Hurry, I'm Hungry
'Hurry up, oppa. I'm starving.'
'Wait, wait, just a sec.'
Mira grabbed my hand and dragged me toward the restaurant. What the hell, her grip's like iron.
'You seriously never been around here before? First time?'
'What about you, oppa?'
Mira hauled my hesitating ass along. To the shop right next to the restaurant where I'd eaten with Pluto and her sister yesterday...
'I heard the food here's pretty good.'
'Who from?'
'Some blog.'
Ah.
No clue why, but it made my skin crawl. Felt like she was probing me for something, but I couldn't pin down what was on her mind.
'Uh, yeah, thanks to you I'll discover some new spots...'
'Oppa, you really never been around here?'
'Nope. Ever since coming to Kikiwai Island, it's just been back and forth between the outpost and home.'
God knows why, but lies were just pouring out of my mouth on their own.
'Hmm. For real?'
'Y-yeah...'
Gulp.
Mira's eyes narrowed as she stared me down. We weren't even anything to each other—did I really need to lie? But my gut screamed that admitting I'd been here would kick off some awkward-ass conversation. Yesterday's pressure interview, today's interrogation. Why are all the women around me like this?
The vibe was getting weird, and the restaurant we'd walked into wasn't helping. Yesterday's seafood joint had been lively and rowdy, but this place was dead quiet. And every single table lit by candlelight? Couples. All of 'em.
'Why's it all couples? Some special day or what?'
'Oppa seriously doesn't know?'
'What don't I know?'
'...Nothing. I was just asking 'cause I didn't know either.'
Mira flashed this sly little smirk and started cutting into her food. Like she got some smug high off knowing shit I didn't. Smug as hell.
'Oh yeah, speaking of couples.'
Mira, mid-bite, abruptly switched topics like she'd just "remembered" something.
'Saw something funny yesterday.'
She launched into the tale of forbidden love between managers from two rival chocolate brand flagship stores.
'Hey, that's invading their privacy...'
'Pfft, whatever. Can't help being curious.'
'Anyway, you bring your banker badge?'
I tossed out the question and instinctively dodged her gaze. No idea why this time either. Just hated the idea of her reading my feelings.
'Mine got upgraded when I made deputy. I can use Job Authority once a week without it now.'
'Oh, that's what it was.'
We chatted about those two chocolate shop managers for a while. The blood feud between the storied houses of Leoniev and Vainaus that'd escalated to violence. I didn't know the details, but back at the training center, a loan case from a confectionery company had been on the exam, so I had the basics. Neither was a Dimensional Credit Vault client, so I wasn't an expert or anything.
Still, the shock of heirs to those bloodlines catching feelings for each other? Yeah, I got that much.
'It's like Romeo and Juliet.'
'What's that?'
'This classic story. I'll lend you the Blu-ray next time.'
'Another one of those old masterpieces from your dimension?'
'Yup.'
I gave her the quick rundown on Romeo and Juliet, and she nodded like it clicked.
'Guess people are the same everywhere love's gotta happen.'
Impossible love—timeless storytelling gold. In any world, couples hit walls from status, positions, whatever. Shakespeare's insight was shining just as bright here in Dimension 6-2 eons later.
'Here, it's not skin color—it's species differences that screw people over. Feels personal to me.'
'You don't even have a boyfriend.'
'You never know. I might fall for a short-lived human over a dark elf like me.'
'......'
'Then face the loneliness when he goes first... that'd make me hesitate on marriage.'
'You're filming your own drama solo.'
We killed time gossiping about strangers' romance like idiots. Plenty to talk about. Chatting with Mira was always fun in itself.
'Oh, oppa. Here, a gift.'
Before splitting after dinner, she pulled two fancy paper bags from her purse and handed them over. Inside: premium handmade chocolate boxes with gold foil accents. Products from those two brands we'd been yapping about.
'These look pricey. You sure I can take 'em?'
'For hanging out with me all day.'
One was probably meant for Isaac originally