"Hmm? It's little Yoimiya? Is the person next to you your dad?"
They had literally said goodbye just a few minutes ago, yet here they were running into each other at the same restaurant.
The old uncle didn't feel awkward at all and immediately struck up a conversation.
"Hello, I'm Naganohara Ryūnosuke, Yoimiya's father."
"Hello, I'm Cid Kagerou, an adventurer who hasn't been in Inazuma for very long."
"Hmm, this afternoon I saw you talking with my Yoimiya. You both seemed to be having a great time chatting."
"Yes, your daughter is raised to be truly adorable. When we were talking, it felt like fireworks shooting up into the sky—welcoming and bright to everyone around."
"Haha, Yoimiya is my pride and joy. Speaking of which, Cid, would you like to hear about the long history of the Naganohara family? It's a very long and interesting story."
Seeing the gentle smile on Cid's face, Naganohara Ryūnosuke instantly felt the urge to open up.
"I'd love to hear it, but let's wait a moment. Ryūnosuke, I want to wait until my companion Eula comes out so we can all listen together. And... you haven't ordered yet, right, Ryūnosuke?"
"You're right. You can't tell a good story on an empty stomach."
So, when little Eula finished making snacks in the kitchen and came out, she saw Cid already deep in enthusiastic conversation with little Yoimiya's parent, as if they'd known each other for years.
The old uncle started tackling the parent so quickly?
"The snacks are ready. Would you like to try some together?"
Little Eula had borrowed the restaurant's kitchen to make some small cakes.
It was probably due to a young girl's whimsical idea—she had even stamped cute pictures on them.
"Thank you. This must be Cid's traveling companion? You have truly remarkable skills..."
Yoimiya's old father clearly hadn't had any issues with his ears yet at this point, and his conversation with Cid flowed very smoothly.
"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Naganohara."
Looking at little Yoimiya beside them, already eagerly anticipating the small cakes,
even though Cid the old uncle and little Eula had already eaten their fill, it didn't stop the two of them from sitting idly and listening to the elder tell his stories.
"Here, Cid, how about a cup of sake?"
Ryūnosuke, now warmed up in conversation with the old uncle, enthusiastically invited Cid to have a small drink.
Cid waved his hand and politely declined.
"I actually spent some time in Mondstadt. The wine there is very fragrant and rich, but unfortunately, I still don't touch a drop of alcohol to this day."
"What kind of man doesn't drink? Besides, this sake is very light."
"Drinking leads to mistakes. Whether a man is truly a man doesn't depend on drinking, but on what he does. And when people get drunk, they tend to ignore their moral boundaries. I don't have much confidence in my own moral boundaries, big brother Ryūnosuke, so I'll just stick with this."
In the end, Cid the old uncle only took a cup of clear water. The cup looked very similar to sake, but it wasn't alcohol.
Naganohara Ryūnosuke looked at the old uncle, then set down his sake and switched to plain water with no alcoholic scent.
"To be honest with you, I don't actually drink much either. I only have a little sake when I'm bored and alone, using that hazy feeling from the alcohol to find inspiration for making fireworks."
Yoimiya's dad clinked his cup of clear water against the one in Cid the old uncle's hand.
"Drinking leads to mistakes, drinking leads to mistakes! Ah, you're right too, Cid. Then today, let's abstain for a day!"
Naganohara Ryūnosuke drank his water, looking at the adventurer drinking the same as him.
"I'm happy today. It's a shame we can't talk much while eating—we might choke. Wait until I finish eating, then I'll tell you about the long, rich history of our Naganohara family!"
"Sounds good. As an adventurer, stories are an essential part. The longer they are, the more precious."
How should I put it—the old uncle thought that lonely elders were really easy to get along with.