Chapter 295: The Dango is Very Sweet
"Yahallo~! Shirou, did I keep you waiting long?" Yuigahama ran over with a bright smile.
"No, it's only natural for a gentleman to wait for a lady," Shirou replied with a light laugh. In his past life, he had received Kiritsugu's personal instruction on being a gentleman toward women.
Though he had the intent in his previous life, he wasn't very good at it. Now, while his experience wasn't exactly vast, he made a genuine effort to make girls feel happy. BB-chan seemed quite happy earlier, but he could tell she still harbored some concerns. It really wasn't necessary; since she was here, she should enjoy herself to the fullest without feeling shackled by others.
If this was his destiny, then even if he tried to escape it, it would eventually find him. After all, Black Mud, Demonic Beasts, and the Counter Force—all that chaotic mess—had already found their way here. If he couldn't hide, he might as well face it head-on. This world was beautiful, and he had never thought of giving up on it.
Looking at the surrounding scenery and the girl walking toward him, this was exactly what Shirou was thinking.
"Well then, let's head out," the boy said to the dango girl with a smile.
"Mhm!" Yuigahama nodded at him radiantly.
"Ibaraki has already possessed you, hasn't she?" Shirou sensed the ripple of magical energy around her.
'Of course!' The shadow of oni horns and flames flickered momentarily behind the girl.
Their destination was a cafe currently trending online. It was said that the manager was a high-level pâtissier who had won awards overseas. The shop's selling point was its weekly rotation of new desserts, making it a favorite for university and high school girls.
During her previous possession-summoning of Ibaraki Douji, Yuigahama had suffered quite a bit in the digital world. So, she had decided early on that however much terror and grievance she had endured then, she would make up for it today with an equal amount of sugary happiness.
Led by Yuigahama, they arrived at the cafe. It featured windows set with symmetrical lattice glass and a French Mediterranean-style huanghuali wood door. Pushing open the bronze handle, a bell chimed above. Inside, the decor was exquisite French style; small cages holding potted plants featured elegant, symmetrical curves. Stepping inside made one feel as if they had entered a different tempo of time. Gentle piano music played, and even one's breathing seemed to slow down.
"Welcome!" A waiter waiting inside bowed slightly and led them to their seats.
Since it was a popular spot for young women, Shirou had expected a trendy theme cafe or the more common maid service. Surprisingly, the staff's attire was very traditional; both male and female uniforms consisted of Western-style jackets and black trousers.
When the waiter brought the menu, Yuigahama immediately ordered four different desserts. Ibaraki Douji, who had possessed her early on, showed an incomparably blissful smile.
"But eating this much will make me fat, so Shirou, help me eat half!" Yuigahama pleaded, clasping her hands together.
"I really can't say no to you," Shirou agreed.
Soon, the waiter brought the four desserts. A single long silver-white spoon was placed on a cup, and the waiter quietly headed back to the kitchen. Shirou felt something was off—there was a spoon missing. He wanted to call out to the waiter, but the man's pace quickened as he walked away.
"Why is he walking faster and faster?" Shirou said, conflicted.
In reality, the reason this cafe was popular wasn't just the delicious sweets, but an active "hidden service": the staff spontaneously played matchmaker for couples who were "more than friends but less than lovers."
The waiter, now at a distance, turned back with a stylized, cool expression, gave a thumbs-up, and signaled to Shirou from afar: 'Brother, I can only help you this much!'
Since the male waiters were avoiding him, Shirou turned to the others for help. Just then, a waitress passed by carrying a tray of clean dishes, which should have had clean spoons on it.
"Excuse me, could I have a spoon, please?" Shirou said, raising his hand slightly.
"Ah!!" The waitress performed an incredibly exaggerated stumble on flat ground. She didn't fall, but her hand "accidentally" knocked a spoon, causing it to clatter onto the floor.
"Little girl, that's clearly a good man. You have to grab hold of him!" the waitress whispered, winking at Yuigahama.
"Seriously! So much dilly-dallying! Here!" Ibaraki Douji took direct control of the body. One hand pinched Shirou's chin, forcing his mouth open, while the other shoved a spoonful overflowing with chocolate cream into the boy's mouth.
"It's delicious, right, Shirou!" Ibaraki said triumphantly, acting exactly like an elementary schooler recommending an unexpectedly tasty snack to a best friend.
"Mmph... so sweet." Shirou nodded blankly.
