Seemingly recognizing Zeke, the woman at the counter simply tilted her head and asked.
"The usual place?"
Seeing Zeke nod his head, the lady peeked in between the two green curtains behind for a mont before turning back with a disappointed expression.
Cupping her hands and looking down at the desk, she said sadly.
"Unfortunately, your usual table is taken. However, I can recomnd a new spot that may be to your liking."
Thus, the two of us followed the lady through the two green curtains.
As I brushed past the soft wool of the curtain, a...miraculous thing occurred.
We were no longer inside...for so reason?
It was as if we had entered another world...a beautiful one.
Before lay countless patches of lush-green grass with tables on the floor alongside a circular river filled with plenty of fish.
There was even a wooden bridge that allowed you to cross the river and look down at the clear, blue water.
A light-red shrine appeared at the back of the garden, a bell to ring for prayers, and cherry blossom trees surrounded the garden.
Seeing the pink leaves on the trees, I halted and asked.
"Isn’t it winter...?"
Not even looking back at and following the lady over the bridge, Zeke answered.
"Plant elentals."
The top of the garden wasn’t covered at all, allowing the sunshine to flow downward and cast a jolly mood on the fairy-tale like world.
As our waiter ca to a stop, I paused and looked at our table, which reached up to the height of my knees.
Ignoring , Zeke sat on the carpet atop the grass and put his legs under the table, and I followed a mont later.
Curious as to what spot in the garden could be better than this, I asked.
"Where’s your usual?"
Looking back at him, Zeke pointed to a cherry blossom tree on the opposite side of the river, and slowly, I gazed downward.
And, there on a carpet right below the cherry blossom tree, was a familiar group of girls.
Pink petals flowed down from the tree, landing atop all their hair and clothes, but they payed no attention and continued discussing.
A particularly loud voice sounded from a figure I could recognize as Nico.
"Do you think Coal and his group will be able to find us here...?"
Leaning backward as the waiter approached once again, with nus, I sighed and turned to Zeke.
"Can we just get everything on the nu?"
Not even blinking his eyes, Zeke casually nodded his head.
"You know what, we really are similar."
After sending the waiter away, Zeke glanced down at my shirt and questioned.
"You know, I thought that was real at first, but you’re way too normal. Is it so sort of fashion piece?"
"Yeah, it’s designer."
"What store is it from?"
"The store burned down."
Pausing, Zeke looked up at the light-blue sky and asked.
"Well, what brand?"
"An asteroid hit the brand and killed all the executives, so it’s gone."
"You know, I think I recall seeing that story in the newspaper."
Sliding my legs under the table as well, I replied.
"Do you?"
"Yeah, I think the brand was called ’Gullible Incorporated’, right?"
Covering my cheeks with my hands and acting surprised, I excitedly exclaid.
"How’d you know!"
...
...
...
Within a few minutes, a couple of plates had already appeared on the table, imdiately attracting my attention.
Despite its wild exterior, this really was a fancy restaurant.
It even had small portion sizes!
Dumplings, small steak sliders, and countless other appetizers appeared, but Zeke ignored them, constantly looking over his shoulder.
In between dumping food into my mouth, I muttered.
"Why don’t you just go up to them?"
Before Zeke could even respond, the curtains suddenly slid open, revealing the familiar figures of Coal, Levi, Chae, and lissa.
They walked up and sat at the small table with Nico, Sage, and the Imperial girls, excitedly talking about how beautiful the place was.
There were now nine people sitting around a small square-shaped table, knee-height.
Were they having a picnic over there?
Raising his hand over his forehead, Zeke angrily muttered.
"They just had to ruin my favorite spot. How the hell did they even find out about this place?"
Shrugging my shoulders, I leaned back, under the shade of a nearby cherry blossom tree, and responded.
"Why don’t you just buy this place. Then, nobody can bother you."
"Believe , my father tried. But the owner is extrely stubborn and refuses to sell no matter the price."
"I guess your dad just didn’t have enough money."
"...what do you an?"
"Money can buy anything, no?"
Finally picking up a plate of food, Zeke muttered.
"Just eat your food, so we can get out of here."
"You can’t rush greatness."
"..."
As the two of us dug into the main als and my taste buds jumped up and down in excitent, the discussion across from us only grew louder.
With each passing second, Zeke’s face twitched more and more, but I didn’t mind it.
Finally, when the last plate was wiped clean, he got up, preparing to leave, but then the waiter suddenly appeared.
In her hands lay...two big and fancy bottles, one collared cherry-red and the other grass-green.
Placing the two wine-sized bottles on our table, the waiter bowed before walking back over the bridge and disappearing.
Glancing at the bottles, Zeke said uncertainly.
"I’ve never tried those before...maybe, a new addition to the nu?
Noticing the familiarity between the bottles and alcohol, I tilted my head.
What were the laws for underage drinking in this world...?
Considering the waiter had served us these bottles, we must be eligible, right?
Letting my curiosity get the best of , I reached out to touch the cherry-red bottle before , but my hand was swatted out like a fly by Zeke.
"Don’t touch."
"Why?"
Ignoring my questions, he grabbed the grass-green bottle and popped off the lid with his thumb easily.
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