The store recommended by Saeko-san was located on a small street off to the side.
There was a small cake shop there. Apparently, it was not a pancake store, but a cake shop famous for the pancakes it served.
The beautiful entrance was made of glass, so I could see what was going on inside.
There were only a few customers in the shop.
"Yes, it's just like you said. It seems to be open at lunch time. Let's go then!"
Anri led us into the store.
As soon as we opened the door, we were greeted with a welcome and a sweet aroma.
Right at the entrance of the store, there was a showcase displaying cakes. There were also a lot of baked goods on display.
At the back of the store was a counter where the young owner was making something right in front of the customers.
The young shopkeeper was making something in front of the customers, "Sis, that cake looks delicious! Can I have some of this Mont Blanc too?"
"Can I have some of this Mont Blanc?"
The clerk standing in front of the showcase approached the pug.
"Sir, are you sure you want to go inside? I'll show you around! Now, enjoy the master's dessert!"
Puggy looked at the waitress and was stupefied.
The dog-like shopkeeper was a beautiful girl.
"Oh my God, you're so beautiful. ..."
The clerk's tone was strange, but her manner was very polite.
Taking the hand of the wandering puggy girl, we made our way to the counter in the store.
We sat down side by side at the counter.
Puggy seemed to be nervous and scampered around.
"Ugh, this isn't the kind of place a junior high school student would go to. ... It's so trendy, it makes me nervous. ...
"Don't worry, Puggy, I'm not used to this kind of restaurant either. I've never eaten out in my life. I'm good at eating alone.. What about ... Anri?""
"I've been to a lot of places with my sister, you know! I've been to a lot of places with my sister!"
The white-skinned, beautiful clerk came up to me with a glass of water.
... For some reason, she is wearing a high school uniform. is she a part-timer?
"Yes, three of you, don't be so stiff! Fufu, we're in casual restaurant, alright? here's the menu!"
Speaking of which, I'm sitting in the middle.
There's only one menu.
Anri and Puggy huddled together and tpok a look at the menu.
"Wow! There's so much more than just pancakes! What should we do, Makoto?"
"Nn, we came here to eat pancakes, right? Then I'll take the pancakes."
"Onee-san, I want a crepe. ..."
Anri told me in a happy voice.
"Hmmm, let's all share then! I've got my eye on the parfait!"
"I'll have the pancakes. — they're huge, so we shared it among us.
"The crepes is mine!!"
Anri called out to the beautiful, white-skinned waitress with the bunny face and told her her order.
"Yes! I'll go an make the arrangements, Kaede, Chris, please!"
"Okay, got it!
"Yes! As requested by the master. ..."
He seems to be a very young shopkeeper. He was a little older than us, but he looked like he'd been through a lot.
The two assistants moved briskly, listening to the master's instructions.
The master began to make the dessert with a magical touch.
Both Anri and Puggy watched with their mouths open.
"Wow, ..., that's amazing, Puggy-chan. ..."
What's that? ... Oh, they're making crepes! Onee-san'ss parfait is that glass, right!?"
The two of them had a natural smile on their faces.
Seeing them together made me feel happy from the bottom of my heart.
Because we were tied up in the past.
Neither I , Anri nor Puggy had any friends we could trust.
We met up with each other.
We met up and walked the streets.
Introducing people we knew.
We walked hand in hand.
The three of us stood side by side, waiting for dessert.
Laughing at each other.
I'm not tied to the past. I'm enjoying the present. I can't say I trust anyone anymore. ... Totally–
"Hey, sis! Look at this! It's a crepe and it's on fire!"
"It's called flambé, Puggy! I read it in a gourmet novel about transferring to another world!"
Anri's words brought a moment of silence to the restaurant for some reason.
What's the matter, shopkeeper?
"Yes, yes! Chris, I'll take care of the rest, just wash up in the back! Pancakes in one minute! Kaede, please!"
The girl called Chris bowed to us and went to the back.
A waitress in a high school uniform brought us our dessert.
Both Anri and Puggy's eyes were sparkling.
"'Woohoo! Sis, your crepe is soaked in sauce! It's not wrapped up.!"
"Yeah, it looks really good! This parfait looks amazing, too! There's some kind of sparkly candy on it! Oh, Makoto, yours is here too!""
My eyes met with the owner.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting! Fluffy pancakes with Sato Nishiki and American cherries! Enjoy!"
A plate was placed in front of me.
The plate was full of fluffy pancakes with ice cream on top.
In addition, on top of that, there was a kind of cherry shaved ice sprinkled on top of it, with plenty of cherries in syrup.
"Oh!"
I couldn't help but exclaim.
The size of the pancakes, as well as the smell, whetted my appetite.
"Your pancakes look so delicious! –I can't wait to eat them!"
"O,Onii-san, you can have a crepe, too. ..."
We reached for our dessert first.
When I tried to cut the pancake with my knife and fork — there was no resistance to the batter at all.
I tilted my head, but turned the utensil into a spoon and took a bite.
The moment I put the pancake in my mouth…
"——–!"
It melted in my mouth.
The refreshing sweetness of the Sato Nishiki, the richness of the American cherries, the deliciousness of the fluffy pancake batter, the scent of burnt butter, and the role of the ice cream and whipped cream in neutralizing it all…
–Delicious ....
No, it's not just delicious.
It's because you're eating it with someone you love.
It makes everyday things seem really important.
For some reason, when I eat this – it – runs through my head.
These pancakes are certainly delicious, but there's something that goes beyond delicious that resonates in my heart.
What is this feeling that comes from deep within my heart? What is this nostalgia?
Suddenly, I remembered my stepsister.
My stepsister who thinks she loves grass cakes.
It was a misunderstanding from my childhood, but I still remember it and–
Remembering the past doesn't make me feel bad.
Oh well, ... I can face the past. I'm not alone anymore.
What the heck is this dessert?
What is it about sweets that makes people feel this way?
"Yummy! Crepes are so delicious! Hey, hey, sister, eat up!"
"This parfait is amazing too! I don't know, I'm already ... speechless. ... Oh, what about you, Makoto? ..., is it alright!? Makoto?"
The two of them are laughing at each other and feeding each other their desserts.
Just looking at it, I felt my heart tighten.
I can tell by looking at their faces that they all feel the same way.
It's not that they're sad–they're happy.
So smile. Don't hide your emotions.
Feel what's in your heart.
"Oh, Anri ..., this ... is so delicious ..., I've never eaten anything like it before ..., I don't know why ..., but I'm crying."
Anri smiled softly and spooned up her own parfait.
She brought it in front of me.
"... That's right, Makoto. I'm sure you'll agree that sweets are delicious when eaten together. Hehe, eat mine, too."
Oh yeah, ..., you're so soothing, aren't you ....
Anri said, "Ahhh!" Anri said, moving the spoon to my mouth.
I looked around.
The puggy give a small nod. –What's with the gut pose?
The owner and the waitress both looked at me with smiles. It wasn't an unpleasant smile. There was an atmosphere of an adult watching over me. It was strangely quiet in the store. There was no sign of customers coming in.
I – I really wanted to eat by myself.
Because if Anri feeds me–
"..., it's delicious. ...Oh, it's delicious. Anri..."
I'll probably cry with happiness, right?
_______________________
~To be continued~