'Huh'
'It's not as crowded as I believed it to be'
Vignette normally makes lunch for both of us. She sent me a text this morning to say that she would be too busy with something else though.
Rather than to bet on my rather dubious and doubtable cooking, I decided to have my lunch at the cafeteria today.
'I can't remember the last time I actually ate lunch here. Better get a ticket and—'
Looking over at the machine, I see Lilin slamming the buttons at random.
'What is she doing now?! '
I kept my distance, watching as her motions turn more violent with the ongoing passing of time.
She stops to search the sides of the machine every so often, as if checking something. When her strange ritual shows no sign of ending, I make my way over with a sigh.
"Ahem"
She whirls about on the spot, poised to defend herself.
"Oh... It's you. "
"The one and only. "
She gives me a blank look as her tension eases.
"Need a hand there? "
She scowls as I nod toward the ticket machine.
Lilin: "I don't need anything from you. "
"Alright do you want a hand? "
"I am perfectly capable, thank you... I have undergone more training than you will endure in you entire life. A simple machine like this will offer no resistance. "
She starts hammering the buttons again.
"I just need to figure out which orifice dispenses the food. "
Xion: "You will be here for a while then. "
When I reach out, she bats my hand away.
"Paws to yourself, Demon King!
"I am not falling for your tricks! "
"Keep it down, will you?!
"What happened to keeping a low profile?! Besides what kind of tricks do you think I could pull using a simple ticket machine? "
Lilin eye's narrow warily.
"Alright here is my offer... I will let you go ahead if you will allow me to observe. "
"Works for me. "
When she motions me on, I out some cash into the slot before selecting my meal. She watches me as the ticket drops into the slot before I hold it up in front of her eyes.
"You see? Easy peasy! "
"Once you have got this, hand it over to the staff at that counter.
"These machines don't actually dispense food directly. "
Her cheeks grow flushed.
"Well obviously!
"I was just... testing how compliant you were! "
"Well did I pass? "
"That is classified. "
Turning to the machine she follows my example to get a ticket of her own.
Lilin: "Now if you will Excuse me, I am going to take this over to the food distribution officers. "
"Sure ladies first. "
I follow close behind as she strides over to the counter with her head held high. Mercifully she manages to get her meal without any further difficulties.
"You see? easy peasy! "
Xion: "That special training regimen has clearly made you a force to reckoned with. "
"So shall we grab a seat? "
Her face twists into a sneer.
"What... You and me? Eating together? I would lose my appetite. "
'Jeez, a simple thank you would have done the job. '
"Hey fine by me. "
"If you plan on sticking around, you would better start making friends here though. "
"If you think the demons are cruel, try facing high school bullies. "
I start to saunter away, only for her to call out after me.
"Wait! "
I turn back with a weary sigh.
"What is it now? "
Lilin: "My orders are to extract any intel I can relating to Target Alpha."
"That supersedes any personal distaste I might have. "
"Well far be it from me to dare stop you from performing your duties. "
"You might ought to loosen up though, Kana. "
"It's not like I am asking you to go out with me on a date or something!"
Caught between a scoff and a dismissive laugh she honks.
"You would only be setting yourself up for rejection if you did! "
"Hold up for a sec!!! You don't know about Jaywalking or ticket machine but you are all over dating?! "
Her eyes widen slightly before she quickly regains her composure.
"It's all part of the manipulation techniques we are taught for use in undercover work. I would tell you more but—"
"It's classified, right? "
She shuffles impatiently.
"Well what are you waiting for? Hurry up and find us a table?! "
"Alright keep your shirt on. "
"I have no intention of disrobing, thank you very much! "
.
.
'I am really starting to rgeret suggesting this. '
Once I have found us a table we sit down and eat in silence. Even with my head down I can feel her eyes fixed on me.
"Your lunch will get cold if you leave it too long. "
Without uttering a response she grudgingly begins to eat. Even then I catch her glancing over at me at regular intervals.
'Here I was thinking she might start acting normal'
Desperate for any distraction I listen to the next table.
Random Student 1: "Did you hear about the latest terrorist attack? "
Random Student 2: "There's been around another one?! "
Random Student 1: "It happened this morning. Seems like they targeted a hospital where some big shot was laid up. "
Random Student 2: "That is so messed up"
.
.
.
Lilin: "There's been another attack?!"
"And here I was babysitting you. "
She gives me a withering glare before taking out her phone and tapping away frantically.
"I need more intel. Ugh! How do I scry data from this little metal box?!"
"Easy there, Shakespeare. "
The sharp look she gives me wipes away the smile from my face.
'All that training and they didn't cover anything about modern technology. '
'This whole operation is going to crash and burn in no time. '
'Unless I take her under my wing. '
(End of the chapter)