Kanroji Mitsuri quickly nodded, thanked him, and gracefully sat down.
She tried to act like a proper lady, but unfortunately, she had never learned such etiquette, so she could only awkwardly smile.
Roa noticed her slightly awkward situation and smiled at her. "No need for that. Just sit comfortably. No need to be formal."
Kanroji Mitsuri gave him a grateful smile. Though she was still a bit nervous, she felt much more relaxed.
At the same time, a thought crossed her mind: He seems like a pretty easygoing person.
Roa had no idea what Kanroji Mitsuri was thinking. He called out to the shop owner, "Boss, where's my noodles?"
"They're almost ready. We're running low on ingredients, so I need to go buy some. Here, have this bowl first." The middle-aged man smiled as he brought out a bowl of noodles.
Roa fell silent. What kind of restaurant runs out of noodles at this time? He had a strong feeling that he was being set up, but he didn't say anything. He picked up his chopsticks and prepared eat.
Suddenly, he noticed Kanroji Mitsuri staring at him without blinking. Roa hesit for a moment and then said to her, "Do you want to eat something? I don't have much money, but I should be able to afford a meal for you, right?"
By the end of his sentence, even he didn't sound very confident.
He himself had a big appetite, and if Kanroji Mitsuri joined in, the amount of food they'd consume would probably give him a headache. That's why he hesitated.
Fortunately, she didn't take him up on the offer. Kanroji Mitsuri knew her own appetite. After some hesitation, she said to the middle-aged man's son-in-law, "Um, can I have ten sakura mochi?"
Under the young man's strange gaze, Kanroji Mitsuri shyly lowered her head. She already felt a strong sense of guilt, but in the end, she didn't say anything more. If possible, she wanted to leave a good impression on this handsome young man.
When Roa heard her order, he almost laughed out loud.
What did I just hear? Kanroji Mitsuri can only eat ten sakura mochi?
Kanroji Mitsuri looked completely serious. Noticing Roa's gaze, she smiled at him.
Roa: "…"
After finishing his large bowl of noodles, Roa asked Kanroji Mitsuri curiously, "Ahem, aren't you going to eat more? Isn't that too little?"
Kanroji Mitsuri's eyes lit up, and she looked at Roa with an expectant gaze. "Really? Can I?"
Roa: Why are you asking me? Shouldn't that be up to you?
Roa helplessly nodded. This little girl was really something.
Though he said that, Roa also found her a bit cute, like a child.
Kanroji Mitsuri quickly called out to the young man in the shop, "Bring me thirty—no, forty sakura mochi!"
Roa tilted his head and asked curiously, "Is that really enough?"
Kanroji Mitsuri was slightly stunned. She turned to Roa with a look of disbelief. "You… don't think I eat too much?"
Roa felt baffled and said straightforwardly, "It's not that much. Just a few pieces. Besides, there's an old saying in my hometown: 'Being able to eat is a blessing.' People wish they could eat more."
Kanroji Mitsuri's face turned even redder, and tears welled up in her eyes. She wiped her tears with her sleeve and said with deep emotion, "Waaah, hearing you say that makes me so happy, Roa-san. You have no idea, those mean people don't understand me. They say I eat too much, that I'm as strong as an ox, and they bully me. Waaah."
Roa: Can they even beat you?
Kanroji Mitsuri cried while shouting into the shop, "Bring me a hundred sakura mochi! Waaah."
Roa: So this is your real appetite? That's quite impressive.
Roa gently comforted her, "Don't judge me by my appearance. I may look thin and small, but I'm actually very strong. My family is proud of me. They hope I'll grow up quickly and take over as the family head."
Kanroji Mitsuri tilted her head, her tears already dried. She seemed a bit confused, not understanding why Roa was saying this.
Roa paused and continued, "Those who fear you are actually afraid of your talent. Those who are scared of you are intimidated by your abilities. Why should you feel inferior because of your gifts? Why should you care about what others think?"
Kanroji Mitsuri fell silent, her eyes fixed on Roa, filled with the joy of meeting someone who understood her.
Roa stopped mid-sentence and looked at Kanroji Mitsuri, noticing her expression that seemed to say, Keep talking. He sighed and continued, "Just be yourself, Miss Mitsuri. Being able to eat is, in my opinion, very cute. There's no need to feel discouraged."
