Next, we arrived at a takoyaki stall.
There was a cotton candy stall right next to it, so I could buy everything at once.
First, the takoyaki shop.
They had everything from normal ones to mentai-mayo, negi-ponzu, and so on. There were actually six different flavors.
Since it's 400 yen for six pieces, this is also quite reasonable.
"Noa, which one do you want?"
"I want the normal ones!"
"Got it. Excuse me, one order of normal takoyaki, please."
I called out to the old man at the takoyaki stall.
He gave a silent nod with a stern expression and started packing them up. The old guy at this takoyaki stall always has a stern face and stays silent.
Because of that, he's often misunderstood as a scary person, but regulars like me know the truth.
He's just shy and easily embarrassed.
And that becomes even more obvious when he's dealing with women.
He's already famous as a sort of local celebrity old man at this festival.
"Here you go, Noa."
"Waah! Thank you very much!"
She directed a brilliant smile at both me and the old man.
It was a smile that even made my heart flutter. As for the old man...
"................Th-Th-Thanks..."
His face turned beet red and he stammered like crazy.
Well, that's the usual reaction. Stay strong, old man.
Moving away from the takoyaki stall, Noa pierced one of the takoyaki with a toothpick.
It was slightly soft and hadn't quite kept its round shape. It looked like it might fall at any moment, pulled down by gravity.
"This is it! When you talk about festival takoyaki, it has to be like this...!"
I understand that feeling.
Noa took a bite of half the takoyaki with a happy expression.
She looked like it was hot for a second, but she chewed it deliciously and swallowed.
"Mmmph, so goood...! As I thought, takoyaki is the best!"
"Noa, did you like takoyaki that much?"
"Yes! I love it enough that I'd be down for a Takopa every week!"
A Takopa every week? Just how much do you like it...?
Next, we headed to the cotton candy stall.
This one was simple cotton candy.
I handed the money to the lady, and she started spinning it around in the cotton candy machine.
Spin, spin, spin, spin.
And so, the cotton candy was finished. It was huge. It was twice the size of my face.
"Here, since you're a handsome young man, I'll give you a little extra service♪"
"Th-Thanks..."
This time it was my turn to stammer.
Something is off with my rhythm today.
When we headed back to where the others were waiting, Riran was waiting with her eyes sparkling.
"Cotton candy, cotton candy...! Thank you, Akito...!"
"Yeah. Here."
"Hoaaa...!"
Ah, she's so cute. It's healing.
Riran said a small "Itadakimasu" and bit into the cotton candy.
"Amu amu. Mmm, so sweet...!"
Is she... regressing into a toddler? Maybe it's an optical illusion. I feel like her apparent age just dropped a bit.
"Does Akito want some too? Here."
"Oh, tha—"
"Wait a minute!"
Just as I was about to eat the cotton candy, Noa called for a stop.
"Cotton candy is dessert. If so, you should eat the salty thing first. Senpai, please have my takoyaki first. Say 'Ahn'."
"A-Ah. Then—"
"Wait."
This time Riran stepped in to stop it.
"Akito just ate fried chicken, right? Then he should eat sweet and salty alternately. My cotton candy comes first."
"Huh? What are you saying? Usually, sweet things come last. Riran-senpai should just stay quiet and watch with envy while I feed Senpai with an 'Ahn'."
"Mugugugugugu...!"
"Gumumumumumu...!"
Um, I'm fine with either one.
"Akito!"
"Senpai!"
""Which one!?""
When beautiful women get aggressive, the pressure is intense...
I looked at the offered takoyaki and cotton candy.
Hmm, it feels like no matter which one I eat first, it's going to turn into a fight... It can't be helped.
While letting out a sigh, I tore off a piece of cotton candy with one hand.
With the other hand, I took the takoyaki pierced by the toothpick.
And I ate them at the same time.
"Akito!?"
"Eh, Senpai!?"
"Onii, what are you doing!?"
Everyone looked at me with surprised faces. Well, that's the natural reaction.
Munch munch. Chew chew. Gulp.
Hmm.
"It tastes bad."
"""Of course it does!?"""
I got a collective retort.
The gooey texture of the takoyaki and the elastic octopus.
The alien-like sweetness of the cotton candy mixing with the acidity of the mayonnaise and takoyaki sauce.
It's bad. It's way too bad. It's an astronomical level of badness.
"Listen, you two. I'm not saying you have to be best friends. But if you two are bickering, I'll be sad. Do you understand?"
"Ugh... S-Sorry, Akito..."
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. Bad girls."
I flicked both of their foreheads with my fingers.
Then, perhaps reflecting after being scolded, they both slumped dejectedly.
"...Noa-chan, I'm sorry."
"I-I'm the one who's sorry... My apologies."
While there was still some awkwardness, the two of them apologized honestly. Honestly, these girls...
"It's a festival we went through the trouble of coming to. Let's enjoy it to the fullest today."
I patted both of their heads. They looked a bit embarrassed, but they nodded hesitantly.
"Now then, next we're going to eat what I want. There's a delicious grilled skewer stall around here."
Fragrant from being charcoal grilled, the fat is moderately rendered off and you can get some protein. It's one of the things I always eat when I come here.
With the three of them in tow, I made my way toward the familiar grilled skewer stall.