Parking the car not far from a dessert shop named "Indulge," Ren confirmed it was the right place and led Mahiru out, holding her hand.
"Ren?"
"You've got a sweet tooth, right?" Ren said. "Earlier, I was talking with a friend about which dessert shop is good, and he strongly recommended this place. So I figured I'd bring my cute fiancée to try it."
When they were shopping at the mall earlier, Ren had noticed Mahiru clearly favored high-sugar foods. Coincidentally, Hachiman had recommended this shop to him, so Ren decided to bring Mahiru here.
If he didn't personally try the place his friend praised so hard, how could he ruthlessly critique him from every angle later?
Gently pushing open the door, a rich, tempting sweetness immediately washed over them.
The interior was decorated mostly in pink, giving Mahiru the brief illusion that she'd stepped into a princess's room from a Western fantasy.
Exquisite little cakes were displayed behind the counter, each one so carefully made it was hard to look away.
"Welcome. What would you like to order~?"
The bell on the doorframe chimed as the door opened. A cute shop assistant in a black-and-white retro maid dress dipped her knees in a small curtsy, lifting her skirt with one hand as she spoke.
That deliberate, over-the-top "noble" atmosphere made customers feel like they'd wandered into a wonderland.
That Hikigaya recommended this place so strongly… it wouldn't be because the maid here is cute, would it?
Noticing the details after stepping inside, Ren roasted Hachiman silently in his head.
Squeezing Mahiru's small hand, Ren signaled her to snap out of it.
Mahiru came back to her senses and put on the gentle smile she used at school. "Hello, could you recommend a few items?"
"No problem. This way, please~"
With a welcoming gesture, the assistant led them to the counter and began introducing the best-selling desserts.
"You can try this Strawberry Smoothie. It's a newer item, and it's been selling very well."
She pointed to a cup with a pink milkshake base, a middle layer of crushed nuts and shredded coconut, and sliced strawberries and blueberries carefully arranged on top. It looked almost too pretty to drink.
"If you don't like that, we also have macarons, petite cakes, and fresh-baked cookies."
Mahiru's eyes sparkled as she looked over everything. With the assistant's introduction, she made up her mind right away.
"Two Strawberry Smoothies, please."
For someone with a serious sweet tooth, stepping into this shop was like an alcoholic walking into a bar—she wanted to pack everything and take it home.
However, in front of Ren, Mahiru's restraint won out. She knew when to stop.
"Certainly. Please wait a moment."
After confirming Mahiru's order, the assistant was about to head to the back—when Ren pointed at the desserts Mahiru had been staring at.
"Excuse me," Ren said, "also give me two sets of the five-color macarons. For the small cakes—strawberry, blueberry, mango… one of each. And the cookies."
"Thank you."
Hearing such a large order, the assistant quickly pulled out a pen and notepad to record the types and quantities. While writing, she didn't forget to keep recommending.
"This chocolate pudding is also a bestseller. Would you like one? And we also have strawberry daifuku."
Ren didn't answer immediately. He looked down at Mahiru, clearly asking for her opinion.
Mahiru nodded.
"Then add them," Ren said.
"No trouble at all!"
Looking at the note packed with dense writing, the assistant beamed with joy. Even her steps to the back seemed lighter.
"Ren…"
Mahiru saw the filled note too and tugged at him.
Ren wasn't particularly interested in sweets at home. These were obviously all for her.
Buying so much at once—was he trying to raise her into a piglet?
But the feeling of being cared for and cherished like this was very good.
Ren looked at her seriously. "If you like it, eat more. You only live once. Treat yourself better."
"I understand, Ren."
Mahiru lowered her head and replied softly.
The shop worked efficiently; the sweets were packed in a short while.
Mahiru volunteered to take the bags from the assistant, stubbornly refusing to let Ren carry them.
In Mahiru's words, Ren had brought her here and bought the sweets, so the task of carrying them back had to be hers.
Otherwise, if she did nothing, she would be spoiled into a useless person by Ren sooner or later.
"It wouldn't bother me if you became useless," Ren said, teasing her. "You're my fiancée."
The car was just across the way, only a short walk, so Ren didn't insist on taking the bags—he only kept teasing her.
"No," Mahiru said, refuting him for the first time. "I should be the one who spoils you into uselessness."
Back in the car, they headed home. To keep the desserts from being ruined, Ren drove slowly this time.
Such a cool sports car.
As the luxury car passed by, Hachiman Hikigaya—who had just finished explaining the concept of "intentions" to Yui Yuigahama in the Home Economics room—glanced out unconsciously and sighed.
No boy could refuse a sports car, even if it was only by looking.
Still… why did the that drove past feel familiar, as if he'd seen it somewhere before?
Not thinking too much about it, Hachiman weighed the dessert bags in his hand and smiled sincerely.
This dessert had been bought from the shop Ren had strongly recommended to him today, using the errand fee Ren gave him.
When he got home, he'd find out just how delicious the shop Ren recommended really was.
If it wasn't as good as the shop he had recommended to Ren, then tomorrow he would critique Ren's trash taste from every angle.
Using Ren's money to buy the dessert Ren recommended, then criticizing Ren after eating it—just thinking about it felt great.
Hachiman decided. Whether the sweets were good or not, he would still say they were bad.
Without realizing it, Hachiman had already accepted Ren as his friend.
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