Shizori and I walked through the streets, looking around.
"That smell... freshly baked bread." She pointed out.
"Changed your mind about the sweets?"
"No. No. I'm just saying..."
"So many different stalls, shops, bakeries... where are the cafés?"
I looked around, noticing some people staring at us, whispering something.
Did it really spread this far?
I overheard one saying. "Did you hear? That mage girl with that weird guy over there are the ones who tried to rob Gai..."
She's not even a mage! Get your facts right.
Shizori's head tilted down, disheartened.
"M... maybe we should go back to the inn."
"Are you that worried about what they're saying?"
"A little... I'm sorry... for dragging you into this."
"Shizori." I stopped.
"Hmm?" She stood in front of me looking up at me.
I lightly flicked her forehead. "First of all, you didn't drag me into anything. Second of all, I'd rather have people gossip about me than have to live with myself regretting not saving you."
She rubbed the spot I flicked, her cheeks turned a light pink.
"You really are such a womanizer." She laughed as she turned around and walked ahead.
"How did you get to that CONCLUSION?!"
Bleh!
She stuck her tongue out playfully at me.
"Get back here!" I chased after her.
We found a small cozy looking patisserie tucked away in a quiet alley, central to Eldenbrook.
A wooden sign hanging overhead read 'Le Fruits'.
Woah!
"This place looks so cute." She looked at me with big eyes.
Those puppy eyes... my weakness...
"Okay. Okay. Let's eat here. Do you even have any room left after that breakfast?"
A smug expression appeared on her face.
"Of course! Someone told me before: there's always room for dessert."
"That person sounds like a real sweet tooth." A smile tugged at my lips.
A small bell jingled as I pushed the door open, releasing a wave of sweet air, honey, and fresh dough.
Inside, a nice young woman with a bright smile stood behind a counter with a glass panel, inside which they displayed their assortment.
"Welcome to 'Le Fruits'."
It ranged from honey cakes, honey bread, fruit tarts to honey roasted nuts, and cookies.
Shizori's eyes lit up, and her mouth opened in a small, silent gasp.
I noticed the prices. They are way more expensive than I thought they'd be.
5 silvers for a couple of honey cakes, 4 silvers for a handful of honey roasted nuts?
It's been a while since I've spent so much money on something like this.
But then I looked at Shizori's bright, joyful face... and I smiled despite myself.
Money is expendable. That smile though... God, I'm such a sucker for the way her face lights up. It reminds me of 'her'...
A woman with long hair, the top of her face hidden in shadow, smiling wide at a display of sweets. Just like Shizori was doing now.
I quickly shook my head.
I shouldn't get distracted!
"Do you also offer tea here?"
"Yeah, we have herbal teas or more expensive black tea."
"What would you like to order Shizori?"
She looked through the assortment with gleaming eyes.
Sooo many things I haven't eaten yet... what should I choose?!
"Hmm... I think I'll choose... a fruit tart, honey cakes, and a few cookies!"
"That and I'll take two fruit tarts and for each of us a cup of black tea with a little honey." I told the patissiere.
"That'll be 18 Silvers." She responded with a warm smile.
I placed the money on the tray on the counter, and we sat down at a table near the window.
"Leilah, get two cups of black tea ready!"
She brought us the sweets and placed them on our table.
"The tea will come right up, I hope you like it."
"Thank you, it smells and looks very delicious."
Shizori stared at the sweets, drooling a little.
"Is it really okay for me to eat something that looks this amazing?"
I chuckled.
"If you don't, it would be quite an insult to the one who made it."
A different girl, presumably Leilah, brought out our tea and placed it in front of us.
"Thank you very much."
"Thank you..."
She bowed, then disappeared back into the kitchen.
Shizori took the smallest bite, hesitant, and the moment the flavors hit her tongue, her eyes shut.
Her free hand flew to her cheek, fingers pressing gently against it.
A quiet, shaky breath escaped her.
Then her face lit up, slowly at first, until her whole expression radiated pure, unguarded delight.
Her lips curved into a trembling smile, cheeks flushing pink.
"Soooo delicious!" She squealed, pure joy bursting out of her before she could stop it.
Holy crap, she just did the classic anime 'first bite' reaction. Adorable. I didn't think people actually did that in real life.
"Seems like you like it very much?"
