Chapter 26:

Donuts from Alente Bistro

New Leaf!


Right now, it was a few minutes after dinner. I insisted that I would prepare dinner and wash the dishes, and that was what I was currently doing. Camryn was currently doing something at the coffee table.

As I was doing the dishes, my eyes drifted and met with a nearby box with a transparent section on its lid. It was the box of donuts that I got for free from Alente Bistro. Oh yeah, those were here. But why did I forget about them? I do not usually forget about things, but I forgot I had these. Hm… Could the reason be related to what happened to Camryn? She ran away so I went to go look for her, and in doing so, I put the donuts down and I guess I forgot about them. Odd… I was not entirely panicked but I felt a little urgency in getting Camryn back. Hm…

Oh well. It was unusual but not dire. And besides, I shouldn’t think too much — I fear the places my mind will wander to.

When I finished washing, I quickly dried my hands, picked up the box, and walked to Camryn.

“S-So Camryn, what are you doing?”

I should start a conversation with her. I do not do it often, but I should start. Personally, it was a bit awkward to do so, but nothing too cumbersome.

“Oh… Schoolwork.”

What? Does she go to school? How? I looked at what was in front of her and it was a textbook and a notebook. So if her family started struggling six months ago, did she attend school before that? Hm…

“School?”

“That’s right. Um… I guess when I started living homeless, I brought textbooks, notebooks, and school supplies with me.”

I see… Well, education is important.

“I see.”

Camryn took one other textbook from her suitcase and closed the one she was currently reading from.

“To save space, I only have textbooks covering the most important areas. So that is science and math.”

“Oh, okay. Well, I guess math is one of the more important subjects, and learning science can be quite useful as well.”

I looked at the textbooks… Yeah, I think these are appropriate for the grade she is in — or since it is Summer, the grade she is finishing. But she used these when she was homeless? Then does that mean that she had no teacher and had to learn these topics by herself? Wow, that must have been tough. She does have the textbooks, but it would have been much easier if she had another human being she could ask for help.

“That must have been hard, right? I mean not having a teacher to help you.”

“Oh, that…”

Camryn turned to face me and gave a big reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry, it was no problem! Yeah, it would be frustrating if I couldn’t solve a problem, but I would eventually figure it out — because I’m smart! Besides...”

Camryn averted her eyes and stared down at her notebook.

“I had to solve a majority of these problems by myself… There’s something good about that, right? I mean, people learn quicker if they get through a problem by themself, right? O-Or, I guess having help can be just as good or even better…”

Camryn went back to writing in her notebook.

Do people learn quicker if they work by themselves or get help?... That is a good question. Hm… If there is a problem, the solver will find a method to get to the solution either way. If they work alone, if they work hard, they can find a way but at a slower pace. They can also come across things by themselves and find ways to overcome them. But if they get help from someone more experienced, it is undeniably easier and quicker. They can get things like hints for solving the question and advice on what to do differently. But, there is the risk that the helper can just flat-out provide the answer and nothing is learned. Hm… Overall, I think it depends on people’s individual preferences… But some things are better than others — objectively and not subjectively.

“Well Camryn, regardless, if you need help with a problem, do not hesitate to ask.”

“Of course. Thanks, Ren!”

Please ask me if you need help with anything. Besides… You are not like me… thankfully.

I sat on the couch next to the coffee table and placed the box of donuts on it.

“Camryn, here.”

I opened the box and inched it closer to her.

“Huh? W-What are these?”

She does not know?

“They are donuts. They were given to me yesterday.”

“Oh. Thanks…”

Camryn grabbed a blackish-brown donut with her whole hand and slowly moved it towards her sweater pocket.

I quickly raised my hand to stop her.

“Camryn, wait! It is food.”

“Oh, y-yeah. Silly me…”

She let out a small mocking smile and laughed.

She held it out in front of her and examined it. She sniffed it and spun it around, getting her hands dirty.

“Do not worry, it is sweet — it is a dessert.”

I quickly ran to the kitchen and grabbed a roll of paper towels.

“Your hands are also getting sticky.”

