Since we were already at the specialty shop, I decided to pick up a teaspoon. Aria-san apparently found something to her liking as well, and after we had both made our purchases, we stepped back out into the street.
With no particular destination in mind, we decided to spend the rest of our time window shopping. I rarely had a reason to visit the West District, so the streets felt quite fresh and new to me. I knew where the popular eateries were thanks to Kuro’s complete food tour guide, but beyond that, I was essentially walking through unknown territory.
As I walked down the street with Aria-san, letting my gaze wander over the various storefronts, she suddenly seemed to notice something. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes as she turned to me.
"Kaito-sama, since we're here, would you care to join me in something a little... indecent?"
"Huh? What?"
I froze. Calm down. She probably doesn't mean what you think she means. Although we hadn't known each other long, I knew she wasn't the type to make that kind of joke. She surely meant "indecent" in terms of etiquette, not anything lewd. Don't let your imagination run wild. Keep it together.
Telling myself that, I followed her gaze to a nearby stall.
"...Ah, Stick Snacks."
It was a popular snack stall I had visited before. Despite the name, they were stick-shaped... well, there was no point in being fancy about it. On Earth, they were called churros. Of course, the texture and shape were slightly different, so they weren't exactly the same, but they were about eighty-five percent identical to the churros I knew back home.
"Indeed," she replied. "I know that eating while walking is considered quite improper... but don't you think there's a certain charm to it? A flavor that can only be found when you're on the move?"
"Yeah, I agree. Stick Snacks are perfect for eating while walking."
It was just as I had expected. She was from a remote village where such opportunities were likely rare, and during her time working as a maid in the Arclesia Empire, she would have been taught that such behavior was unseemly.
I recalled Olivia-san showing a similar hesitation. For someone like Aria-san, eating on the go likely felt like a thrillingly transgressive act. Though, unlike Olivia, she seemed to be relishing the taboo.
We moved toward the stall together. This particular vendor rotated to different locations throughout the Royal Capital depending on the day; I had eaten their snacks once before in the South District, and since they were featured in Kuro’s guide, I knew a bit about them.
There were four flavors: plain, chocolate, caramel, and strawberry.
"This is... quite a difficult choice," Aria-san murmured, looking deeply conflicted. "The chocolate looks divine, yet the caramel is equally tempting. But since we just ate, I don't think I can manage two... I’m torn on which to choose."
Perhaps it was because I usually hung around people like Alice or Kuro—who could instantly convert what they ate into magic power and thus consume infinite amounts—but Aria-san’s normal reaction felt quite refreshing.
That said, she was clearly struggling to decide, so I figured I would teach her a little trick.
"Fufu, it seems you’re unaware, Aria-san. Actually, there's a 'hidden ordering technique' at this stall that can solve your dilemma instantly."
"What?!" she exclaimed, immediately rolling with my exaggerated tone. "Are you saying such a dreamlike thing is actually possible?"
She was surprisingly good at playing along. I smiled wryly and looked at the stall owner, who shot me a nihilistic grin.
"Hoh... You've got a sharp eye, young man. But I wonder, at your age, do you really understand the mysteries of my secret menu?"
Apparently, the owner was the type to play along as well. I wondered if this dramatic roleplay was just going to keep going.