"Right! Right! Yuigahama is a true master of tasting sweets! She always takes me to try all sorts of desserts I've never had before! Even though she's completely hopeless at making them herself—she made a total mess of the kitchen and got scolded by her mom," Ibaraki said with a gloating laugh as she shoveled a spoonful into her own mouth.
"Here! Say ah!" Ibaraki held the spoon up to the boy's mouth again.
Since it was Ibaraki Douji, Shirou felt he could relax. He opened his mouth and accepted the feeding. Just like that, he and Ibaraki went back and forth, finishing all four desserts between them.
In various hard-to-spot corners of the shop—crouched under tables, peeking from behind walls, or looking out from the kitchen—the staff members all wore shocked expressions.
"That little girl is so dominant!" "The boy is eating so obediently, amazing!" "I guess I really was meddling unnecessarily," the waiter who had provided the "assist" earlier laughed to himself.
At that moment, the high-hatted pâtissier in the back—the owner of the cafe—his eyes flashed like a hawk. He swept his hand out, pointing at the dango girl. "No! Look closer! See how red her ears are? She's clearly trying her absolute hardest."
"Ah! It's true!" "So cute!" "I'll keep cheering for you." The staff members began offering their silent, heartfelt blessings.
Meanwhile, in the mental world, the dango girl's face was beet red. She was clutching her ears and rolling around on the floor.
'Seriously! Ibaraki! What are you doing to Shirou! That's too bold! I'm so jealous! No! This is so embarrassing!'
However, Ibaraki Douji, intent on enjoying the sweets, didn't care about Yuigahama's internal screaming. Her ears being a bit red meant nothing to her.
"But let's get this straight—this strawberry and these chocolate cookies are mine, I'm not sharing them with you!" Ibaraki said, protectively eyeing the treats as she scooped up some ice cream cream and looked at the boy warily.
"I know, I won't fight you for them," Shirou agreed with a smile.
"Also, I've fed you so many times, it's about time you took over! Feeding back and forth is such a hassle. Serve me until I'm done, and then you can eat!" Ibaraki handed the spoon to Shirou.
"Yes, yes. Here, say ah," Shirou agreed nonchalantly, offering a fresh spoonful of cake to the girl's mouth.
Ibaraki squinted her eyes, enjoying the experience as she accepted spoon after spoon from Shirou. The rich, sweet chocolate and the thick, smooth cream melted in her mouth, flowing from her tongue straight to her heart. Shirou's hands were very nimble, and he was naturally good at looking after people. He ensured every bit of ice cream and cream went into her mouth without a single drop sliding past her lips, so there was no sticky mess. All she had to do was close her eyes, listen to the music, and enjoy.
The blissfully eyes-closed Ibaraki praised him with a smile. "Mmph, mmph, fufu... what a refreshing feeling. Now I think I understand a little why Shuten likes handsome guys so much..."
'Ah! This banana flavor—I had it last time. I'll leave this part for you, Yuigahama. I'm heading back now. Bye!' In the mental world, Ibaraki waved to Yuigahama and immediately ended the possession, returning to Chaldea.
In the physical world, an oblivious Shirou once again picked up a spoonful and held it to Yuigahama's mouth.
"Mmph... um." In her daze, Yuigahama habitually opened her mouth. Only when her taste buds were flooded with sweetness did she snap back to reality. Her eyes widened as she bit onto the spoon, her body going stiff.
"Mmm..." Yuigahama's face turned completely red. At this moment, she couldn't bring herself to look up at the boy. Ibaraki Douji, fully satisfied, had already retreated to Chaldea.
The nearby waiters tactfully avoided them, steering clear of their table and guiding new customers to seats on the other side so as not to disturb them.
'This is so awkward! What do I do? Why isn't anyone coming over? Someone, anyone, hurry up! Yukino! Asuna! Someone pull me out of this!' the girl screamed internally.
"What's wrong? Ice cream is going to drip out," Shirou said, looking confused as the girl shook her head frantically. He removed the spoon, picked up a napkin, and gently wiped the corner of her mouth.
With a crimson face, Yuigahama's voice became thin and high-pitched. "Shirou! That's enough! Ibaraki has already gone back!"
"Oh... oh, sorry." Shirou finally realized. While he had been feeding Ibaraki with the mindset of taking care of a child, doing the same to a classmate changed everything.
"Fufufu... not just feeding her ice cream, but even wiping her mouth... how indulgent. And he did it so naturally. So sweet," the people in the shop whispered, hiding their smiles.
'Ah... so that's how it is. In everyone's eyes, we're already a total "idiot couple."' Once Shirou understood what the looks from the crowd meant, he too felt a surge of embarrassment and withdrew the hand holding the napkin.
