As they walked, Hazuki glanced at Ellyn and raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you wandering around town alone? Didn't you say your hometown was far from here?"
Ellyn nodded. "Oh? I'm with my mother. She's at the bank right now."
Hazuki frowned. "You're not scared walking alone? What if bad people try to kidnap you or worse…?"
Ellyn's ears twitched, but she just smiled confidently.
"Hmm? I'm no longer worried about that."
"Huh?" Hazuki blinked.
Then, with a smug look, Ellyn raised her hand, showing him her ring—the pinky promise ring.
"No man dares to make a move on me because of this."
"EHHH!?"
Ellyn tilted her head. "Hmm? Why are you confused?"
Hazuki pointed at the ring. "What's so special about a pinky promise?"
Ellyn grinned playfully. "Why do you want to know, Uncle?"
Hazuki crossed his arms. "I just want to know."
Ellyn's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Then… how about a test?" She pointed at a random girl walking ahead.
"Go over there and kiss that girl on the cheek."
Hazuki narrowed his eyes. "Oh? Don't challenge me!"
Ellyn giggled and held up a shiny silver coin.
"If you can do it, I'll give you this."
Hazuki stared at the silver coin, his mind racing.
…Then, his survival instincts kicked in.
"Ugh… don't wanna." He turned away, crossing his arms.
Ellyn tilted her head. "Hmm?"
Hazuki quickly waved his hand. "Just looking at the girl— Oops…"
Ellyn's ears twitched. "Hmm?"
"Nothing, nothing!" Hazuki cleared his throat, quickly changing the topic.
"Where should we eat?"
Ellyn stared at him for a moment, then smirked.
"Heh."
Hazuki felt cold sweat drip down his back.
"Damn it… she knows."
Inside Hazuki's Mind
"This is serious…"
"Just oogling at a woman before almost got me struck by lightning."
"If I actually tried to kiss one, I'd probably be obliterated on the spot."
As he was deep in thought—
"Uncle?"
"Hmm?"
Ellyn's curious eyes stared up at him.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Rea—"
Hazuki's eye twitched.
"STOP asking so many damn questions and just pick a restaurant."
He sighed and rubbed his temples.
"It's my treat."
Ellyn's ears perked up immediately.
"Okay~!"
Hazuki exhaled again.
"Damn it… I already feel like a husband with a demanding wife."
After wandering the town, Ellyn finally picked a restaurant.
They both stepped inside and found a seat.
Just as Hazuki was about to pull out a chair, Ellyn immediately sat next to him.
Hazuki groaned.
"Ugh, girl… can you sit in front instead?"
Ellyn grinned. "Don't wanna~"
Hazuki sighed deeply.
"Ugh… suit yourself."
Just then, the restaurant owner, a cheerful-looking lady in her forties, walked up with a bright smile.
"Welcome, customers! Oh! Special customers, I should say."
She winked at Hazuki.
"You two are the Pinky Promise couple, right?"
Hazuki froze.
"Tch. The whole town knows already!?"
The owner giggled.
"Pity you can't do anything serious with her yet."
Hazuki choked on air.
"Ugh! This lady—!"
Meanwhile, Ellyn just smiled innocently, sipping her water.
Hazuki leaned forward, ignoring the restaurant owner's teasing.
"What's the best menu you have?" He tapped the table. "Do you have meat?"
The owner nodded with a smile. "Yes, we do."
Hazuki grinned. "Okay, then give me roast meat with butter bread. And a big glass of ale."
Before the owner could confirm the order—
"Same here~!" Ellyn chirped.
Hazuki froze.
Then, slowly, he turned to her.
"Oi."
Ellyn blinked innocently. "Hmm?"
"You're still a kid."
"So?"
"So—NO ALE! Give her juice."
"Ehhhh!?" Ellyn puffed her cheeks in protest.
Hazuki crossed his arms. "No 'Ehhh!' Juice for her. Meat is fine."
The owner chuckled. "Coming right up~"
As she walked away, Ellyn sulked.
Hazuki sighed, shaking his head.
Ellyn pouted, crossing her arms.
"I want to try that ale too."
Hazuki shook his head immediately.
"No, no. Too early for you, kid."
Ellyn huffed, her ears twitching in frustration.
"Hmph! Just you wait till I turn into an adult!"
Hazuki rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah."
A brief silence passed before Ellyn leaned in.
"So, Uncle?"
"Hmm?"
"Does that ale taste good?"
Hazuki paused. Then, with a completely straight face—
"No."
Ellyn blinked. "Then why are you drinking it?"
Hazuki shrugged.
"Nothing… just love the taste."
Ellyn's ears twitched again. "But you just said it doesn't taste good!"
"Not for you."
"Hmph! You're lying!"
"No, I'm not."
Ellyn narrowed her eyes.
"Then let me taste it."
"No can do."
Hazuki grinned, enjoying her frustrated reaction.
As she kept pouting, he took a slow, exaggerated sip of his ale, just to rub it in.
Then—
The moment Hazuki turned his head to look the other way—
WHOOSH!
Ellyn suddenly rushed forward, snatched the ale, and took a quick sip.
The instant the liquid touched her tongue—
"Peh!! Bitter!!!"
She stuck out her tongue, furiously wiping her lips.
Hazuki burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Told you!"
Ellyn glared at him, cheeks puffed out in defeat.
"Bleh! It's awful!"
Hazuki grinned smugly, taking back his ale.
"And that, kid, is why juice is better for you."
Ellyn pouted harder.
"I hate you."
"Yeah, yeah. Just eat your meat."
Ellyn grumbled but eventually picked up her fork and started eating the roast meat.
Even as she chewed, the bitter aftertaste of the ale lingered in her mouth.
But then—
Her ears twitched.
"Huh?"
The meat… tasted better.
Somehow, after drinking the ale, the flavors of the roast meat became richer, juicier, more delicious.
She blinked in realization.
Then, her eyes slowly turned to Hazuki's ale.
"Uncle?"
"Hmm?"
"Can you give me that ale? Just a small cup?"
"No."
Ellyn pouted.
"Please?"
"No."
"Uncle?"
"No."
She stared at him.
Hazuki calmly took another sip, ignoring her completely.
Ellyn's eye twitched.
"Ugh!"
She angrily stabbed a piece of meat and chewed aggressively.
Hazuki grinned.
"heh… this is fun."
( End of Chapter )