I Was Reincarnated as a Nameless Combatant in a Japanese-style Fantasy Depressive Erotic Game, but the Women Around Me Are All Dangerous, and I Have a Bad Feeling about It

is the menu of our main store.
Please feel free to order whatever you'd like.
No, order something!”

　…And it was hard to believe that this demanding staff member with bloodshot eyes was the same person.

　”Haha, hahaha, well…”

　Both Suzune and I could only force a wry smile as we were seated.

　(I see, something strange is happening here.
She was supposed to be a teasing big sister-like character even with the protagonist…
Wait, is it because of “her”?)

　I was perplexed by the mysterious deviation from the original work, but when I glanced at the shop across of the “Hanamizuki House,” I understood the reason.

　There was a cafe.
An unmistakable Nanban-style cafe.
There was a long line outside.
The air was filled with the aroma of black tea, coffee, and sweet Nanban confections.
I had heard that ever since the Tachibana Trading Company opened a branch in Onitsuki Valley, a new cafe funded by the company had also opened.
I see, they were stealing customers…
Ouch!

　”Dear customer, you shouldn't be cheating with other shops like that,” said the poster girl, forcefully moving my head.
Right in front of my eyes, I saw the face of Momiji.
Her broad smile was eerily terrifying.

　”Alright! Alright!! I won't look anywhere else!! That's why my neck hurts! It hurts!! Let go of me!!”

　”Understood.
I apologize, dear customer.”

　With a smile, the poster girl released her grip on my neck.
I thought my neck, my very bones, were going to break…!!

　”Um, well…”

　”Haah…
haah…
Suzune, just order anything for now.
I'm begging you.
I'll pay for everything.”

　”No, I have to go back to young lady…”

　”For the sake of my neck, please.”

　”Fine…”

　Suzune immediately agreed to my concise but desperate plea.
As I observed the smile on the poster girl's face, she carefully placed the order from the menu.

　”Yes, thank you for your order!”

　Just as the poster girl, humming a tune, was about to dissapear into the depths of the shop, Suzune leaned in and whispered in my ear, suggesting that we should escape while we still had the opportunity.
However, I declined the idea.

　”Why?”

　I show the example of refusal by standing up.
The moment after, the poster girl froze, pausing with her foot raised before disappearing into the back of the shop.
Well, she was in a position that could be pounced on from behind at any moment.
And the humming had stopped too.

　”…”

　Then, as I sat back down again, the poster girl resumed her humming and disappeared into the back of the shop.

　”That's the situation.
Do you understand?”

　”Yes, very well.”

　Suzune accepted my warning, her face turning pale.
Yes, I like obedient kids.

　…Well, to defend the poster girl, the tea house sweets were indeed delicious.
The dangos came in three flavors: red bean paste, sweet soy glaze, sesame, and edamame.
The rice cakes was also excellent, with both red bean and roasted soybean flour variations.
The bitterness of the green tea paired well with the sweet Japanese confections too.

　”It's delicious, isn't it?”

　”Yes, it is.”

　As Suzune and I observed the village street, we silently enjoyed the tea sweets.
When our mouths became too sweet, we washed it down with green tea.
Especially Suzune, who couldn't easily eat sweet things due to her gender and position, maintained a composed attitude, but her eating speed revealed her enthusiasm.

　”Oops…
I'm sorry.”

　”It's alright.
Here, take it.”

　Both Suzune and I reached for the last skewered dumpling, filled with red bean paste, almost at the same time.
I offered the last one to Suzune, along with the plate.

　”But…”

　”It seems my mouth has become too sweet from the red bean paste.
It's not like I absolutely have to eat it.”

　”I see.
Then…”

　Reluctantly, but driven by her appetite, Suzune reaches for the dango.
As she takes a bite, I notice her relaxed expression.
Seeing that, I also relax my expression.

　”But still…”

　As I gaze at the café sitting across from us, I ponder.
Despite how delicious it is, traditional sweets like this tend to be dominated by red bean paste.
It's inevitable for people to grow tired of them.
Suzune aside, it may be quite natural for the people in this village to go to the café.
This place advertises a 30% discount, but I wonder if they are facing any financial challenges.

　(This is troublesome…)

　I didn't want this tea house to go out of business, as it serves as a small event venue and a source of information.

　(And maybe, the opening of that café across from us is because of my butterfly effect?)

　The “Hanamizuki House” itself has been in the village for two hundred years, passed down through generations.
If it were to close down, both Momiji and her family might be left in dire straits.

　In this era, in many cases, occupations and businesses are hereditary.
There is little freedom in choosing a profession, and it's difficult to make a comeback once people deviate from the established path.
It may have seemed like a joke, but from Momiji perspective, she may genuinely be anxious about her future.
Falling into a cycle of family separation, drowning in debt, and ending up in a brothel is all too common in this world.

　”Well, there's no helping it…
Girl, the bill.”