Ch.8282. Vines and Citrine (3)

“Welcome. Your reservation… Ah. Ms. Shin Hye-in, party of three. Please come this way.”

The server seemed to recognize us, finding our reservation on the list without us even saying our names, and guided us to our table.

Well… to say we got here without any interruptions would be…

Since Hyewon and Citrus were such famous magical girls, there were quite a few cute kids who approached them along the way.

Especially since Hyewon and Citrus had that cool big sister vibe that was popular with girls, they kept coming up asking for photos.

Fortunately, those children didn’t seem to recognize who I was.

They just asked if I was a cousin and gave me envious looks.

Adult fans knew who I was and probably knew everything that had happened recently, so they deliberately kept their distance.

Because of that, it took a bit longer to get here, but thankfully we were only five minutes late.

Hmm… but that employee is fidgeting with her hands while guiding us, like a child who wants something but can’t speak up.

“I’ll show you to your table. Ah, let me remove this chair. Here… Please look at the menu and press the bell when you’re ready to order. Oh, um…”

“If you want to take a photo with the magical girls, I can step aside. Would you like me to take it for you?”

“No, that’s… A-are you… are you Vine?”

“Ah… Vine? Who’s that…”

“That cute height and confident walk… I’m a huge fan of yours, Vine!”

“What…?”

Wait, hold on… what?

Did I just get caught again…?

“Kyaa!! So cute! That surprised expression, hmmm… It’s exactly like Magical Girl Blanc’s expression when she’s caught off guard in battle…! This is, haah… so cute, haah…”

“Um… What if I’m not Vine…?”

“Someone as cute as you couldn’t be anyone but Vine! Besides, it’s already on the communi—oops.”

Ah.

Right. The magical girl community.

That was a thing…?

“Haah… Citrus. It seems I’ve been discovered already. Was my disguise pointless?”

“Well, what does it matter? We can just take a photo, right? It’s not like you’ll wear out from taking pictures.”

“Haah… But one of my disguise identities has been exposed.”

“Well, I told you not to be so strict about disguises, and look what happened. Come on, I’ll take the photo for you. Vine, get over here.”

“Ugh… haah. Come on then. Here, peace sign.”

I reluctantly made a peace sign at Citrus’s insistence.

“Pfft… What kind of expression is that? You should smile. Kimchi!”

“Haah… haha… There… Is that enough…?”

“Yep, wow… it came out cute.”

“Kyaah…! So cute! Haah… Could you, um, do your entrance line…?”

“My entrance line…? Do I have something like that…?”

“You know, like ‘The vines that will entangle you have arrived,’ or ‘Well, your troublemaker has appeared again’…”

“Wait, I said things like that, regularly…? Ugh…”

Huh…? I said things like that…?

The so-called entrance lines coming from Citrus’s mouth were enough to fill me with cringe and embarrassment.

And then, Hyewon joined in…

“That’s right. And you’d also say things like ‘Your greatest obstacle has arrived,’ or ‘Eden’s First Captain, your greatest enemy. I am Vine,’ without any hesitation…”

“Et tu, Hyewon… Aah… How many embarrassing things did my past self say? Is there a corner somewhere I can hide in?”

“Why? It was cute and super cool! A-actually… it was cute because it was you saying it, Vine… hehe…”

“No, more fundamentally… I hurt people and caused a lot of damage…”

“I think that was definitely wrong.”

“Then why…”

“But you’ve paid for your crimes, haven’t you? Besides, you’re with the magical girls now, so people don’t seem to have that much animosity toward you. And… now that you’ve lost your powers. You’re just a young… young… child.”

“…I’m not young. I already revealed my age to Blanc. Wasn’t that reported in the media?”

“No, everyone knows! But considering your story up until now, even if not everyone can like you, there are quite a few people who do.”

“Haah… I don’t understand why you like a villain. Don’t blame me if you feel betrayed later on.”

“Heheh… Even saying that with that face… you’re just so cute. Oh, would it be okay if I post this on the community…?”

“Aren’t my photos already posted there occasionally?”

“Oh, then…”

“Well, I meant I don’t mind if you post it. Haah… I thought this was a good disguise.”

“We were fools to think that just hiding your collar with an illusion and changing your eye and hair color would be enough. Maybe we should have prepared more thoroughly.”

