How to Fix a Mistake (6)
How to Fix a Mistake (6)
The taciturn Owner behind the counter handed the food directly to me.
"......Mm."
Normally Maya would have served it, but since I was at the counter seat, it wasn't particularly unusual.
Maya, who had sidled up beside me without my noticing, explained the dish set before me.
"It's cream edamame."
She then gave a simple description of the food.
"It's a traditional appetizer from the distant island nation of Neo Japan."
I wondered why the cream was sprinkled on top.
Normally, at a regular Japanese restaurant, they'd just serve edamame with salt, wouldn't they?
.......
Anyway, it didn't matter.
As long as it tasted good.
I picked up the aluminum chopsticks.
But before I could even try the appetizer edamame, another dish was promptly served in front of me.
I still hadn't eaten it.
"......Mm."
The Owner, pretending not to notice my look, went back behind the counter.
"This is a type of salad dish, 'cheese sushi.' It's made from krill fish produced by a 3D food printer, and it tastes really good."
...Just because it had mixed vegetables didn't make it a salad.
My mind went blank.
Even though this place was labeled a fusion Japanese restaurant, I had never seen such bizarre food before.
I had no idea where to start.
I calmly raised my hand to ask a question.
But the Owner's hands were so fast that the next dish was served before I could speak.
"Finally, the main dish. It's a steak made from soybeans, 'steak with special sauce.' Thanks to our careful fresh storage, even though it's a bit rare, you don't have to worry about parasites at all."
I looked at the three dishes placed before me.
Fortunately, it didn't seem like any more dishes would come.
Seeing me sitting silently, the Owner let out a short snort.
"......Mm."
"Ah, he says that once you finish the entire course, dessert will be served after. It's an ice type, so it might melt."
Where should I even begin pointing things out?
First of all.
"...Well."
I asked about what I was most curious about.
"What I ordered was the recommended 'fresh gratin,' but what came out was a course meal—"
Maya cut me off with a bright smile.
"By the way, why did you change into such shabby clothes? Don't tell me that was a disguise."
"......."
I shut my mouth.
23. How to Fix a Mistake (6)
I quietly walked out of the shop.
Clutching my full stomach, I collapsed in a back alley as if passing out.
"Phew."
I breathed in and out naturally.
As I inhaled the cold air unique to the lower layer, the stuffy feeling from fullness eased a little.
Seriously, I thought my stomach was going to burst.
I guess greed made me finish even the dessert.
The food the Owner made tasted exactly like I remembered.
To give a concrete example, it was better than the food I'd had at Drex's place, but not as good as the dishes Eve made by hacking the Monolith head chef's recipes.
In short, it was delicious.
I lifted my head from staring at the dusty ground and looked at the familiar alley scenery.
Between the alleyways, old cars scurried around spewing noisy exhaust, and people living hand-to-mouth passed by with listless, trudging footsteps.
Really, this place hadn't changed a bit.
I reminisced briefly about when I first entered Neon City.
It was Maya who interrupted my reminiscing.
"...What are you doing here?"
She approached me, squatting down beside me.
Judging by her slightly damp apron, she seemed to have just finished washing dishes and come outside.
"Just getting some fresh air."
I raised my head and looked at Maya.
"What do you mean? You're the one who always said the city air is bad and wore a mask all the time."
Maya smiled softly and sat down beside me.
She positioned herself cautiously so her apron wouldn't touch the ground, sitting close enough that our shoulders almost touched.
I asked Maya, who had begun admiring the alley scenery just like me.
"Is it okay to close the shop already? Don't bars usually start business around now?"
"It's a place where only those who come, come—whatever. It's up to the owner."
"Dad said to close a little early today."
Maya, continuing her words, shifted her gaze from the outside to stare directly at me.
As she turned her head, her short hair with pink bridge highlights swayed elegantly.
"So, why did you really come today?"
Maya asked me.
Since I had anticipated that question, I answered naturally.
"I said I'd come by sometime, remember."
"...Then why the disguise again?"
Maya tilted her head slightly, genuinely puzzled.
"......."
Well, about that.
There were certain circumstances.
I decided to change the subject.
"How's the shop? Is it okay?"
"......Hmm."
Maya looked at me sharply.
But then, as if letting me off the hook, she followed along with my topic.
"It's the same as before. Hardly anything has changed since I was gone."
Well, even I could see that.
Except for the many new surveillance cameras, every decoration was in exactly the same place.
Wasn't it the Owner's consideration, creating a place his daughter could always return to?
I remembered how the Owner had thanked me earlier.
Perhaps that was his way of showing gratitude.
I guessed that was what it meant.
"Thank you."
"Huh?"
At Maya's sudden words, I turned my head to look at her.
