The storm had finally ceased. No more clouds could be seen in the sky, let alone thunderbolts. The city seemed alive again, with people wandering around, merchants announcing their products and promotions, and many strange vehicles and devices being used here and there.
With such an environment, it was easier to move around, acting as just some random and uninteresting individual in the middle of the crowd. The guards rarely stopped someone to ask questions, though they maintained surveillance over their faces and how they walked.
That's why Hayato walked in the middle of the day without any concerns. The only thing he needed to do was to avoid the guards discreetly, without being too obvious. As long as he could manage it, everything would be fine. Or so he hoped.
'After several days raining, it sure is good to have some sunlight, huh? I think it's the rainy season of this region, so days like this one are rarer than cloudy and humid days.'
Hayato entered a tavern, looking over his shoulder before leaving the streets. He spotted some guards walking around. They were just as cautious as any other he saw that day, always keeping an eye on the citizen's faces and eyes.
'It is really curious how people from this world get used to recognizing others just but looking at their hair, eyes, and the manner they walk. Since they rarely stay unmasked, they develop this kind of perception.'
Many things amazed Hayato in that world. There were many extremely similar characteristics of his previous world, but when something was different, it was VERY different. Things that Hayato thought he would see only in movies or read in fiction books.
Once entering the tavern, he saw many faces there. Entering such establishments was a relief for Hayato since people obviously wouldn't wear a mask while eating. There were days when he wouldn't see a single naked face, after all, so it was harsh on someone like him.
He walked to the tavern's corner, passing by one of the waitresses. She was most likely willing to take his order, but Hayato didn't come there to drink.
'In all RPG games I played, the taverns were always the place where people had information to give. And, well, I am just going to ask something simple, so that shouldn't be a problem.'
By the way, Hayato discovered a while ago that these places he went to weren't bars or taverns. They were called izakayas. Only the name and the atmosphere were different. Besides, they served mostly sake and beer. The food was truly delicious, too. However, for him, that was a tavern.
'Only because the food is not gross and the environment is not shady and creepy it doesn't make it less a tavern.'
It actually did, but Hayato was not ready for that conversation yet.
"Excuse me, ma'am..."
The bartender was a woman in her late thirties. She had blond short hair and dark brown eyes behind her white mask. Her appearance was very refreshing as Hayato was used to seeing people mostly with black hair there.
"Ma'am? You don't need to be so polite, you know? You are in an izakaya. And not the most professional one, on top of that. Everybody here is as rustic as they seem to be."
Hayato laughed nervously. Since Mr. Satoshi was the only person he ever talked to during his weeks in that world, he was still socially awkward.
"Ah... Hahahaha, I am s-sorry. I mean, I don't know what is going on with me today. I normally don't act this way."
"Hmm... got some problems, boy?"
"Y-yeah. Many of them."
"You can have some sake and talk with me about it, then. I like hearing youngsters talking about their usually silly worries about life. Many of them come here to do it."
Without waiting for him to accept or decline her offer, the bartender put a bit of sake in a cup, then placed it in front of Hayato.
"It won't be for free, though", her eyes told Hayato that she was smiling behind the mask. A friendly smile, however.
'Well, to ask for information, I feel like I would need to get something to drink, anyway.'
"Spit it out, boy."
Hayato hesitated for a moment, but then sat on one of the chairs around the corner. He held his cup of sake with both hands.
"Well... I just broke up with my girlfriend. We dated for three years, then we broke up last week."
The bartender poured more sake and beer in cups and glasses, serving the customers and cleaning things as she heard Hayato. Although she was busy with a handful of tasks, the boy felt like she heard him with attention, so it was not a problem.
'I guess she is used to it. Well, talking about depressive things is the best way of making others keep drinking, so I think it's one of her strategies.'
"I loved her, you know?"
"If you want me to make you feel good, I don't have anything against our age disparity, you know? I lay down many youngsters as long as they have come of age. I bet I can make you forget her in one second."
"Hm... I think I will pass."
"What a pity, though. You are cute. Anyway, what I mean is that I can see why she liked you. How come she doesn't like anymore?"
"N-No comment."
'My creativity just goes this far, you know? Don't screw me, ma'am...'
"But, well, we were planning to get married since both of us reached sixteen. Our parents were happy and we thought it would be a good thing. But we broke up, as I said. Since things happened this way, I want to go to the neighboring county, on the east. I want to make my life far away from here."
"Oh, right. The painful memories of living in the same city as your past love... I cannot relate, but I think I can figure out how it must feel. Do you want more sake?"
"N-No, I didn't finish mine yet."
"Well, that's really a pity. But I like your initiative of keeping your head up and walking forward. But, you still love her? Wouldn't it be awesome if you fight for her until the very end?"
'She is dragging the conversation so I can finish the sake... Just like I thought.'
"No. I just want to go to the East. I don't know how I can do it with little to no money, though."
"Oh... I get what you mean. That's what you wanted to know, huh? But that won't be for free either", she seemed disappointed. Unfortunately, she wouldn't be able to extract all his money as she did with all the other dumb youngsters she talked to daily.
"I will pay for that. Just help me with it, please."
"Well, indeed, it's expensive to make such a long travel, but there is an option besides the conventional ways. That's how I came to this county, by the way. I was not from here originally."
"H-How?"
She extended her hand while looking away, feigning she didn't hear him.
Hayato sighed and searched in his pocket for his last savings. It was enough to pay for three cups of sake.
"Is this enough?"
"It's not, but I will make a special discount for you because you are cute. I like your brown hair," she winked at him, smiling sweetly under the mask.
Of course, he could not see her smile, but he was getting used to figuring out people's expressions only by looking at their eyes. Besides, the woman's flirting tone did not help to hide her intentions in the slightest.
"S-So..." Hayato was not used to that kind of attention, so he just changed the subject. In his previous world, members of the opposite sex would barely talk to him, let alone be so flirtatious in his presence.
"How can I get out of this county and go to the east without spending money?"
"Haha! Slow down, kid. Don't put words in my mouth... You will need to spend money. Just not as much as in the conventional ways, got it?"
"I see. I think I was too naive to think that would be possible."
The bartender cocked an eyebrow, then giggled. She leaned over the corner, whispering to Hayato: "Well, not in legal ways, I mean. If you want to do some crazy things to get what you want, then our talk will be slightly different."
Hayato was about to outrightly deny it, but hesitated.
'No... I should not act like this. What good being a nice and right person ever brought me? Absolutely nothing. The people that bullied me every day and always won their fights were the kind of individuals who could do bad things for the sake of their interests without batting an eye.
'If I want to go up there as well and rule my own life instead of letting others take control of it, I should be able to take such actions.'
Hayato took a sip of his sake, then hit the cup on the table.
"Show the best way, please. It doesn't matter if it's illegal or immoral."
The woman nodded.
"Hmm... you are more interesting than I thought, boy", she giggled again.