The situation was undeniably awkward. On the first day of officially working together, Byakuya had brought his female subordinate to this kind of place.
Still, he kept his expression completely blank, not wanting Akira to read anything into it.
Soon, a server from the couple's restaurant came to attend to them.
"What kind of service would you like today?"
The server led them to an empty table, then leaned in and spoke quietly. "We offer a full range of services here, including various... intimate items. The couple's hotel next door is also under our management."
The server appeared to be a young woman herself, yet she could say all this with a bright smile and not a hint of embarrassment. Their training must have been thorough.
"No thank you, we're just here to eat."
Byakuya kept his tone calm and level.
"..."
Akira sat in silence, her face expressionless.
The couples around them, the suggestive atmosphere—she seemed to have tuned it all out completely.
"Oh, of course! Here's the menu."
The server handed the menu to Byakuya.
"Akira, you choose first."
He passed the menu to Akira.
She took it, scanned through it in seconds, marked two dishes, and handed it back with brisk efficiency.
Byakuya selected two dishes of his own.
The server watched all this with growing confusion. Were these two really a couple?
From their behavior and body language, they barely seemed like friends, let alone lovers...
"Um... pardon me for asking, but are you two actually a couple?"
The server couldn't contain her curiosity.
She was still young—a more experienced server would never ask customers such a personal question.
Akira had no intention of dignifying this with a response. She didn't even glance at the server, apparently considering it a waste of her time.
"No."
Byakuya answered without hesitation.
"But... this place is..."
Halfway through her sentence, the server realized she'd overstepped. "I'm so sorry! Forget I said anything!"
She bowed apologetically to both of them.
Thank goodness the manager hadn't witnessed her blunder. Still, she couldn't be careless—she needed to keep apologizing until the customers forgave her, or she'd be in serious trouble if they complained later.
"It's fine. We don't mind. We're just here for a normal lunch."
Seeing how flustered the server was, Byakuya had no intention of giving a young woman a hard time. He offered a small smile.
The server breathed a sigh of relief and hurried away with the menu.
...
Byakuya sighed internally. How did we end up in a place like this?
Tsukiyama hadn't mentioned last night that this was a couple's theme restaurant. If he'd known, he wouldn't have suggested coming here so carelessly.
But he couldn't blame Tsukiyama for this—he needed to look at his own mistakes. From now on, no more slacking off before investigative operations. He'd do his homework properly.
After all, no matter how "omniscient" he was about canon, he couldn't know details that weren't even in the original story.
The original work only mentioned that the CCG had destroyed a Ghoul Restaurant before—it never specified where that restaurant had been located.
"Do we need to act like a couple?"
Akira suddenly spoke up. This was her first utterance since entering the restaurant.
"No. There's no need for that."
Byakuya maintained his outward composure, though inwardly he couldn't help feeling awkward.
He could tell Akira was even more reserved than usual. Who knew what kind of "pervert" she was imagining him to be right now?
And her question just now—it had almost sounded like she was teasing him.
"Mm..."
Akira said nothing more.
She rested her chin on one hand, her gaze drifting elsewhere—as if lost in thought, or perhaps just spacing out.
Nearly twenty minutes later, the server brought four dishes and rice.
"Please enjoy your meal."
Byakuya and Akira ate in continued silence, barely exchanging a word.
They looked nothing like a couple, but then again, they had no reason to pretend.
Just then, a purple-haired man in a striking red suit walked past their table.
The man appeared to be wearing some kind of mask. Akira caught a glimpse of it from the corner of her eye, and her attention sharpened immediately.
She didn't look up right away, nor did she alert Byakuya. She waited calmly for the man to pass.
Once he was some distance away, she quickly said to Byakuya, "Did you notice that man just now? My instincts tell me he's highly suspicious."
Unfortunately, she hadn't gotten a clear look at what kind of mask he wore—she'd only vaguely registered that he was wearing one.
"Yes. Let's follow him..."
Byakuya spoke in a low voice.
They had just finished eating. The two immediately left their seats and began tailing the purple-haired man.
Of course, Byakuya knew perfectly well that it was Tsukiyama. This was all part of their plan.
It was no coincidence. Tsukiyama had deliberately waited until Byakuya was nearly done eating before making his appearance, and he'd intentionally let Akira notice him.
As they followed the purple-haired man out of the couple's restaurant, he removed his mask at the door and slipped it into his pocket. Akira's suspicions deepened.
Meanwhile, Tsukiyama glanced to the side, a smile curving his lips—completely unnoticed by Akira.
...
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