Making plans.
“So, what do you do at a girls-only gathering?”
Ruby asked while nibbling on a carrot like a cookie.
Lately, his favorite snack seemed to be carrots twisted into decorative plum shapes, in addition to vegetable sticks.
He got excited the first time he saw the twisted plum carrots, saying, “So cute!”
“Well… even though it’s called a girls-only gathering, there’s no specific formal etiquette or anything like that…”
“Yeah. It’s just getting together with other girls, having tea parties, or sleepovers, and chatting.”
“Hmm. Since it’s just girls, you naturally talk about love stuff too, right?”
“Love talk, huh…”
Mariel-chan, isn’t your knowledge from your past life a bit too biased when you’re teaching?
Glancing at Mariel-chan, she sighed and said, “Ruby, you’re reading my memories without permission, aren’t you…”
“Oh my, don’t be so sensitive. We’re connected by a contract, so it’s just my ability seeing through, okay?”
Saying that, Ruby tossed the carrot up and caught it in his mouth.
“Well, when I was summoned, not only did you have a good affinity with magic, but I also thought you had interesting memories, and that’s why I decided to make a contract with you.”
Surprisingly, the deciding factor to form a Sacred Beast contract with Mariel-chan were her memories…
“More importantly, the girls-only gathering! If we’re going to do it in the salon building, it has to be a tea party, right? Please, provide some tea sweets that I can eat too!”
“Ehh?! … Vegetable sticks?”
Vegetable sticks for a tea party, huh…
“Oh my, are you planning to serve vegetable sticks only to me? I won’t accept that.”
“Huh…?”
What should I do?
For an afternoon tea style, I could have a lower tier with vegetable-heavy BLT sandwiches or egg sandwiches in an easy-to-eat size, the middle tier with baked goods like scones, and the upper tier with cakes only…
“Ruby, don’t be selfish.”
Mariel-chan scolded Ruby, trying to discourage his unreasonable request.
“But, you know… Don’t girls become friends by sharing the same things with everyone? Don’t leave me out.”
Seeing Ruby pouting, Mariel-chan stammers, “Uh,” struggling with her words.
Ruby’s usual meals are mostly a solo menu (salad) because he can’t match the carnivorous Sacred Beasts.
Although it’s unavoidable, perhaps during times like this, he just wants to enjoy the same food as everyone else and not feel left out.
“… I understand. I will think of something. Please help me when it’s time to make it.”
“Of course! Hehe, I’m looking forward to it.”
“Uh, Cristea-san? A-Are you sure about this?!”
Mariel-chan looks at me with a worried expression.
“Yes… I think I will manage, somehow. Mariel-san, please help me out, okay?”
“Huh…?!”
Come on, Mariel-chan, why are you looking at me with that despairing expression?
“W-Well, you see, if I cook, I might end up sinking the ingredients to the bottom of the putrid sea…”
… Is Mariel-chan’s heart always drifting in the putrid sea? I almost made a retort like that, but I held back.
Then Ruby looked at me and says, “Oh my, Cristea, you’re quite good with words, aren’t you?” Mariel-chan was bewildered, letting out, “Huh? Huh?” in confusion.
… Ruby, can you please stop reading my thoughts?
“Mariel-san, the salads you make for Ruby turn out well all the time, so it will be okay.”
“But, you see, I consider that as art when I make it…”
Certainly, her skill in decorative cutting is steadily improving.
I think she might even start carving with cucumbers and carrots, creating ribbons and rose flowers.
However, when it comes to cooking, it suddenly turns into something like, “What happened here?!”
It’s strange… Maybe it’s the aversion from her past life affecting her.
Since it was already late that day, we decided to disband and discuss it again the next day.