February 7th, Beijing, China
A girl, weary from her wanderings, sought solace in a small restaurant. The hustle and bustle of the city streets were a stark contrast to the serene atmosphere inside. She found a seat and awaited the waitress.
The waitress approached, handing her the menu. "这是菜, 您想错过什么吗?" ("Here's the menu, what would you like, miss?")
"请来馄饨汤," the girl replied softly. ("Wor wonton soup, please.")
"这就是全部?" the waitress inquired. ("Is that all?")
"还有一杯水..." she added. ("A glass of water too...")
"至少需要20分鐘錯過,感謝您選擇我們餐廳!" the waitress informed her with a hurried nod before scurrying away to attend to other patrons. ("It will take at least 20 minutes, miss. Thank you for choosing our restaurant!")
"謝謝..." the girl murmured, her voice barely audible. ("Thank you too...")
As she waited, the peaceful ambience of the restaurant was abruptly disrupted by the entrance of five men, all clad in black. They moved with purpose, heading directly towards her.
One of the men, noticeably younger and more composed than the others, addressed her with an air of politeness. "Excuse me, miss."
The girl turned her gaze towards him, her expression impassive, her eyes devoid of emotion. "What is it?"
"May I ask if you are Nashimi Rain?" the young man inquired.
"I am..." Nashimi replied, her voice calm yet tinged with a sense of foreboding.
The atmosphere grew tense as the restaurant patrons sensed the shift in mood. The young man continued, "I see... Oh, pardon my lack of manners. My name is Toku Kamaki."
Toku Kamaki, an enigmatic figure, exuded an aura of intrigue that set Nashimi on edge. Clad entirely in black, his suit appeared tailored to perfection, complemented by white gloves adorned with peculiar geometric patterns. Two floating scabbards hovered beside him, each marked with red lines resembling lightning.
He extended his hand towards her, expecting a reciprocation, but Nashimi remained unmoved by his theatrics. "Well, as you can see, we wouldn't want to cause a commotion in this restaurant... so let's continue this outside," Toku suggested.
"Of course..." Nashimi acquiesced, rising to follow the men outside. They maneuvered through the crowded streets until they reached a more secluded area.
Toku's demeanor shifted as they stood alone. "You know, I could already have had your pretty face kissing the floor back in that restaurant... you're just lucky you're cute," he taunted, a sly smile playing on his lips as he underestimated her.
Nashimi's response was cool and measured. "There's no need to flatter me... let's settle this quickly..."
With a graceful motion, she levitated three meters above the ground, facing the four men. Suddenly, the entire area within a 20-kilometer radius underwent a dramatic transformation, the vibrant colors draining into monotone shades, catching the men off guard—all except for Kamaki.
"Do you really think all this is necessary? Miss Ebony..." Toku questioned, his voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
"Absolutely, without a doubt... I THINK YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY LAST..." Nashimi declared, her tone resolute.
Toku's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "THEN BE MY GUEST!!"
To be continued...