She just nodded in pure bliss.
Even the patissiere was delighted seeing her enjoying the sweets.
I took a sip of the tea and took a bite of the fruit tart myself.
"Oh wow, now I understand, it tastes really amazing."
Another taste I've been missing... makes me a little homesick.
Green tea, matcha, rice, ramen... yeah, I could go on all day.
We ate it all.
"A... Alex?"
"Hmm?"
Can I really ask even more from him? After he already spend so much on me...
"What's on your mind Shizori?"
"N... never mind, it's nothing." Her gaze tilted a little downward.
No! I don't want to owe him even more.
I smirked at her.
"Let me guess, you wanted to ask for more? Getting a little greedy now aren't we?"
"Greedy?! It's your fault to begin with! And I just wanted to ask if we could get some more for someone else..."
She puffed her cheeks out. "Meanie..."
"I was just joking. Who are you thinking of buying some for, Hilde?"
"We could get her some as well, but I was thinking of someone else..."
Maybe I can trust him... despite having the opportunity... he didn't do anything.
She remembered what happened that morning.
"... for my sister."
"You have a sister?" I raised an eyebrow. "I mean, of course we can get her something as well, not a problem at all."
I stepped over to the counter.
"Really?" Raising her head, her expression lit up.
"Come and choose what you'd like to get for her."
She rushed over.
"Is it okay if we get her a fruit tart and a honey bread?"
"Of course, I hope she'll like it as much as you did."
Does he really not mind spending so much on me? Or is this included in the loan...?
"So yeah, we'd like to buy a fruit tart and a honey bread to go."
"That will be 7 Silvers."
I hand her the coins.
The patissiere packed it up and put a few cookies in as well.
"We didn't order those?" I asked her.
"Since this cute girl liked our sweets so much, I'm giving them to you for free, on the house."
She handed the bag to Shizori.
Shizori's face turned red. "T... thank you very much."
"I hope you visit our store again." She bowed.
"Thank you, we'll definitely come by again."
We both bowed to her as well and then left the patisserie.
"So, should we head over to the guild first or bring the sweets to your sister?"
"Let's go to the guild first, visiting my sister would take longer."
"How come, where does your sister live?"
Now that I think about it, she does stay at an inn instead of living with her...
"She lives in Willowbrook, the next town over."
The weather darkened, thick dark clouds formed.
"How far away is Willowbrook?"
"By carriage it's about 4-5 hours."
"So we should have enough time to visit the guild and afterwards head over there."
"You want to come as well?" She looked at me surprised.
"Yeah, as if I'll miss out on seeing your sister's reaction to the sweets." I laughed.
Just because of that? He really is such a weirdo... but I don't hate it...
"Thank you for everything you've done so far for me... without you, I would've..."
I interrupted her before she could finish.
"I'm just glad I made it in time, also, I'm just doing this for my own selfish reasons."
I said proudly, my chest puffed out.
She giggled.
Maybe this time it'll be different...
"Looks like it's about to start raining."
"Yeah, let's hurry so we don't get caught in the rain."
But of course our luck didn't last, and the first drops started to come down.
In the distance, through the rain, someone was running right at us.
"Doesn't that silhouette look familiar?" I noticed.
"Yeah." Shizori squinted her eyes. "Isn't that... Hilde?"
"Now that you mention it, I think it is."
Shizori covered the sweets with her arm to keep them from getting wet.
"Shizori! Creep!"
I'm NOT a Cr... Before I could finish that thought, Hilde ran over to us and continued.
"I got some info on Gai's whereabouts."
The rain intensified, coming down in buckets.
"Really?! Now I can start my hunt for him." My eyes darkened.
"Yeah, we got lucky, a traveling merchant saw him on his way to Eldenbrook."
"Where was he traveling from?"
"Willowbrook."
Shizori froze, eyes widened, face drained of all color.
Willowbrook? What are the chances... It dawned on me. No way, right? Does Gai know about her sister?!
"How sure is that merchant?!" Shizori shouted.
"100% sure, he's seen Gai a dozen times, even had him as a guard a few times for his travels."
The bag with the sweets slowly fell, rain covered the noise of it hitting the floor.
She started running away.
"Shizori?! Hilde take that bag and keep it safe."
"What's going on?"
