Mix everything together. That's what a mix is. I think it's a path everyone walks at least once.
It could be at a family restaurant, or at home.
In my case, it was a little shop attached to a big supermarket in my neighborhood.
The kind of small place that sells corn dogs, takoyaki, and thick pancakes.
Drinks there were about 100 yen, if I remember right.
The options were cola, orange, grape, cider, and Calpis.
They had a mix service where you could blend all of those together.
The mix was also 100 yen.
I used to order the mix with my takoyaki all the time.
Taste-wise, to be honest, it wasn't good. But it wasn't bad either.
If I had to describe it, it was the most indescribable taste there was.
Even so, I ordered it regularly, on purpose.
It wasn't about the taste. The fact that it was mixed was what mattered.
When you've got this many energy drinks available, you'd want to try it.
Right?
"Mix everything? Are you sane?"
Hiyan questioned my sanity.
"Now now. You really ought to cut that sort of thing out."
Pakira delivered a stern rebuke.
"I shall decline."
Lupinus flatly rejected me.
U-uh. The rejection was stronger than I expected?
Thinking that, Bid raised their hand.
"That sounds fun! I want to try it!"
"Mmm... Mix... to notice... that... truly a genius..."
Riv seemed enthusiastic too.
Good. There were people who understood after all.
"Hiyan, please prepare the mixed Enadri. That should be possible, right?"
"Of course. All you'd need to do is create one bottle with everything mixed in. But are you in your right mind? You're really going through with this?"
Hiyan was backing away.
I felt something off about this Hiyan.
This wasn't like Hiyan at all.
"I'm perfectly sane. We're simply challenging the unknown."
"What...?"
Hiyan's rabbit ears twitched.
"Ah, that reminds me, Hiyan. You did say something before, didn't you? That alchemists are those who seek truth."
"...What about it?"
"Then challenging the unknown—that's also seeking truth, isn't it?"
"You... you were threatening me!"
No. I'm not forcing you. I think the pursuit of truth is different for each person. So even if you run from challenging the unknown, even if Hayane still calls herself an alchemist on the path of truth, I don't really mind. It doesn't bother me one bit.
"I'll do it!!"
And so, four cans of mixed Enadri were prepared.
Since I had no intention of selling them, they were plain silver cans with no labels or anything of the sort.
They had the feel of trial products.
"You really are a child, aren't you."
"Lupinus. I'm still a child, you know."
"Oh, that's right."
She said it with such surprise that I couldn't help but smile wryly. I mean, I'm only thirteen.
I pull the tab open. Hayane gulps audibly.
Heheheheh. Time to drag you all to hell.
"Here goes!"
First up was Bid. He drank it down in big, eager gulps.
Wait, is he okay? Right after him, Riv followed with gulp after gulp.
Hayane also steeled herself and drank, and I took a sip myself.
"Mmnh?"
What is this taste. This is—
"Phah— it's good!"
"Hmm... I'm surprised..."
"No way... it's actually delicious..."
Hiyan blinked.
Yeah. Somehow, it had become mellow.
Or maybe "full-bodied" was more like it.
I took another big gulp.
So that was it. The sharp edges of each flavor canceled each other out, rounding everything into smoothness.
All six Enadori had been too sharp on their own.
But because they clashed against each other and rounded off, they actually turned delicious.
What do you know.
"...It's a hit."
"I know, right? It's delicious!"
"Oh my, is it really that tasty?"
Lupinus perked up with interest.
"Here, try some!"
"...Oh my, how unexpected. It's quite good..."
"Hmm. Not bad at all."
Pakira, who'd been fidgeting nervously, also took a sip.
They both agreed.
"This could actually sell, you know."
Hiyan piped up with that.
"See?"
"Hmm… unexpected…"
"Indeed. Not bad, not bad at all."
Pakira. You've had quite a few, haven't you?
More than you had of that first pink one, definitely.
"I think it's good."
"I agree."
What's going on here?
This mix, against all expectations, was a hit.
That was great. Truly great.
Now we had one more flavor that could sell.
But still. Something about it.
Normally a mix is a guaranteed failure—"Whoa, what is this taste?" kind of deal.
And yet this one turned out well. Or rather… that kind of thing being desirable was the whole point.
I'd been hoping it would taste awful, in a way.
"Wof. I'm glad we tried it."
"Me too."
It was fine in its own way, but I don't know. There was just… something.
Ah, this feeling. Nobody else would get it.
But that was fine.
"Wof. You look rather disappointed, you know."
Pakira sidled up and said something like that.
"..."
"Wof?"
"That's not the case at all."
Pakira's words just now brought something back.
Memories of my past life.
A summer day.
Scorching — so hot that even the barley tea had gone lukewarm.
I was plotting to finally get one up on her, the girl who bested me at absolutely everything.
My scheme was the drink-mixing service at the kiosk of a large supermarket nearby.
She was the studious type, so she'd never set foot in a place like that.
So I lured her in and got her to try the mixing service.
It wasn't bad. But it wasn't good either.
I was hoping she'd make a face.
But she... didn't look entirely displeased.
I was stunned.
Even at this — even at this, I couldn't beat her?
I just couldn't win?
"What's the matter? You've really got a long face."
"Ah, ah, um... well, that... the truth is..."
I told Pakira. I glossed over a lot and left things out, but I told her.
Pakira narrowed her cat-like eyes as she sipped her mixed enadri.
"That mixed one wasn't tasty, was it?"
"Y-yes. It wasn't bad or anything, but the taste was just... bland. So when people reacted like it was delicious, I, well... it stung."
"Then it really must not have been tasty, huh."
"Huh?"
Pakira said that and slowly walked away.
W-what was that supposed to mean?
"Oh, right! Since it's a good time, I've got an announcement for everyone."
Bid said brightly while sipping her mixed enadri.
"An announcement?"
"What is it, what is it?"
"Hmm..."
So the other three didn't know either.
Bid carried on with her usual nonchalant composure.
"I'm quitting 'Torquetam'!"
She said it so cheerfully.