"That was wonderful, wasn't it..."
"Yeah, it really was."
After savoring every moment inside the cat café, Rest and Viola stepped back out onto the street.
Their first time visiting a cat café had turned out even better than either of them had imagined.
It was as if they had discovered the joy of being at the mercy of the cats—tossed about by their adorable yet capricious, willful natures.
"So, where should we head to next?"
"Let's grab some food. We only had drinks at the café, so my stomach's starting to rumble."
"You're right. What should we eat then?"
When it came to dates, didn't people usually go to fancy restaurants?
Rest had money now. He could afford just about any high-end establishment.
"This place is fine."
"Here? You're sure about this one?"
What Viola was pointing at was a popular, down-to-earth restaurant right on the main street.
It was nothing like a high-class place.
It was the sort of spot where ordinary commoners would grab a meal after work, knock back some drinks, and get rowdy.
(This is… I really don't think this is the kind of place a young noble lady would normally visit…)
"I've been wanting to try a place like this for a while now. It's so lively and looks like so much fun, don't you think?"
"Yeah… I suppose that's one way to look at it."
Perhaps it was precisely because she was a noble young lady that such a common, bustling restaurant looked so fresh and intriguing to her.
As long as Viola was fine with it, Rest had no objections. He brought her along and stepped into the shop.
The interior had a counter and several tables, and since it was still early, roughly half the seats were empty.
"Welcome! Go ahead and grab any open seat!"
The moment the two of them walked in, a portly male shopkeeper called out to them from behind the counter.
"Wah..."
"It's fine—let's sit over here."
Viola froze in her tracks, taken aback by the shopkeeper's rough, overly familiar tone.
Rest tugged her arm and guided her to one of the table seats.
"Geez... this is amazing."
She didn't say exactly what—but as she settled into her chair, Viola looked thoroughly surprised by everything around her.
At the restaurants Viola usually frequented, it went without saying that the waiters would greet her with a deep, courteous bow.
Being told to just pick a seat and sit down without so much as being escorted? That had surely never happened to her before.
"Ah... but it does kind of resemble the academy cafeteria... doesn't it?"
"Yeah, I suppose it does. If anything, this place is probably closer to that than to a restaurant."
Even so, the academy cafeteria still had a certain classiness to it.
Setting that aside... Rest and Viola glanced at the menu posted on the wall and casually ordered some food and drinks.
"Coming right up—just give me a sec!"
The server who took their order disappeared into the back, and the drinks were brought out almost immediately.
Wooden mugs and cheap ale.
There was no drinking age restriction in this world. Neither Rest nor Viola ordering alcohol was a problem in the slightest.
"Wow… This is amazing. The mugs aren't even pottery or glass, and the ale isn't chilled with magic…!"
"Wow, that's such a 'young lady' thing to say…"
It was the kind of comment that, if overheard by the wrong person, could easily be taken as a taunt.
But Viola's eyes were sparkling with pure, innocent curiosity—there wasn't a trace of malice in it.
"Hey, try not to say stuff like that so loud, okay?"
"I don't really get it, but sure?"
Viola lifted the ale to her lips with a puzzled look on her face.
Then she blinked rapidly. "Mm, it's not good."
As expected, the ale didn't suit Viola's palate.
After a little while, the food was brought out.
"Oh, this is delicious. The flavors are richer than anything I get at home."
Viola took a bite of the sauced meat and pressed a hand to her cheek.
"It's a little light on spices, but the saltiness makes up for it."
"Yeah, this is good in its own way."
Rest munched away at his own meal.
The ale had been unpleasant, but the boldly seasoned food was surprisingly good.
Rest and Viola chatted idly between the two of them as they cleared their plates.
As they ate, the seats around them filled up and the noise level crept higher.
It wasn't exactly a date-like atmosphere… but Viola was laughing cheerfully, seeming to genuinely enjoy herself all the same.
"Hey! You got a death wish or something?!"
"Shut up! I'll kill you!"
"Hmm...?"
"What is it...?"
The two of them had been enjoying their meal like that... when they suddenly heard an angry shout and exchanged glances.