“Hyewon, when I’m with you, of course I’ll attract attention. It’s hard to imagine you with any child other than Arin.”

“Hmm… but I like children.”

“Anyway. Is a photo enough…? Maybe you’d like something from Citrus or Hyewon here… like an autograph?”

“Oh, just a moment…! Let me get some paper and a pen!”

With those words, the employee left.

There was no hatred or clear malice in our conversation, so I was able to end it safely.

Nevertheless, I almost ruined the mood by asking unnecessary questions out of a feeling of tightness in my chest.

Actually, I did ruin it.

I caused a moment of concern on what had been a happy face…

“…Is this really okay?”

“Hm? Why, is there a problem?”

“It’s just, just… Haah. Never mind. I can’t ruin your mood too. Well, if I already have, I’m sorry. This day was for you.”

“No, it’s fine as long as you’re having fun, not me. How about it? Are you enjoying today?”

“Umm… Why ask me?”

“We still have plenty of time left. Hmm… I’d like you to answer me after we’re done.”

“This is your time, not mine…”

“It’s not fun if the person you’re with isn’t having fun. Isn’t that usually the case?”

“I haven’t really played like this much before…”

“Well, anyway. Even if the morning was a bit tough, my sister will make the afternoon fun, right?”

“Eek. Suddenly the arrow flies at me? I don’t even have legs to dodge with.”

“Come on, I’m just joking. So, what did you say you reserved?”

“An aquarium in the basement. They have penguins. Cute, right? Though Vine seems cuter to me.”

“Your assessment of me is too high. I’d be fine with just being upgraded from worst villain to second-worst… And your legs…”

“Yes, yes. I’ve thought it all through, so don’t worry. Ah, she’s back.”

Just as Citrus said, the employee who had been taking my picture earlier returned with menus.

It seemed like a few more people had joined her, or was that just my imagination?

“Here are the menus! Um. Citrus, former Citrus. These kids say they’re fans… I was just going to leave them, but if it’s not too much trouble… just one photo…”

“Oh, that’s fine… Vine, could you pick something in the meantime?”

“Yes…”

I had looked at the other tables when we came in.

Pasta, steak. The usual menu items you’d see in a typical Western restaurant.

Looking through the menu, there didn’t seem to be anything particularly special.

I guess it became famous for having solid basics and capturing the general public’s taste.

Beside me, there was endless affection and interest directed at Hyewon.

Citrus was taking photos for the fans who had come to see her sister, looking proud of her.

Hmm… I might as well take my time looking and choosing.

Even if Hyewon eats anything, she must have preferences.

Rather than ordinary dishes like carbonara or aglio e olio, she prefers something cleanly rich, like toomba.

She likes that kind of taste.

Maybe the rosé sauce here would be similar.

Or this chicken cream spaghetti.

Seeing the chili pepper drawn next to it, it looks similar too.

Or there’s bascaiola.

Bascaiola… would that be okay?

But I’m wearing white clothes.

Since I’m disguised, I found a white dress different from my usual dark clothes…

No, at the point where I’m looking for spicy food, I should just eat something that won’t splatter.

If this splatters on white clothes, it’s not only noticeable but also hard to remove.

Hmm…

Since both Hyewon and I eat a lot, why not order everything?

Thinking about it that way…

Was there any reason to worry in the first place?

If it’s hard to choose between two things, there’s always the solution of ordering both. I forgot about that.

“Thank you!”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Vine, have you decided?”

“Yes. This and this. And how about this?”

“Hmm… Do as you like. Sis, anything you want?”

“This place is known for its pasta and steak. Especially the rosé sauce, which isn’t too rich and has just the right heaviness with a satisfying mouthfeel…”

“Ah, Citrus… I get it. I understand you’re excited, but could you please shut that noisy mouth? Hyewon, is there anything you’d like to eat?”

So we ordered the tenderloin steak Hyewon wanted, two pastas, one pizza, grapefruit ade, orange ade, and even a salad.

Hmm… is it too much?

Considering how much Hyewon and other magical girls usually eat, it’s not that much.

Excess nutrients just get converted into magical power anyway.

“Vine, you look so excited. That’s cute too.”

“What…? I am looking forward to the food. But I’m not cute. What part of me is cute…?”

This person, really.