'Man up, Ryu. You knew this day would come, right? Face it!'
I slapped my face as me and Yuna go down from the stairs.
Meanwhile, Yuna saw me and giggled.
"Why are you slapping your face?" She asks.
"Nothing."
I grin at her.
She giggled once more.
After that, we took a seat at one of the vacant tables.
We're lucky we got a table. After all, the place is crowded. I guess Café Noir is busy tonight.
"We'll have to wait. It's pretty busy right now." She says.
"I could see that. It's crowded, but it's quiet. People talk with each other, but they're more like whispering."
She nodded.
"While we're waiting, why don't you tell me what happened during the New Year's eve?"
I gulped.
I knew she's gonna ask me that, but oh well, I have nothing to hide.
"Sorry. They captured me that time. They already knew about us."
"Oh, ok. I didn't know. What did they do to you?"
"They interrogated me, tortured me, and puts me under trial..."
She startled. She covered her mouth with her hand to reduce the noise.
"Really!? A-Are you ok now? So sorry to hear that..."
"I'm fine. What matters is you're ok. I can never be fine if they got into you."
"I'm sure you need a proper sleep, or enough food to eat. Water? Do you want? I'll order us some foods and drinks. Ok?"
I then grabbed her hand.
"It's ok. I don't have time to rest, especially now you're in trouble."
She then holds my hand.
"Ryu, at least let me help you. Ok? How will you be able to help someone if you can't even help yourself?"
I took a deep breath and smiled at her. I then let go of her hand, but she remains holding it.
"Ok, fine. Water is enough."
She shook her head.
"No, no, no. I'm sure you need a food as well. Let me buy you at least a bread. Ok?"
"Ok. Sure."
She smiled, and squeezes my hand. After that, she then left to buy me a food and drinks.
A few moments later, she returned back with a plastic cup of water, a Japanese pizza toast, and a coffee.
My eyes opened widely.
"Wait what? Is that an espresso?" I asks.
She smiled.
"Isn't that your favorite?"
I chuckled.
"So you knew my favorite coffee?"
"Of course I do. How many times have I been serving you that? And I'm sure you missed it. Don't you?"
"I do. I definitely do. I missed it a lot. Thank you..."
She smiled widely with open mouth, wrinkles around her eyes while cheeks all raised.
"You're most welcome!"
We waited and waited. While we are waiting, me and Yuna had a little chat, while also savoring my bread and coffee.
"Well? How is it?" She asks.
"Which one? The bread? Or the espresso?"
"The bread. Sorry if it's a pizza toast, we ran out of other bread today."
"It's good, and I really mean it. It's really good."
"I made those by the way." She winks.
I choked.
"Really? Wow... You're good at these."
"Thank you." She smiled.
"Hey, Ryu?"
"Hmm?" I was munching the food.
"When this is over, let's go for a vacation. Ok?"
I smiled.
"Where do you want to go?"
"I wanna go to the farthest. Maybe Okinawa?"
"B-But I didn't mean Okinawa! Ok? I mean, any beaches, anywhere away from Tokyo.." She was flustering.
I chuckled once more.
"We will. Ok?"
"Really? Is that a Promise?"
"Promise." I smiled, then I showed my pinky finger at her.
She then locked her own with me, and smiled.
We were smiling at each other, grinning at each other, and giggling with each other.
After waiting for 2 hours. I finally get the chance to talk to her father.
I took a deep breath, and pinched myself.
I'm so nervous, and pinching myself is probably my only option to calm me down.
It's basically to keep myself awake.
"What is it?" Her father asks.
"Dad, Ryu has something to say. Very important, so hear him out."
I gulped.
I then raised my chest and inhaled deeply.
"I'm sorry! Because of me, Yuna is now in trouble!" I bowed down fully.
Her father looks confused.
"What do you mean?" He asks.
"The people I'm working with is now trying to hunt her, and kill her. So, I'm sorry!"
He was stunned, he was speechless, and most importantly, he's just standing there, looking at me.
I could sense his teeth grinding out of anger. He is gnashing, with his fists clenched.
I continued to bow down, and closes my eyes.
'I better not make eye-contact with him, I'd probably gonna get punched if I do."
"Comeback tomorrow and let's talk about this. Ok?" He said.
My eyes grew wide after hearing it.
'Wait, what?'
I then slowly raised my head, to look at him.
His eyes were closed, and wrinkles around it.
He is smiling, but not widely.
I could literally say he is fake smiling.
"I'm tired right now, so can this wait 'till tomorrow?"
I exhaled immediately. My composure is now calm.
'I guess I didn't get punched, or maybe tomorrow? But I don't care, I'm prepared for this!'
"U-Um, ok. Enjoy your rest." I smiled at him.
He then go upstairs.
Meanwhile, Yuna and the rest of the crew, prepared for the closing of the shop.
I on the other hand, can't just leave them. Their lives are in danger. Even in their sleep, they could get assassinated. Who knows?
Yuna then tries to approach me and whispered me,
"Are they gonna be attacking? Should we let my father know?"
I shook my head.
"No, it's ok. I got this. Just enjoy your sleep for today. Ok?" I smiled.
She smiled back.
"Ok. Take care and don't push yourself too much. Call us if you need help, Ok?"
I nodded.
"Ok."
The café is now closed. The streets of Tokyo is empty. I on the other hand is at an alley, near the Café Noir.
I took a deep breath, under the freezing night, at the dark alley.
I'm waiting for them, I'm waiting for those hoarders.
I already knew they've been observing us...
That's why after a while, 5 hoarders came.
I smirked.
'I knew it.'
It was just 5 hoarders, not even a big thing, nor a problem.
I've faced far more dangerous opponents and missions. This is literally nothing.
I then summoned my sword and charged at them.
'Yuna, I promise you, I'll take you to a beautiful beach once this is all over...'