On one such particular day, the former US Ranger, George, is taking his friend along for lunch at a restaurant. It wasn't the most popular, like Cocodes, but certainly one of his favorite spots in the town. There wasn't much to eat at his work, and he likes to spend some money on this establishment. And then there's Maru, looking a little bit grumpy to go back to this fine restaurant. Nevertheless, he doesn't like to decline the ranger's offer either. He doesn't want to miss out on any lunch either.
"Seriously, d'we have to go back 'ere?" Maru sounded out his uneven tone.
"What's your problem, Maru?" George furrowed eyes. "I thought you're so eager to get some food."
"Yea, but why here of all places?" Maru flapped his hands in the air.
The former ranger just sighs out to ease his irritation. "Please don't tell me you made some trouble around here."
"Oh, would you look at that," Maru sarcastically gritted his teeth. "The black Sherlock Holmes just found it out."
George stops walking and glares him down. "Are you being racist with me?"
"No, I'm just being a hypocrite with you," he shrugged his hands in the air, with a smile as if he has the world under his feet.
The former American sighs again, even covering his eyes as he is shaking his head. "Why did I even tag you along?"
"Ey, what's with dat face?" Maru asked with such a high tone. "I thought we're friends here."
"Yes, we are friends," George admitted with a not-so confident nod. "After that stunt you pulled back in Myanmar, I'm rather desperate about what to call you other than just 'friend.'"
"Well?" Maru asked as they continue to walk. "What about brother?"
"Oh yeah, I'm your brother," George nodded carelessly. "You rarely watched my back."
"Hey now, what did I do to you?" Maru asked. "I thought rangers could take care of themselves."
"That would be even more helpful if you were seriously acting like a battle buddy," George had a deep tone in his voice. "Hell, you didn't even bother telling me if someone wants to kill me that one time in the Philippines."
"Oh, that one time you're eatin' at a rundown-shop?" Maru raised an eyebrow. "I was about to call ya,' but then I just thought: why I even bother?"
George just grunts at his reply. "You really are an asshole."
"Thanks," Maru owned it quite well.
The two men enter the restaurant. But they did not expect to see the restaurant already so packed.
"Damn, that's a lot of 'em customers," Maru commented as he looked around.
"Oh, not you again!"
The two turn their heads at one of the waiters – well, waitress, in this case. There's a smoldering look about on her face. And it was directed to the only person she hates to see.
"Oh, afternoon, girl," Maru waved at hair
"Don't you dare say good afternoon to me after the mess you made, dick!" the waitress stressed with such a furious look.
George steps in before she could say something else. "Forgive me for interrupting, but what did he do in here?"
"He started a damn brawl not long ago!" the waitress retorted, at least at Maru. "His heckling cost us dozens of tables, plates, and glasses!"
"That wasn't my fault!" Maru protested. "Some other asshole was askin' for a fight!"
"That's enough, Maru, before I'm going to put your head through the wall," George sighed, then looked up to the waitress. "I'm sorry for his attitude. I'll make sure he doesn't do something detrimental to other people."
"Well, you look like a nice guy," the waitress shut her eyes and put her hands on her hip. "Alright, but I'm afraid there is no table available for you."
"Ah, shucks," Maru commented.
The waitress snorts at his comment. "You could try to sit with a stranger if you want. But I don't really recommend it."
"Okay, thanks," George bowed his head before he dragged Maru toward an aisle. "So that's what really happens, huh?"
"Hey, it ain't my fault!" Maru responded aloud. "I was minding my own business when Some tough lookin' guy bothered and laughed at me. Ya' think I won't back down from his BS?"
"You could've avoided that by not responding to him," George shook his head. "Jesus, I think your problem is your mouth."
"Bullshit," Maru cockily replied. "How my damn ass mouth could get us in any trouble? I'm just charismatic here."
George rolls his eyes and turns at him. "Remember that one time you called a triad leader 'Daddy Huang' and then he brought out a tank out of nowhere?"
Maru opens his mouth but then pauses as his mouth gradually turns into an awkward smile. "Okay, that's my fault. But still-"
"Cut it out already," George crossed his arms and looked around the restaurant.
It must've less than 30 seconds to look around, and he can frankly tell there were no tables left for them, even a table for two. So it seems they have to take another walk to another restaurant.
"Ah, damn," George cursed to himself. "I was looking forward to eating here."
"Take it easy, bud," Maru assured him with a smile. "I know a restaurant 'round 'ere. So it's not like we're at the doomsday."
"Ehm… excuse me?"
The two men turn to their left to see a certain lone girl sitting at a table for four. Quite a young girl with adorable chin-length red hair with a couple of tight buns. There was such blazing innocence within her eyes and cute face. George somehow reminds himself of Hanako upon her face.