"Just... for everything."
Maya, unable to continue explaining what she was thankful for, looked away from my gaze.
"For not giving up on me first, and for saving me again in the end."
Maya scratched her head as if embarrassed.
"I have nothing but things to thank you for, Si-un-ssi."
"...Well, it wasn't anything difficult."
On the contrary, I felt more apologetic.
At the time, when Maya was kidnapped, if I had remembered a little sooner, nothing would have happened to her.
Maybe sensing how I felt, Maya smiled playfully.
"Si-un-ssi, you're the same as before. You're too kind. Oh, except for those shabby clothes you wore when you came into the shop a while ago. At first, I almost didn't recognize you. Hehe."
.......
Please forget about that.
By the time I was caught, I'd already thrown away the hat and coat I'd looted from a vagrant, and even retrieved the coat I'd hidden in the alley.
I was already feeling uncomfortable.
The smell still lingered on my body too.
When I couldn't answer immediately, a short silence fell again.
I secretly rolled my eyes to glance at Maya's profile.
She also seemed to be lost in memories, gazing beyond the alley with a somewhat nostalgic look.
It was a few minutes later that Maya broke the silence and spoke.
"...My father asked me last night."
Maya continued, speaking as if to herself.
"Whether I'd like to leave Neon City this time and go with him to Neo Japan."
"......."
Since it was a difficult topic to answer, I remained silent and listened to her.
Maya forced a smile.
"He said it's something he'd always thought about. Once his daughter was out... he'd leave this place and go back to his hometown. After all, Neon City's public safety isn't great."
She said it with her chin resting on her hand, as if it were nothing.
But her emotions were clearly as chaotic as the city's sky.
Her voice quivered slightly.
"Neo Japan is also famous worldwide as a dreamland. And since it's my father's hometown, he has connections. He said it would be much better than staying here."
Maya looked up at the gray-tinged sky.
Clouds in awkward colors, like smudged crayons, covered the sky.
"...What should I do?"
Maya asked me for an answer.
Perhaps because it was hard to wait for my answer while looking me in the eye, her gaze remained fixed on the sky.
I couldn't answer easily.
From Maya's perspective, returning to her hometown would be much more comfortable.
There wouldn't be rude customers causing trouble like earlier, and no one would be making noise about her past.
Forgetting the past.
Starting anew.
Wouldn't that be much better for her?
That was my first thought.
But even if that thought was right, I felt it wouldn't be the best answer.
And it wasn't the answer Maya wanted from me either.
That much was certain.
After thinking that far, I answered shortly.
"Don't go."
"......Huh?"
"...If it's dangerous, I'll protect you, so don't go."
This time, my gaze shifted away from Maya.
Ugh, that was unlike me, saying something pointless.
Even without turning to look at Maya, it was clear she was staring at me now.
I stood up awkwardly.
"...I'll get going for today."
"Already?"
Somehow, there was a hint of laughter in Maya's voice.
It was the brightest voice I'd heard from her today.
"...Something suddenly came up."
I gave a short fake cough and readjusted my mask.
I also pulled my hood down low.
Honestly, I wasn't in a position to say that to Maya.
In the past, we were just an employee and a customer.
And the guilt for not protecting her was mine alone.
Still, mistakes could be fixed.
"It's also late, so I'll come by again sometime."
"...Rather than that, I think it'd be faster if I visited your place, Si-un-ssi—."
I ignored Maya's increasingly frank comment.
I headed to the monorail station after being seen off by the Owner and Maya.
My steps felt a little lighter.
...Now that it's come to this, I might as well clear away all worries.
I opened my mouth.
"Eve."
[Confirmed.]
"Can you find out the locations of all the scavenger dens in this area?"
[Of course. Marking the locations of scavengers or vagrant groups in this area on the map.]
They're like vermin.
So even if I clear them out now, more trash would appear to fill the empty spaces.
Then again, that would be a problem to handle when the time came.
"I have nothing else to do at home anyway."
Having rationalized it to myself, I turned my steps following the guidance displayed on my vision interface.
* * *
[ Does Sleep Come on This Crap (Thief): When the hell is that Jeonjangyeon guild master coming!!! ]
[ P2034871140 (Warrior): Ho ho, just wait ]
[ Does Sleep Come on This Crap (Thief): So late... At this rate, am I gonna become a grandpa? ]
[ Does Sleep Come on This Crap (Thief): I'm just leaving, bye ]
[ P2034871140 (Warrior): Ho ho, what if you leave and the raid content hangs up like last time? Just wait patiently. ]
[ Does Sleep Come on This Crap (Thief): (inappropriate language) ]
.......
I stared at the chat log displayed on the monitor and thought.
They'd been waiting all this time.