- We should get rid of these bodies. -I said, waiting for an answer.
- Nah, leave them. No one will notice anything. -Nicole replied with her usual seductive tone.
- I'm starving to death, please decide now what we're going to do. -said Nekomiya, as if she were a little girl, almost impatient.
- You're a hopeless case. -I commented sarcastically, not hiding my annoyance.
- What's wrong with that? You're a jerk and nobody tells you anything. -replied Nekomiya, with a seriousness that only she could maintain.
- Don't start arguing as usual. Let's go eat and those corpses stay here. -interrupted Nicole, fixing her gaze on both of them.
Despite knowing each other for so long, the truth was that Nekomiya and I didn't get along so well. I used to be the joker, the one trying to lighten the mood, but she, on the other hand, took everything very seriously. Not that it was bad, but sometimes her words got to me more than I wanted to admit, even if I tried to hide it.
Sometimes I preferred to stay quiet, observing everything from a distance, watching how others interacted. At that moment, I was watching Nekomiya. Despite her serious attitude, it was evident that with others she was calmer, even kinder. That made me sort of envious, but I knew there was nothing I could do about it.
- So... -I started, trying to join the conversation, "So, what restaurant are we going to? -I finished, trying to hide my nervousness.
- You should pay more attention to the conversation. -said Anby, in a serious but ironic voice.
- Don't be so hard on him. -interjected Billy Kid. Let's go to a very well known restaurant around here. They have amazing ramen.
- RAAAAAMEEEEEN! -Nekomiya suddenly shouted, making us all jump in fright.
- Nekomiya! Please don't give us those scares! -shouted Nicole, in her shrill voice, clearly annoyed.
I just watched the surreal scene without saying a word. As usual, I stayed on the sidelines, but it didn't take me long to speak up.
- Ramen? That sounds fucking unbelievable. -I replied, trying to sound cool, although it wasn't that cool.
No one answered me, which didn't surprise me anymore. I was used to it.
We walked for several minutes until we finally got out of the caves. We always do it cautiously, because it is illegal to enter without a special permit, something we, of course, lacked.
- It won't be long now. -said Anby, in a calm voice.
- Thank goodness, I'm starving! -exclaimed Nekomiya, as she began to lick her arm, a gesture that made me a little uncomfortable.
- Is it really necessary for you to do that every two minutes? -I asked, although it had little bearing on the conversation.
Everyone looked at me in unison, as if I had said something completely out of place.
- Do you have a problem with that? -Nekomiya asked, his voice full of irritation.
I immediately knew I had made a mistake. I had only said that to try to blend in again, but it didn't seem to be working out very well.
- W-well... not exactly. -I said, feeling a little embarrassed. - I was just asking.
Nekomiya gave me a withering look, as if I had said the worst offense.
- You'd better not ask about that again.
At that moment, I felt anger begin to bubble up inside me. I was the only person he was talking to like that, and it bothered me far more than I wanted to admit.
I opted to keep quiet and kept walking behind them until, at last, we reached the restaurant.
- Here we are! -Billy Kid announced, clearly excited.
- FINALLY! -Nekomiya shouted, rushing into the restaurant as if it was the best place in the world.
- We'd better follow her before she devours all the ramen in the restaurant. -laughed Nicole, clearly amused.
Without another word, we entered the restaurant.
- Go ask for a table, I'm... going to the bathroom. -I said, with some hesitation, feeling a little uncomfortable.
- All right, but don't be long. Otherwise, Nekomiya will eat all your ramen. -said Anby, with a joking tone that, to my surprise, I hadn't used before.
- C- sure, I won't be long. -I replied, forcing a small smile that didn't convince even myself.
I hurried to the bathroom. On the way, I noticed that the restaurant was completely full and, unsurprisingly, they only served ramen. The place was huge, and I had no idea where the restroom was located. I had no choice but to ask someone on the premises for help.
While I was looking for an employee, I ran head-on into what looked like a cleaner or something similar. I bumped into her, startling both of us.