"I'll explain later!" I chased after her.
After we ran for quite a bit, I caught up to her and grabbed her by her wrist.
"Shizori, wait!"
We both stood there in the pouring rain, soaked from head to toe.
Her eyes were covered by her wet hair.
"Let me go, Alex!"
"You need to calm down, it might just be a coincidence."
"And what if it's NOT?!" She slapped my hand away. "This has NOTHING to do with you! So stay out of it!"
Despite the rain, I could see how terrified she was... tears streaming down her face, mixing with the water.
"You're right, it doesn't."
Why do you have to remind me so much of her...?
Her face appeared again, right beside Shizori's... both sobbing, tears flowing freely, and drenched.
Will I fuck up again...?
Earlier in the patisserie and now again...
Inori...
I walked closer and hugged her tight.
She froze at first, her face heating up.
"I know this has nothing to do with me, BUT I choose to involve myself."
Embarrassed with flushed cheeks, she pushed me away.
"What's wrong with you?!"
HeHe!
"That's just how selfish I am."
"Idiot..." She sniffled.
"Have you calmed down a little? We have to stay levelheaded about this."
"And do what?"
"Let's assume the worst case, he somehow found out about your sister and is targeting her for revenge on you, right?"
She glared at me, her eyes turned a deep obsidian black.
That glare sent a cold shiver down my spine.
"I... if that's indeed the case, then we still have time. She's only useful to him alive, no?"
"How are you so sure about that?"
"Because killing her won't help his case, but if she's alive, then he could, for example, blackmail you..."
Hmm...
"I guess so, then what's your plan?"
"We head over to Willowbrook and gather more information."
I surely hope that I'm right about this... I pray to you, isekai gods, give us more plot armor!
"The fastest way would be by carriage, we might still be able to find one."
"Lead the way."
We rushed over to the east gate livery yard, a wide dirt area filled with creaking carriages, tied up horses, and people unloading carts.
"HEY, any carriages headed to Willowbrook?" I shouted.
Most ignored me.
"We need one urgently!"
"P... please!" Shizori pleaded.
A man walked up to us.
"In this weather? No carriages are leaving today anymore, you'll have to wait until tomorrow."
"We don't have the time to wait that long!" Shizori shot back.
"I'm sorry, Miss, but the rain makes the roads dangerous."
"I'll pay anyone here, DOUBLE the usual rate, if you take us to Willowbrook right now!" I shouted, looking around.
A grizzled man with a weathered hat leaned against his rig, a covered wagon.
"Double? Is it that urgent?"
"Yes. It's important, even the adventurers guild is involved. They couldn't organize anything fast enough."
Sorry, Hilde, but I'll have to use your name.
Somewhere else, Hilde sneezed. "Someone's thinking about me? Hopefully it's Shizori!"
"The guild, eh?"
"Yes, Hilde knows about it!" Shizori exclaimed.
"Usual rate's 50 copper per person. Double for two makes 200 copper."
I pulled out my wallet and handed over 2 gold coins.
Beads of sweat formed on Shizori's forehead. He's doing so much for me... how will i ever repay him?
"Get in." The man grunted.
I climbed into the back first.
"Take my hand."
She took it, and I helped her up.
The covered wagon lurched forward, horses snorting, and the town gates shrank behind them.
I glanced over. She sat there, staff clutched tightly in her lap.
"She's really important to you, huh?"
"Akari is everything to me. I have to protect her..."
"Is that why you wanted to become an adventurer?"
Her gaze shifted downward.
"Partially... but it's also to earn enough money for us."
"What about your parents?"
She pressed her lips together tightly, a flicker of unease crossing her face.
Don't tell me...
"Our parents are... gone."
"I'm sorry."
"They died protecting us, since then I've tried my best to take care of Akari."
I shouldn't probe deeper...
"It must have been hard..."
"..."
Her breathing grew shallow, her head started nodding forward, then jolting back up.
She must be quite exhausted.
Her head slowly dropped against my shoulder as the carriage rocked.
I froze, and my heart rate spiked, but I didn't move her.
"Rest up for now..." I whispered.
Her eyes closed as she fell asleep leaning against me.
Hours later, the tiny village called Willowbrook appeared on the horizon.
"We're almost there." The man shouted.
Hopefully Akari is safe...