Chapter 4: Pair after Pair [2]

"...Haaa..."

Rei let out a long and heavy sigh.

Walking upon the residential street as the sun slowly set, he dragged his legs and knees like an old man as he slowly moved forward.

Fatigue—well, only slight fatigue had set into his face, and somehow, even the fringe that was almost entirely covering his eyes had lost its luster.

...Well, this is just an exaggeration in a sense, but somehow he looked like that if you bypass some logic or so.

But, that was something to be expected!

"...Haaa"

He sighed one more time.

In the end, Chaldea's Master alongside her demi-servant tried to pick out some information and directly asked him bluntly about the current state of affairs happening in this city.

A rather good action in mind especially when the person in talk was one of the 'saviors' of humanity who prevented its extinction, and the one who had traversed adventures and wonders that Rei wouldn't hoped to go.

Nevertheless, that was from a different timeline, world, and mostly different from all around compared to this world.

At this point, Rei could somehow figure out what their deal is with in this world.

From what they had said and Rei had understood, it was mainly implying that their main goal would be either finding the cause of this 'pseudo-singularity' that happened here and neutralize it, or maybe they are finding some way to get back home and connect back to Chaldea.

Of course, there may be more options besides these mentioned ones but Rei decided to only keep special tabs for these mentioned ones were the most likely reasons that they should have.

With this conversation though, Rei could confidently tell that each party hadn't revealed everything that they know. Due to this, Rei in one way or another planned to stay in contact with Gudako and Mashu to take information about their views in the present and future happenings that would occur due to heir presence.

And that leads him right at this very moment after their conversation.

Despite his (slight) fatigue, he still continued to walk through the streets even though he has a 'VERY CONVENIENT' way of traveling. Even so, he didn't for he has a very simple reason.

Now some may ask, why didn't Rei just teleport away and opened a [Gate] to get back immediately at his home? Well, he plans to buy some ingredients, food, etc.... In fact, what would you expect anyways?

'I bet Tohka already ate all of my snacks stocked in the fridge,' Rei mused in his mind.

And he knew he was correct. There are many possibilities which could point out that he is wrong but he knew that this very one that he has now wouldn't be wrong. If it did, then he would need to have or do some self reflection for he has to re evaluate himself once more.

A utterly ridiculous reason even if you ask him.

With that in mind, he proceeded to a nearby grocery mart to buy some stuff, mainly food and ingredients.

...

So after doing grocery, Rei threw the stuff he was holding on his dimensional space. Of course, he did it when nobody was watching, or if somebody saw it, he could just make an excuse that it was a simple magic trick or something.

Anyways, as the saying implies, "Old habits die hard"

For one thing or another, this just proves that he still hasn't lost everything of his 'humanity'. Well, nothing much important to point about that at this point of time.

[A/N: Wryyyy]

Yes, at least for now but Rei simply pushed back the thought for he has something more important to think about.

"Ah... I need to get home fast. Tohka, knowing her, would be starving for some food now"

Checking the time, it was nearing 6 P.M. All he has to do now was go to some place where the eyes of people won't reach him so that he could go away.

It was then, he realized that he could've just done this earlier but not decided to for some stupid reason. What reason?

Rei decided to bury it in his thoughts.

This mistake is that he could've just easily dealt with with a simple solution. This however was a thought out of a mere mistake which he just shrugged off. And as he was about to head into some place that would be suitable for his needs.

It was then.

"<Seraph>"

Somebody called out. A woman's voice to be specific.

Turning his back on a certain intersection, two women could be seen on the corner.

If he were to describe them, he would use the very same term that he used for today when he encountered Gudako and Mashu on the cafe.

Familiar.

"Good grief... After dealing with them, what comes next were you lot," Rei said as he shook his head.

And saying so, he decided to approach the pair with a tired expression. Although that was the case, there was a small smile creeping up from his mouth.

Though the plan was to go back home right at this very moment, he then changed his course of actions.

'I am planning to make contact with them anyways at a later date. Speeding things up won't be a bad move in the first place'

Pondering with those thoughts, he then moved right towards these two people who he supposed to had called out his name—or rather, codename.

And for all he knew, there were only a limited amount of people who knew his codename. Adding the point where he was familiar with them, the people who he would approach would be already a dead giveaway.

With that in mind, he sighed once more today. Pair after Pair, he decided to settle this matter in a quick manner for who knows what his 'Princess' at home would do if he were get back late.

——

This happened a few moments after.

Rei and the ones who called him out were sitting right now in front of the so-called food cart. And as the name implies, a food cart is a mobile food service operation that generally offers various types of fast food to walk-up customers. It may also be referred to as a mobile kitchen, a food booth, or a food kiosk.

