As they walked from the meeting place to the shore, Sharovanal, the god of the world, glanced at Alice. Then, realizing what she meant, Alice moved away a little to avoid being noticed by the pleasant people who were chatting, and announced in a voice small enough for only Shalovanal to hear.

'Oh?　Lord Shalovanal, what can I do for you?
I was a little unsure of your intentions. Would it be a sign of retribution not to have me fix you lunch?
Well, let's stop going around and say it straight. I was honestly surprised by Sharovanal-sama's growth at the previous new building party.......so I thought that this time I would surprise Sharovanal-sama.
"...surprise me?　As it stands, I'm not surprised, though I'm a little dissatisfied?

　Shalovanal nodded her head, looking unconvinced by the answer, and Alice smiled somewhat wryly when she saw Solee.



　As she said that, Sharovannal stopped walking involuntarily when she saw the small lump of flesh that Alice made appear on her hand out of nowhere.

''Whoa, two blinks at short intervals.......that's the gesture Kite was talking about when she was surprised. So that means the surprise was a success, right?
'........Yes, I was indeed surprised. No, I'm still surprised........how on earth did you convince 'her' to do it?

　Shalovanal looked at the lump of meat in Alice's hand, and in an instant he could understand who Alice had gotten it from. But because she understood it........she didn't understand.
　Seeing Shalovanal's reaction as expected, Alice smiled somewhat contentedly as she looked at Shalovanal, who was reacting in such a way.










　The time went back, the day before the bathing session. It had happened during a break between training sessions.
　Training with Machina, the omniscient and omnipotent god, was exhausting, no matter how much Alice wanted to. At any rate, if you don't always muster up your energy to the very limit, you can't even move properly in front of Machina. It could be said that frequent breaks were, in a sense, essential.

''Haha ... hmmm ... happy!
Oh, Makina. We'll have some drinks for you.
'Thank you! But... why did you bring me a 'delivery' today?　No, I'm just happy.

　While eating the hamburger Alice handed her, Makina asked with a slight nod of her head. This is because, although I've helped with training several times before, this was the first time that Alice brought me something to offer.
　It's a good idea to ask with such a thought in your head that they might make some strange demands again, and Alice opened her mouth with a kind smile.

It's not that I'm not interested in it. I'm just thanking you.
'Yeah well it's not like I have to worry about it so much, but thanks!
No.

　Despite Alice's obviously suspicious phrasing, Makina believed Alice's words without any particular suspicion and resumed her meal with a smile and a smile.
　In the first place. What I should call the sensitivity from Makina to Alice is extremely high. Basically, she doesn't use her omniscience against Alice and takes most of her words in stride... after all, Makina is very sweet to her best friend, Alice.
　In the end, Makina didn't have any more doubts, finished eating the food brought to her and told her with a satisfied expression.

''........feast!　What do we do?　Do you want to resume training immediately?
''Oh no, I'm going to finish around here for today. The time issue is fine, but I don't want to leave you exhausted tomorrow since you and Kite are going swimming with me.
I see, but it's nice, going to the beach with my darling child. I want to go too.
'Give it up. It's a pattern of your mother interrupting you when you're spending time with your girlfriend, or a completely hated mother, right?
I know, I know. I'll keep you in check.
'Hmmm. Well, that's true. It's hard to notice because of the impression of being out of control, but Machina is rather well thought of.

　Although she envies Alice going to the beach with Kaito, Makina doesn't try to force herself to follow her. So, although she has a strong impression of being out of control and seems to be unattached, but.................in fact, she thinks about the timing rather well.
　It is a good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do with it. The convenience of Kaito is firmly prioritized by Kaito.

　In fact, at the time of the Sixth King Festival, she received her companion's badge, but went separately so as not to bother Kaijin.
　As a matter of fact, aside from running into her by chance, she basically only appears in front of Kaito at seats like a party attended by a large number of people, or when she is called by Kaito, or when Kaito is 'unavailable at home'.

'That's right. It is because I want to love my child, and I do not want to annoy my child. I will properly take into account the convenience of my child.
Really, if he doesn't run off, he's pretty decent in a way.


　Yes, she is........except for the two points of "too much love for a pleasant person" and "I only think of everyone but my child as a talking lump of meat", she has a rather common sense mindset.
　........But those two personalities are so strong that they override everything and make him look like a madman....
　After looking at such a troubled best friend and smiling bitterly, Alice opened her mouth to switch the conversation.

''Well, that's why we're going to go swimming tomorrow.......Actually, I have a favor to ask Makina.
I don't like it because I don't have a good feeling about it. It's not that I don't like it, but Alice says it simply, but when I interfere with things in the other world, I have to explain the situation to Shalovanal later on. The fact that I'm helping with training like this is because of the hole in the contract or rather the gray area.
Mmm.....oh, I don't mean to change the subject, but...'How was the hamburger good?


　Makina was about to bust off Alice's words of request, but she stiffened when she heard the words Alice told her right after.

'No, I was just curious... so how did it go?　The hamburger I 'carefully selected and prepared' from the ingredients and 'handcrafted' with all my heart for my 'best friend Machina'... was it good?
"...what?　No, no, I mean, it was good, but... what?　Oh, you mean... is that what it was like?
'Huh?　I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm glad if it was good.
....

　Hearing Alice's words as she told her with a smile that felt more than refreshing, Makina looked up to the heavens with an expression on her face as if she had given up on a lot of things.










　Recalling such an exchange with Makina, Alice asks Sharovannal.

''Oh?　Wouldn't Lord Shalovanal, who can read minds, know the answer to that question right away?
"...that's a nasty question. I know that any of the 'tens of thousands of ways' you have in mind right now is the correct answer, but I don't know which one is the right one. I see, so there are ways to counteract this kind of thing.
It's like an application of thought division, though. It's like a forest to hide a tree........well, anyway, I've won this time, haven't I?
''Well I guess that's one win and one loss.......I see, you're very interesting.
I'll take that as a compliment.
Yes, I would like to have another chance to talk to you at length. I'm sure I could learn a great deal from you.
I don't mind, but if you do, you can at least have a nice cup of tea and some sweets ready for me.
I understand.

　Seeing Alice smiling wryly as she said that, Sharovanal also smiled slightly. Thus, unexpectedly, but in the best possible way for the purpose of today.......the friendship between Alice and Shalovanal deepened.