After they called the L.G.D. officers to come clean up the rampaging bear gang that had illegally entered the city, Sora and Ren continued on to the marketplace. Naturally, they didn't want to waste time waiting around to give statements to the arriving officers, so they simply left the gang tied up by the roadside. Of course, they made sure to bind them tightly to some stones to prevent them from escaping or causing trouble for anyone else.
Once they arrived at the market, Ren looked slightly excited at the sight before him: countless colorful lights from the twin rows of orange streetlamps shone down on the crowded streets, flanked by tightly packed stalls selling various goods.
"It doesn't smell strong at all..."
Ren had been to a fresh market once before as a child, and his first impression was that such places usually had a very strong odor. He expected this one to be the same, but surprisingly, it wasn't. All the meat products were neatly stored in glass display cases, and the vegetable vendors were positioned in separate areas from the meat stalls, making each section clearly divided and well-organized.
"This your first time at a place like this?" Sora asked, surprised at the boy's enthusiasm.
"This is my second time, actually... but honestly, it doesn't feel all that different from the first."
"Oh yeah? Then is there any dish you're particularly interested in? Want me to help you choose?"
Sora came across as a true pro. She didn't use words that would pressure him or make him uncomfortable. Instead, she got straight to the point and maintained the air of a dependable senior.
Compared to the easygoing Exusiai and the serious Texas, Sora felt more like a warm, caring older sister.
Ren, who was used to this kind of tone from the nurses at the hospital, found her demeanor quite comforting.
"I just started learning how to cook myself, so I'd love some guidance from you, Sora-senpai."
"Leave it to me! Hmm... for beginner-friendly dishes, I'd say stir-fried meals and salads are usually a safe bet—"
Sora suddenly stopped mid-sentence as she glanced at Ren's skinny frame.
"On second thought... meat dishes are pretty important too! Let's start with the meats, Ren!"
"Uh, what?"
Ren wasn't sure why, but for a split second, he thought he saw a fiery determination flash in Sora's eyes. Before he could react, she had grabbed his hand and led him to the meat stall, where she bought a generous amount of various meats—entirely on her dime. Despite his efforts to stop her, she shut him down with a firm senpai command, leaving him with no room to argue.
Next, they stopped by the vegetable stalls. But once they got there, Sora took a long time picking out produce, so much so that she didn't even hear Ren when he called out to her.
That made him think of scenes in movies—"woman moments"—where they'd get completely absorbed in shopping, lost in their own little world.
Being the gentleman he was, Ren decided to kill some time browsing a nearby stall. Conveniently, he found himself at the seafood section and grew curious about the bizarre-looking sea creatures laid out in the iceboxes.
As he wandered, his attention was suddenly caught by a shop that seemed more spaced out from the others. There, a vendor was slicing up fish with such finesse and speed that it reminded Ren of a sword master from a martial arts film.
Fascinated, Ren drifted closer without realizing it. When the man finished chopping, he looked up.
"Need something?"
"Ah—sorry! I guess I got a little too into watching... Um, what are you selling here?"
Ren flinched when he saw the upper half of the man's face.
"His face is terrifying..."
The shopkeeper was a young man with round, bear-like ears and lifeless eyes that gave off an intimidating vibe. But perhaps because of his calm yet oddly friendly tone, Ren felt his fear slowly subside.
Ren didn't usually get along with round-eared folks, especially after that bear gang, but he reminded himself not everyone was like them...
"Sign," the man said, setting down his knife and pointing with a gloved finger to a sign beside the stall, which read "Jia's Fish Balls."
Embarrassed he hadn't noticed it, Ren quickly apologized.
"Sorry! I was just so impressed by your knife skills that I totally zoned out!"
"...Thanks. Want to try some?"
The vendor's tone softened even more, and though he wore a mask, Ren could tell the man's mood had improved.
"I'll have... two medium bowls of fish balls, please!"
"Mm... one moment."
The man opened a foam container behind him, pulled out a strange-looking fish, and began slicing it into chunks before tossing them into a fryer.
Ren didn't know much about seafood, but he figured that the ocean creatures on this world were rather strange-looking. Not exactly disgusting—but not something you'd want to see mid-meal.
"Just to be sure... let's use the Eye of the Mind."
Ren blinked, activating his skill and glanced up.
[Jay][Affinity: 10% (Stranger)][Status: Friendly][Mood: Happy]
"Wha... he's a good guy!"
Ashamed of his earlier suspicion, Ren mentally slapped himself.
"All done."
Jay's voice snapped him out of it. Ren blinked and stared at the two full paper bowls now in front of him.
"W-wasn't that too fast?"
He couldn't help but wonder if the fish was even cooked properly.
"Nijiro fish. Their meat has low moisture content. Just a few seconds in high-heat oil and they're good to go. Crispy texture, fragrant skin."
As if noticing his concern, Jay explained it clearly—probably not the first time someone had asked.
"I see! Sorry for doubting you!" Ren said, thankful and intrigued. He took one piece and popped it into his mouth.
"THIS IS AMAZING!!!"
His loud exclamation made nearby passersby stop and turn to stare. Even Jay jumped a little at the outburst.
"M-mister! Can you sell me this fish? I want to try cooking it myself!"
"Ah... sure."
After agreeing on the sale, Ren decided to buy a full kilo of Nijiro fish. He introduced himself as "Zhongli," since Texas had warned him repeatedly not to reveal his real name to strangers.
Jay seemed surprised at the name but introduced himself simply as Jay.
Ren then asked if Jay had any easy recipes using Nijiro fish, explaining that he was just starting out in cooking. Jay responded generously with a few suggestions, even recommending some sauces that paired well. Inspired, Ren dashed off to a nearby store to buy the ingredients Jay had mentioned.
Before he left, Ren profusely thanked Jay and praised the fish balls as the best he'd ever had.
Unbeknownst to him, the crowd that had overheard their interaction started to gather around Jay's stall, drawn in by Ren's loud and passionate reaction.
As a result, the once-quiet Jia's Fish Balls sold out completely in under half an hour—allowing Jay to close up shop and return to brag to his uncle.
Jay didn't forget to mentally thank the boy who had approached him and promised that next time they met, he'd give him a few more good recipes to try.