"[Going to the Ikerite Magic Theatre? Sure. Just remember to buy plenty of snacks before going in. I recommend the citrus-lemon popcorn. Get a large tub.]
[There's no deep reasoning behind it—it just tastes good. Think about it: if the popcorn is delicious, he'll reach into the tub more often. Wouldn't your hands bump into each other then?]
[It's not lunchtime yet, but many restaurants open for lunch at eleven. If you head over now, the place will be less crowded, and the food will arrive much faster.]
[Ilyveil Pastry Shop really is quite good. Their savory cooked food is wonderful too, very suitable for young girls. Your date knows his stuff.]
[There's no need to talk while eating. Half an hour will pass in a flash.]
[Have some dessert after the meal.]
[Find a cafe, order a drink, and pair it with strawberry cheesecake.]
[If he asks how it was, just say you had a wonderful time and thank him for his hospitality.]"
Under Talia's guidance, the morning passed in a flash.
Juliana methodically followed the instructions whispered in her ear.
On this Saturday morning, Loren and Juliana's date began with a trip to Ikerite's North District.
Their chosen lunch spot was in the North District.
According to the Love Assistant's advice, holding the date near the restaurant would be much more convenient. That way, whenever they got hungry, they could go straight to lunch, rather than realizing when hunger struck that they still had a long way to walk.
The North District of Ikerite was the old quarter, preserving an antique architectural style alongside many newly constructed modern buildings, not far from the Church of the Goddess of Fate's temple where Loren worked.
Loren knew the surrounding area intimately, so Juliana only needed to follow his lead without wasting time trying to navigate the intricate, bustling commercial streets.
And so, after watching a film, Juliana and Loren went to the restaurant they had picked from the start.
After lunch, they strolled through the arts quarter. Feeling it was still early, they sat down at a nearby cafe.
The cafe's stone castle-like facade blended seamlessly with newly renovated magical craft curtain walls. Just sitting inside felt like crossing through time.
So far, the date was going remarkably smoothly.
It wasn't even noon yet, and they had already eaten three times.
As an eighth-tier martial artist, Juliana's usual training and physical exertion were intense, requiring a high caloric intake, but even so, it was rarely quite like today...
Regardless, nothing had gone awry with the date, which proved the Love Assistant's guidance was spot-on. Whatever topic Loren brought up, the assistant taught her how to handle it effortlessly, steering clear of any awkwardness.
Just as the advisor had said, it was right at lunchtime, so almost nobody was at the cafe for afternoon tea.
It was pure, practical dating wisdom.
The midday sun draped like golden silk across the wooden furniture of the North District cafe.
The faint clink of coffee cups, quiet murmurs of conversation, and the soft jazz from the piano keys lent the space an exceptionally leisurely air.
Beyond the cafe's expansive glass windows, the midday bustle was still mounting as tourists from all walks of life converged and brushed shoulders in the street.
“There's an Ikerite Municipal Symphony Orchestra concert this afternoon, if you're interested. If you'd rather not stay indoors, we could also take a stroll. There are usually all kinds of street performances in the plaza near the temple. I've already made reservations for dinner, which isn't far from here either, so you can pick whichever place you prefer. And if you'd like, Professor Borao from the School of Magic Engineering happened to give me two audience tickets for the live recording of the Hutton Late Night Show tonight. Would you like to go together?”
Loren sat on a cloud-like brown leather sofa, glanced out the window, and laid out the itinerary to Juliana across the low table.
He couldn't help feeling immensely fortunate that the drillmaster had prepared everything for him.
Although he was utterly exhausted from work, he truly had never considered planning things out in advance before a date.
Had he followed his own impulses, he certainly wouldn't have reserved anything today. He would have simply met Juliana and wandered aimlessly with her, leaving everything to chance.
Seeing how even the moderately popular spots in Ikerite had long queues on a Saturday, Loren felt a lingering chill of relief.
“What restaurants are there?”
Juliana asked, as if curious about the dining options in Ikerite—or perhaps curious about what Loren had arranged.
“[First is Yarra Riverside Restaurant. It's a luxurious mansion beside the moat, featuring a selection of fine wines and world-class specialty dishes. It has a great atmosphere. Tipika is quite good too—an Aloran-style restaurant. Since Juliana traveled a long distance to get here, she might want to taste food from her homeland once in a while. Libote Bistro is more upscale, located on the 55th floor of the Ritate Building, offering panoramic views of all of Ikerite and top-tier appetizers. It's quiet, well suited for a more private conversation...]”
The Love Drillmaster's voice sounded in Loren's ear, and Loren repeated the options almost word for word.
“Finally, there's Boss Cat Restaurant, though it's a bit further away. A student of mine has been working there as head chef. It's also closest to your lodgings, just two streets east of Ikerite Academy. If you like it, you could visit often over the next few days. In fact, it's the one I recommend most.”
Loren finished listing all the locations the Love Drillmaster had reserved for him.
“Mm... let's save that restaurant for next time,” Juliana said after a moment's thought.
She was all too familiar with that place.
Her love consultation had taken place right there at Boss Cat Restaurant!
She didn't want him finding out that after accepting the date so boldly, she had actually run off to seek help for it!
“...Next time?” Loren asked blankly, almost to himself.
“I—I mean, if there's another chance for us to eat together, we could go there,” Juliana answered with a trace of fluster.
The moment she said it, she felt a pang of regret.
She clearly wanted to go on another date with Loren, but felt too embarrassed to say the word, so it ended up coming out as having a meal together.
It was all the fault of that Love Assistant leading her astray! Now she subconsciously talked about food with every breath. She wondered if Loren would take her for a glutton, even though she normally paid strict attention to diet and exercise.
“Uh...” Loren was momentarily at a loss for how to reply, waiting for guidance from the Love Drillmaster.
“[I understand now what kind of girl she is,]” the Love Drillmaster's voice came through Loren's earpiece.
“[She's trying hard to conceal her preferences, but in truth, she already views you as a favored dining companion, hinting that you should treat her to meals more often in the future.]”
Huh? Loren thought.
He hadn't picked up on that at all!
He had almost gotten ahead of himself, thinking Juliana wanted to go on another date with him!
Fortunately, the drillmaster was experienced and worldly, preventing him from blurting out something embarrassing like, “Please go on another date with me next time!”
Otherwise, by misinterpreting Juliana's intentions, today's date might have ended in mutual awkwardness.
“[Here's what you do: tell her that for as long as she's in Ikerite, you want to have dinner with her every day. Ask if she'd be willing to meet with you like this every day. If she really is a foodie, even if you push your luck like this, she will definitely agree.]”
Chapter 623