Chapter 48 – Stalker

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The gaze that followed me with every step was stinging.

Perhaps because I wasn’t hiding my body under a robe, I felt more eyes on me than usual.

I subtly moved closer to Andreina, which seemed to divert some of the attention. I heard a small laugh at that action, but I pretended not to notice. In an emergency evacuation, there’s no distinction between children and adults.

Thankfully, thanks to Andreina, who was completely covered from head to toe, most of the attention that had been on me shifted to her. It was just as Hosanna had said, trying to hide would only attract more attention.

Fortunately, no one did anything beyond just looking, so we were able to arrive at the cafe safely.

“So, this is the place called a cafe.”

They must have been brewing coffee for a while because even without opening the door, I could smell the faint aroma of coffee. Andreina closed her eyes for a moment, as if savoring the scent, then smiled faintly and said.

“It’s not a bad atmosphere. It doesn’t just smell sweet like I thought it would. It actually feels a bit more calming.”

“Haha, they do sell some sweets, but the main thing here is still coffee.”

She must have been thinking about the pancakes I gave her last time. When Hosanna said that with a laugh, Andreina seemed to think for a moment before opening her mouth.

“Coffee… I’ve heard about it from merchants who travel to and from the village. They say it’s a tea that looks like very dark water.”

“Did you have coffee in your world too, Saintess?”

“I’ve never seen it myself. Out of curiosity, I once asked the merchants if they could get some, but they said it was so expensive that only the very wealthy or nobles could afford it.”

Nobles, huh. Come to think of it, unlike us who were summoned from the modern world, Andreina came from a truly fantastical world.

Of course, she always looked like a nun from a fantasy world, but living in a medieval-style village with various modern conveniences, it felt a bit like cosplay, just like it did to everyone else.

But feeling this difference between us gave me a strange feeling. Hosanna seemed to have similar thoughts, as he paused for a moment before smiling and saying.

“Then this will be your first time having it here. I hope this will be a good experience for the Saintess.”

“You don’t have to go to such lengths for me…”

“No, it’s a special occasion. It’s better for everyone if the experience brings a smile rather than a frown, don’t you think?”

“Y-Yes, that’s right. Andreina. I-I also agree with Hosanna…”

“Even Mari is saying that…”

When even I, who had been quiet, chimed in with Hosanna’s words, Andreina spoke in a slightly troubled voice. But I didn’t back down and gently squeezed the hand I was holding with Andreina.

Although this trip to the cafe was to mediate between the two of them, I hoped that Andreina would become interested in the cafe if possible. Just in case, it’s not like I can’t come to the cafe alone, not at all.

Of course, I can’t say that thought isn’t there at all, but my priority was that Andreina, who is always in the cathedral, could live a little more freely.

Seeing that she was able to come out like this, it’s not like she was forced to stay in the cathedral, but spending all day there seemed like a waste, no matter how devout she was.

It’s strange for me to say this, but unlike me, Andreina is perfectly fine, so even if she believes in God, it couldn’t be fun to stay in the cathedral all the time.

“I’ll recommend something that the Saintess will like as much as possible. Of course, I’ll have to ask what the Saintess likes first.”

“I don’t really have any preferences… I would prefer if it’s not too bitter, but, no. I think something moderately bitter would be fine too.”

Andreina glanced at me before suddenly changing her words, which made me wear a puzzled expression on my face. Why is she suddenly like this? But it seemed I was the only one who didn’t know the reason, as Hosanna also smiled slightly and said.

“Indeed, drinking something a bit bitter today would be a good choice. Definitely.”

“U-Umm, could you tell me what that means…? I feel like I’m the only one not understanding, so I feel a bit left out…”

The matter at the house had been glossed over, but now that this kind of conversation was happening here too, a disgruntled voice naturally came out.

“Why don’t we go inside first? Blocking the entrance of the cafe forever would be a nuisance to other people.”

“That’s right. Let’s go in quickly, Mari.”

