After accepting Kaito's suggestion, they began walking toward the chocolate shop. However, Kaori's expression shifted more and more with every step they took.
The reason was simple. It was said that a single street could lead to an entirely different world, and that was exactly what was happening here. The scenery around them had transformed completely midway through their walk.
"...U-Um, Kaito-kun? I might be wrong, but... isn't this area lined with nothing but high-end boutiques? C-Could the chocolate shop your friend runs actually be a really prestigious place?"
Indeed, this street was night and day compared to the one they had been on moments ago. Every storefront they passed exuded an aura of luxury that felt light-years away from a commoner like Kaori.
Though the buildings were designed to blend in with the city's overall aesthetic, the sheer presence of the shops and the items showcased in the windows made it obvious they were elite establishments. Specifically, they had entered an area for stores of an even higher rank than the brand-name boutiques they had visited back in the Hydra Kingdom.
"That's right. My friend, Elis-san, is the daughter of a Marquis. Her shop is an exclusive, members-only high-end chocolate boutique. But it’s fine; I have a membership card, so there won’t be any trouble getting in. The taste is truly excellent, too."
"Right, I forgot... Kaito-kun’s social circle is totally outside the realm of common sense. Casually mentioning a Marquis's daughter... U-Um, you know, in my head, I was imagining something like the fancy sweets in a department store basement even at the high end... but this is a completely different level, isn't it? Shopping at a place l-like that is a pretty high hurdle for me..."
Sensing they were approaching a store that was clearly a purveyor to the nobility, Kaori muttered with a pale face, a familiar ache beginning to throb in her stomach.
Kaori was just an average commoner. To her, "luxury" chocolate meant something around 3 R per piece—maybe 300 yen at most.
However, Kaori read magazines often and remembered seeing features on shops for the nobility. She recalled price tags that seemed impossible for mere confections. Items of that caliber were... well, regardless of whether she could afford them or not, they simply weren't something she would ever think to buy.
Worried that it might be disrespectful to the shop to have a guest who clearly had no intent to purchase anything, she looked at Kaito, who offered a reassuring smile.
"It's okay. I was the one who invited you, so I never intended for you to pay for anything, Kaori-san. They really are delicious and I highly recommend them, so if anything catches your eye, please don't hold back. Pick out as much as you like. I'll take care of the bill."
"Guh... Y-You're doing it again..."
Faced with his gentle, composed smile, Kaori’s face flushed as she found herself at a loss for words.
(I mean, seriously! Why do you have to be so cool all the time?!)
While Kaori screamed internally, Olivia asked Kaito a question about the chocolate shop, and he began to explain. Watching them, Kaori felt a surge of bashful affection as she let her thoughts drift.
(Guh... Honestly, spending time with Kaito-kun makes it so obvious why he’s so popular. Usually, he’s kind and a bit of an airhead, which is cute, but in moments like this, he’s incredibly reliable... Is it because of that Sympathy Magic? Whenever I’m feeling anxious or confused, he senses it and follows up immediately. It gives me such a sense of security, and that gap between his usual self and this side of him makes my heart skip a beat...)
Since Kaito possessed Sympathy Magic, he was exceptionally sensitive to the shifts in people's emotions. He could only grasp feelings, not read thoughts, so he could still misinterpret things... nonetheless, the fact that he reached out to help the moment she needed it, without her having to say a single word, made her incredibly happy.
(He does so many cool things that sometimes I catch myself thinking, "Wait... is he hitting on me?"... No, I'm sure Kaito-kun isn't actually trying to woo me; he's just being himself. But isn't he just a natural-born womanizer, really? Plus, he always acts like he's just a totally average guy aside from his connections, but you’re actually really handsome, you know! I don’t know if your self-esteem is just low or if you’ve raised your standards too high because you’re surrounded by beautiful people, but you’re such a gentle, handsome guy... and personally, you’re exactly my type. When you smile at me like that, my heart just starts pounding!)
She knew it was an unreasonable thing to be annoyed by, so she kept it to herself, but being swayed so easily by her younger junior made her want to grumble a little in the privacy of her own mind.
(Aside from the fact that he occasionally puts me in situations that give me a massive stomach ache, he’s almost too ideal... Honestly, look at that clueless face... You have no idea how much you're making my heart race, do you? If you make me fall for you any harder, I’m going to make you take responsibility... Seriously, what a junior. He's terrible for my stomach and my heart.)
While thinking that, Kaori squeezed the hand she was holding just a little tighter. It might have been her imagination, but the warmth of his hand seemed to pulse a little more intensely against her palm than before.
Serious-senpai: "Gah?! Wh-What... I thought he was setting up a Stomach Pain Blow for Elis, but first he hits Kaori with one, and then uses a Sugar Move to give even me stomach pain?! And then Elis is up next... C-Could this be... the Craftsman's Three Consecutive Stomach Body Blows?!"