Some time later…
We managed to make it back to the center of town. But…
“Sniffle…sniff…“
(Hmm…what should I do?)
Getting back to the center of town was a good start, but Asha kept crying continuously. I really wanted to find a way to stop her tears somehow…
“Hmm… Oh! I know! Hey, come over here for a second!”
“Sniffle…uh…okay…?“
I held Asha’s hand and took her over to a row of market stalls in the town. At a juice stand, I bought a cold drink and handed it to her.
“Here, this is for you!”
“Sniffle…huh? W-what’s this?“
“It’s a drink made from honey and lemon juice mixed with sparkling water. It’s really fizzy, sweet, and delicious. So go ahead, give it a try!”
“Sniffle…uh, thanks…alright, I’ll try it.“
Asha, still sniffling, leaned close to the cup and took a sip. Then…
“…Mmm! Mmm!?“
Her tears stopped instantly, and her eyes began to sparkle. She looked straight at me with those shining eyes and said,
“This is amazing! It’s super sweet and delicious!”
Asha’s face brightened in an instant. It seemed like she found it more delicious than I had hoped.
“Haha, I’m glad you liked it! There are a lot of famous honey farms in this area, so there’s plenty of delicious honey-based food here.”
The area I live in is known as Alphonse’s Domain, a rural area famous for its agriculture and livestock farming, with a great variety of delicious food.
“So that’s why! I’m so jealous you can have such tasty honey all the time! I love honey!”
“Haha, if you like it that much, then I’m happy too. Oh, by the way, I just realized…I don’t know your name yet.”
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Asha Grace! And your name is…?”
“Oh, I’m Seras Alfeid. Nice to meet you, Asha.”
“Nice to meet you too, Seras-kun!”
I introduced myself as casually as I could, but inside, I was incredibly excited.
(Oh my god…to be able to introduce myself to Asha, my favorite character…this is unreal!)
Not to mention, in the original game, I was the despicable villain who ends up cruelly murdering her. But here I am, having such a friendly conversation with her…this kind of scene would never happen in the game!
Feeling overjoyed by our unexpected encounter, Asha and I continued chatting and sipping honey soda.
“So…Asha, what brings you to this rural town? You don’t seem like you’re from around here. I’d probably know if you were a local kid.”
“Oh, I came from the royal capital! This is my first time visiting Alphonse’s Domain!”
“I thought so. Asha, you’re so cute, I had a feeling you might be from the city. And it turns out you’re from the capital!”
“Huh…wh-what? C-cute…? Really?”
“Hm? Yeah, I think you’re really cute, Asha.”
“O-oh…um…thank you…ehehe.”
When I said that, Asha looked overjoyed, smiling sweetly. I wasn’t sure what I had done exactly, but as long as it made her happy, that’s all that mattered.
“So, why did you come here from the royal capital? Sightseeing?”
“Oh, no, not exactly. My grandfather has been unwell lately, and I was really worried about him…so I wanted to bring him something nutritious and tasty. I heard there’s a lot of delicious food in Alphonse’s Domain, so I came here for that. But when those people in the alley said they knew about some famous dish, I followed them…”
“Oh, I see…that must have been scary.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine! Seras-kun, you protected me, after all! Thank you so much, Seras-kun!”
“I’m glad I could protect you, Asha.”
Asha expressed her gratitude with a beaming smile, and I smiled back, delighted to see her so happy.
Hmm…still…
(…I wonder who her grandfather is?)
In the game, Asha’s family was never mentioned, so this bit about her grandfather was new to me. I had no idea who he might be—could he be a character from the game, or…?
(Hmm, but still…having a loved one fall ill is really sad.)
Having lost his own mother at a young age, Seras felt a connection to Asha’s feelings.
So I made a suggestion to the somber-looking Asha.
“I know! Why don’t you bring some of this town’s honey back as a gift for your grandfather? Honey is not only delicious, but it’s also very nutritious. It’s perfect for someone recovering from illness!”
“That’s a great idea! They do say honey is full of nutrients! And this town’s honey was super tasty…yes, I’ll do that!”
Asha smiled joyfully, nodding eagerly.
(She must really love her grandfather.)
Seeing Asha so happy, I sensed how much she cared for him. It was clear she was a kind-hearted girl, with a deep sense of devotion.
“Well then, since we’ve become friends, let me give you a jar of the best honey this town has to offer!”
“Wh-what!? Are you sure? I mean, that’s so generous…you just met me today, and you’ve already done so much for me…”
“Haha, don’t worry about it. I’m really glad I got to make friends with you, Asha, so I want you to have a keepsake of this town’s specialty. And if you enjoy it, please come back and visit!”
“Seras-kun…yes, I will! I promise I’ll come back! And if my grandfather gets better, I’ll bring him along, so please show us around again!”
“Haha, it would be my pleasure. So, please come back anytime. It’s a promise!”
“Yes, it’s a promise! I’ll definitely come back!”
When I said that, Asha blushed a little and gave me a brilliant smile.
And so, after making a promise to see each other again someday, I gave Asha a jar of the finest honey as a parting gift.
