Chapter 3: Acquaintance
That day, Fujimaru Ritsuka recalled the terror of being dominated by half-AP events.
A massive hit.
Despite being just a small bakery opened on an inconspicuous street, the threshold was practically trampled down on its very first day of business.
He practically regretted opening this shop and releasing so many new products.
The two of them were so busy their feet barely touched the ground, with order slips flying out one after another in a dizzying blur.
"I am very sorry, but we have run out of stock for today's Romantic Strawberry Cake. Would you accept this voucher instead?"
"Mash, is the new batch of Deep-Fried Evil Bones not ready yet?"
"Uh... I'm sorry, the Hero's Proof Milk Cookies are sold out. May I swap them for Gear Biscuits for you?"
"Ah, my Barbatos Strawberry Tart tipped over!"
"I'm so sorry, I'll prepare a new one for you right away!"
...
The stock was completely sold out, and they closed early.
The two of them lay on the sofa as if they had just been through a great battle, having originally intended to buy groceries to take home after cleaning up the remaining ingredients.
Just then, the wind chime rang.
"Is anyone there? I heard a new cake shop opened here today."
A person's voice came from outside.
"I'm sorry, today's stock is sold out. Please come back tomorrow."
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash were just about to see the guest off, but they were slightly startled when they saw who it was.
A middle-aged man with long hair was wearing a reddish-brown vintage robe, his features chiseled, looking solemn and grave.
"Professor El-Melloi II?"
Both of them called out in unison, clearly surprised to encounter an acquaintance here.
Although the person before them was clearly not the same individual as the Servant Zhuge Liang from Chaldea, his face was identical; it must be El-Melloi II of this era.
"You know me? Which department are you students from?"
The man seemed even more surprised than they were; he hadn't expected that after finally getting a vacation to travel abroad, he would still run into his own students.
Although he was now a famous lecturer at the Clock Tower, he did not know every student.
However... some unpleasant memories seemed to have been stirred up.
Why did he get a feeling of liver pain the moment he saw the bakery owner's face? Was it an illusion?
He frowned, but still shook off that thought.
"I would like this Golden Fruit Cake. It's fine, I don't mind waiting a little longer."
Fujimaru Ritsuka was stunned for a moment, an inexplicable sense of guilt suddenly rising in his heart.
"Professor, I think other types of cakes might suit you better..."
"No need."
El-Melloi II rubbed his brow, appearing slightly exhausted.
"Please give me this Golden Fruit Cake."
A cake was soon placed in front of him.
It was shaped like a golden apple, with a mango-flavored chocolate shell on the outside and rich, sweet cream and a mango lava center on the inside.
It was delicious.
He couldn't help but look at the person before him with newfound respect; despite looking only the age of an ordinary high school student, he possessed such high-level baking skills.
But... why did his liver hurt even more?
It must be because of those students, always causing him all sorts of trouble!
"Thank you for the hospitality."
El-Melloi felt a slight stomachache, and to avoid losing his composure, he left the money and prepared to leave.
"Professor, you are welcome to visit again."
"Of course," El-Melloi said, "I am very satisfied. I will introduce this shop to my students."
Antarctic Bakery was closed for the rest of the evening.
"Senpai," Mash suddenly spoke up, "I feel that Professor El-Melloi II and Mr. Zhuge Liang from Chaldea still have some similarities."
Perhaps Zhuge Liang's Saint Graph had influenced the Professor during the human order restoration period.
Fujimaru Ritsuka explained that, after all, the Throne of Heroes exists outside the historical axis, so it would have some influence.
They did not continue that topic; it seemed that all matters concerning the past carried a hint of taboo at this moment.
The two of them just wandered around casually.
It wasn't the evening rush hour yet, so there weren't many people on the street, but the shops were all open.
Strolling along the slightly empty pedestrian street, stopping now and then to buy some steaming snacks, and looking at the happy-looking girl beside him, Fujimaru Ritsuka felt his heart filled.
"By the way, what are we eating tonight?"
"Let's have hot pot this time. I want to try something spicy. What about you, Senpai?" Mash turned back to look at him.
"I'm the same as Mash," Fujimaru Ritsuka scratched his head. "Eating spicy food in winter is the most appropriate thing!"
The two stopped in front of a fairly large supermarket.
No one can resist discounted groceries, and the two were no exception.
Fujimaru Ritsuka thought, his gaze following Mash's movements.
The girl was carefully selecting discounted vegetables, and the setting sun shone through the supermarket's glass windows, casting a warm halo over her lavender hair.
"Senpai?" Mash noticed his gaze and tilted her head slightly. "Is there something on my face?" As she spoke, a slight flush appeared on her face.
"Ah, no..." Fujimaru Ritsuka hurriedly waved his hand, explaining somewhat awkwardly, "It's just here, there's still a bit of flour."
"Flour? Where, where?"
Mash put down the bag and touched her face, but she couldn't find the spot where the flour was.
"Right here."
His fingertips lightly brushed her cheek; in reality, there was nothing there, but his actions were so serious that it seemed as if he had really taken something off.
That touch was like a feather, yet it made them both freeze.
The faint, sweet scent left over from baking drifted in the air, intertwined with the tacit heartbeat of the moment.
"Thanks to you today, Mash," Fujimaru Ritsuka said softly, taking the heavy shopping bag from her hands. "Without you, I definitely couldn't have handled so many people."
"I'm very happy to be able to help you, Senpai." Mash's ears turned slightly red, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the edge of her clothes. "Running this shop with you, it's like... it's like..."
Mash lowered her head and glanced at him from the corner of her eye; her voice grew quieter and quieter, and her face grew redder and redder.
"It's like... you and I have our own little base..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly felt as if ten thousand Cernunnos were running around in his heart...
So cute.
He couldn't help but say in his heart, a certain impulse in the youth's heart surging up at once.
But he quickly suppressed it.
He held everything in one hand and took Mash's hand with the other.
"This place, it is our little base. It is now, and later," his eyes carried a smile.
"Later, it will be the same."
...
Their faces were flushed red from eating the spicy Sichuan-style hot pot, and the two of them kept sneezing, laughing at each other while pointing at their flushed faces.
Everything was good, just a little bit lonely; as expected, something like hot pot is better eaten with several people together.
Ah, right, why not...
The two looked at each other.
"Ah, I see you, I see you. Fujimaru-kun, did you encounter any danger?"
As soon as the communication tool was opened, Da Vinci's face leaned in, looking at the two red-faced people with concern, her voice full of urgency.
"Oh my, why are your faces so red?"
"Da Vinci-chan, don't worry, we were just eating hot pot."
After hearing them recount the situation of the past two days, Da Vinci on the other side of the communication finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Anyway, everything is normal, and our shop's business is very good."
"Huh?!"
A chubby face suddenly squeezed into the holographic projection.
Gordolf's face was almost pressed against the screen.
"Ahem! I say, Ritsuka, if you have money, you should go out and have fun... Could it be that you went gambling?!"