“Oh, right…”

After a couple of seconds of studying it, she took a small nibble of it. And when she did, her eyes widened.

“Oh my gosh!”

Oh, does she not like it?

She moved the donut away from her and took a big bite out of it.

Oh, I guess she likes it.

She kept taking large bites out of it.

She spoke to me with her mouth full.

“Oh, my goodnesh. It’s sho good!”

She kept on taking bites.

“Hey Camryn, I think you should sl-”

“Hey Wen, what ish this? It’s- ack! Gah-cah!”

She is choking! I sprinted to the fridge and got a water bottle from it. I tossed it to her and she took a large gulp from it.

“G-G-Gah… Ah, thanks, Ren. Sorry, I should probably slow down when eating…”

I nodded. People call the donuts from Alente good, so there is no question why she was quickly devouring it.

“Yeah, as I was saying, what is this? It’s delicious.”

“A chocolate donut for a place called Alente Bistro.”

“Alente… Bistro? Never heard of it. Oh, but chocolate!? I knew this tasted so familiar.”

She was speaking excitedly like a child would during their birthday party.

“Ever since that day when you gave me chocolate milk, I’ve been obsessed with chocolate flavours. You see, that was the first time I’ve ever had chocolate…”

“Is it?”

She nodded.

“I see… Then the next time I go shopping, I’ll make sure to purchase more chocolate milk.”

“Really? Thank you so much.”

She was smiling widely. I was not sure why, but this smile looked better than her other smiles. Since they are all from her I expect them to be similar, but why was this one different. Why was that?

I won’t think about this for long.

“Um, speaking of shopping, would you like to go after I finish with my work tomorrow?”

“Hm?”

She was reaching for another donut. All of them were different flavours, but I doubt she will dislike any of them since they all come from Alente.

I pointed to the open suitcase that was on the floor next to her.

“So, I noticed that some of your clothes, um, are not of the best quality.”

Among the torn male and female pants that were loose-fitting, the slightly tattered tee-shirts, and the pairs of underwear that were either a bit too big or small, the most prominent types of clothing in her wardrobe were hoodies. And all of her clothes seemed thin. She said she has been like this for six months, so she started in the winter seasons of December, January, February. If these are the things she wore, then she undoubtedly experienced moments where she almost froze — that was less of an exaggeration because this country was more northern so winters can be brutally cold. That is rough.

“Shopping…”

“Correct. You should undoubtedly improve your current wardrobe. You know, get higher quality clothes of matching colours and patterns…”

“Oh… N-No, that won’t be necessary. I mean, these clothes are still good. If I just wash them, they’ll be good to use! Ah ha ha…”

She gave off a small timid laugh. Hm…

“I insist. There is no way that you are comfortable with what you currently have.”

“Oh?... Then, o-okay.”

Camryn timidly looked down.

“B-But won't that be… um… expensive?”

I shook my head.

“Not to worry — my income is pretty good.”

Camryn looked at me in disbelief. What is it? Do you doubt that I have a high income? Or did I breach some social rule where a man like me cannot reveal their salary?

“I-Is that so? T-Than... thank you so much!”

With the donut in her hand, Camryn bowed her head.

“Please raise your head, bowing is not necessary.”

Okay, then it is decided — after work tomorrow, Camryn and I will go shopping for clothes. But where should we go? Hm… Probably a mall since there is a lot of variety. How about the Beattie’s Heart Shopping Centre?

Camryn took a bite out of the donut in her hand. The donut was a complete circle and did not have a hole in its centre as the other ones do.

When she bit, she pulled out when she noticed a red fluid coming out.

“Gah, what is this!?”

“Oh, all of the donuts are different flavours. I think you have one with a strawberry filling.”

Camryn gasped and retook that bite.

“Oh, I love strawberries!”

I turned to look at Camryn

“Er, d-do not let these donuts distract you from your work.”

“Oh right! Okay, this is my last one for now — I swear!”

I turned my head away from Camryn…

I thought about this young girl before me. I have noticed that at times she can be really childish, but at others, she can be really mature. Constantly thinking about others...

MIKU
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