I'm gonna put a surprise in this chapter…

Chapter 5: A Friend's Jealousy

Jinzan, Alex and Selia arrived at the restaurant. It was lined with square and rectangular tables. The number of chairs for the square tables were 4 (one on each side) and the rectangular tables had 8 chairs (one on both short sides and three for the longer sides). Across the door was a counter, with a menu above the wall behind it.

"Let's get a table!" said Selia. They went to a square table.

"Have a seat," said Alex, pulling a chair.

Jinzan approached the chair. "Thanks, man-"

"NOT YOU!" Alex shouted. "HER!" He pointed to Selia.

"Oh, sorry," said Jinzan.

Selia went to the chair and sat down. "Thank you, Alex. At least there's one person here who's a real gentleman..."

"Hey!" Jinzan protested. "I'm a gentleman too! Like the time when...when...oh crap, I can't think of anything. Dammit, you win."

"Now, Jinzan, do you mind if you could order us some spaghetti?" said Selia.

"Aww, can't you just do it yourself?" replied Jinzan.

"Just do as the lady asks," said Alex. "You don't want me to do what I did to that Gunslinger back then, now do you?"

Jinzan's eyes suddenly widened. He had a terrified expression on his face.

"I'll go get some food," he said, and went to the counter.

"What exactly did you do?' asked Selia.

"About two years back, I encountered a Gunslinger named Yoshiro Kuroya," answered Alex.

"You mean that guy on the 'Wanted for Murder' flyers, along with three other people?"

"Yes," said Alex. "I captured him and brought him in for questioning. But I let him go."

"Why?"

"Well, number one is that he didn't look like a killer to me. Number two, I didn't find him guilty of any crimes. He seemed like an honest and polite person. But as a precaution, I used the infamous 'nipple cripple' technique, as a warning to him in case he might consider committing a real crime. Oh, it was very painful for the guy..."

"No wonder Jinzan looked so scared," said Selia.

"Hey, that reminds me," said Jinzan, who had just appeared holding an order card, which must be returned after the food and drinks had been delivered to the customer or customers who had ordered.

"What is it?" inquired Selia.

"I brought in that Gunslinger's buddy, Senzo Taisen. At first, he looked and acted like some badass punk. But he's actually a swell guy! So I dismissed him." said Jinzan.

"You just released him because he gave you a collection of pictures of naked babes!" exclaimed Alex.

"I can't believe it!" said Selia.

"Don't worry, they were cleared eventually..."

"That's not it! I just can't believe how much of a pervert you are! You mean to say you would let go a criminal in your custody if he gave you a stash of-"

She hesitated. But then she finished the sentence.

"-perverted stuff!"

"But Selia, it's not with me anymore! I lost it to Alex in a game of coin flipping," reasoned Jinzan.

"Yeah..." said Alex. "That stash is mine now. Hehehe...it's mine..."

Selia turned on Alex. "What was that you were saying??"

"Nothing! It's just...I...I-"

A woman's voice interrupted.

"Excuse me, is there a Jinzan here?" she asked. The woman had shoulder-length red hair, was wearing a female blacksmith's garb, and had blue eyes. She was holding a tray with a large bowl of spaghetti on her right hand.

"Here!" replied Jinzan.

"Sir, your order." She handed the bowl to Jinzan with her left hand.

"Alright!" said Jinzan. Seeing that the woman had quite a pretty face and a lovely body, he tried to charm her. "You know, I think I'm in heaven."

The woman was surprised. She asked, "Why?"

"Because you're an angel..."

The woman giggled and blushed.

"What he means is thank you," said Selia.

The woman stopped giggling, but she was still blushing. "Enjoy your meal!" she said. Jinzan then gave her the order card. But just as she was about to leave, Jinzan asked her, "Um...excuse me, but...may I know your name?"

The woman smiled at Jinzan.

"My name is Arianne," said the woman.

"Thank you!" was Jinzan's reply. The woman then left.

Selia and Alex were staring at Jinzan.

"Wow...you actually did it," said Alex, who looked impressed. "For a second there, I thought you blew it with that cheesy pick-up line, but it seemed to have worked! Good job, buddy..."

"Yeah..." replied Jinzan. He didn't seem to be paying attention to Alex. He muttered, "Arianne...so dreamy..."

A hard blow to the back of his head brought him back to reality.

"Aaagh!!" cried Jinzan. The blow was very painful, and he felt a huge lump where he received the blow.

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!"

Selia looked very, very angry.

"I SURE WISH I NEVER MET YOU, YOU WOMANIZER!!"

Alex stepped in like he did earlier in the square.

"Hey, Selia, cool down a bit. Jinzan's always been like that. And this is the first time he succeeded in charming a lady! Give him a break."

"Yeah!" added Jinzan.

"GIVE JINZAN A BREAK?! GUYS LIKE HIM DON'T DESERVE ONE!!" retorted Selia.

"Chill, Selia. You have no reason to be angry at Jinzan. Or maybe...I think you're just jealou-"

"I'M NOT!"

"Oh really?" smirked Alex. "Don't deny it. Maybe...you felt something for him when you were kids. Did you?"

Selia's face, which was red with anger, turned into a calm and quite sad face.

"No...of course not." answered Selia. Her tone was softer this time. "Of course not. Jinzan and I...we're just very close friends, that's all."

"I see...anyway, now that you've calmed down, let's eat!" said Alex.

"No, you two eat. I'm not hungry." said Selia. She stood up from her chair.

"Where are you going?" asked Jinzan.

"To get some fresh air..."

Selia then left the restaurant.

Jinzan was staring at the door. "What's gotten into her?"

"Dude...I think she digs you." said Alex. He too was staring at the door.

"Nah..." was Jinzan's answer.

Alex looked at Jinzan. "Well, if you put it that way..."

Their eyes turned to the bowl of spaghetti. They looked at each other.

"IT'S CHOW TIME!!" chorused the two. They then proceeded to devour the pasta.

15 minutes later...

"Ahh, that was some good pasta..." muttered Alex.

"You got that right..." added Jinzan. "Selia really missed out on some great grub. By the way, where is she?"

"Let's go look for her, Jinz."

"Right..."

They walked out of the restaurant. But when they were out the door, Selia suddenly was in front of them. She looked panicky.

"Guys, you better come with me, quick!"

"Why?" asked Jinzan. "What's the rush?"

"It's the castle! A horde of monsters is raiding it!"

"Shit..." cursed Jinzan. "Let's head on over there and defend the fortress!"

They ran as fast as they can towards the castle. But Jinzan was running faster than Selia and Alex. The castle...I can't let it be harmed. It's my home...it's all the knights' home. Hang on, Knights of Prontera. Your Ace Knight will save the day. I just hope I'm not too late...

(end of the chapter)

Note: Mentioning Yoshiro and Senzo was Amiel's/amielrox's request to me.

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