Chapter 22: Snack Street
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 22: Snack Street
"So, Sister Bai, are you just going to pick a random guest room? How about the one right across from mine? What do you think?"
I thought about it and decided to arrange things that way. After all, this was my dormitory now. Since I was currently the only one living here, I called the shots!
"This is a dormitory for you and a roommate you haven't even met yet. How could I do that? It’s rude to use a stranger's things. I think... the bed in your bedroom is quite large. It’s laid out like a double bed."
"Huh? No, wait, Sister Bai... that kind of request?" I finally started to panic. It wasn't that I was afraid Sister Bai would do anything to me, but rather that I wasn't used to sleeping with someone else!
I really wasn't used to it!
Even when I stayed at Sister Bai’s house, I slept on the sofa outside.
"Don't worry~ Sister Bai won't do anything to you~"
I looked at Sister Bai’s smiling face. I couldn't read any other emotions from her expression. It should be fine, right?
After all, we were both girls. Sleeping together shouldn't be a big deal?
"Then... alright. As long as you don't mind, Sister Bai..." I finally agreed.
I couldn't exactly kick her out, could I? My conscience would never let me hear the end of it. As for her sleeping in my bedroom... that was indeed a problem.
Was I supposed to sleep on the floor?
Even if it was a double bed, just the thought of sleeping next to Sister Bai... I’d probably have insomnia, wouldn't I?
How could I possibly fall asleep in a situation like this!
"Of course I don't mind." Sister Bai walked over to me and rested a hand lightly on my shoulder. "I say, Xiao Han, you aren't thinking about sleeping on the floor or something, are you?"
"Huh?"
My heart skipped a beat. Having my inner thoughts suddenly called out made me reflexively deny it. "No! How... how could that be! There... isn't a second set of bedding anyway, right? Why would I think that?"
"There is spare bedding here, though. So, do you still want to sleep on the floor?"
"There is? Then I'll—"
"You are not allowed to sleep on the floor. A girl needs to cherish herself a bit more." Sister Bai pressed a finger against my lips, cutting me off with a forceful persuasion before I could finish.
It was less of a persuasion and more of a command, leaving me no room to voice any other opinion.
It looked like sleeping on the floor was out of the question... I felt a tiny bit of excitement in my heart.
After all, I had never even shared a bed with a girlfriend before. Along with the excitement, there was naturally a fair share of nerves.
I tried my best to calm my heart, comforting myself with the thought that since I used to be a guy, Sister Bai should be the one worried, right?
If she didn't care, what was I afraid of? Besides, this was my bedroom. Was I really afraid Sister Bai would do something to me?
"I'll take your silence as a 'yes.' But we still have plenty of time tonight. Want to go see the Witch Academy at night? It’s very lively."
"Okay."
I nodded hesitantly. I figured I’d go to broaden my horizons. I wasn't exactly the type who enjoyed crowded, lively scenes, but experiencing new things wasn't a bad idea.
* * *
We walked out of the dormitory area.
The Academy covered a massive area. If you wandered around aimlessly, it would probably take several days to see everything.
This time, the place the senior sister took me to was very specific: the Academy's Snack Street.
I was a simple person—if there was food, I was happy! Sister Bai obviously knew this about me.
If there were two paths in front of me, one leading to a luxury boutique and the other to a snack stall with a long line, I’d much rather spend my time waiting in line for the food.
"This is the Academy's famous Snack Street. Along with Sentiment Str—cough, anyway, the Academy has four very famous streets, and Snack Street is one of them. You can find basically any snack you've ever eaten around the world right here." Sister Bai explained the situation with great enthusiasm, nearly letting something strange slip out.
"Since there are four streets, can I ask what the other three are?" Obviously, I was interested in the topic.
If they were recognized by the Academy's senior sisters as the "Four Streets," they had to be something impressive, right?
But just walking down this street, I nearly lost Sister Bai. It was a literal sea of people.
I looked at the strange snacks on the side, unable to understand why they were so popular, though they did smell incredible. Many people were standing in line at stalls just to wait for some unknown fried food to come out of the fryer.
Or was it that people just came here to experience the atmosphere?
"That... well, you'll find out eventually..." Sister Bai looked a bit embarrassed, but in the dense crowd, I didn't notice. "Anyway, Xiao Han, do you want to eat anything? Sister Bai’s treat~"
"Alright..."
Since Sister Bai wouldn't give me a straight answer, I figured the other streets were probably similar in nature to "Sentiment Street." Don't blame me for such wicked speculation.
Otherwise, I really couldn't think of any reason why Sister Bai wouldn't tell me. Perhaps Snack Street was the only "normal" one.
"Then I won't be polite~"
I looked at the street clogged with senior sisters from all walks of life. Finally, my feet stopped at a small stall. Tonight's midnight snack would start with this oddly shaped fried thing!
After waiting in line for a long time, I finally got my first snack. Smelling the aroma wafting from it, I realized I really was getting hungry.
While I personally felt that the culinary culture of this world wasn't as developed as the one in my previous life, I had to admire the unique seasonings here. They could make something utterly ordinary taste delicious.
Mmm... it was a novel flavor.
I had to admit, the atmosphere here was fantastic. If I were someone who loved crowds, it would be even better.
Snack Street certainly lived up to its reputation. By the time Sister Bai finished accompanying me to the end of the street, it was already late into the night.
Both Sister Bai and I were covered in the scent of the bustling night market. Now we’d have to shower when we got back, and I’d have to change my dress—even though I’d only worn it once and not for very long.
However, I was also a bit curious about what would happen if I set up a stall here. After all, I had plenty of snack recipes from my previous life in my head that I hadn't seen here yet. Although I’d never done it before, I felt those snacks combined with this world's seasonings would definitely create some wonderful sparks.
I just didn't know the specifics of how to set up a stall here. Forget it, I’ll keep that as a backup option. Besides, it was only crowded here at night; Sister Bai said they don't open during the day.
"Still feel like you haven't had enough?"
"A little, but my stomach can't hold any more."
I patted my slightly bulging belly—the second time today—feeling like I’d made Sister Bai spend a fortune again.
"Then shall we head back? Do you want to take a car, or ride my broom?" As she spoke, Sister Bai pulled out her broom and gestured toward me. "If you're scared, I can fly back slowly at a low altitude."
"Let's go with Sister Bai's broom then~"