"Yuna, why haven't you shown any interest so far with these items? Isn't there anything that catches your eye? Or perhaps, you're aiming for something?" Mike ventured to ask. He knew that he would never know if he just waited.
"In this first-half session, although the items displayed are fairly rare, they're not that hard to find either if we try to look deeper. What we're looking for is, something in the second-half and peak stage. You're mine and I want you to get the best." Yuna just answered with confidence because that was her goal. Unfortunately, she didn't immediately realize that what she had just said was ambiguous to Mike's ears.
Even so, Mike just shrugged his shoulders because maybe, it was just an imaginary sentence since they were there as a couple. "I'm yours, hmm? Why not the other way around? Anyway, thanks for your concern. Please tell me what we're going to buy next. I'll bid the best price."
"Wha-" Yuna just realized what she just said. She blushed slightly and covered her mouth. In her heart, she wanted to run away and hide in a hole.
Tonight, for some reason, she had become so brave to talk about things that were initially still very new to her. Nevertheless, she was just trying to calm herself down.
"Alright, that's the end of the first session. Let's enjoy a relaxing moment accompanied by beautiful music. Ladies and gentlemen, I invite you to enjoy the signature cuisine of the best Horikiri Clan chefs." Kannon showed her palm to the long table full of delicious-looking dishes. After that, the stage curtain fell to end the first session.
A few moments later, the curtain opened again with a group of traditional music players ready to perform.
"Pssh, Mike-sama, I'm sure a lot of troublemakers will come to you in this in-between session. I'm a bit worried, but are you ready to defend Ojou-sama, your girlfriend, from bigger troubles?" Kisa covered her mouth and spoke in a whisper-like voice.
"My answer doesn't need to be questioned about the clarity, Kisa. Anyway, the dishes have been deliberately served to the guests, would you like to take some to accompany us in enjoying this traditional music?" Mike just smiled faintly and changed the topic. He looked at the delicious-looking food and drinks.
Honesty to say, he was feeling so hungry! After all, he had already missed lunch and was dragged away from dinner. The last time he ate and drank was at breakfast.
"..." Yuna and Kisa exchanged glances with helpless smiles. They just realized that Mike must be hungry. Only Yukiko seemed unconcerned.
Yuna glanced at the banquet table. There were already several people who were taking some food and drinks. Then, she nodded in agreement. "Alright, let's go over there and get some dishes."
Mike didn't wait any longer and immediately got up from his seat. He offered his arm to Yuna. The latter just took it for granted by placing her hand there.
It's just like what Kisa was worried about. None of them is looking for trouble, but trouble itself will come to them. Several young masters, led by Austin, also went toward the banquet table.
Even though Mike was aware of what was coming, he only took his time to grab the most enormous tray to put whatever he liked there. Yuna, Kisa, and Yukiko just looked at him pensively as if unsure of what to say.
"You look like a hungry man. Have you no shame or decency, Mighty-man?" Austin smirked in disdain.
"Hm, yes, as you said. I'm Mighty-man. Someone like me needs far more nutrition than you who don't have energy. Mighty-man's friendly reminder, you should eat more nutritious food to build muscle mass in your untrained body." Mike just gave Austin's group a glance and paid them no mind anymore.
"Huh?" Austin was stunned for a moment. It was an unexpected and very effective counterattack to scrape his ego.
He looked around, especially at his ideal girl, Yuna. Everyone around him seemed to be looking at him with laughter in their minds. Did they mock him? It was all because of that man!
Despite feeling irritated, Austin was just trying his best to calm himself down. Then, he ignored Mike to approach Yuna. "It's always a pleasure to meet again with a beauty like you, Yuna-chan. You are beautiful as usual. Sorry for our slightly unkind greeting earlier. But, let me introduce you to my girlfriend. She is Kiyo, Watanabe Kiyo, my first girlfriend. And you will soon join her as mine."
"Hi, nice to meet you, Kisaragi-sama." Kiyo smiled and waved his hand slightly.
"Hmph, I don't know where you got her all of a sudden. But, she's more like your plaything than your girlfriend. I still remember our bet this afternoon. I'm waiting for you to apologize to me in front of everyone, here." Yuna just folded her arms and snorted in annoyance. She stole a few glances at Mike as if she was asking for help, but he still seemed too busy to pick up the dishes!
"Oh, that's really offensive from you, Yuna-chan. But, I like spicy. You seem to have already convinced that the plebeian guy is your real boyfriend. You haven't known him for long, have you? Forget the small talk, let's toast as a form of greeting from me." Austin just smirked and took red wine glasses for himself, Kiyo, and Yuna.
"Then, you need to send your greeting to my boyfriend." Yuna glanced at Mike again nervously. She could only ignore the wine that was offered to her.
Kisa and Yukiko seemed to want to hit Mike's head to let him know that his existence was urgently needed.
As if understanding the signal, Mike turned around with a large tray in hand. He walked over to Austin with a leisurely motion. "Oh-o? So, the one who has no decency is you? You haven't finished talking to me, and you've run away from me, Young Master Austin? If you wanted to send a greeting, why didn't you get to know me first?"
After saying that, Mike took the glass of wine Austin offered Yuna.
'Hmm... Isn't this a good opportunity to pay vengeance to this presumptuous man? Let's try my new skill on this man. Hopefully this will work out as I expected~' Mike smirked in his mind. He is feeling excited to bestow his lousy luck on the bad guys.
'But, how to use it? Curse Transfer!' Mike tried to use his new skill by shouting the name in his mind.
[Curse Transfer activated. Fortune Points are deducted by 10. Anyone who directly or indirectly comes into contact with you will receive a sudden misfortune. Cool down 30 seconds until you can use this skill again.]
Mike's eyes widened slightly to see his Fortune Point value being forcibly taken away by the psycho lady system. It was turning red near the danger zone!
*Ting*
Mike subconsciously moved his hand for a toast like what he was about to do earlier.
*Crack* *Splash*
The bowl immediately detached from the stem after a crack. The wine in Mike's hand spilled onto the floor, but he quickly dodged it so as not to stain his shoes.