Sitting at the counter, looking at the dazzling array of sushi displayed like cakes in a shop window, Aoko Aozaki could not help feeling a little moved.
Oooh!
At some point, freely enjoying food in a restaurant like this had become part of the precious memories of ordinary life that moved Aoko.
Ever since she had started high school, every such precious moment of everyday life had filled her with emotion.
Maintaining as much of her maidenly composure as possible, she deftly picked up a plate of tuna sushi to soothe the inner struggle she had just endured.
After accepting that unexpected windfall she did not know how to describe, Aoko Aozaki had still failed to overcome her conscience. She had offered to treat him to a meal as thanks, more or less glossing over what had happened earlier.
For the sake of those banknotes, which amounted to a full month of her current living expenses, she stopped dwelling on the young man's origins.
After all, student council affairs already kept her busy, and she still had to practice magecraft after going home. She simply could not spare the time to take a part-time job to supplement her living expenses.
Still, although the young man had not objected to coming to a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, that did not mean Aoko Aozaki could simply do as she pleased with a clear conscience.
"There are cooked options among the sushi too, you know..."
"Thank you for enlightening me."
The man smiled, his tone gentle, and deftly picked up the food he wanted.
Although she had been the one to offer to pay, Aoko Aozaki's mouth still twitched uncontrollably when the young man unceremoniously took two plates of the most expensive sushi.
As though he had noticed her reaction, the young man spoke.