Noah wasn’t really the aggressive type. It was just that when put in a situation, her strength could be incredibly overwhelming.

Thus, when asked if Noah’s nature was fierce enough to treat Shizuko harshly over something like this, some doubts remained. So, considering why she was acting this way today, the answer was surprisingly close at hand.

“Ushio Noa, how about we let her do her job a bit, huh? Right, Kurodate Haruna doesn’t seem too upset either.”

“Oh my, should we?”

“Uuh…?”

With a face that looked like she might burst into tears, Shizuko had her hands together and was looking at Noah with a mix of concern and confusion.

“I used to think that we should be thankful to the Hakgwiyaeng Side for being here, but… that’s not the case now, right? Right, Kurodate Haruna?”

“Hmm…”

“Right…?”

“Yes, yes. I absolutely didn’t think about blowing this place up or anything. Really.”

“B-blow it up…? The Hakgwiyaeng Side?!”

With a confused look, Shizuko alternated her gaze between the two of us like a spinning top. The funny thing about the situation was that it was quite likely that Noah started acting this way to protect the store from Haruna to some extent.

By carefully breaking down the issues with words, even Haruna was able to calm down, and thanks to that, the store safely survived the threat of being bombed. It was quite a picture, wouldn’t you agree?

Of course, the Haruna I knew would have found it hard to blow anything up even if she wanted to. But looking at her now, I feel like she wouldn’t have gone through with it even without me being here.

In this particular situation, since it was Haruna’s birthday, it was Noah’s sincere effort to ensure her feelings didn’t get too scrambled. It was a bit sad that Shizuko, who happened to take on her klutzy character traits, was the one who got caught up in it.

“Uuh, what is with all these people… Hah!”

Heueng…?

Why did they have to stoke the fire when the situation was winding down? It was making me genuinely mad.

“Employee…”

“Ushio Noa. Please just hold back a little, okay? Your time is too precious to waste like this.”

Fufu. “Understood, Misono Mika. I do think your time is a bit more valuable than mine, but… for now, it might be more reasonable to stay restrained here.”

Fortunately, I conveyed my heartfelt request to Shizuko to not make the situation worse and hurry up instead, as Noah nodded in agreement. Honestly, watching this sort of chaos unfold makes me uneasy.

Even if watching the fire across the river or the fights of others is one of the most fun things to do, I still feel a tad sorry for Shizuko, as she hasn’t done anything terribly wrong. If you think about it, the current Hakgwiyaeng Side feels a lot like a maid café featuring Shizuko as the poster idol.

After safely evacuating Shizuko, I stared thoughtfully at the parfait before me. I chose this special matcha parfait out of curiosity, and visually, it was just as much a dessert from Hakgwiyaeng as from Trinity.

However, the ingredients definitely carried a stronger vibe from this side. The colors and aromas were perfectly matcha-esque, and with the inclusion of dumplings and rice cakes, it was a typical dessert combining tradition with a fresh twist.

…I can’t help but think that the guys from Sanhaegyeong’s Hyunryongmun could learn a thing or two from this. Stubbornly clinging to tradition, they seem to only cause trouble for Lord Kisaki.

Holding my spoon, I gently scooped some ice cream first. The green hue signified without a doubt it was matcha-flavored ice cream.

And sure enough, the rich yet not bitter taste melted smoothly in my mouth.

Hmm… Is this hojicha?

Taking a spoonful from another dollop of ice cream beside it, this one had a similar vibe but tasted slightly more natural and creamy as matcha ice cream.

Heueng…? “This is quite a unique flavor. It’s definitely matcha, yet I can taste subtle hints of strawberry and lemon. The fizzy sensation from the carbonation adds a refreshing quality, resulting in a wonderful balance. No wonder the Hakgwiyaeng Side has become so famous as a tea house across Kivotos.”

Isn’t that right? There’s no way Shizuko alone turned this place into the most famous tea house in Kivotos, right? This means we’ve had guests visit from all over Kivotos, but we’re the first ones to lodge a complaint…

Of course, if it weren’t for Haruna, Noah probably wouldn’t have gone as far as to really give Shizuko a hard time. But really, I think the people of Kivotos are quite kind. Most bad apples are just empty cans after all; being nice suits people better. Hmm.

“Mmm…! This strawberry manju definitely hits the spot. The manju’s density seems to lighten because of the tangy fruity flavors, and the taste of the manju itself is splendid. The fact that the manju is shaped like a strawberry is adorable, which is quite a nice touch♪”

“Misono Mika, you should try this daifuku here. The chewy texture and the taste of red bean paste are excellent.”

