Part 2
Shopping Mall
It’s… a coaster?
(It looks like a round, paper coaster. But something about the character on it kinda reminds me of Nanaki-kun…)
E-Excuse me…!
Ah… Hi, how can I help you?
If it’s alright, could you give Reito… um, that coaster to me, please? I’ll pay for your drink.
(It’s the person in front of the cafe earlier… Maybe they were aiming for this one specifically.)
Who’s Reito?
It’s the name of that character! …You don’t know Reito? Are you a newbie? In that case I don’t think you should have that, it might be better if I held on to it.
U-Uh…
Sorry, there were a lot of people…
!?
(It’s that ReiSho hag…!)
(It’s that ReiOu brat…!)
Is this character really popular?
Wow, your bag is full of Reito-kun…?
They’re this year’s limited edition PatiCafe gacha badges. Reito has a high character tax so collecting these was like hell!
*muttering* …It’s not like your love for your oshi’s measured by how many goods you own.
Ahem! Reito is a character from a series called PatiBattle! and PatiBattle! is an unprecedented shonen manga about the fusion of sweet desserts and fiery battles.
I-I see…
It takes place in a super elite pastry school called Framboise where everything is determined through battles between patisserie-mates… You can think of it as the Sengoku period,2 but if they fought with desserts.
*scoffs* An unrealistic description explained by someone who’s obviously never baked before.
The protagonist is this super energetic boy called Shota who specializes in baked goods, and Reito, who specializes in chocolate, is a scholarship student that became Shota’s first rival… and everyone’s favourite character!
*from the side* Can ReiSho shippers with 0 reading comprehension keep his name out of their filthy mouths, please?
(Th-There’s sparks flying between them…!?)
Th-Thank you for the explanation…! I see, so he’s a character from a really popular series.
Exactly. That’s why you should give Reito to me…
Sorry, I can’t.
Huh!?
…!
(This might be the coaster Ushio-kun was trying to get…)
……Fine, whatever. As long as he’s in good hands.
*woman walks away*
…Phew~~! She came onto us so strongly! You looked like you knew her, was she an acquaintance of yours?
…You think I’d consider that ReiSho shipping fake-ass hag an acquaintance?
(Looks like they have some history…)
…I can help you get rid of that coaster, by the way.
Ah, yeah. You wanted this right?
!? I didn’t mean it like that, I just thought that since it’s a coaster from a series you don’t know, it’s basically trash—
*phone rings*
Sorry, it’s from Kafka, I gotta take this. Hi, yes—
…
So that cafe we went to earlier was a collaboration cafe for PatiBattle!
…
Reito-kun does seem like the popular type~. He has this gentle air about him and is pretty good-looking, too.
…
Did you also like the character called Ouji? His pudding shake was super good!
…Hey.
Hm?
I-I wouldn’t mind taking that coaster from earlier.
Huh…?
No, I mean… Don’t get me wrong, like, um…
Oops, I forgot! Sorry, here, take it!
…Wait.
You wanted Reito-kun’s coaster, right?
…Augh, hrhuhguha… huuuu…
(I’m glad he looks happy.)
…W-Well, since you hung out with me at the cafe this time, I guess I wouldn’t mind taking a request or two for any baked goods you feel like having.
You mean it? Haha, then I’ll look forward to eating what you make~!
Yeah, do that.
I will!
(What a weirdo… Well, whatever, I managed to get Reito’s coaster out of it…)
…Heh.