in Sinfonia is plenty impressive."
"That’s fair. It’s hard to judge the finer points of handicrafts. In the world I came from, we had professional appraisers to handle that. Are there people like that in this world too?"
"Yeah, there are. But usually, people just use the Appraisal Agency. It's a massive organization under the jurisdiction of the Phantasm King's subordinates that handles quality checks for all sorts of goods."
I see. Now that she mentioned it, I felt like I had heard about such an organization before. Talking about a field I knew so little about felt fresh and interesting.
"Tre, do you have a collection or a hobby like that?"
"Do you honestly think I could manage a collection properly?"
"No, I don't."
"Then there’s your answer."
"Fair enough."
Collecting sounded simple, but maintaining everything and gaining the necessary knowledge seemed like a lot of work. I didn't think I was cut out for it either. Lilia-san collected dragon models, and while finding something you loved enough to hoard seemed fun... I just didn't have anything I was that passionate about. It wasn't the kind of thing you could force, anyway.
"On the flip side, Kaito, do you have any hobbies?"
"Hmm. If I had to pick, I’d say reading... and taking care of Bell and Rin."
"Ah, yeah, you're definitely dedicated to that."
"You can tell?"
"Oh, for sure. Bell's fur is always so incredibly plush, and Rin's scales are practically blinding."
"Well, you're not wrong. As for Bell, I actually bought several new types of brushes recently, but it turns out it’s better to switch them based on the weather. Humidity and static play a huge role in the finish..."
Tre certainly had an eye for quality. It was true—Bell’s fur had been feeling exceptionally fluffy lately.
I didn't want to brag, but I felt my brushing technique had reached new heights. I used to only use three types of brushes, but now I rotated through seven different ones. That texture was my pride and joy.
I had also recently bought a specialized polishing brush for Rin’s scales. Apparently, the requirements varied wildly depending on the dragon species. It was a delicate balance; you needed a brush stiff enough to remove dirt, but gentle enough to ensure you didn't leave even the tiniest scratch on the scales.
"Hehe, it’s rare to see Miyama-san get this talkative."
"He must truly love them."
As I chattered away to Tre about Bell and Rin, Cento and Sien watched me with the same heartwarming smiles I had given them moments before.
Serious-senpai: [Actually, if you had to name Kaito's hobby, pet care is definitely it.]
???: [He’s incredibly particular about their food, too. You can really feel how much he dotes on them.]
Serious-senpai: [The guy's engagement level is just on a whole different level the second pets are brought up...]