"Are you looking for someplace to sit down?" the young girl asked with a smile of concern.
"Yes, miss," George nodded. "Do you mind if we sit here?"
"No, I don't mind," the girl happily replied. "Please, sit down."
"Finally," Maru said in relief as they sit down. "Thanks for your accommodation, sweetie."
"Ehe he," while the girl weirded out by the reply, she was happy to hear it.
"Try to mind your manners now, Maru," George said to the smuggler.
"What?" Maru opened his palm with raised eyebrows. "She likes it."
"The last thing I need is for you to anger another lady aside that waitress," George winced his eyes.
"Ah, c'mon," Maru patted his shoulder. "Quit being so modest and enjoy it. But, goddamn, you're no fun."
The girl just feels awkward about this exchange. "Err…"
"I'm sorry, miss," George apologized. "Please don't mind us. This is how we talk to each other."
"I-I see," the girl put down the menu in her hand. "Have you ordered anything yet?"
"We haven't yet," George then shyly pointed at the menu. "Can I?"
"Sure, here you go," the redhead smiled. "I know what to order."
George drags the menu over to themselves. The two men curiously look over to the menu. And for once, the ranger is pretty happy that Maru stays silent.
"So, whatchu wanna order?" Maru asked him.
"I was looking for a steak," George received a disrelish look from Maru.
"Ya' serious, dude?" Maru shook his head. "You Americans like gettin' meat like King Henry VIII does."
"Excuse me, what's that supposed to mean?" George can't say if he's even feeling offended.
"Don'tcha wanna order something else?" Maru looked back to the menu. "Let's see, what's some lit food 'round 'ere?"
"Ehm, what does that mean?" the girl asked with a raised brow.
"Do you know any popular dishes in this restaurant?" George rephrased the question. "Other than steaks, that is."
"Ah, about that…" the girl leaned forward and looked over the menu. "This seafood paella is new on the menu. It's a very popular dish. I think a lot of students like this food."
"Paella? That's new," Maru wasn't the only one who's surprised. "Isn't that some kind of Spanish dish?"
"Yeah," George showed his interest through his blink. "It's been a long time since I ate that Mexican Paella."
"Wait, Mexican Paella?" Maru stared in confusion. "The hell's the difference?"
"Well…" George soon received an error on his side of the brain. "I'm not so sure, actually. It wasn't a seafood paella. Just mostly beans, rabbits, and rosemary. I think it's just the same as this one."
"Huh," Maru then looked back to the menu. "Ya' know wat? I have never seen this one before. I'll go with this one."
"I think I'll go with this one too," George replied, putting the finger on that food.
"What? Not pickin' something else?" Maru asked.
"I mean," George raised his hand a little. "It's been a long time since I had one."
"Okay, then," Maru then flipped another page. "Whatever you say, bro."
"What about your drink?" George asked.
"I'm gonna go with the usual," Maru replied.
"Alright," George then closed the menu and put it aside. "I got what I want to order."
"I'm glad to hear that," The girl happily said.
"Thank you for letting us know about the new dish," George replied with a smile. "I hope we're not bothering you."
"Don't worry," the girl assured them with her innocent smile. "It must be surprising that the restaurant is full."
"Yeah," George agreed with a nod. "It's not even Black Friday."
"Hang on," Maru then looked behind him and called aloud. "Waiter!"
The waitress comes over, the same waitress that Maru got yelled at. "Ugh, what is it? You ready to order?"
"Is something wrong?" the girl asked innocently.
"Oh, nothing," the waitress then pointed at Maru. "I can't believe you're okay with this troublemaker sitting with you."
"Eh?"
"My friend did a brawl here not long ago," George explained. "If you're curious about it."
Akari lets out a sweat. "I see."
"Don't worry, sweetie, I ain't making trouble 'round 'ere," Maru assured her with a kind grin. "Yet."
"Don't jinx it, jack-," George happened to hold his hand up to remind the waitress of the young girl. "Jackal. Now, what's your order?"
"Two seafood paellas, one lemon tea, one avocado juice," George then looked over the girl. "What about you?"
"Tuna steak and strawberry milkshake, please," the girl replied gently.
The girl's cute voice rather touches the waitress. "Alright, girl. Now please wait for your order. And you two, watch your attitude around her, understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," George politely replied.
"Good," the waitress then left.
Maru only grins as he watches the waitress left. The two men turn to look forward, noticing that the girl is looking down on her phone. A sigh was let out from her mouth, looking a bit upset. George seems pretty cool with the stranger. For Maru, even with his carelessness attitude, takes notice of her expression.
"Your friend not coming?" Maru asked the girl.