- Oh, sorry. -I said, looking at her immediately.
She turned slowly, almost unhurriedly, and replied calmly:
- It's okay, it was my fault. -her tone was both serene and serious, which puzzled me a little.
I watched her briefly, more out of curiosity than anything else. She was a rather peculiar girl, with a big, dainty shark's tail.
Her uniform looked like it came straight out of a cosplay, some sort of cleaning maid with a very particular touch.
Putting aside my observations, I remembered I still needed to figure out where the bathroom was.
— Hey... do you know where the bathroom is? — I asked, a bit unsure.
She stared at me silently for a few seconds, which felt like an eternity. Then she took the lollipop out of her mouth and, in a flat tone, answered:
— Straight ahead and to the left. Then you'll see a door with a bathroom sign. — she said, like it was no big deal.
I don't know why, but my eyes got stuck on her deep red eyes. I was so distracted that I didn't realize I had become completely absorbed in them.
— Sir? — she asked, as she put the lollipop back in her mouth, cutting off my trance.
I regained my composure, a little embarrassed by my behavior.
— E-eh, yeah, sure. The bathroom... thanks. — I said hastily before rushing out as fast as possible, not daring to look back.
I couldn't see her reaction, but I didn't really care. I was a mess in these kinds of situations.
Following her directions, I reached the bathroom, clearly marked with a sign. I quickly entered, and after a few seconds of reflection, I headed to the toilet to take care of business.
Although I was grossed out by the idea of sitting down, the option of holding it in until I got to the refuge wasn't any more attractive. So, after a sigh, I decided to go for it and pulled out my phone to distract myself while I waited. What else could I do?
— This bathroom is crap... — I muttered under my breath, not really expecting to find anything interesting.
I turned on my phone and opened Instagram, hoping to find something entertaining. However, I just scrolled through a bunch of boring and empty posts.
— They don't post anything interesting anymore... — I said quietly, as I kept scrolling, though with little hope.
At that moment, I heard the bathroom door creak open. At first, I didn't pay much attention, until I heard someone speaking. That's when I realized what I had done: I had walked into the wrong bathroom. My face turned as red as ketchup, and I quickly shoved my phone into my pocket. My pants also went up almost instinctively, as I tried to do everything as quietly as possible.
I couldn't leave until the other person left, so I leaned against the door, trying not to make a sound. However, an absurd curiosity took over me, and I decided to listen to the conversation of the girl, who seemed to be talking on the phone.
— They're getting closer, and I don't know how to get him out of here. — the girl said, in a dull tone that immediately made me recognize her voice.
It was her, the same girl with the shark tail. But... what was going on? What was she talking about?
— I understand the client's concern... he wants him alive, but it will be difficult. — responded another voice, clearly male, on the other end of the line.
The conversation completely confused me. What were they talking about? Who was this "client"? What did it have to do with her and her peculiar appearance?
My mind started firing questions at an impossible speed, but all I could do was wait for the conversation to end... or at least for her to leave.
What did she mean by "the client"? And why did he want him alive? Something was happening, and I had to find out what it was. So, I pressed harder against the door, putting more weight on it, which didn't help at all. After a few seconds, the door swung open, and I fell flat on my face. At that moment, I didn't think about how dirty the floor must have been, but how cold it was. At least it helped cool my cheeks from the embarrassment, but there was no time for that, so I quickly got up.
I adjusted my clothes and looked up, finding myself face to face with the shark-tail girl, who was standing there, staring at me. She didn't say a word, and her expression showed no anger, surprise, or even care about what had just happened.
— What are you doing in the women's bathroom? — she suddenly asked, without beating around the bush.
— I... didn't know it was the women's bathroom. — I replied, utterly embarrassed, and tried to leave as quickly as possible.
— Are you a pervert? — she continued, her voice still unaffected.
That question left me in shock. I didn't know how to respond.
— I'm not a pervert! — I shouted, almost without thinking, at such a volume that I realized anyone could hear me.
— What did you hear? — she asked again, now more serious.