Right besides Rei was an unarguably a beautiful woman with pale skin. She still looks to be in her 20s, despite saying that she hasn't slept in 30 years. She has long, unkempt, pale blue hair which is tied into a right-side ponytail and blue eyes which seems to always be sleepy. Her most distinct feature is the pair of dark circles beneath her eyes. She wears a pair of glasses with a circular frame topped with some casual clothes.

It's obvious who she was already. Rei couldn't help but make a faint smile.

"Already picked your order?"

"Then a can of cake paired with a cheeseburger if you will. I also want to order a take out, all of those kinako pan packed if you may. Also, seeing this product here is a surprise," Rei replied with an honest expression of surprise.

Really, this Kinako pan being here was something that he found weird—or surprising. As in, this product wouldn't fit with the theme of this food cart which practically sells fast food and snacks. Having a stock of kinako pan prepared was already out of place.

In his pondering however came the woman— Reine Murasame's response.

"Nn, okay," A short reply came right after.

Signalling the person in charge, he began to do what was ordered.

It was then, her companion, a girl shorter than her nudged. Glancing at him next with the lollipop in her mouth, alongside her scrunched up brows. It was obvious that she didn't like the setting in this situation.

Her appearance was that of a cute middle school girl with red eyes and very long, light coral-colored hair that is tied on both sides with black ribbons called the twintail hairstyle.

What's more attracting to her appearance though is that her attire of that of a commander of some sort compared to Reine's casual attire. Added with the several bandages slipping on her arms, she looked like she just recovered from her injuries.

Kotori Itsuka. That's what her name she is.

"You look more on edge today. However, it seems that you look more... hm, prettier when I last saw you"

Rei said in a 'very honest and concerned' tone. That wasn't a lie to be honest, though the way it sounded to Kotori was like of that of a sarcasm.

"Thanks for the unnecessary compliment. So, are we done playing nice now? Reine, let's state our main business here already," Kotori snarled as she bit her lollipop to hard that the handle of it snapped.

"Ah..." was the only thing that left her mouth noticing what just happened.

This however earned a chuckle on Rei in response.

"Heh"

Rei's chuckle was so clearly heard which earned an immediate show of scorn from the girl.

"You—!"

However, before she could finish, she was interrupted by a voice, much to her irritation wondering if her luck is making fun of her.

"You orders are up, dear customers"

"Ugh..."

And so, they ate. The atmosphere was awkwardly silent. As in, it's obvious why.

"...So? What is this all about?"

Rei, who finished eating his cheeseburger after he took a sip from his coke, said as he set his sights towards Reine and Kotori, who were sitting on the side of the table.

For all Rei knew, them approaching him would only mean that it is important, like negotiations for example, or of something urgent, like an emergency or something. In Rei's guess, it's more likely the former.

Talking in this place about these matters however would be a very bad move for they are within the public settlement. But Rei knew that everything was probably okay for he has already observed well enough the surroundings while eating a while ago.

There was an interference of <Ratatoskr> here. That was plainly given out ever since Rei found some weird peculiarities here and there.

This food cart itself was the very machinations of <Ratatoskr> itself in his mind. Well, what kind of food cart would have a high class coffee, kinako pan, fast food, expensive beverages, and many weird things on their menu? That weird information really gave it away.

"Well, about this..."

Kotori poked her soft cheek with her finger, pushing it upward. Her demeanor clearly changed of those of a composed one unlike from before.

"...we want to express first our thanks regarding those of <Princess> by not letting her rampant from before"

"Appreciated... though the fact that I obliterated the whole school gladly earned you disapproving expression at this moment, right?"

"Exactly, but I won't delve much upon that for I believe that what you did was clearly efficient removing every enemy in the place while also unreasonable for dragging almost everything around it," Kotori pointed giving a dry laugh that Rei also gave back.

It was then, Reine spoke once more, "Also there's one more matter we would like to propose..."

However, Reine wasn't the one who continued those words but instead, it was Kotori.

"We, <Ratatoskr> would like to propose for you, <Seraph> and <Princess> to be under the wing of our organization for 'protection'!"

So honestly,

So brazenly,

And so confidently,

With a clear and proud smile, Kotori Itsuka, declared out.

——

.

.

.

.

.

——

[A/N: Schedule is hectic AF here. At most, I would only post at least 2-3 chaps per week. To add, I can't re assure the quality unless I check it properly which takes some time for me to be honest.

And so... maybe after a week or so, my 4-5 chaos per week might come back but... yeah.

No promises though... as in, it is always meant to break in one way or another.

Also, I believe this chap was a filler or info dump of some sorts. Most likely, I have planned to make him interact with more characters before jumping on into some action that would happen in the future chaps to develop his character up even slightly.

WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

With that said guyz, adios~]