“Oh, should I?”

Haruna eagerly handed me the daifuku, which is sticky rice cake. Despite its somewhat odd name, the texture and taste were very familiar to me. Personally, I don’t particularly enjoy that sticky texture, but aside from that, it was delicious.

“Wow! Ushio Noa, this ice cream and jelly are perfect together☆”

“Mika, this strawberry manju…”

“Noah, could you please share your thoughts on the flavor of this cold tea?”

As a result, before I knew it, we were all bustling to feed each other our treats. Technically speaking, only Haruna was serious about ‘gourmet’ in this place, but Nana and Noah both enjoy good food just as much in their everyday lives.

Thus, the desire to share something delicious with someone they love was something we all could relate to.

While we were having fun sharing our desserts, one particular point stood out.

“Ushio Noa.”

“Yes?”

“Are you planning to apologize later?”

“…Maybe.”

Even now, Noah’s gaze often shifted to Shizuko, who was busy catering and the excited customers enjoying her service. Perhaps she was feeling something from observing Shizuko’s passion as the mascot and owner of the Hakgwiyaeng Side and the enthusiastic responses from the patrons.

“I would have preferred a little notice about the place beforehand, but I do realize I was too harsh. Misono Mika, it’s probably best that I apologize, right?”

“Well, I think it’s entirely up to you whether to apologize… But what does Kurodate Haruna think? You know, the person who got mad for you and is now contemplating whether to apologize.”

“Hmm… I’ll apologize too. It isn’t because Ushio Noa was angry for me, but the fact that it arose from my usual behavior… Yes, this entirely stems from me.”

“Then shall I also join in the apology?”

“Eh?”

“Actually, you see, I had vaguely heard before that the Hakgwiyaeng Side specializes in this kind of service. So, it seems I should take some responsibility for forgetting that, huh? If I remembered partway through, I should’ve stopped you right then, so I have my own reasons to apologize too.”

“…So today is an excuse, then?”

“Honestly, it’s hard not to like Misono Mika. Fufu.”

Eventually, we decided to collectively apologize to Shizuko. While it wasn’t a matter of right or wrong, Noah’s incredibly kind nature made her feel guilty for treating Shizuko harshly.

Yet, I felt uneasy leaving Noah to apologize alone. I wasn’t sure what Haruna thought, but if she had a conscience, it would be natural for her to feel uneasy too. So, it seemed fitting for all of us to apologize together since we were at it anyway.

Most importantly, had I just given a heads-up beforehand, it probably would have been a non-issue, but alas, I forgot everything about the Hakgwiyaeng Side, leading to this situation…

By the way, I could probably just leave the upcoming Hakgwiyaeng incident next month to the teacher, right? The chairman of the local merchants association? I vaguely remember that guy being the mastermind, but I don’t see a need for me to get involved.

I should focus on relaxing and enjoying the cherry blossoms with my ladies instead. The teacher is capable enough to handle things just fine without me.

Having cleaned my dessert plate completely, I headed to the counter to settle the bill. As always, naturally, it was on me this time.

Haruna doesn’t even insist on paying anymore. By the time I graduate, I imagine my earnings will have reached the point where I can spend freely without worry!

In Kivotos, tteokbokki reigns supreme and is invincible. In continually draining the wallets of high school girls, I have secured a stable future…!

“Oh, I’ll help with the check, Owner! Meow meow!”

“Wow—oh… That concept, you know we’ve already figured it out here, right?”

“Concept? Shizuko is not quite sure what you’re saying… But let’s focus on the bill for now!”

“Ahaha… Here, take the card.”

After finishing the payment with Shizuko, I suddenly bowed my head.

“U-uh, Shizuko? About what happened earlier… I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“Y-yes?”

“I’m really sorry, Shizuko. I was too harsh, right? It might sound like an excuse, but it’s somewhat of a habit… The dessert and tea were truly excellent. If what you did here at Hakgwiyaeng Side is the way it operates, then I should also respect that part. Once again, I’m really sorry.”

Caught off guard by the sudden apology, Shizuko blinked in surprise.

“Is this some kind of prank…?”

Her question contained all sorts of emotions—shock, embarrassment, and so on. Honestly, I’d find the situation absurd if I were in her shoes too.

“Phew. For this trip, I should have mentioned in advance that I didn’t bring any bombs, but I’m sorry for not doing that.”

…Wait a second. Haruna, isn’t that a bit odd?