With his hands now free, he stepped back onto the main road, blending once more into the rhythm of the bustling city.
Shido couldn't help but observe the hustle and bustle around him. Everywhere he looked, salarymen and women rushed by, walking briskly as they either headed home from work or made their way to the office.
Students passed him too, some walking alone, others in small groups, chatting and laughing. A few seemed to be heading home, while others were likely out enjoying some free time with friends.
As he watched them, Shido realized with a slight chuckle that he'd need to start attending school soon. He certainly didn't want his neighbors thinking he was a NEET, especially the housewives who might start gossiping if they saw him lounging around all day.
"Guess I better blend in." he mused, adjusting the bags he'd mentally stashed in his inventory. "A student identity it is, then."
He nodded to himself before he walked away.
Shido suddenly remembered the cake shop he passed by earlier and thought that it was a good idea to buy a cake as a greeting gift.
Not far from where he was walking, he spotted the cake shop he had passed by earlier. Cake Shop Iori. The shop wasn't particularly large, but it wasn't small either, just the right size to give off a cozy, welcoming vibe.
Shido had checked the reviews online earlier, and from what he'd read, the shop had a good reputation. Curious, he decided to give it a try.
"Welcome!"
As Shido pushed open the door, a warm, welcoming voice greeted him. The woman behind the counter flashed a smile, her long black hair tied in a neat side ponytail, and her dark green eyes sparkling with a hint of curiosity.
Shido took a step forward and approached the counter, briefly scanning the shop. The woman appeared to be in her mid-30s, though her stunning appearance and smooth, well-maintained skin made her look much younger. He couldn't help but admire the care she had clearly put into her appearance.
As Shido quietly observed, the woman, in turn, studied him. Judging by his age, he looked to be about the same as her son. Yet, there was something different about him that made her attracted to him, and it caused her cheeks to suddenly feel hot.
The woman shook her head quickly, as if trying to shake off the strange thoughts. Her smile returned to a more professional, customer-service friendly expression.
"Hello, customer. Welcome to Cake Shop Iori. What kind of cake would you like to buy today?"
Shido blinked, pulled from his thoughts. "Hmm... I'm not really sure. What do you recommend?"
The woman's warm smile remained as she looked over the cakes in the display. Shido followed her gaze and realized just how many tempting options there were.
"Is the customer not familiar with cakes?" The woman asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Shido chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head. "Just call me Shido or Itsuka, Ma'am. I feel a little weird being called 'customer.'"
The woman paused for a moment, then smiled awkwardly. "Then, Itsuka-kun?" she hesitated, clearly unsure of how to address him. It felt strange to call a boy the same age as her son by his first name right off the bat. She settled for using his surname instead.
"Yes, that works." Shido nodded, smiling in return.
Iori, smile softened, and she leaned forward slightly. "Ah, right. My name is Miyamura Iori. You can call me by my name too, if you'd like."
"Then, Miyamura-san, it is," Shido agreed, feeling a little more at ease with the conversation.
"Good. Then, is Itsuka-kun not familiar with cakes?" Iori asked, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
"Yeah," Shido replied with a sheepish grin. "Although I can cook, I don't know much about cakes."
"I see!" Iori's face lit up with enthusiasm. "Then let me introduce them to you."
With that, she began explaining the various cakes on display, her hands gesturing to each one as she described their flavors, textures, and special ingredients. She spoke with such passion that Shido couldn't help but but think that she was cute despite her age. The thought of making cakes suddenly seemed like an exciting new challenge, yet he was more interested with chatting with Iori.
...
"Please come back again," Iori said warmly, giving Shido a friendly smile as he turned to leave.
"Yes, of course," Shido replied, his own smile matching hers.
With that, Shido made his way out of the shop, his mind still lingering on their pleasant conversation. He had bought a chocolate cake, a Mont Blanc, and a strawberry shortcake. As for why he bought three, the two was for his neighbor and the last one was his.
Iori stood outside the shop for a moment, watching Shido's fleeting figure. A strange feeling tugged at her chest as she observed him. She hadn't expected to enjoy their talk so much that she lost sense of time. Despite his unfamiliarity with cakes, Shido's knowledge of cooking and other things had sparked an interesting conversation. Without either of them realizing, they'd become quite comfortable with one another.
It gave Iori a new sense of feeling, something a little immoral, but she quickly shook those thoughts from her head.
'What am I thinking!?' she scolded herself internally. She was married and had a son the same age as Shido. There was no room for such thoughts. Her mind briefly wandered to her husband, who rarely returned home, and she found herself muttering under her breath about how little he came back home.
"Mom, what are you doing outside?"
The voice broke Iori out of her thoughts. She turned to see her son, Miyamura Izumi, walking toward her. He was a high school student with an average height and a slim figure, his pale skin giving him a delicate appearance. Despite his good looks, his messy, long black hair, especially the bangs that obscured most of his face, sometimes detracted from his handsome features.
Izumi raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern as he took in his mother's distracted state.
"Oh, Izumi, you're back." Iori smiled awkwardly when she saw her son, Miyamura Izumi, walking toward her. She let out a quiet sigh of relief in her mind.
'That was close.' She thought, relieved that Shido had already left. If her son had seen her chatting so comfortably with someone his age, especially someone like Shido, she would have felt even more awkward.
"I'm back. Anyway, what are you doing outside?" Izumi asked again, noting that she hadn't responded to him earlier.
"Nothing. I was just waiting for you," Iori replied, her voice smoothing over her previous tension. "Now, let's head back. You can help me out at the store."
"...Alright."