After returning to the shopping street in Sakuya-san's SUV, we ate a late lunch.
Well, more than late. It's past the time for snacks, at least.
Kei: Oh yes, this is satisfaction.
A tiny happiness is spreading from the center of my belly.
With another source of happiness right next to me.
There is only Uzuki-san and me, casually walking through the market street, spending time together fleetingly as if we were friends. I'll bet it would seem that way to any onlooker.
Sakuya-san was with us until after lunch, but then said something about an errand and went off somewhere.
After all that noisy talk about "danger, danger!" we're now left on our own. They don't get along, but perhaps she trusts Uzuki-san for that very reason.
Kei: *hamu*!
As we walk, I nibble on the crepe I bought, and the sweet fragrance of melted whipped cream slowly spreads in my mouth.
This fluffy sweetness, covering up all sadness, pain, and difficulty, must truly be the jewel of all our combined invention.
Kei: Uuu, I'm so happy...
Uzuki: I imagine so. You certainly look happy.
Kei: I really like sweet things.
Not that I particularly like crepes and whipped cream. If I were to choose, I'm more of an anko lover, but that's another matter. (TN: Red bean paste.)
Kei: What's more, this crepe maker is really good, you know. She may even be better than a popular store where I live. You can't underestimate Hemidzuka Ginzadoori!
Uzuki: Mm......
To be honest, I had no expectations for the taste, so it's almost painfully delicious. I have to brag about it to Youko-chan later.
And the hotel where I'm staying, Sakaki Ryokan, makes some good meals. Hemidzuka might just be a place to go for really good food.
And though she wasn't born here, my mother came here to marry, and she was a really good cook.
Kei: ......Hah.
Uzuki: Mm?
Kei: Ahaha, it's nothing. A sigh of happiness.
Uzuki: Is that so...
This just won't do. After all that happened, I'm together with Uzuki-san. I can't just gush over food like this.
Kei: *hamu* *amu*!
Nibbling at my happiness, I stuff my cheeks with two bites.
Uzuki: ............
Kei: What's the matter?
Uzuki: Nothing, I was just thinking, you must have been really hungry.
Kei: Wah, not re-......
Uzuki-san's crepe has no teeth marks at all, good as new.
I shift my sight to my crepe, already greatly diminished.
Kei: Umm...... dessert goes to a different place, you see.
Uzuki: I would imagine so.
Kei: Uuu. I went hiking today, remember?
The calorie consumption is more than enough, so there shouldn't be any distress over eating a lunch/dessert combo. At least I think there isn't. There can't be.
Kei: But, Uzuki-san, don't you feel at least a little hungry? You left earlier than I did this morning...
Kei: Ah, come to think of it, you weren't there for breakfast. Did you eat?
Uzuki: No......
Kei: Wah, you skipped breakfast? Aren't you hungry?
When we ate lunch together, she had the same typical amount that I did.
Again, there are no bites on her crepe.
Kei: Could it be that you don't like sweet things?
And I don't really understand the reason, but she can't put onions in nattou.
Taste preferences depend on the person. A good warning for when you have a meal with someone you don't know very well.
At any rate, there are people in this world who can have prolonged heated disputes over whether to put salt, pepper, soy sauce, ketchup, or mayonnaise on their fried eggs.
I was so bubbly I wound up being inconsiderate.
Kei: ......Umm, was it bad to buy one?
Uzuki: I don't have many chances to eat them, but I don't dislike sweet things. In fact, I rather like them.
Uzuki: I didn't receive any allowance as a child, and it wasn't an environment where you could eat what you wanted, after all.
Uzuki: I always looked forward to
botamochi, hagi no mochi, and
joushi no shirozake in Buddhist services.
Kei: Ah, those are really good, botamochi and ohagi. But Joushi is...... you said white sake, so, Hina Matsuri?
Uzuki: Unfortunately, the Senba family doesn't decorate a
doll stand. Nii-san (TN: elder brother) often told me that's why I'll never act like a girl, actually.
Kei: Umm, well, I get the feeling your manner of speaking isn't very girly, but......
Kei: ......Are the rest of the Senba people like that?
Uzuki: Nothing like that, really. My speech probably comes from my brother. I didn't play with kids my age, so I was always following my elder brother around.
Kei: Did the adults scold you or anything?
Uzuki: In the Senba family, even if you're talking to your parents, it's basic to use keigo. Nii-san was the only one I made contact with without using it. (TN: Keigo being polite speech. It usually sounds the same with no regard to your typical speech patterns.)
Kei: That sounds great. I always wanted an onii-chan or onee-chan.
Well, no, just being with my mom was more than enough happiness for me.
Kei: But, it seems you like your brother a lot.
Uzuki: That's right. Nii-san was a replacement for my parents, my sword master, and my role model.
Kei: Ah......
Uzuki: What's wrong?
Kei: ......Umm, well......
She's been talking in past tense the whole time...
And having inherited such a dangerous duty as onikiriyaku as such a young woman...
That's probably it.
Kei: If you like sweets, then why aren't you eating?
Uzuki: Ahh.......
She drops her eyes to the thing in her hand as she speaks.
Uzuki: Like I said, I don't get the chance to eat things like this often so, to follow your example, I was watching you eat, but...
Kei: Mm hmm?
Uzuki: Well, you looked so happy.
Kei: Uwa......
Feeling a sudden jump in the temperature of my head, I rush to hide my face.
Thanks to Youko-chan and Sakuya-san, I'm used to being teased, but Uzuki-san's words and gaze are so earnest, it's cruel.
Kei: ......Umm......you know?
As I sneak in an inquisitive upward glance, Uzuki-san faces forward and is about to take her first bite.
Uzuki: ---!?
Her movement stops.
Kei: What's wrong?
Uzuki: Sorry it's half-eaten, but you take it from here.
She pushes the crepe into my hands.
Kei: Eh? So you didn't like it? Would
oobanyaki or taiyaki have been better?
Uzuki: No...
Her formerly calm expression is enshrouded in a samurai's armor, and before I get a chance to speak, she breaks into a sprint.
Only now can I hear the faint words she left with me.
Uzuki: ...I found him.
At last, on the other side, I can discern Kei-kun reversing his direction in the crowd.