The Witch and Her Companion: I'm Just a Normal High School Student, but I Became the Familiar of the Highest-Ranked Witch. Also, It Seems I'm the Only Guy in the Witch Organization I Joined

Chapter 39: Sunday and the Black Suit

[Tatsumori Haruto]

──The café I visited with Fuu was, how should I put it… unique. Or rather, maybe it’s more accurate to say the staff was unique.

After Fuu and I placed our orders and waited for a while, a small-statured staff member—different from Bangs-san and Blue-hair-san—brought our food.

“Muaa, here’s your coffee, marshmallow cocoa, and the special bubblegum sundae—yo~n!”

“Ah, thank you very much.”

The coffee and marshmallow cocoa were nothing out of the ordinary, but the sundae was something else entirely.

The gigantic glass dish was overflowing with fruit, cookies, tiramisu, and pudding—basically, it looked like they’d just thrown on everything they could find.

Normally, no single person could finish such a thing. Normally.

Yet before I even finished my coffee, Fuu had polished off the enormous sundae in one go. Just watching was enough to give me heartburn, but then, to my shock, Fuu asked for a second serving.

“Muaa, looks like my special sundae really hit the spot! I’m glad—it’s my pride and joy!”

The person who took our order was the same one who had served us earlier. Gray hair, red eyes—not someone who looked Japanese, that was for sure.

“You made this sundae? It’s super delicious!”

“Mufufu, flattery won’t get you even a single yen discount, little miss.”

A peculiar way of speaking. She called her “little miss,” but from an outsider’s perspective, this person looked about the same age as Fuu—maybe even younger, given her shorter stature.

“Is this place new? I didn’t see it in the hot spring town’s pamphlet.”

“Muaa, it just opened today! And guess what, you guys are our very first customers!”

I see. That would explain why it wasn’t in the pamphlet and why Bangs-san, who had shown us to our seats, had seemed so nervous.

Still, this person sure talks strangely for a café employee. Maybe, being a foreigner, their Japanese isn’t quite fluent yet? Not that it bothers me—it’s oddly endearing.

“Oh, is that so? The coffee is great too—I’ll be sure to spread the word!”

Well, by “spreading the word,” I really just meant telling Ryuna and Sakurako. But actually, if I told Ryuna, she’d probably kick me, so maybe I’d better not…

“Muaa, you’re a cutie—I kinda wanna take you back to my castle!”

“…Huh, uh, thanks?”

Something about a castle? Yeah, her Japanese is definitely a bit off. But she doesn’t seem like a bad person.

The second sundae that arrived was even more overloaded than the first.

The Muaa-person winked at us before leaving—guess that was her way of giving us a little extra.

Just looking at it made me feel full, but Fuu looked thoroughly satisfied.

＊　＊　＊

A grand chapel, suddenly appearing in the middle of the mountains, made it feel like we had stepped into a foreign land.

I didn’t really understand bridal fairs, but just seeing this place made the visit worthwhile.

Following the signs, we walked around the chapel, and another grand building came into view.

“This should be the reception area, right? Still, a building like this in the middle of the mountains… it looks like a photoshopped image.”

“…Photoshopped image? Whatever, let’s just go, Hare!”

Fuu pulled me by the hand, and we stepped inside.

“Welcome, and thank you for coming. What kind of plan would you like to explore today?”

The moment we entered, a female staff member in a suit greeted us. Unlike the café, she seemed… normal.

“We’re staying at Irie Hot Springs, and one of the inn staff recommended this place. But honestly, we don’t really know what kind of facility this is…”

“Ah, guests from Irie Hot Springs. In that case, may I introduce you to some of our available plans?”

“Yes, that would be helpful. Sorry, we’re kind of just browsing…”

“Not at all. Our philosophy is to let people casually experience bridal events. Many who participate here end up choosing our chapel for their real ceremony, so if you enjoy your time today, we’d love for you to consider us.”

I was slightly moved by how professional and pleasant the staff was as we were led further inside.

“──Now then, let me first guide you through our facilities.”

Fuu and I followed the staff’s lead, fully immersing ourselves in the bridal fair.

The food tasting for the reception was a full-course meal, and I was surprised by the sheer amount served.

Despite having just eaten a giant sundae, Fuu eagerly dug into the samples. Was her stomach connected to a black hole or something?

Next was a mock wedding reception. Since there was already a couple holding a mock ceremony ahead of us, we joined as guests.

Fuu’s eyes sparkled as she watched the bride in a wedding dress. She had looked great in a yukata back at the inn, but I had a feeling she’d look amazing in a wedding dress too. The thought made me embarrassed for some reason.

“──Finally, we’ll proceed with the mock ceremony and photo session.”

Fuu and I were led to separate rooms to try on a dress and tuxedo.

I’d never worn a tux before, but the staff helped me, and everything went smoothly.

“──You have an adorable girlfriend.”

As I waited for Fuu to finish changing, someone suddenly spoke to me.

“…Huh? Um…”

“Ah, sorry for startling you. You were at our mock ceremony earlier, right? Well, we’ll be in the mock reception now—looking forward to seeing how it goes.”

The man in the black suit was the same guy who had played the groom in the earlier mock ceremony.

“Ah, I see. Nice to meet you.”

“──Is your girlfriend a foreigner? Her blonde hair is absolutely stunning.”

A woman appeared at his side—the bride from earlier. She was the one wearing that wedding dress.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, but her eyes… were unsettling. It was as if the light in them had been forgotten by the gods—pitch black, like they could swallow you whole.

“Uh, yeah. I know it’s weird, but we only met recently, so I don’t actually know what country she’s from…”

“…Recently met, huh?”

The couple exchanged a glance.

Why were these people being so pushy when we just met?

“…I’ll be looking forward to the reception. Shall we go, darling?”

As I frowned in confusion, the woman took the man’s hand and led him away.

…She even called him ‘darling’—they must be really in love.

＊　＊　＊

“…Sorry for the wait, Hare. Do I… look good?”

Fuu, now in a wedding dress, looked so radiant that she seemed almost divine. No—calling her “cute” would be an understatement.

She was practically glowing with a godly presence.

I finally understood where she was from.