44 Chapter 3: Pair after Pair [1]

'''The store bell rang, and the people who came right after it was surprisingly... unexpected.

"Ne~ Mashu, want a espresso today?" The young woman asked in a cheerful voice. She seemly liked to be radiating a bundle of happiness.

Her companion replied with a smile as she gestured while waving her hands, "Um, senpai, anything is fine"

"Don't be a bummer, you would just pick the one I would just like always, jeez," The young woman pouted.

"U-umm, isn't what Senpai chooses always the best? Why shouldn't I pick that as well?"

Justifying herself, her companion looked away for a second as she made a embarrassed laugh.

"Would you say that if I let that priest cook us his Special Mapo Tofu, would you eat everything with me?"

"..."

With those words, the young woman's companion shut her mouth as she averted her gaze.

"M.a.s.h.u?"

"Y-yes Senpai, I w-would eat as well!" The young woman's companion replied with a stutter.

Hearing those familiar voices, Rei already turned his eyes towards that direction.

A young woman who has shoulder-length red hair tied in a side-ponytail on the left side alongside with a young woman with short lilac hair, lavender eyes and fair skin.

Both were wearing casual clothes like those friends going on shopping or to have some fun. Anyways, it's quite rare for people to come into a cafe this time around.

It was nearing dusk after all.

Well, at least for Rei's memory, that's what it is but for a person who still haven't seen everything a human being could have known, it is definitely normal.

And as much as Rei could say, he was familiar with these two young women. And somehow, he already expected this encounter to happen anytime sooner.

The two sat down and Rei in response, just like what his role is, approached them to get their order.

"Ne ne, mister, two cups of espresso plea— eh?"

"What's the problem senpai? Hm, what is it Senpa— ah?"

"....Well, it's been a while isn't it, now may I take your orders, miladies?" Rei said with an elegant bow right before showing a handsome smile.

His figure simply struck the two in bafflement! Why? For some reason, he really looked like a professional at that very moment! Top it up with his looks, mannerisms, and other more things!

Yes, even though the though they had a fair share of surprises already starting from saving humanity starting from Singularities up to Lostbelts, it was undeniable that their common sense would be somewhat twisted to some extent.

Of course, if something like fighting against or with Heroes of Legends, Gods, and Unknown Beings were involved, how could you even call the person who fought and even won those feats to be sane enough to have 'complete' common sense? Probably... or most likely, not.

However, a surprising thing is a surprising thing. No matter how small or insignificant it was, it is what it is. This is a simple sign that these people in question clearly still haven't gone insane or so.

""Ehhhh???""

And so, the two ended up spouting the same comment and reaction simultaneously.

——

Meanwhile, while Rei was having a simple meeting with Chaldea's associates, Tohka who was currently slouching on the sofa felt something like a warning on her part.

"Mm? Rei...?"

Tohka then looked right on the entrance only to be found that Rei was still at work.

Tohka then stood up from her slouching state as she stretched her hands up. Taking a look at the wall clock which is only at 5 P.M, she heaved a dissatisfied smile.

"Slow... so slow... Rei promised to come back before 6 P.M, didn't he?" Tohka muttered, she then glanced back again at the T.V where she is watching a show, a drama show to be exact.

It was itching deep on her nerves to be honest. Nevertheless, the show and contents itself intrigued her.

In a nutshell, the drama was about a youthful man who has a girlfriend and was living happily with each other. That was until the man received an unknown message where he needs to make girls fall for him within a certain amount of time, or else he would die or suffer alongside everything he cares about.

Of course, the man was skeptical at first since this may be fake or something, that was until his parents were caught in an accident and was declared in coma. The message also said that this is just a warning and the next one would be the real deal.

Threatened by the message as he imagined what the future has in store for him, he firmed his resolve. He knew what he was going to do was a clear betrayal for the person he loved and to those who had expectations for him as a moral person.

Even so, The hardest choices require the strongest wills.

And so he decided, that was the start of his conquest to make girls fall for him!

...

...

...

"Why do they show such foul things like this? Don't they have any shame?" Tohka uttered with disbelief in a mocking expression.

Talk about ridiculous and scandalous.

Nevertheless, the show somehow caught her interest. A mere contradiction of actions if you take a look at her.

It was then, a passing thought struck her mind.

"Rei wouldn't do that... would he..." Tohka mumbled, her voice seemingly laced with poison. It was certainly a dangerous tone if one heard of it.

The thought of Rei doing what the man does in the show. Meeting and making women fall for him while leaving her behind.

Unbelievable.

Although that dark thought permeated her mind, she shrugged it off right after with a gentle—or rather, twisted smile filled with something else.

