Hachiman's Perspective
"Thanks for the meal," I said, offering a slight nod to the counter.
"Come again soon!" the owner chimed in. "Trainer, Rice-chan—we'll be waiting for you!"
"Y-Yes! I'll do my best!" Rice chirped, her voice much brighter than it had been an hour ago.
"You do that! Good luck in your next race!"
I let out a small breath as we stepped back into the cool air. Bringing Rice here had been the right call. The encouragement she just received wasn't just empty politeness; it was genuine.
The woman at the front was the proprietress, and her husband was the one handling the stove in the back. They'd apparently become fans the moment they saw Rice's debut performance. They'd spotted me during her post-race interview back then, so they'd recognized my face the first time I wandered in here alone. They'd been pestering me to bring her along eventually, so I figured today was as good a time as any. A proper introduction and a full stomach—call it a win-win.
"So," I asked, looking over at her. "How was it? Food suit your labels?"
"Mm, it was wonderful!" Rice beamed. "I usually have bread in the mornings, but I think I'm starting to realize how good a bowl of rice can be. I'd love to come back again."
"Tell you what. If you win your next race, we'll come back here for the victory celebration. My treat."
Her eyes went wide. "Really? Is that okay?"
"Sure. I'll just tell the lady we're coming. She'd probably be thrilled."
Rice seemed to have taken a real liking to the place. Since it was still technically morning, she'd kept her portion modest, but I knew she had a bigger appetite than she let on. Next time, I'd have to remember to tell the chef: "Make it a double."
"Anyway," I said, shifting gears. "Is there anywhere else you wanted to go?"
"Um... well, I want to get something for Robroy-san. To say thank you for earlier."
"I'm planning on getting her a book, but what did you have in mind?"
"I haven't quite decided yet, but maybe some sweets?" Rice tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Robroy-san loves snacks. Especially the kind that have that fancy, fragrant scent of foreign liqueurs."
"Huh. Surprisingly sophisticated taste," I remarked. "In that case, a good pound cake might be the way to go. I can't exactly buy whiskey bonbons for a student, even if the alcohol is cooked out, so... maybe some high-end cupcakes?"
"Cakes..." Rice's face lit up. "Yes, I think she'd love that!"
"I can't promise they'll have that specific aroma, but when it comes to thank-you gifts, consumables are usually the safest bet. They don't clutter up the room. I'm sticking with the book, but only because she specifically asked for it."
Me with a book—a heroic epic, no less—and Rice with the sweets. It felt like a solid plan. "Alright, let's find a bakery first."
--- The Bakery ---
"Wow... look at all of them!" Rice pressed her hands together, staring at the display case like she'd found a treasure chest.
"The pound cake here is supposed to be their specialty," I noted, pointing toward the shelf. "The cupcakes look decent, too."
Rice looked up at me, impressed. "Big Brother, you know so much about these things. You're like a walking encyclopedia."
"Hardly. I just looked it up on my phone. The reviews said this was the best spot in the immediate area. It's actually my first time stepping foot in here."
"Oh, really? Well, they were right. It's a lovely shop."
"Take your time and pick what you like. I'm going to browse for a bit."
"Okay!"
It didn't take her long to settle on a selection of both pound cake and cupcakes. Watching the vibrant colors of the frosting, I found myself craving something sweet too, and ended up walking out with three slices of cake for myself. My hands were getting full, but it was a manageable burden.
"I'm so glad I found something nice," Rice said, a spring in her step. "Now it's your turn, right? A book for Robroy-san? What kind of genre was it again?"
"A heroic epic," I replied. "Specifically one with a Horse Girl protagonist. The moment I mentioned it to her earlier, it was like a switch flipped. She went from quiet to 'full scholar' mode in three seconds flat. She offered to pay for it, but there's no need for that."
"In that case, maybe I'll look for a picture book for myself."
"A picture book? You still like those?"
"I do," she admitted with a shy smile. "If I find one with a beautiful story, I like to sit down and really get lost in the art."
"Fair enough. To the bookstore, then."
--- The Bookstore ---
"I'll see you in a bit, Big Brother."
"Yeah. Take your time."
I headed toward the back, hoping that the volume I'd spotted the other day was still in stock. I scanned the spines, my eyes darting across the titles.
The Chronicles of King Solomon... Legend of the Sea King Leviathan... I was getting warmer. My Racing Legend... The Tale of the Heroic Daughter who Outran the Heavens...
"Ah, there it is."
I pulled it from the shelf: Until I Was Called a God.
"Glad I didn't have to order it," I muttered.
I headed toward the register. I didn't have anything else I needed to buy. Back in high school, I would've spent an hour scouring the Light Novel section, but I didn't really touch those anymore. As for training manuals, I'd already devoured everything in the Academy library and half the public libraries in Tokyo.
During college, I was still reading LNs for a while, I reminisced, until my professor's 'Spartan' curriculum began. After that, I didn't have the mental energy for fiction. I guess I just lost the habit.
"Big Brother! Did you find it?"
I looked up to see Rice approaching, empty-handed but looking content. "Yeah, got it right here. This finishes up my shopping. How about you? Find anything you wanted?"
"No, nothing today," she said softly. "But I enjoyed looking."
"Alright. Let's get this paid for."
With the cakes and the book secured, the weight of the bags served as a reminder that the day was winding down. I walked Rice back to the dorm, the silence between us comfortable and easy. Once I dropped her off, I figured I'd head back to my own place and enjoy those cake slices.
Today hadn't been half bad.
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