Tengu city, commercial center, a certain couple’s restaurant.
Sitting at the gaudily designed table, Shiori wondered how she got herself into this mess. She stared at the menu with a serious look, it’s like there’s a winning lottery ticket for 5 million bucks in the menu. However, her head slowly lowered from the attentions she’s getting.
The other customers are more interested in Shiori and Tobiichi Origami than their own food. They are all curious about the pair of beautiful girls dining at the table, they didn’t realize their food had turned cold.
Shiori wanted to cry. Now she knew how Wu Yan felt when everyone stared at him in school yesterday.
Meanwhile, Origami is browsing through the menu like nobody’s business. When she noticed Shiori’s awkward behavior she asked her about it because she honestly didn’t know why she’s like that.
“Is something the matter?”
I want to end someone, I want to get away from here, I want to fight you on the street, I want to quit…
Shiori thought about which one she should point out but she gave up with a sigh.
“It’s nothing, let’s order, after we eat we leave, period.”
Shiori thought about running away but that would just attract more attention. It’s honestly better than being stared like a circus sitting here but Tobiichi Origami is a very astute person.
Any attempt at standing up would earn Shiori the instant attention of Tobiichi Origami. Her stare is so piercing that Shiori dispelled any thoughts of running away.
Shiori decided to go with the flow. The sooner they finished this the sooner she can leave.
Shiori ordered some food and Tobiichi Origami followed suit.
The waiter tried to take their order with the most professional expression he can muster and he repeated their orders to ensure there are no mistakes. The waiter excused himself with awkward laughter. So begins Shiori’s longest torture.
Shiori buried her head under the menu, Origami started talking to her.
“Let’s go somewhere else after this!”
Shiori trembled, Enduring the urge to throw the menu at Tobiichi Origami and bail, she started sweating hard.
Next place? Yeah, there’s a next place, alright, the afterlife for me.
She can’t take this anymore, her heart is weak and her mind is on the verge of a breakdown. She wondered just how many years were shaved off her lifespan from the stress she suffered today.
Finally, as if some god or spirits out there heard her prayers, her chance to bail came.
The ceiling of the restaurant caught fire. The smoke alarms started blaring loudly.
The other couples were startled by this sudden occurrence. The fire broke out from seemingly nowhere, they only noticed the fire when they felt the heat coming from the ceiling.
“Fire!”
Somebody cried out and all hell broke loose. They charged at the nearest exit to escape.
“What the…”
Shiori didn’t know whether it’s good luck or bad luck that a fire broke out during this date.
Tobiichi Origami’s AST instinct kicked in and she grabbed Shiori.
“Let’s get out of here.”
Shiori nodded. They stood up and started heading towards the exit. The exit is clogged by the sheer number of people not queuing up properly. A lot of useless boyfriends ditched their girlfriends behind to escape by themselves. A lot of breakups will probably happen after this incident.
Tobiichi Origami and Shiori didn’t think they stood a chance against the burly men fighting each other for the exit. They silently looked at the people at the exit. If they made their way out of the exit in an orderly fashion, they would have made it out already. However, the homo erectus clogging up the exit only thought about saving their own asses. If the fire kept going, this would be how they died.
Luckily for them, the fires stopped as if by conscious design. If it didn’t, they would most likely end up as charred bones.
“Typical humans, their selfishness always spelled their end…”
Kurumi amused herself with their frantic display of selfishness and cruelty. But, her smile is very cold.
Wu Yan also bitterly smiled. Kurumi isn’t exactly the biggest fan of humanity, unlike Yoshino and Tohka who are more trusting than her. She’s on good terms with Shiori because she got to know her through Wu Yan & co.
Wu Yan looked at the restaurant and he mumbled.
“I hope Kotori don’t go overboard…”
“Seriously, the scumbags ruined it.”
Above the restaurant, the figure in red is mad that they messed up her plans. She huffed.
“Making me use extra power to control the flames, if only I can burn off all your clothes so the world can look at your disgusting birthday suits as you guys go home…”
Of course, Kotori wouldn’t do something like that. She made sure the flames didn’t burn down the whole place.
Inside the restaurant, Shiori mumbled in a low volume.
“Are we going to die like this?”
Tobiichi Origami assured her.
“It’s okay, I am not going to let anything happen to you.”
She looked at the flames on the ceiling and she continued in a grim tone.
“I won’t let anyone important to me die to fires again!”
“Again?”
Shiori gasped. She didn’t pursue the matter and she noticed something odd about the flames.
“Origami-san, the flames don’t show any signs of spreading?”
Tobiichi Origami is just as confused as her.
“That looks like the case…”
Shiori pulled Origami’s sleeve and she suggested a move that surprised Origami.
“We should put the fire out! If we put it out, we will be fine!”