"Ah? Y-yeah?" the girl awkwardly replied.
"Hey, leave her alone, will you?" George knocked his shoulder.
"Wha? I'm just payin' attention," Maru asked back with raised eyebrows and a shrug.
"N-no, no, no, it's fine," the redhead sighed again. "Looks like Sakurako isn't coming."
There was an awkward moment of silence as the two men stare at each other, then immediately turn their heads at her. The redhead was a bit busy with her phone. Naturally, though, she notices them when she looks off the phone. And suffice to say, their stares were a bit startling.
"Hang on, are you a friend of Ms. Sakurako Oomuro?"
George's question catches her off-guard. "Y-yes! You know her?"
"Damn, what a surprise," Maru clapped with a smile. "We're happened to be friends of hers too."
"Eh?!" the redhead felt a bit suspicious. "I'm not sure…."
"We understand if you don't trust us as strangers," George assured her. "You can give Sakurako a call right now if you're not so confident about us."
"Hmm… maybe later," Akari then pocketed her phone. "I really don't want to bother Sakurako right now."
"Okay, let us introduce ourselves. My name is George Gilzamo," he then pointed to his friend. "And he is Maru Marishiki."
"'ow about yours, cutie?" Maru asked teasingly, who received a slight jab to his stomach. "What?"
"Oh, well, my name is Akaza Akari," the redhead replied, despite being embarrassed by Maru's remarks. "It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise, Ms. Akaza," George replied with a polite nod. "I hope we're not giving you any inconvenience."
"It's okay," Akari responded with an innocent smile. "I like meeting new friends."
"'ey, she likes me," the troublemaker cheered at his face.
"Oh, be quiet, Maru," George responded in a harsh tone.
Akari leans to the side, then makes a smile. "Ah, there are our orders."
Maru claps with a grin. "Finally."
Again, it's the same waitress Maru pissed off. The woman keeps her smile when serving to Akari and George, but her expressions change when she serves Maru. The troublemaker cockily smiles back at the waitress. Again, the waitress tries her best not to bat an eye before leaving off without a word.
"I think she hates you so much," Akari said with a smile of concern.
"Oh, no, no, she's just holding back," Maru is still grinning as he gets his back off his seat. "Just bein' shy about it."
"You're lying," George added, then clasped his hands together. "I'll do a prayer."
"Ah, itadakimasu!" Akari said with clasped hands, then began eating her food.
They were about to eat until they are disturbed by uninvited guests. Their constant passive singing is really annoying all around the air. Moving back, forth, left, and right with no regard for politeness. No, not other people. None other than mosquitos.
The first mosquito flies over to the young girl. Although the mosquito doesn't do any harm at all, Akari panicked a bit with the mere presence of the buzzing. Akari takes out a mosquito spray and sprays it all around her. The mosquito finally went away, but bits of her food is sadly contaminated by the spray. Thankfully, she's sure that it was not much to get food poisoning,
The second mosquito starts to bother Maru. The smuggler cocks his bobblehead left and right to avoid the irritating bug and starts to slap his hands all around in the air to no avail. What a little bugger this wanker is. It manages to land on his face a couple of times, and he had to slap himself silly. Quite an awkward display for the customers present beside them.
The last, third mosquito thought it's a good idea to annoy and bite the former US Ranger. What's surprising that George is barely moving, if any, bothered by the little bug. Unnerving it is to not move like a bleeding statue. However, when the mosquito starts flying in circles next to his ear, he was already at his limit. No one could stand against the buzzing sound directly at the ear.
The former ranger leans his head a little backward, then immediately swings his forearm to the side.
*PRUUANNGG*
The sudden sound of breaking glass shook the whole restaurant in fright. Akari and Maru were immediately startled and bamboozled at the ranger. Interestingly, the man remains stationary, and his right fist remains floating in the air. When George slowly turns his head to the side to only notice the window he broke, it was pretty hilarious. He then turns his head forward…
"Whoops."
"Dude, what the hell?!" Maru commented aloud. "The hell did you break a window for?"
George simply shows his backhand for all to see, and there it was. The tiny bugger is dead, squished between the skins of his hand, and there's a tiny accurate piece of glass pressing on the other side. Akari had an unnerving empty stare, while there was a look of disbelieving in Maru's eyes.
"Wow…" Akari shut her eyes, sweating her forehead a little. "You must be working out a lot to be that fast."
"Ya' kiddin' me," Maru shook his head. "Well, at least I'm not the one in trouble."
George pauses for a moment before turning his head at him. "You haven't paid your damages to this restaurant, right?"
Maru rolls his eyes sideways for a moment. "Shit."
"Language, Maru, language."
Akari chuckles with concern, dismissing his cussing. "Ehehehe…"