Just then, the blushing Yuigahama happened to look up. Her eyes met the boy's, and they both immediately looked away.
"So cute, so innocent," an OL in a professional suit shared a smile with her friend at another table.
"Mhm, it's so nice. Seeing them like that makes me feel so nostalgic~!" said a woman across from her, not yet twenty-five or six, cupping her face with a sigh. They seemed lost in their own idealized memories of first love from their student days.
Around them, the waiters continued to smile suggestively. The waitress who had "accidentally" knocked over the spoon even gave a little fist pump in their direction to cheer them on.
'It seems we're not just seen as an idiot couple, but a very high-profile one. Almost every eye in the shop is on us! It feels like being under a magnifying glass in the sun.'
Shirou gave a helpless dry laugh and looked at the girl opposite him, only to have his eyes go wide with shock.
'Wait! Yuigahama-san! Your face is as red as a boiled shrimp! What's with the steam coming off your dango! Don't overcook yourself!'
'This is bad! I can't take it! We can't stay here anymore!'
Shirou decisively grabbed the check from the stand and broke the awkward silence. "...Yuigahama! If you're done eating, let's get out of here."
"Ah! Yes! Shirou! I'm full! I feel really hot for some reason—let's go out and get some air!" Yuigahama agreed hurriedly, her voice still strained with tension.
The people in the shop nodded knowingly with benevolent smiles: 'Mhm, mhm, I see, I see. Even though it's early spring and the snow has just melted, and you were just eating ice cream, you still feel "hot," do you?'
For some reason, the gazes around them seemed even gentler. The boy and girl stood up quickly, put on their coats, and rushed to the counter to pay and leave.
"Good luck, young man!" The cashier even patted the boy's shoulder as they were heading out.
"Shirou! Let's go!" Yuigahama grabbed Shirou's wrist and pulled him quickly away. The people inside laughed affectionately, blessing the departing pair.
The girl kept her head down, dragging the boy all the way to a nearby park. Only after they had escaped the noisy crowd did Yuigahama finally calm down. However, once they stopped, the atmosphere became incredibly awkward. Neither knew how to break the ice.
Shirou looked at the dango on the girl's head. At least it was no longer steaming; that was better than nothing.
"Oh right, Shirou, look at this..."
To break the tension, Yuigahama suddenly thought of something and pulled a colorful flyer out of her bag. Shirou looked at the paper; it depicted a place filled with red lanterns and glowing gold-and-red dragon and lion dances—a very Chinese-style scene.
"Hm, a temple fair? A Spring Festival?"
"Mhm! It seems to be held in conjunction with the Chinese Lunar New Year. Their New Year isn't the same as Japan's January 1st; it's calculated by the lunar calendar," Yuigahama said, raising a finger to show off her knowledge.
"I see. You're surprisingly well-informed, Yuigahama. Especially since you're so hopeless at studying and cooking," Shirou teased with a sigh of admiration.
"That's rude! But actually, that's just what it says on the back of the flyer," Yuigahama swatted Shirou reproachfully before cutely sticking out her tongue.
"I see." Shirou nodded in realization, then asked, "A Spring Festival... school will be back in session by then. Everyone should be free."
'Because sneaking out alone once is already quite "cunning"... and I don't want to break the relationship everyone has now...' Yuigahama hesitated, muttering very softly to herself.
"Hm?" Shirou looked at her.
"Um... let's call everyone out and go have fun together!" Yuigahama bit her lip, looking conflicted, but spoke up anyway.
"Yeah, I get it! Let's invite everyone when the time comes," Shirou said, taking the flyer and smiling.
"Mhm! It really will be more fun with more people!" Yuigahama agreed with her usual bright smile. Although she felt a bit of regret, she also felt relieved. Spending time alone with Shirou was fun—even if earlier had been a bit too stimulating—but if that broke the balance and created a rift between her, Yukino, and Asuna, their harmonious friendship couldn't be maintained. That was the last thing she wanted.
"Right! This! This is for you too~!" With that thought, Yuigahama pulled a gift wrapped with a red ribbon from her bag and handed it to the boy.
Shirou took it; it felt very light. He looked at the girl. "Thanks. What is it?"
"Early Valentine's chocolate!" Yuigahama replied with a playful smile.
"Ah, now that you mention it, Valentine's Day is right before the Chinese Spring Festival. Or rather, over here, Valentine's is the bigger holiday," Shirou noted with a sigh.