"Haha.... Rei couldn't possibly do that! I'm enough as it is... yes, unless... No. No. No. In the end, even if that kind of situation does happen, Rei would still surely place me as his first and most important person!" Tohka exclaimed in pride with an expression filled with infatuation.

Ah. Now she remembered her dream! Well, not entirely but she believes that it will come piece by piece later. She knows it.

A change would soon happen in short notice.

'But when?' Tohka pondered on the thought.

Pausing for a brief moment, she then moved to the kitchen—or to be more specific, to the refrigerator. For what else, but to get some snacks.

After all, the snacks that she just took out a few minutes or so had just disappeared so quickly!

What kind of sorcery is this!

Though this only resulted into an inner turmoil within her head, Tohka curiously wondered what really it was! And to find out the truth, she swore that she would guard her food at any second!

"But..."

But there was a problem with that. If she just stays on guard with her food, she could probably not watch the TV for she would be distracted from time to time!

Letting such small mistake would always have a probability of failure, that's why she couldn't let it be.

She momentarily paused as she pondered on the thought. This took a while before reaching into an answer.

And so she concluded.

"Mm. Rei should be able to solve this turmoil of mine. Of course he would, he is Rei after all," Tohka uttered in a serious manner, despite that, there was a hint of warmness and affection beneath those tone.

That doesn't change the fact however that she was just passing her problem to someone else. In the end, those who could be possibly watching her right now would comment that she was just overthinking or was just plainly being an airhead.

But what's the matter with that? None for hers. If someone told her there is, then she wouldn't care about what they say or think about it.

Why?

Because their opinions are irrelevant. Only those of Rei's and hers are what she would think about, other than those are irrelevant matters.

"UmU"

Satisfied with her thoughts, she nodded as s she walked back to the living room as she finished grabbing a number of snacks.

To add, this snacks could be only described as 'light'. After all, she should still reserve some space on her stomach to eat Rei's cooking when he comes back.

Tohka briefly arrived back to the sofa, and just like before, she slouched and continued watching the T.V.

And for some reason, Tohka felt that Rei would somehow come back late than what he had promised.

It was just a mere speculation, nevertheless, Tohka would 'permit' it for now if that were to happen. She was in a good mood after all.

——

"Mm! This is quite amazing! Right, Mashu?" Gudako Fujimaru, Chaldea's and humanity's last Master praised as she took a sip on her cup.

"It is Senpai," Mashu replied with a simple nod and added. "But the fact that you are working here is surprising Rei-senpai"

"Surely, you jest about what I brew. It's just mediocre at best you know? I just learned it a few weeks prior," Rei responded as he scratched his cheek. "Also, it is not something that could be considered amazing compared to my seniors. At least, not yet"

Gudako somewhat stared at him for a while after hearing his comment. She only spoke right after taking another sip on her cup.

"You shouldn't degrade your work just like that, Rei-san"

"Senpai's correct, Rei-senpai," Mashu followed as she offered an honest smile.

"Hm? Is that so... Might as well accept compliments from these beautiful ladies right in front of me," Rei said with a smile.

In response, Gudako laughed in a cheery tone as she waved her hands in gesture.

"Haha. Quit of the flattery would you? Besides, even Mashu agrees with that claim"

"Mm," Nodded Mashu as she took another sip on her cup.

Rei could see that their are no deceptions nor lies on their claims. They really genuinely believe that what Rei did brew was categorized as 'amazing' in their opinions.

After that is that they had a light conversation.

The cafe was nearly empty with only the three of them occupying the table as 'customers' alongside Rei's other colleagues who were working diligently and silently.

Also, his shift was ending so it probably wouldn't be a problem if he engaged a conversation with his 'friends' which his colleagues didn't pay much care about.

And so, their talk continued up until this point.

"But still, it was really a surprise to meet you here Rei-senpai," Mashu pointed out and then glanced at Gudako. "Senpai, I think this would be the best opportunity to bring that matter up"

"I see... I am planning to do this on a later date but yeah, this time would be any more than plausible to bring that matter up"

It was then, when Gudako placed a— gem, right on top of the table, a sudden change happened in the surroundings.

Rei certainly felt that.

It was almost as if the surroundings' components around them had been slightly altered. And Rei who felt this could confidently describe what phenomenon it was.

Magecraft if he was correct—or to give amore specific term was...

'A bounded field, huh'

Mashu in response took the last sip of her espresso as she observed Rei. And based on her observation on top of her intuition, Rei certainly felt that Mashu tensed briefly and put her guard up despite her appearance.

"Rei-san, would you mind answering this question that I'm going to convey to you? As truthful as possible, please," Gudako conveyed with a smile.

"What is it?"

"Let's then get straight to the point. Rei-san, are you a Servant?"

Still donning a smile, her tone however somewhat sounded serious.

