The weather today is clear.
It is a perfect bright sunny day, the kind that lifts your spirits and makes it feel just right for a date.
Now then! Today I am spending the whole day on a date with Mizera in Amatsukuni……
「……Does it look good on me?」
「It looks perfect!」
The white-based kimono Wendy chose enhances Mizera’s purity and innocence even more.
She looks like a young lady from a fine family. In that case, I suppose I am her attendant……
「Thank you…… You look good too, milord.」
「Thanks. Does it really suit me?」
I personally think kimono are not bad at all.
Wearing them as everyday clothes might be a bit much, but they make excellent loungewear.
Something like a jinbei would feel even more like room wear.
「……Hey, milord?」
「Hmm? What is it?」
「Um…… Is it really correct to not wear any underwear underneath……? It is not just your personal preference, right?」
「No, it is really correct. Kimono show the lines of the body clearly, so the shape of underwear would stand out. Well, it is not impossible to wear some, but……」
「In that case, I would have to wear the rather bold one I have on now……」
That is right. To be specific, it would become a T-back.
But it is still better than wearing nothing!
Why did I have it? Preparedness is the key to success! I thought something like this might happen!
「Haa…… I feel so embarrassed my face might catch fire…… But it cannot be helped.」
「Hmm…… If you really hate it, we do not have to wear kimono. I can change too.」
「I do not want that. Everyone else wore kimono when they came to Amatsukuni, right?」
「That is true, but…… you do not have to force yourself.」
Not everyone in Amatsukuni wears kimono anyway.
Besides, I have already saved the image properly in my mental folder!
I can have her wear it again at home from time to time.
「It is fine. No one else is going to see me, and if I think that everyone wearing kimono is the same…… More importantly, come on, let us go quickly? It is rare for us to be alone together. We should make good use of our time.」
「You are right…… All right. Then shall we start with dango?」
I take Mizera’s hand and head toward the incredibly delicious dango shop we visited last time.
For now, we will walk around, eat, and look at various things.
We successfully buy the dango and eat one skewer right in front of the shop.
「Hmm, nfu. They are soft and delicious.」
「The dango here are amazing. They are as soft as a baby’s cheeks, faintly sweet, and so chewy.」
「Yes. If I have them with good tea, I feel like I could eat several skewers, and it makes me worry about my waist……」
Uuu…… Mizera poked at her waist while looking at the remaining dango with a resentful gaze.
She has become much healthier compared to when we first met.
Even so, she is still quite slim, and she seems to only worry about her stomach without noticing that her chest has secretly grown a little too……
「By the way, how are the half-blood children doing?」
「They have become quite stable. There are still some who are half doubtful even when told that the environment has changed, but more and more people are coming to talk to me. Not just me, but also those whose lives have changed after they started working. Day by day, more of them are managing to reintegrate into society.」
「I see…… You worked hard, Mizera.」
「It was not just me. Deep down, everyone wanted to change. Besides, that town is a good place, and the people there are all good people, so even if I had not tried so hard, things would probably have worked out anyway.」
Still, Mizera’s presence while actually living in that town must have been very significant to the half-bloods.
……They probably received some heartless words as well.
But because Mizera can understand other people’s feelings, those words were able to reach them.
「……I see.」
「……Why are you looking at me with such gentle eyes?」
「No reason.」
「What is it already…… Come on, let us go to the next place quickly. I am looking forward to where you will take me next.」
「Well, even if you say that, I spent most of my time at the boss’s place, so I do not know that much……」
「The people from the woodworking guild, right? The ones who built the hot spring building……」
I had told Mizera beforehand what I did in Amatsukuni, but when I mentioned that I made combs at the woodworking guild, she looked a little stunned and asked what I was doing……
「Yeah, that’s right. The woodworking skill seems like it could be useful for alchemy too, so once my level rises a bit more, I will teach you as well.」
「……Is it all right to add more when I still have so much to learn with alchemy?」
「What are you saying? Maybe you will be even better at it. New things might be born from that, so it is worth trying.」
「Yeees. As long as my master teaches me properly, it is fine. So…… what are we doing now?」
「Umm, wait a moment……」
Tere re te te re～
『Shion-chan’s Perfect Amatsukuni Guide』—!
Let me explain.
Shion came along as our escort today, but she said she would stay out of sight so as not to disturb us. Since she could not guide us directly, she at least handed me this.
It was a colorful, easy-to-understand booklet with hidden gems and recommended shops clearly listed.
「Shion-san really is talented in so many ways……」
「She gets really happy if you tell her that in person. Well, we did meet her as a guide in the first place. She seems to know all sorts of interesting information about different towns.」
Moreover, this guide is very easy to read.
The information is neatly organized, with clear headings and highlights, and it even covers quite niche stores.
She really is excellent in many different areas. It is just a shame about her personality.
Now then, let us look at the booklet together and decide on our next destination.
「Is there anywhere you want to go, Mizera?」
「Me? Hmm…… Ah. Maybe this place.」
「Hmm? Seed, Medicinal Herb, and Flower Shop……?」
A flower shop…… or rather, more of a shop for medicinal ingredients?
It is very like Mizera, but it does not exactly feel like a typical date spot……
「……Is it no good?」
「No, it is not bad at all. I am interested too, so shall we go?」
「Yes!」
Ah, she is smiling so happily.
Fine, fine, we will go. I will accompany you anywhere.