“Ah, okay…”

Instead of answering my question, Hosanna skillfully changed the subject and opened the door.

There didn’t seem to be anyone else coming in or out of the cafe besides us, but when she gestured and led Andreina by the hand, I couldn’t help but go inside.

Really. Both of them are talking without me. But even that dissatisfaction was washed away by the sweet smell that wafted in as soon as I entered the cafe.

“Master~ We have a customer.”

I tried to suppress the rising excitement, and Hosanna, who followed behind, leaned over the counter and called out to the master inside.

Come to think of it, the master looks really scary, what if Andreina gets scared? I whispered to Andreina to warn her in advance.

“Andreina. The master here looks really scary.”

“Scary?”

“Yes. He’s incredibly tall, burly, and most of all, his face is really… Oh, he’s coming out…!”

I was so surprised by the appearance of the master emerging from the kitchen that I couldn’t help but shout.

He always had a terrifying impression. Of course, I knew that he was a very kind person, unlike what he looked like, but I couldn’t help but react like this.

In particular, those sunken eyes added to his already menacing appearance. I trembled, gripping the hand I was holding tightly, and Andreina said with an awkward smile.

“I can understand why Mari would react like that, but you shouldn’t say it like that.”

“I know, but…”

I couldn’t get used to that face, no matter how many times I saw it.

As I trembled and hid behind Andreina’s arm as if it were a wall, Hosanna and the master began to talk.

“What brings you here with a companion, President?”

“Rather than a companion, we’re still in the getting-to-know-each-other stage.”

“The little girl who came with Miss Aoki last time, you’re here too. Miss Mari, was it?”

“Ah, yes. Hello…”

“And the person next to you is…”

The master trailed off, looking at Andreina, who was completely hiding her appearance with her hood, and Hosanna said with a smile.

“She’s a bit shy.”

“Then there’s nothing I can do. I can’t tell someone who doesn’t want to show their face to do so.”

Instead of questioning Andreina’s identity, the master grabbed the order pad and asked.

“So, what’s your order?”

“Two espressos, with a little milk to add in the middle. And, what about you, Mari?”

“Huh? Ah, I-I…”

What did Yuika order for me last time? I fumbled through my memories, suddenly feeling all eyes on me.

“Ah, a cafe mocha with lots of chocolate…!”

“And a pancake for that young lady to eat.”

“Alright.”

The master, who had finished writing down the order, nodded and immediately returned to the kitchen.

After ordering, we moved towards the hall. Fortunately, there weren’t many customers, so we were able to find a place for the three of us to sit.

We pushed two two-person tables together to make a four-person table, and Andreina and I sat side by side.

Naturally, Hosanna ended up sitting alone across from us.

“It feels a bit lonely sitting here like this~”

“Haha…”

I gave an awkward laugh at Hosanna’s joke. It’s not like I could leave Andreina and sit next to him, so it couldn’t be helped that Hosanna was sitting alone.

Unless someone else came to fill Hosanna’s side. As I was thinking that, I saw Andreina turn her head to look out the window.

Wondering what was outside, I followed Andreina’s gaze, and couldn’t help but gasp.

One side of the cafe’s wall was made of glass, allowing us to see outside, and Yuika was standing very close to that glass wall, looking this way.

It was a scene that made me understand why Andreina was looking outside with such a dumbfounded expression.

It was only natural that someone would pay attention to someone they knew doing that.

“Huh? Why? Is something wrong outside—Ah.”

As I stared at Yuika with a cold sweat, Hosanna, noticing my and Andreina’s reactions, tilted his head and turned to face the glass wall.

Then, with a similarly speechless expression, he muttered.

“It’s not like she’s a stalker, she should just come in if she saw us. Why is she doing that?”

That’s exactly what I wanted to say.

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Do it here, and it’s considered a weird but funny character gimmick.

Do it in real life, and you’ll get the cops called on you and potentially get your balls neutered and crushed.

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