Szzzt— szzzt—
Fat hit the hot grill and crackled sharply.
A mouthwatering aroma began to spread through the private room.
After their first round of stiff greetings, Arato Sora, Aoko Aozaki, and Alice Kuonji quickly fell into the real phase of the meeting:
Eating.
This little shop near Misaki High School was, in a way, one of Sora and Aoko's old haunts—a place they'd often come to together back when things were normal.
The owner was good at skewers and fried food.
But if you asked what felt best to eat here, it was definitely the barbecue.
The restaurant's signature clay stove, topped with an iron grate, released a particularly satisfying scent as the meat cooked.
Fresh-off-the-grill slices dipped into the special sauce the husband and wife had developed themselves—
It was pure indulgence.
That was Aoko's favorite way to eat.
Sora's preference was different: wrap the meat in crisp lettuce, add sauce, and eat it as a bundle.
But to the fairy-tale witch Alice Kuonji, both styles were unacceptable.
From the moment the stove was brought in, the cold girl's expression never stopped broadcasting disgust.
For a witch who lived in a mansion deep in the mountains, this oily, smoky atmosphere wasn't merely "unpleasant" anymore.
As the minutes passed, a true sense of revulsion started to radiate from her.
She could already imagine it—after this meal, the smell would cling to her.
And when she returned to the mountain mansion, that odor would come with her.
Just imagining her home being contaminated with this smell made Alice's brow knit even tighter.
To her, the mansion her parents left behind was a place that could not be profaned. Any change to it—any stain, any intrusion—was something she rejected instinctively.
"Heh heh~ It's just one meal. Don't tell me you're chickening out, Alice?" Aoko teased, catching her housemate's mood—and not soothing it in the slightest.
Aoko had chosen this yakiniku place on purpose.
She'd come today fully prepared to "finish everything" with Sora.
If Sora overheard the closure talk, fine.
But dragging Alice Kuonji into it too—what kind of scene would that be?
If Alice's excuse hadn't been so "legitimate," Aoko would've blown up at her on the spot when she insisted on coming along.
"You did it on purpose, Aoko."
Alice's voice was cool as ice. The look she gave Aoko was colder still—there was even a hint of killing intent in it.
If Aoko hadn't poked her, Alice probably would've stood up and left already.
But now that Aoko had thrown down a challenge—
How could the fairy-tale witch refuse to answer?
And besides…
Alice turned her gaze toward the man across the table.
The moment she looked at Arato Sora, most of her irritation toward Aoko evaporated.
"Grill that piece for me."
Her black eyes fixed on Sora as she made her request.
"???" Aoko blinked, completely caught off guard.
She'd been braced for a full-on argument—yet the famously petty Alice wasn't even firing back properly.
…Or rather, she was firing back.
She'd directly ordered Sora to cook for her.
Aoko's eyes slid to Sora—and she suddenly noticed something that made her chest tighten.
Maybe it was habit. Maybe it was instinct.
But she'd been acting exactly like she used to:
Throw the grilling job to Sora, and all she had to do was eat.
She had even mixed Sora's dipping sauce for him—thoughtfully, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
No wonder Alice, who normally hated letting others interfere in her affairs, had asked Sora to grill for her.
She probably assumed that this "grilling at the table" thing was some sort of high-end chef service—like a counter-style restaurant where someone cooks for you.
"Hey. I'll grill my own portion," Aoko said to Sora.
Sora's hands paused for the briefest moment.
He tilted his head and shot Aoko a side glance.
"Aoko—your grilling skill? Sit down and behave."
The words—casual, blunt, familiar—were exactly the kind of verdict he'd delivered to her countless times in the past.
Honestly, he didn't even need to say it; Aoko could read it the moment his eyes moved.
"Tch."
She crossed her arms, turned away, and sulked.
And the moment she turned her head, she realized Alice was quietly watching her.
Maybe it was Aoko's imagination, but inside those always-cold eyes—
There was a different flavor mixed in.
Was Alice mocking her right now?
Irritation bubbled up. Aoko tapped the tabletop twice.
"Shouldn't we steer this toward the main point?"
The energetic girl was as direct as ever.
"What do you want to say?" Sora asked.
"What I want to say is… we're probably completely over. So when are you going to get a new girlfriend?"
Aoko looked straight at him and stated her intention.
Sora's grilling hand froze again.
He lifted his head to stare at her, a helpless look tugging at his face.
Alice—who'd been looking down and trying to eat—also raised her head at that moment.
Her face was still expressionless: no sorrow, no joy, the same blank coolness.
Sora turned to meet her eyes.
"The grilled meat is genuinely good, Kuonji-san. You should try it. I think you'll like my way of eating it better than Aoko's."
He gestured to the vivid green lettuce leaves on the table.
And he ignored Aoko completely.
Alice stared at the leaves.
After half a second of silence, she nodded.
She extended her pale hand, picked up a leaf, and—following Sora's instructions—placed the meat inside, wrapped it, and lifted it to her mouth.
Sora almost reminded her to be careful—it would be hot—
But the moment she bit into it, she chewed calmly, as if heat meant nothing to her.
Skin so pale it looked like it had never met sunlight.
A black nun-like dress.
A face without expression.
A scene that should've felt loud and lively—barbecue smoke, sizzling fat—
Yet when Alice ate, it somehow felt like dining in a vast cathedral hall.
Some people are changed by their surroundings.
Others remain so absolute that they become the surroundings.
Kuonji Alice was clearly the latter.
"Oh~ So you're mesmerized," Aoko's teasing voice came from the side.
Sora didn't even need to turn his head to picture her:
Eyes half-lidded. Irritated. Sulking.
"I'm just looking at a different kind of scenery," he replied, his gaze still on Alice.
"And my question?" Aoko pressed, not letting him dodge. "Ignoring me won't solve anything."
Now she lifted her chin, arms crossed, eyes sharp—radiating that pushy pressure.
Playing the villain to force something "good" to happen—
That was classic Aoko.
And Sora was used to it.
So his answer was exactly the same as always.
"Get lost."
-------
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