"Hm, I don't know what you're talking about. And servant you say? As far as my looks go for now, it would be ideal to call me as a Barista"

Rei denied as he spouted some contents with his words, though what he said was practically correct, his existence wouldn't be so far from related to Servants in some aspects.

Even so, he still wasn't a Servant, he was a Spirit. In short, he didn't lie but he also didn't say the truth.

"...It really seems so that you aren't huh"

"Right? Also, why asking such weird question in the first place?"

"If that was the case, I wouldn't have done this. Even so, I trust that you would somehow give us some information about what's happening in this city—no, this world to be exact"

"...what's with those words? Don't tell me you are a chuun—" Rei tried saying with a laugh but it was briefly cut off as Gudako immediately spoke in a serious manner.

"Then let me rephrase my question," Gudako's tone who certainly cheerful back before then turned of those of a serious one. "Rei-san, are you a Spirit?"

"..."

"..."

Silence ensued the place. Rei staring right back at Gudako's eyes which showed an unwavering will.

Observing a little bit more, this bounded field was somewhat made for their presence to be not known in the place, or maybe isolates the attention of the individuals who laid their gazes upon this direction.

The more Rei stared at Gudako's eyes, he then thought that any denial or excuse about the claim would be futile.

Rei then sighed as his eyes temporarily glowed as if showing that their claim was spot on, "I see... So it finally came down to this huh"

"It did, Rei-san. However, could you kindly give me some answers, will you?"

"Well, I am a [Spirit]. What would you do about that?" Rei then also turned serious as he uttered those words.

"So you are... Anyways Rei-san, though it might be ridiculous for me to say this, I think my and Mashu's friendly relationship with you wouldn't strain after this talk," Gudako gave a weak smile. She really doesn't want that to happen.

"..."

Rei in response however turned silent for a brief moment. This person before him is someone that could be really categorized as a good individual.

And he already knew that from the very start.

His plan at first when he told Gudako that he was a Spirit is that he would first assert dominance and give them a slight threat

"...You see. There are things that would've inevitably change after this talk of ours. Certainly, our 'friendly relationship' would take impact from that whether you like it or not," Rei pointed out. "Besides, I can see that you are quite aware about the matters and subjects that were hidden from the public eye"

"...Yes. I still hope that we don't turn out as enemies. We ourselves don't mean any harm to you or to any people"

"I see... I also expect that from you two," Rei responded.

Rei knew that these two had a clue about what happened a few days and weeks prior about his involvement in the recent 'spacequakes'. Rei wasn't so ignorant to ignore that fact.

Yet, despite that, they still approached him bluntly without any fear of harm coming from him. Did they already take that in account? If yes, then Rei in one way or another, had miscalculated and underestimated the associates of Chaldea.

Out of Rei's thoughts though, it was clear that he was overthinking for Gudako and Mashu didn't really plan that much in hand. Overall, this encounter with him was a mere coincidence.

Meanwhile Rei was pondering on his thoughts, Mashu nodded as she then added. "With all said, there are many things that we would want to know, and for that, we need you assistance in that regard"

"Assistance..?"

That very word brought Rei's attention as he moved his eyes gazing right back through them.

"Yes Rei-senpai, if you could consider giving us information about certain things that would help us reach our goal, then we would definitely pay it back in one way or another at a later date..." Mashu meekly said.

"Still, if you don't want to. We will give up the matter for now," Gudako followed right after Mashu's words while giving a nervous and sad smile.

"...."

Rei then turned silent once more as he thought about his next words. Propping his elbow on the armrest of the chair, Rei supported his chin and let out a long sigh.

He reached a conclusion.

"Let's hear everything you need to say first before I make my decision"

Those words brought smiles from the two when they heard that.

"Thanks Rei-san!"

"Thanks for considering, Rei-senpai!"

Gudako replied with a grateful and joyful smile which was followed by Mashu who slightly bowed her head in gratitude with an enthusiastic expression.

Watching this, Rei contemplated in his mind as he formulated his next actions. Overall, there was a clear thing that Rei has in mind.

There's more benefits in helping these two compared to antagonizing them or turning them into enemies. That's how simple it was.

Also, this is a win win situation if Rei thought about it in the long run. Having some people who owe you favors and was resolute to pay it back some day was a good thing to have after all.

With that in mind, the three then proceeded with a somewhat long conversation afterwards.

——

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[A/N: Yo! Though I could not say I'm officially back in writing due to IRL matters, here's the chap that I could slip up at the moment.

Anyways, share your thoughts about this in the comments section. I could say that this chap was more likable in my opinion compared to the previous chap.

I mean, the prev. chap mainly portrays him interacting with some thots and spending time in his own monologue.

With that said, see ya probably after a few days once more! Adios~]