Before Jason could snap at her, the door opened as a rowdy crowd entered. The one in the center was wearing a white suit with a black shirt that had a few buttons undone. His windswept hair was pulled back and a small smile lingered on his face but it was more reminiscent of a sneer instead. Despite being the leader, the man in a suit didn't speak as one of his cronies, a skinny punk in a mohawk stepped forward.
"Oi, girlie, you're late on your fees," the crony announced. "Pay up, it's double the amount now, with interest and all."
"Screw off before my dad comes out and gives you a beating," Annie rolled her eyes and ignored them.
"Unfortunately, I can't do that Ms. Annie," the man in the suit said. When Annie turned to look at him he lowered his head slightly in greeting. "Hello, I'm Quentin, a pleasure."
Quentin opened a hologram and swiped it to Annie, who turned pale after reading it. She bit her lips while looking through the corner of her eyes at Jason, hoping he wasn't paying attention. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw that Jason was still eating his burger but his quiet demeanor indicated that he was listening.
"As you can see, your mother incurred quite a debt before passing away and we have no choice but to collect it somehow," Quentin explained while gesturing towards Jason's group. The skinny mohawk walked arrogantly to their table and rapped on it.
"You blind? Can't you see we're having an important discussion? Fuck off," he told them.
Michelle narrowed her eyebrows as her hand reached her sidearm while Alina sneered and formed a fist with her hand. Emily tried distracting Alice while Melanie leaned back with a grin. Before anyone could move, Jason kicked the man's shin, forcing him to kneel.
"I seem to recall telling every gang that they see Second Academy's students, they're to run the other way," Jason said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear. Quentin turned and froze when he heard Jason before sneering.
"Hm? And what makes you think we'd listen to you?" Quentin asked.
"Listen Q-tip-"
"Quentin!"
"Right. Listen, uh ... Queen's Tin," Jason sighed as he stood up. He opened a hologram from his watch and lazily tossed it to Quentin. "I'm in a good mood so I don't want to complicate things."
It was Quentin's turn to pale when he read what was on the hologram. Droplets of sweat trickled down his face as he turned respectful to Jason.
"Sir, apologies, I had no idea who you are," Quentin said as he lowered his head. "We'll take our leave now."
"Wait," Jason called out and Quentin froze, he slowly turned back to Jason with the most flattering smile he could give. "I'll pay off her debt so don't come back here. You do, and next time I'll blow your kneecaps away."
The punks around Quentin wanted to speak but Jason silenced them with a stare, the killing aura aimed at them nearly caused them to piss in terror.
"Of course, we won't bother Ms. Annie anymore," Quentin hastily replied while accepting Jason's payment. Very quickly he dragged out the others leaving the diner quiet once more.
"What an eyesore," Jason muttered as he sat back and chugged his rootbeer. "Nearly lost my appetite."
Annie, who was nearby walked straight to Jason and looked at him carefully as though she was seeing him for the first time and Jason, visibly uncomfortable, shrugged his shoulders at her.
"What's with that look?" he asked warily.
"You're different than before," she said after a moment. "If it were the past, you'd break their legs and toss them through a window onto the open road."
"I'm trying to change," Jason admitted. "Be a better person. Besides, there's a kid here, I can't possibly smack em in front of her now, can I?"
"No, guess not," Annie patted Jason on the head while smiling. "I like this version better, kid."
Jason grumbled at being treated like a child while the others looked on with surprise at seeing such a childish side of him. By this time, everyone had finished eating and were waiting for Alice, who eventually became tearful when she realized that she couldn't finish her parfait.
"Don't worry, kid," Jason ruffled her hair as he cheered her up. "I'll buy as many as you want later."
"Promise?" Alice asked with such hopeful eyes that Jason couldn't help but smile.
"Yep, promise," he said. "But for now, why don't we go to the amusement park?"
Jason paid the fees and left with everyone else after hugging Annie. As they drove away, a white family SUV started to follow them without drawing too much attention.
***
The group arrived at the amusement park called Heavenly Park. As they lined up to enter the park, Jason looked at the holo-signboard with narrowed eyes, his thoughts occupied with contemplation.
"Something up?" Alina asked when she noticed him not moving.
"Nothing, just find it ironic is all," Jason said as he caught up with them.
"What's ironic?" asked Asami.
"We're bringing Alice to a rabbit hole," Jason gestured at the mascot for the park: a white hare jumping.
"Isn't this place called Amaterasu's Heavenly Park?" Emily asked bemusedly. "That's Japanese right? What does that have to do with Alice in Wonderland?"
"There's an old legend in the Tottori Prefecture called the Hare of Inaba," Jason replied while Asami gasped.
"Ooh, I know that story!" Asami exclaimed. "The one where the white hare helps Ōnamuchi marry the princess!"
"That's one version," Jason said. "There's another and this park's name is based on that legend.
"Once Amaterasu was traveling in Inaba. She was looking for a place to temporarily rest when a white rabbit appeared before her. Following a hunch, she decided to pursue it, feeling as though it would lead her somewhere. And it did. Sound familiar?"
"Comme Alice," muttered Michelle while looking uncomfortable.
She just noticed how Alice had blonde hair and blue eyes while she wore a blue dress with a white lace collar and cuffs. Observing her, Michelle shuddered when she realized that she looked exactly like how she pictured the character Alice in her mind.
"Well, it's just ironic is all," shrugged Jason as he waved at them. "C'mon, it's our turn now."
As they entered the park Jason smirked in exhilaration. He had previously noticed that they were being followed for a while now.
Hmm, this'll be fun, He thought as a feral smile glazed his face for a moment before being replaced with a gentle smile that he gave to the girls.
Melanie was the only one who noticed his ferocity and she bit her lips while her eyes were glossed with anticipation.
Mmm, there's that look, She thought as she looked at him fervently while wetting her lips with the tip of her tongue. That look of joy when thinking of inflicting pain … ah, I can't wait to see that version of you, Jason. The real you. The one I know and love.
[1] AC/DC - Highway to Hell (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMaVii7nnj4)