Yuigahama puffed out her cheeks. "What's with that attitude? So annoying! You get so much chocolate every year—do you really care that little? At least act a bit happier!"
Thinking about the situation that usually followed, Shirou couldn't exactly be happy. "Everyone just wants a White Day return gift. If I hadn't refused them firmly, even the boys in class would be trying to give me Valentine's gifts."
"Haha, well, your sweets are delicious, so people definitely think that way. But some people make handmade chocolate with their true feelings, you know. So make sure you savor it properly—my chocolate. Well... even if it's not the best tasting, it took me several days of hard work to finish!" Yuigahama said softly, tapping her index fingers together.
'I don't know how making chocolate could take several days. But Ibaraki mentioned her mom probably scolded her over it. I'll accept it with deep respect.'
Thinking this, Shirou carefully tucked the chocolate into the chest pocket of his coat.
"I know. This will be my snack for the next two days. Yuigahama's chocolate... it will probably go well with unsweetened black coffee," Shirou said with a smile.
"What does that mean?! I worked really hard! At least it won't be like before, making you eat burnt charcoal cookies!" Yuigahama said huffily.
"No, no, those were already 'cookie-flavored charcoal,'" Shirou said, waving his hand.
Yuigahama swung her arms, repeatedly batting at Shirou's shoulder, shouting huffily: "You actually said it! If you have something to say, then teach me properly! I've been studying hard with Yukino and my mom, both for desserts and cooking!"
Shirou blocked the dango girl's attacks. "I'm joking, just joking. I'll savor it. Look forward to your return gift, too."
"Mhm, that's better!" Yuigahama showed her trademark radiant smile, adding in a tiny voice to herself: "...Doing this much for this year is enough..."
After that, the two spent time walking and playing together. By the time he saw the girl back to her doorstep, it was past 7:00 PM. The boy began walking back toward the main street, preparing to head home.
Just then, Shirou spotted a somewhat familiar luxury car parked at an intersection in front of a shop on the sidewalk. The glass door was pushed open, and a tall woman with long black hair, wearing a suit jacket, walked out carrying a brown paper bag and swinging her car keys.
"Yo! Shirou."
"Ah, good evening, Sensei." Shirou saw the bread inside the paper bag and frowned. "Is that all you're eating for dinner? You're already on vacation, aren't you?"
"Shut it! I've eaten ramen for three days straight! Can't I change it up for once? I'm even dodging my mom at home, so don't you start nagging me like she does!" Hiratsuka Shizuka complained frantically.
"Eh? You haven't gone home to see your family since you returned to the country?" Shirou looked at his teacher with even more surprise.
"I can't go back! The moment I do, my mom will nag me about arranged marriages, and I'll have to see my dad's grumpy face. Who could stand that!" Shizuka said, cupping her face with an expression like she was suffering from chronic constipation.
"Haaa... well, goodbye then." Shirou gave a dry laugh, sensing trouble and turning to leave.
"Since we ran into each other, you think I'm letting you go? Get in!" Without another word, Shizuka dragged Shirou into the car, started the engine, hit the gas, and sped off toward the outskirts for a drive.
Announcement!
Hello everyone, I'm VarieTL 😊
I'm happy to announce that I have posted 2 new Fanfiction!
You can find them in my second account VarieTL02(an account can only have a max of 20 fanfiction it seems)
Hikigaya and the Witches' Romantic Comedy
Hikigaya Hachiman, a high school student and staunch believer in celibacy, lives by the motto "Loneliness is freedom."
That's how it should be.
However, on his first day of high school, this motto is shattered.
A gyaru who transferred for him, an incredibly cute pink-haired girl sitting next to him who's always secretly watching him, a perfect superhero with long, straight black hair and an overflowing sense of justice, a childhood friend who always smiles and approaches him in a kimono, and that lone wolf with no boundaries…
Hikigaya Hachiman's daily life is completely disrupted.
Even more absurdly, all these girls are witches.
Crossover Oregairu/Manosoba (Magical Girl Witch Trials)
The Trash Returned from Warhammer
Shinji Ikari awakens in Neo Tokyo-2 with his memories and iron will as a Space Marine Librarian who served the Imperium for a century.
When a letter arrives from his estranged father, Gendo Ikari, summoning him to Neo Tokyo-3, Shinji ignores his past traumas. Instead, he interprets the summons as a holy mission from the God-Emperor. The former Astartes sets out to defend humanity once more, treating the events of Evangelion as his next theater of war.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting