The view from the gondola, which offered a sweeping panorama of the Founding Anniversary Festival venue from above, was truly magnificent. Although the ride was only supposed to last twenty minutes, I felt as though I had been aboard for a considerable length of time. Nevertheless, we eventually completed the circuit and returned to the station.
Even as we descended, I noticed a striking number of people looking up at the sky. The number of those adopting prayer-like postures had increased significantly since we first went up.
At first, I simply tilted my head in confusion, unable to grasp what was happening, but then it dawned on me—this was almost certainly Shiro-san’s doing.
She had likely manifested that stereoscopic text again. I assumed the Gods had stepped in to provide some kind of damage control, but even so, the more perceptive spectators had clearly sensed a divine presence and were now offering their devotion.
"It’s a bit early, but should we start thinking about where to have lunch?" I asked.
"I have been waiting for those words," she replied.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
I tilted my head, curious at her uncharacteristically eager response. Obviously, Shiro-san didn't actually need to eat; if anything, lunch was more for my benefit than hers.
In reality, she rarely ate anything more substantial than small sweets to accompany her black tea. Unlike Alice, who had a genuine passion for food, Shiro-san was usually indifferent, which made her current enthusiasm all the more mysterious.
"In preparation for today’s lunch, I have brought a lunch box," Shiro-san announced.
"Wait, did you make it yourself, Shiro-san?"
"Yes. My reference materials stated that a handmade lunch box is a vital component of a lovey-dovey date between a couple, so I ensured it was properly prepared."
To my surprise, it seemed Shiro-san had actually put together a bento for us. A handmade meal from a girlfriend was a classic trope that any guy would appreciate, and I was honestly starting to get excited.
I had no worries about the flavor. Shiro-san was essentially Almighty; it wasn't an exaggeration to say she could do almost anything perfectly if she set her mind to it. I had heard from Kuro that even without prior experience, Shiro-san could execute a task with greater precision than a lifelong master.
I was genuinely looking forward to it. I was curious to see what kind of meal she had prepared. Given that she was relying on romance manga for her information, I expected something fairly traditional, but with Shiro-san, there was always a chance she’d come up with something completely unexpected.
"Thank you! I’m really looking forward to it—my excitement is actually starting to peak."
"Knowing you have such high expectations makes the effort worthwhile," she said.
"Now then... where would be a good place to eat?"
Despite how busy the Founding Anniversary Festival was, it didn't mean every square inch of the capital was packed. If we looked around, we would surely find a suitable spot. Perhaps there was a quiet park off the main thoroughfare, or a corner with benches meant for resting.
The only real problem was that I hadn't spent much time in the Hydra Kingdom’s capital, so no specific locations sprang to mind.
"Yes," Shiro-san agreed. "A place with a fine view of the sea where the two of us can eat in peace would be ideal."
"That sounds great. Since the ocean is right there, it would be a waste not to look at it. I just wonder if such a convenient spot actually exists..."
Any scenic spot overlooking the water was bound to be popular. Aside from using "cheats" like the Assembly Hall as I had with Alice, finding a quiet, private area seemed like a tall order. Maybe there was some hidden gem only the locals knew about, but given my total lack of geographic intuition here, I doubted I would be able to stumble upon it by chance.
Just as I was resigning myself to a search, a woman who appeared to be one of the Gods approached us. Her long blonde hair was gathered into a thick, sweeping ponytail.
"Forgive my intrusion while you are speaking," she said. "Shallow Vernal-sama, Miyama Kaito-sama, we have prepared a private location for your exclusive use, exactly as you desired."
"Oh... I see..." I stammered.
"Very well, let us eat there," Shiro-san decided. "Great Sea God, I leave the guidance to you."
"By your command!"
So, this woman was the Great Sea God... Her blonde hair had a rich, golden hue, her eyes were orange, and her outfit followed a white and orange theme. Personally, I didn't think she looked much like a deity of the ocean.
Then again, this was our first meeting, so perhaps there was some other aspect of her that fit the name. Regardless, her support was as impeccable as always. It seemed I didn't have to worry about finding a spot for our picnic after all.