After returning from Ozma-san's House, where I had gone to deliver the coffee samples, I looked over the Coffee Lovers' List Alice had given me.
With only a limited number of samples available, I couldn't visit everyone, but I wanted to make sure the true coffee lovers on the list got theirs. Shia-san was a definite, but as I scanned the names near the top... oh?
I spotted a name that surprised me. Alice’s list consisted of acquaintances who enjoyed coffee, and for the most part, the names made sense. But one person didn't fit the image of a coffee drinker at all. Their name was toward the bottom, far from the serious enthusiasts. Well, I’d just have to ask her about it the next time we met.
With that thought in mind, I sent off Hummingbirds to the people I planned to visit, including Shia-san, to confirm their schedules.
Suddenly, I found myself in a place with the atmosphere of a lush green plateau. I stood on a wooden Terrace surrounded by a sprawling lawn, where a refreshing Wind blew. It felt quite pleasant.
"My Child! It's Mother!!"
"Hello, Machina-san... Even though you have a body now, we’re still meeting in my Dreams, I see."
"It’s easier for me to maintain my self-control here. I find it reassuring because I can place various restrictions on myself. Besides, here I get My Beloved Child all to myself!"
Having experienced this many times, I knew immediately that this was a Dream world of Machina-san’s making. Actually, I had been here so often that I was simply used to it.
This space changed constantly—likely depending on her mood—shifting from a school rooftop to a riverbank. It felt like going on a Short Trip, and the sensation of the Wind was so realistic it was hard to believe it was just a Dream.
"...By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask: your name was on the Coffee Lovers' List Alice gave me. Do you actually like coffee?"
Machina-san crossed her arms, a complicated expression on her face.
"Hmm... how should I put this? It’s a difficult judgment to make."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well, you see... I like Cafe au Lait and Caramel Lattes. So, in a broad sense, I suppose I could be called a coffee lover. But since I almost never drink black coffee, I wonder if I truly qualify."
"I see. That is a bit of a gray area."
Cafe au Lait and Caramel Lattes are definitely coffee-based. If she preferred those over Black Tea, she could technically be considered a coffee lover. It was just a matter of perspective.
"Exactly. So, I guess you could say I like coffee? Here, have a Caramel Latte."
"Oh, thank you."
With a wry smile, she conjured a Caramel Latte and handed it to me. It came in a paper cup like the ones at major coffee chains. I took a sip, and a Sweet flavor filled my mouth.
"You have to understand, until I became a God, I drank almost nothing but mineral water. I simply haven't tried very many things."
"You really did have a rough past. Was your food mostly just canned goods and military rations back then?"
"Yes. Looking back, it was a miserable diet, but since it was all I knew, I didn't think twice about it. But... honestly? I think I might actually prefer Cola."
"Because it goes well with Hamburgers?"
"Exactly! You can't have a Hamburger without a Cola. I'm not knocking people who prefer orange juice, but for me, nothing beats that combination. Speaking of which, My Beloved Child, you might not know this, but at an Australian Burger Shop..."
I watched her talk happily about burgers as I sipped my latte with a wry smile. When she wasn't losing control, Machina-san really was a bright, cheerful person. If only she could stay that way.
Serious-senpai: "Somehow, I feel like my opinion of Machina has improved lately."