And so, we arrived at an old-fashioned shop full of character……
Vines and flowers climbed all over the building, even outside, giving it an appearance that barely looked like a store at all……
「Waa……! Look, look, milord. These medicinal herbs have different shapes from the ones we can get in Einzheil. Is this a vine……? Can vines be used too? This one has a different color…… I wonder what its effects are?」
Ooh…… Her eyes are sparkling.
She is really, really happy.
Seeing Mizera so excited makes me feel warm inside…… even though the air is filled with the scent of medicinal herbs.
It may be far from a typical date spot, but a date should be about going where the other person wants to go.
Besides, for a date between me and Mizera, this place is perfectly suited.
The others probably would not be interested at all……
「Extraction method……? Eh, is it all right to make this public……? Knowledge is a treasure for alchemists……」
The shop owner seemed to be quite elderly. Apparently, he had written down the extraction methods for each material so that the knowledge he had accumulated over the years could be passed on to future generations.
When I asked why he did not turn it into a book, he said he would rather tell the customers who actually visit the shop.
……Well, the shop does not seem to be that popular. The owner also has a stubborn side, thinking that simply picking up a book later to gain knowledge would be boring. That kind of bias is very typical of an alchemist, but since he is displaying everything for free like this, he is still a fine person.
「Milord, milord! This method looks like it could be useful for making potions too! It might even raise the success rate! Ah! These medicinal herbs are cheap! The seeds…… Eh? It is a whole set? It even has growing instructions and usage written down…… W-Writing tools! Um, may I copy this down? Th-Thank you very much!」
Mizera is extremely excited.
Hmm…… This is that kind of situation.
I have a feeling today’s date might end right here……
In that case……
「……Shion」
「Yes, yes～. You called? Honestly, this is supposed to be a special date for just the two of you. Even if Mizera-san is ignoring you, calling me out and treating me as a replacement is pretty low, you know?」
「That is not it…… Anyway, can I ask you to arrange some food and snacks that would be good for tonight, plus a place for us to stay?」
「Ehhh…… So I am just an errand runner?」
「Please……」
「Fiiine, fine. Leave it to me! Mizera-chan just praised me earlier, after all! I like people who praise me, so I will repay the favor～!」
After saying that, Shion instantly vanished.
As expected of a shinobi from Oboro. The way she erases her presence is truly masterful.
「Huh? Was someone there just now?」
「No. More importantly, did you find anything good?」
「I am still trying to decide…… I also want an extractor, but…… it really is expensive…… There are so many different herbs too…… Aah, I cannot decide……」
「If you do not have enough, I can pay.」
「That is all right. These are things I want to use myself. I am earning my own money properly, so I will buy them myself.」
「If it is for work, I do not mind, you know? Or you can think of it as a present from me…… Even if it is not a very romantic present. Besides, there are lots of things you want to buy, right?」
「That is…… true, but. Uu…… Mmm……………… Is it okay if I spoil myself a little?」
She seemed to struggle quite a bit, but extractors and such are genuinely expensive…… She had probably been saving up, but after staring at her wallet for a while, she finally gave in and let herself be spoiled.
「You should spoil yourself more. You hold back too much, Mizera…… There seems to be a lot more here, so take your time and look around carefully. Choose slowly.」
「Yes!」
A bright, happy smile and a lovely reply.
All right, I will look around for something too.
And so, several hours passed……
「……I’m sorry.」
「Why are you apologizing?」
「Uuu…… Because…… It was supposed to be our precious date, but I only looked at medicinal herbs the whole time……」
It had already gotten dark outside, and quite a few shops had closed……
Mizera recalled how she had gotten too excited and lost track of time in that shop. She pressed both hands to her cheeks and groaned.
「Did you not enjoy it?」
「I did enjoy it…… but you must have been bored, right?」
「Not at all. Just watching you was fun enough.」
Seeing Mizera so surprised, delighted, and with sparkling eyes never got old.
Besides, the old shop owner brought out chairs and even served us tea halfway through.
The conversation about alchemy was very informative, and that tea had a nice balance of bitterness and rich flavor, so I asked for the recipe and bought the ingredients.
「Uuu…… It was supposed to be a special date just for the two of us…… Haaa……」
「Hmm? What do you mean ‘was supposed to be’? Mizera, today’s date is for the whole day. It is still only half over. There is another half left.」
「Eh? Ah……」
Did you only just realize?
Today’s date is not just until night. It lasts until we go home.
「The date is only just getting started. Let us enjoy the night as well. I already bought dinner, drinks, and snacks, and I reserved an inn nearby. We will be together until morning.」
「……milord. Aren’t you a little too prepared?」
「Eh…… Was that bad?」
「Fufufu. Not at all. I am very happy. By the way, until morning…… You mean that kind of thing, right? Ah, so that is why you recommended that kind of underwear for me?」
「…………N-No, that is not it?」
「Haa…… The way you hesitate there is so like you, milord……」
Ugh…… I only imagined it for a second. I really did not have any other intentions……
Aah…… I am not looking cool at all.
「……Come on. Shall we go? I am looking forward to dinner at the inn. I am starving.」
「You skipped lunch because you were so focused on the herbs, after all……」
「Geez…… Do not say that, it is embarrassing……」
「Sorry, sorry. Then let us go.」
I take Mizera’s hand and we start walking together.
Even so, kimono are not easy to run in, so we walk at a slightly brisk pace.
Our fingers intertwined, we head toward the inn while talking about how to use the medicinal herbs we bought and what kind of snacks we have.
The date is still only halfway through.
We would spend plenty more enjoyable time together after this.
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