Chapter 1680: Founding Festival with Shallow Vernal ②

Putting aside their naming sense when they literally named this stall “Lovey-Dovey Soft-Serve Ice Cream Stall”, Heart-san, who is the shopkeeper, is the God of Love and may indeed be a suitable fit for that role.

But, however, nevertheless, there’s one thing I would like to throw a tsukkomi at right now.

[……Heart-san, you’re a God in charge of Hydra Kingdom, aren’t you?]

[Please stop with those words, that isn’t very good for my spirit…… It’s just, if I were to venture a few words, it would be that there is nothing that takes precedence over fulfilling the wishes of Shallow Vernal-sama on this occasion.]

I asked if it was okay for Heart-san, who is reasonably well-known in Hydra Kingdom, where she has her own temple, to do something like this. Heart-san, while wearing an awkward expression on her face, nevertheless firmly stated that Shiro-san is her top priority.

It’s truly a remarkable determination. Listening to Shiro-san’s request and instantly preparing such a pink-decorated stall adds incredible persuasive power to her words.

[……I see. Errr, then, we’ll have one soft-serve ice cream please.]

After ordering the lovey-dovey soft-serve ice cream, I wondered what made it different from regular soft-serve ice cream. To my surprise, what came out was a larger-than-usual cone topped with pink soft-serve ice cream.

Is this peach or strawberry flavored? It looked quite beautiful and delicious, and to ensure it wouldn’t be an obstacle when shared between the two of us, there weren’t any chocolate chips or any other toppings. Instead, it was elegantly garnished with pink-colored sauce, creating a stylish ambiance. Furthermore, the cone it was served in was quite intricate. I mean, when viewed from the top, it was shaped like a heart.

It even came with a mini stick-shaped cookie that gives it a stylish touch, making it seem like something you’d find at a trendy cafe or a chic dessert spot…… Eh? This is amazing. It really does feel like a well-thought-out soft-serve ice cream for couples. Did Heart-san prepare this right after Shiro-san mentioned her request a while ago?

Or perhaps, did they prepare it in anticipation of this kind of development? They pin-pointed that Shiro-san would ask for soft-serve ice cream? Hmmm…… I’m not sure.

[Fumu, this is quite a nice soft-serve ice cream. God of Love, good job. You did well.]

[ ! ? I- It’s an honor!!!]

When Shiro-san thanked her for her hard work, the complicated expression Heart-san had on her face before disappeared, wearing an expression that seemed deeply moved, with tears welling up in her eyes.

She appears to be incredibly delighted, as if all her fatigue has been completely swept away from her face. In reality, it seems like there are few opportunities for Shiro-san to directly address a Low-ranking God like Heart-san, so receiving a compliment and recognition from her might have deeply moved her.

After lightly bidding goodbye to Heart-san, who was bowing repeatedly with tears in her eyes, Shiro-san and I left the stall and looked for a place to eat soft-serve ice cream.

However, as this is a fairly large street, finding a good spot is……. Hmmm? For some reason, there’s some kind of strange, unnaturally empty space. It’s the kind of space that wouldn’t have been possible unless some external factor comes into play.

[That place looks good.]

[……Certainly looks good, as if it’s especially prepared…… Well, you’re right.]

I have various things I’d like to say, but to ensure that the soft-serve ice cream doesn’t melt, I decided to move to the space that was likely prepared for this purpose and enjoy the soft-serve ice cream with Shiro-san.

Shiro-san’s request involves both of us simultaneously licking the soft-serve ice cream from each side, so I’ll do just that but…… Uwahh, this feels more embarrassing than I initially thought. It’s making me feel self-conscious in a way that’s even more intense than regular kisses.

With our faces so close and at just the right distance, I find myself gazing directly at Shiro-san’s face more than usual, and our eyes meet perfectly…… I mean, her beauty remains unfairly captivating.

[It’s in a style where we’re both licking the soft-serve ice cream from both sides, ultimately leading to a kiss.]

[……First time I heard the last part though!?]

[I thought of it just now.]

Eh? Isn’t this a pretty high level of difficulty? It felt somewhat similar to a pocky game, but unlike in a pocky game where we eat stick-shaped biscuits, doing it with soft-serve ice cream is challenging. I mean, isn’t attempting this in the middle of this crowd social suicide for me? Ahh, Shiro-san already started licking.

……It seems like there’s no other choice but to gather my courage, and for the time being, ignore the gazes of those around me. Just empty my mind and continue licking the soft-serve ice cream…… And finally, I even kissed Shiro-san as she had requested.

The soft-serve ice cream must have been delicious, but I couldn’t taste any of it, leaving me with a rather uncomfortable feeling———— a cold sensation running down my spine and feeling hot on my face. Well, despite all that, the kiss did feel good, making me feel happy…… but somehow, I kinda felt like I lost something at that moment.

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [He did something similar with Kuro in Symphonia, and if he also does something like that with one of his lovers in Archlesia, it’s gonna be like “Three Countries Conquered☆” achievement unlocked…… D*MN IT ALL!!!]