"Tohka, um, I know a good place. Want to go there?" No matter how reluctant he was, Shido Itsuka could only go to the shop his sister had suggested.
"Oh, really." Hearing Shido's words, Tohka didn't object either. After all, she could have a problem with anyone, but she would never have a problem with her own stomach. She hadn't eaten for a long time, always running around, so this time she intended to have a full feast in one go. And besides, there was this gullible guy and his backup team. If she didn't take advantage of them, wouldn't that be a waste?
"Mm, that's Origami Tobiichi. What is she doing here? Don't tell me this girl has nothing better to do than stalk Shido Itsuka. She must really have too much time on her hands." Tohka glanced back unintentionally, only to see Origami hiding in a corner, staring fixedly at them. Tohka knew with her style, she was definitely contacting her commander right now. But Tohka didn't care—so long as she was prepared, Origami's sniper rifle wouldn't be able to hit her at all. And since she hadn't triggered a spacequake, everyone in Tengu City was still around. That meant they couldn't just bombard her recklessly.
"Alright, here's the restaurant." Following the navigation on his phone, Shido quickly brought Tohka to the shop. But seeing who was welcoming them, Tohka's eye twitched hard. Because she'd already met Kotori, so this time it wasn't Kotori pretending to greet them—it was a dark-eyed mature woman. Even though she already knew this woman was just acting, Tohka couldn't help but twitch her eye again. She seriously wondered if this woman was going to drop dead like this.
"Cough, cough, cough, hello, may I take your order?" Staggering over to them, Reine Murasame held a menu and stopped in front of Shido. Then she gave a weak cough, as if she would collapse at any moment.
"Uh, you, you..." Seeing the wobbly waitress before him, a bead of cold sweat ran down Shido's back. He already knew this bunch were all unreliable, but did they have to go this far? If they needed someone to pretend to be a waitress, couldn't they find someone who'd at least slept in the last few decades? How could someone like this be a server? Weren't they afraid she'd spill food all over the customers? And didn't they see that across from him, Tohka had already figured it out and was looking at him with a faint mocking smile? This whole situation had been forced onto him, and not only did they refuse to offer any real help, they were constantly stabbing him in the back.
"Enough, stop worrying about these unimportant details. Hurry up and order. Do you want Tohka to see through everything?" At this moment, Kotori's voice once again sounded in Shido's ear. But the way she said it, Shido could guarantee that Tohka had probably already figured everything out. Didn't she realize they were basically waving flags on stage announcing this was all an act?
"Um, Miss Tohka, why don't you order." But seeing Reine standing there swaying as if she'd collapse at any moment, Shido really couldn't bear it anymore. So, he simply put the menu in front of Tohka and let her pick.
"...."
But Tohka didn't answer him. Instead, she simply stared at Reine. She couldn't help it—this time she really hadn't done anything. Though this woman had wobbled over to her, once she stopped moving, she locked her gaze firmly on Tohka. That stare made Tohka's whole body feel prickly. She knew this was the one who had planned everything. But even so, Tohka didn't back down in the slightest, and just stared straight back. So, when Shido put the menu in front of her, she hadn't even heard.
"Miss Tohka, what's wrong?" At this moment, Shido also noticed Tohka's expression and looked at her with some confusion. Because of the angle, he couldn't see Reine's face, so he could only look at Tohka in puzzlement.
"Mm, alright." Hearing Shido's question, the two of them finally withdrew their gazes at the same time. Tohka knew that after today, they might have to lay all their cards on the table. But even so, this wasn't the moment. Besides, compared to confronting her, Tohka cared more about eating. So, when she saw the pictures of the food, she simply swept her hand across and ordered everything. Anyway, someone else would be paying the bill—it wasn't coming out of her pocket. And after spending so long in that world with Tony, she'd also picked up some of his lavish spending habits.
"Ah, this much?" Seeing everything Tohka ordered, Shido nearly jumped. Was she trying to eat the entire restaurant clean? Wasn't this going overboard?
"Understood. Please wait a moment." But to Shido's surprise, Reine simply nodded after seeing the order. Then, holding the menu, she wobbled away without saying anything else.
"Uh." Helplessly watching Reine walk off, Shido thought—well, he wasn't the one paying for this meal. Since the person in charge hadn't objected, he really had nothing to say.
"..."
So, before the food came, the two of them sank into an awkward, mysterious silence. Tohka just looked out the window in thought (spacing out). As for Shido, he was drenched in cold sweat, because he didn't know whether Tohka was doing it on purpose or not, but he could feel a massive pressure pressing down on him just by sitting there.
"Alright, the food is ready." But very soon, Shido's savior arrived, because at that moment Reine came staggering over carrying a tray. And he could clearly feel that with her arrival, the pressure that had been weighing on him vanished instantly.
"Alright, the food is ready..." Staring excitedly at the tray in Reine's hands, Tohka's eyes sparkled. But just as she was about to start eating, a drop of cold sweat slid down her cheek. Because she saw clearly that Reine, already wobbling, suddenly tripped her left foot over her right, and her whole body pitched forward unsteadily...
"Ah..."
"Um, sorry, so sorry, I haven't slept in so long, I got a little absentminded just now."
The scream came from Shido, and the apology came from Reine. As for Tohka, she'd already nimbly slipped out of the way when Reine started to fall forward. As for Shido—this unlucky young man—he hadn't been watching Reine, and unlike Tohka he didn't have quick reflexes, so he was instantly soaked all over. And since it was hot food, naturally he was scalded badly enough to scream.