My mind went blank, not knowing what to say. It was like I wanted to ask her a thousand questions, but I couldn't focus on the one she was asking.
— Why are you asking me so many questions? — I responded, a bit confused.
She, without losing her composure, took the lollipop out of her mouth, just like she did earlier when she gave me directions to the bathroom. In a deadpan tone, she replied:
— You're the one in the women's bathroom, not me. So you'd better answer.
I stared at her in silence, a mix of disbelief and some discomfort. She was right, and I couldn't help but feel like a fool.
— I heard that a "client" wants you to get someone out of here alive. That's all, nothing more. — I said, keeping eye contact with her.
She looked at me intently, as if weighing my words. We stared at each other in silence for a long moment until she finally decided to speak.
— You've heard too much... but... — she began, and for a moment, I thought she would change the subject.
I didn't like what she seemed about to say.
— ...I need your help. — she finished, with an expression that seemed more like regret.
At first, I didn't fully understand. I stood there for a few seconds, blank, not processing her words. Then, little by little, what she had said began to make sense, and my eyes widened as I realized what was happening.
— Wait... did you just say you need my help? — I asked, unable to believe it.
She looked up at the sky, exasperated, and responded:
— Yes, that's exactly what I said. So... do you accept?
I didn't know what to think. I had just gotten out of a fight and was about to go eat with my... well, if you could call them "friends." Now I had to help a girl with a shark tail finish a job? It was a completely strange situation, but before I could think too much, I decided to ask.
— And what do I get out of this? — I asked, smiling challengingly.
She raised an eyebrow and, with a sly grin, responded:
— How about I don't tell anyone you were in the women's bathroom?
That offer, no matter how simple, seemed too tempting. What better deal than that?
— Fine, I'll help you. But you'd better stay quiet after this. — I said, though still distrustful of what was about to come.
— I'm very good at keeping secrets. Besides, this is practically my everyday job. — she replied, smiling smugly, like she had already won.
I looked at her silently, showing little emotion on my face, then asked how she planned to carry out this peculiar plan.
— Alright. The client's name is Tony. He's a business tycoon who came to New Eridu for vacation. The bad part? The Red Fangs gang has a bounty on his head. I've been hired to get him out of here alive. — she explained, with quite a bit of detail, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
I was surprised she shared so much information, something I didn't think she would do so easily.
— Alright, so... what exactly am I supposed to do? — I asked, looking at the plan that seemed clear in her mind.
— Very simple. I've prepared a coffee with "SALGA" written on it. I need you to give it to him while giving him indirect instructions. — she replied, like it was an easy plan. Then her tone turned more serious. — By the way... If the drawing on the coffee gets erased, I swear I'll find you and kill you. Got it? — she said, not taking her eyes off her plan.
— Got it... — I replied, feeling that, in reality, I didn't trust what was going on.
— Hey, don't let people think you're scared of yourself. It makes you look like a wimp. — she commented, her voice serious, but for some reason, it gave me a little comfort.
Suddenly, I changed my expression and turned my head to look directly into her eyes.
— Me? Afraid of myself? Pf. The only thing I'm afraid of right now is you telling the whole restaurant that I was in the women's bathroom.
I didn't know what I had done to make her look like that, but something in her had changed, as if she was lost in her own thoughts. After a few seconds, she grabbed my arm and quickly pulled me toward the bathroom door.
— Stop messing around and wake up. — she said, in a dry, authoritative tone.
My face turned into a mix of surprise and discomfort, but I didn't have time to protest. Before I could say anything, she peeked through the slightly open door, checked that no one could see me, and, without thinking, closed the door behind her. She looked me up and down, as if evaluating something.
— You don't look like a waiter from this place. You'd get into a lot of trouble if they caught you. — she said, hesitating a little. — Okay, wait here. I'll bring you a suit. Though it might be a bit big for you.
— I'll adjust to whatever, don't worry. — I said, with a confidence I honestly didn't feel at all.
— Well, perfect. — she said, before disappearing through the bathroom door, leaving me alone.