After making my promise with Titania, I left the Phoenix Shrine.
I passed through the torii gate and returned to the Tenrei Shrine.
There, Fuuka and Nagisa were already working on dismantling the wooden scaffolding.
When Nagisa raised both hands, a magic circle appeared, and the assembled pillars and beams silently came apart.
It looked like watching joinery being played in reverse.
The wooden pieces floated into the air.
Fuuka leaped lightly toward them and stored them away in her storage magic tool.
"That's some beautiful magic."
I couldn't help but murmur as I watched the spell Nagisa was casting.
Normally, performing this much work with magic would require multiple spells used simultaneously.
She was completing it all with a single spell.
"Welcome back, Orun. You were quicker than expected."
Noticing me, Nagisa smiled while still maintaining control of her spell.
"Yeah. I finished something I needed to do before investigating the principles."
"Something you needed to do?"
"I'll tell you about it later."
When I replied lightly, Nagisa tilted her head for a moment but didn't press further and returned her focus to the spell.
Before long, the final beam slid through the air, and Fuuka caught it with agile movements before storing it away.
"…Done."
When Fuuka let out a small breath, Nagisa beamed.
"Thank you for helping, Fuuka Big Sister! Thanks to you, it finished so quickly!"
While watching the two of them interact, I sensed a change in the air around the shrine grounds.
With the scaffolding gone, it felt like the lingering traces of the festival had finally come to a close.
"You're welcome. I moved around a lot, so I'm hungry now."
"Ahaha! You really have become a big eater, Big Sister."
"…That's not true."
"Ehh~ It totally is~"
Fuuka slightly averted her gaze at Nagisa's teasing.
As I watched their exchange with a smile, Fuuka noticed my gaze and shot me a grumpy look.
"Orun, are you thinking something rude?"
"No? Not at all."
"That face definitely means you're thinking something rude."
Being glared at so intensely, I could only offer a wry smile.
"I'm not. I was just relieved to see you acting like your usual self."
"..."
Fuuka usually let things go quickly, but today she seemed unusually bothered.
Was it because she didn't want to show any weird sides in front of her little sister?
...From Nagisa's reaction, it already felt too late when it came to anything food-related.
◇
After leaving the Tenrei Shrine, we returned to the inn where we were staying.
"Ah, Orun, Fuuka, Nagisa-chan, welcome back."
Shion, who had been admiring the flowers and birds from the veranda, called out to us when she noticed our return.
Bathed in the morning light as she sat on the veranda, her figure looked serene and almost like a painting you could watch forever.
She held a teacup in her hands, with white steam gently rising from it.
"Shion, we're back. What are you doing?"
"Nothing much. The innkeeper said to enjoy the garden view and brought me this tea. …It's really calming, isn't it? Something like this."
At her gentle tone, Fuuka murmured "I get it" and glanced at the veranda as if wanting to sit beside her.
Seeing that, Nagisa smiled.
"Breakfast should be ready too… Everyone, shall we head inside?"
When we followed Shion and Fuuka into the room Nagisa led us to, a fragrant, savory aroma tickled our noses.
"…Smells good."
At my involuntary comment, Fuuka nodded proudly and said, "Right?"
When we slid open the shoji screen and stepped inside, several low tables were lined up with dishes already neatly arranged.
Bowls of white rice, steaming miso soup, pickles, rolled omelets, and grilled fish.
Just looking at the carefully prepared breakfast naturally stirred my appetite.
Right then, Luna, Oliver, Hart, and the others also entered the room.
"Today looks delicious too!"
Luna's eyes sparkled as she hurried over, while Oliver looked around the table with curiosity.
"No matter how many times I see it, it's impressive."
"I'm starving! Let's eat already!"
Hart's energetic voice instantly lightened the mood.
We each took our seats and brought our hands together.
""Itadakimasu.""
Our voices overlapped, and the morning meal began.
The moment Fuuka and Hart picked up their chopsticks, their expressions softened.
"…It really is calming. This taste."
At Hart's words, Fuuka nodded.
"Yeah. I hadn't eaten it in years, but it's still delicious."
For the two of them, this was the nostalgic taste of their homeland. With every bite, a quiet sense of relief seemed to show on their faces.
Meanwhile, those of us visiting Kyokuto for the first time had started getting used to eating Japanese food over the past three days.
"This rice seemed bland at first, but the more I chew, the sweeter it tastes. It's strange."
Luna murmured in admiration, while Shion skillfully separated the grilled fish with her chopsticks and smiled with satisfaction. "Yep. I managed it better than yesterday."
Oliver took a sip of miso soup and nodded with a serious expression.
"I'm not fully used to it yet… but the flavor really sinks into the body."
By the third day, I had finally calmed down enough to properly savor the sweetness of the white rice and the warmth of the miso soup.
In the midst of days filled with fighting, I once again engraved in my heart just how luxurious it was to share a meal like this with my comrades.
As we enjoyed that peaceful time,
"…Kuh."
A low groan came from beside me.
When I looked over, Oliver was struggling with his chopsticks, fighting with the grilled fish.
"What's wrong, Oliver?"
"No… Isn't this difficult? The moment I think I've picked it up, it slips right away."
With a serious face, he readjusted his grip on the chopsticks and tried again and again, but the fish fillet kept slipping away.
"Fufu…"
Luna watched Oliver with an amused smile, while Shion shook her shoulders. "Oliver, you're really bad with chopsticks~"
"No, you guys are just improving too fast. How are you already so good at using chopsticks?"
Oliver frowned and gripped the chopsticks tighter.
"Um… Should I bring a spoon and fork?"
At Nagisa's suggestion, Oliver's face went blank for a moment before he let out a deep sigh.
"…Thank you. But it's fine. I'll master chopsticks soon too."
Everyone naturally laughed at the sight of him trying again with such determination.
The warm, harmonious atmosphere spread, making the breakfast table even more pleasant.