After finishing our meal, I walked out of the restaurant with Aria-san. I was originally supposed to be guiding Aria-san, and the meal here was a thank-you for that, so this would normally be the time for us to part ways, but at that moment, Aria-san gave me a suggestion.
[Kaito-sama, we’ve already concluded my gratitude for guiding me here, but I personally would like to speak a little more with you. If it’s convenient for Kaito-sama, would you mind spending a little more time together with me?]
[Yes, I’d be delighted to. I also want to talk a little more with Aria-san, so I appreciate the suggestion. I don’t have any particular plans myself, but Aria-san, do you have any other places you were planning to go?]
[No, but I was thinking of going to a store that sells tea items. Archlesia Empire and Symphonia Kingdom have different styles of porcelains, and each has its own advantages.]
[Heehhh…… You’re quite knowledgeable about them huh.]Aria-san is easy to talk to, and perhaps because there are parts of our situations that we can empathize with, the conversation during our meal flowed quite smoothly. So, while accepting Aria-san’s suggestion, we began walking down the street together.
[I’m embarrassed to say this, but I’m quite detail-oriented…… Once I get into something, I tend to get overly passionate about it, so as a maid, I started researching tea-related cups and such in detail, thinking I should know more about them….. In the end, I went as far as I could with my own skills. Well, what I got is still layman knowledge though……]
[That’s impressive. However, rather than starting various things and giving up halfway, it seems like sticking to something like that would be more beneficial in the long run. As for me, I wonder? I feel like I tend to try out various things, but I don’t think I could last doing them that long.]
[I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. There’s no need to force yourself to continue with something that doesn’t suit you, and you only truly understand your aptitude by trying out different things. And so, trying out various things is, in a sense, diligently exploring one’s own potential, and I think it’s a very diligent thing to do.]
[When you put it that way, it certainly doesn’t sound so bad. Thank you.]
Talking up to this point, I’ve realized that Aria-san is gentle and kind. In a way, the atmosphere around her might resemble that of Lilia-san. Well, it might just be because I have few acquaintances among the nobility…… No, Aria-san isn’t a noble but…… this is kinda confusing.
As we walked around while I had such a thought in mind, I heard a scream that cut through that peaceful atmosphere.[Someone! Catch them!!!]
[ [ ! ? ] ]
When I turned around with Aria-san at the loud voice we heard, we saw a robed figure running with something in their arms and what seemed to be a shopkeeper chasing after them.
At a quick glance, I could tell that that shopkeeper was chasing the robed person who seemed to have stolen items from her store, but just because I noticed it doesn’t mean I could instantly react and take action. Plus, the problem area is quite a distance from where we were.
The people on the street were also not likely to help the shopkeeper out, keeping out of the way to avoid the fleeing robed person.
What should we do? Is there anything we can do here? At about the same time as these thoughts were rising in my head, I saw Aria-san clap her hands together, and with a loud bang, the fleeing robed person fell down.
[……Eh? What just happened?]
[I focused the vibrations of my clap to deliver a light impact to the chin of that robed person, shaking their brain. I believe they’ve lost consciousness…… The guards should be on their way, so I think we can leave the rest to them.]
[Errr…… That was something Aria-san did?]
[Yes, I can manipulate sound, so in turn, I can relatively freely control vibrations in the air as well. It’s an application of my ability.]
Come to think of it, Aria-san did mention earlier in our conversation that she’s a high-ranking Demon, and considering her involvement with the revolutionary army, she likely has formidable combat abilities. In that case, incapacitating one or two thieves might indeed be easy for her.
However, putting that aside, manipulating sound to fight sounds pretty cool…… Like, incapacitating that thief in a distant location with just a light clap looked pretty stylish and smooth.
Manipulating sound seems to have various applications, and heck, I think that’s an ability Amel-san would probably like…… Oops, let’s calm down. Perhaps because I’ve been influenced by Amel-san, I feel like the dormant chuuni in me have been resurfacing from time to time.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [Whoa, let’s leave talk about the Jet-black Knees at that.]
? ? ? : [Please stop it. That’s a path everyone has gone through.]
Serious-senpai : [Speaking of which, you’re also quite……]
? ? ? : [Do you not want your head anymore?]
Serious-senpai : [……S- Sorry.]
