Just like how I touched Ryuse-san for the first time today, nothing boisterous happened. Chise-san, who aggressively approached me, did scare me a little, but he was still considerate of me.
Even now, the jet black huge hand is kindly embracing my hand.
I continued in peaceful conversation with Shize-san. About the alcohols that Sena-san and the others like, about the alcohols that I had which were delicious, and the desserts and snacks which went well with it.
Shize-san went back home just as the sun was beginning to set. Before he exited the shop, he gently patted my head.
While looking at the sunset sky through the window, I held up to the light the ruby I had received from Ryuse-san. A crimson red shine. Even without polishing it, it was beautiful enough.
I think I’ll decorate my room with this gemstone.
This crimson red ruby…
Shize-san might be holding a passionate heart like this ruby. Even without speaking much, I could feel the burning fire within him. That was what I felt after talking with Shize-san.
Nevertheless, there was so much going on today. And nothing beats to have Ryuse-san open up his heart to me.
The white fluff, the blue fluff, and the black fluff filled my heart.
Shize-san’s mane… eventually…
“What a wonderful day it was today”
Letting out a relieved sigh, I made a smile.
How wonderful it would be able to spend much more time like this, as I had hoped in my heart.
It has been a month since the members of the DemiMercSquad started visiting the shop, and a week after the day full of fluffs.
I was engrossed in the book Sena-san had lent me after finishing all my work.
Within the bathroom laid out with milk-colored tiles, I excitedly flip the pages while enjoying the bubble bath in the bathtub placed in the middle of the room. Since the book is borrowed, I put protection magic on it (to keep it dry).
It is a very interesting mystery novel. The mystery deepens with every flip of the page. The engrossing sensation of solving the mystery together with the protagonist made my heart beat in excitement.
I cannot read till the end no matter how much I would love to, as I need to work the next day. But with the members of DemiMercSquad… maybe they would allow me to read this book (while serving them), but that might cause me to neglect them when they need my services, so that’s not an option.
The time I have in the bath after cleaning up the shop is my reading time. With how quickly time passes, the bath water had turned cold by the point I came back to my senses. I got out of the bath with a shiver, slipped in a bookmark, closed the book, made preparations to sleep, and headed towards the table to open my diary.
The book was bound in an off-white leather cover with a string. The scent of sage wafted into my nose from the leaf attached to the edge of the string. If someone else unfastens the string, a different scent will be released, so I will know if someone peeks into my diary.
About how Ryuse-san now sits at the counter seat all the time, and how he starts to frolic if there’s a chance.
Chise-san has been reined in by Shize-san, so he has been obedient recently. In addition, it looks like the spirits, the Rotos, have caught his interest instead. Ever since he found the Rotos observing Sena-san, he has been looking beneath the tables for them. This Chise-san, who upon first meeting the Rotos in his wolf form, said, “They look delicious, like muscats (grapes)!”
Afraid of being eaten, the Rotos stopped coming over during the afternoon when the Demis are around.
Sena-san was disappointed how the Rotos stopped observing him.
On the other hand, Shize-san too showed interest in the Rotos and asked “Which forest do these spirits come from?”.
Answering with the name of the forest of their origin, I was astonished by how he asked “Do they have any good alcohols there?” That’s the last of his interest after I answered that I don’t know about it. I should ask the spirits and mythical beast the next time about this.
While reading back the contents of the diary, I wrote the happenings of the day in details. Then fastened the diary with the leaf string, and went to bed.
-The next day when I woke up, my body felt slightly heavy. How I wish to sleep some more, but I have preparations to do. Ever since I brought forward the opening time by an hour these few days, I no longer have an excuse to dilly-dally. After all, I had received requests from the customers for a breakfast menu.
After I finished dressing myself, I headed down to the first floor while letting out a yawn. Calling out the Rotos, I left the cleaning to them as always. Finished with the preparations for the breakfast menu, I continue to making cakes. After a while, I could hear noises from the floor.
It seems that another spider has sneaked in.
Moving out of the kitchen, this time there was a butterfly by the door. The swallowtail butterfly had black motifs on its wings and a beautiful orange-yellow gradient. And it seems the Rotos were trying to chase the butterfly out of the shop. Flapping their hands towards their back and sometimes jumping up and down, they blew hard at the butterfly.
Flap flap, Fuu fuu (*sound of blowing breath)
It truly is a cute view but… I wonder what are they doing? After thinking about it for some time, I then realized. It’s an imitation of the mythical bird beast, Laclain. After all, he can whip up a gust of powerful wind with a flap of his wing.
Since the Rotos are spirits of the lotus flower, they can’t use wind magic. No matter how hard they flap their hands, wind would not come out. And since it looks like they did not know about this, they continued on flapping their small hands. It was very cute, as if there were many small light-green chicks chirping around.
With no solution at hand, they flopped by the counter and anguished.
I then opened the door and guided the butterfly out, which brought a smile to the faces of the Rotos.
“Kuchuu”
A small sneeze came out, and I lightly hit my head against the door from the force.
The Rotos were looking at me with a dazed expression, and all their attention were onto me.
“I’m fine” and I made a smile.
The Rotos then went back to cleaning while taking a peek towards me repeatedly.
I wonder what’s wrong? As I tilted my head, the Rotos tilted theirs as well. It seems the Rotos too do not know the reason of their actions.
Even after checking through the mirror, there was nothing on my face and my make-up is still the same as before.
And so, to reward the Rotos who were worried, I whipped up hot cakes for us.