With that, he gave her a bright smile.
The summer breeze of June gently blew through Roa's golden hair. The shop was filled with the aroma of meat and noodles, mixed with the sweet scent of pastries wafting from the kitchen. It was a unique combination, but not unpleasant. In fact, Kanroji Mitsuri quite liked it.
The light shone on Roa's face, highlighting his handsome and well-defined features. But what Kanroji Mitsuri loved most were his eyes.
Those golden, radiant eyes. She loved the sincerity in his gaze when he spoke to her. She adored the faint sense of pressure he exuded. Her intuition told her that this young man was no ordinary person. If she missed this opportunity, she might never get another chance.
After a moment of hesitation, Kanroji Mitsuri's cheeks flushed again. Though she was usually bold, that didn't mean she wasn't nervous. Her legs trembled slightly from the tension. Suddenly, as if she had made up her mind, she slammed the table and stood up, ready to speak to Roa. But just then, the young man brought a plate of sakura mochi to her, startling her with her sudden movement. The plate nearly fell.
Luckily, the young man had good balance, and Kanroji Mitsuri quickly grabbed him, preventing the food from spilling.
However, the courage she had mustered up was now mostly gone. She apologized profusely to the young man, took the plate of sakura mochi, and looked at Roa with a mix of frustration and determination.
Roa: What's with that look?
She grabbed a sakura mochi and stuffed it into her mouth, chewing fiercely while keeping her eyes on Roa. To Roa, it seemed like she was imagining the mochi as him, devouring one "Roa" after another.
Roa felt a bit uncomfortable and finally said, "Um, Miss Kanroji Mitsuri, could you stop looking at me like that?"
Kanroji Mitsuri realized she had been rude and quickly averted her gaze, her forehead sweating again. She stammered, "S-Sorry, Mr. Roa."
At the same time, she lamented in her heart, I'm doomed. My gaze must have been terrifying. My favorability points must have dropped. Waaah, the more I think about it, the angrier I get.
How annoying, grrr!
She grabbed another sakura mochi and stuffed it into her mouth.
Roa was speechless, but seeing her enjoy the food so much piqued his curiosity. He asked her, "Is it… delicious?"
Hearing the boy initiate a conversation, the previously gloomy Kanroji Mitsuri instantly perked up. She swallowed the mochi in her mouth and nodded vigorously. She grabbed Roa's hand and said, "It's super delicious! Want to try some?"
Roa was skeptical but reached out with his right hand, took a piece, and tasted it.
He quickly figured out what it was made of. It was a small pastry with a pink, glutinous outer layer, filled with sweet bean paste, and wrapped in a cherry leaf. It looked adorable, resembling pink cherry blossoms, and the outer leaf had a distinct cherry blossom aroma. The taste was refreshing.
Roa nodded. "It's really good."
Kanroji Mitsuri beamed with pride and said to Roa, "Right? I've always thought sakura mochi is the most delicious food in the world. It seems we're quite compatible~"
Roa didn't refute her statement. He also felt they were compatible. He had just run away from home, happened to see a restaurant on the road, decided to eat there, and coincidentally met Kanroji Mitsuri, the future Love Hashira.
But while they might be compatible, why was she still holding his hand?
Kanroji Mitsuri's hand, which had reached out earlier, still hadn't let go. Roa tried to pull it back but found her grip surprisingly strong. He couldn't free his hand.
Roa used about half his strength, and only then did Kanroji Mitsuri snap out of her daze. She quickly realized what was happening and awkwardly let go.
Kanroji Mitsuri's muscle density was eight times that of an average person. When she tensed her body, her defense increased significantly, and her strength surpassed that of most men.
This was why she had such incredible strength and could eat the equivalent of more than a dozen adults' meals in one sitting.
Kanroji Mitsuri came from a family of five siblings, and she was the eldest. At just one year and two months old, she could easily lift a 15-kilogram pickling stone.
She was born with extraordinary strength and a unique physique.
Unfortunately, despite her special abilities, her mind was filled with fantasies of love. In other words, she was a hopeless romantic.