Kurt walked back to the diner feeling remorseful for what he had done.
'Can't believe I just dined and dashed. Hope I don't get in trouble with any authority.'
ring ring
When he entered the diner, standing at the entrance, arms crossed as if waiting for him, was Sophie.
'Aww crapbaskets.'
"Oh, looks like the thief started feeling guilty and decided to return."
"I can explain."
Narrowing her eyes, she spoke in a patient tone, "Go on. I'm listening."
'Shoot, I can't just tell her I ran after seeing the most beautiful woman ever slip away without even trying to talk to her. I mean I could but… argh!'
"You see… the thing is… what had happened was… what I'm trying to say is…" Too embarrassed to tell the truth, he fumbled all over his thoughts.
"You were chasing after a woman?"
"WHAT?! No! Pssht, me? That's dumb."
"So, you were running away after eating and not paying? Cause if you were I'd have to-"
"You're right! You're right. That was the reason. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." Kurt quickly interjected before she could finish her sentence.
"Hmm…" She looked at him skeptically.
"Listen, Ms. Chef, I'll do whatever so please don't tell the cops. I've got enough worries on my plate as is." He pleaded with his hands closed.
"I don't know what 'cops' are supposed to be, but you seem like a decent fellow. Given the fact that that was your reason for running and you've returned. So, I'll let this slide."
"Thanks. Also, what do you mean you don't know what cops are? It's the coppers, you know, the police."
Raising her eyebrows she asked, "You talking about the bureau's prefects?"
"Is that what you call them?"
"That's what I should be asking. You not from around here or something?"
"Uhm… yeah. I'm from Riverton. Except, way out in the boonies."
"That right?" She started eying Kurt up and down.
"You said you'd do whatever I want?"
"If it's within my power…" He answered cautiously.
"Ha! No need to get so tense, it's a simple favour. But first tell me, how'd you like the food?" She asked.
Kurt relaxed his posture and answered honestly, "It was the best food I've ever eaten if you want me to be honest."
"Good! Then the favour I'm asking is for you to become a regular here. A handsome face like yours is bound to bring in new customers."
"I mean…" he hesitated to answer, "This is the only place I've eaten in Eldoria so far. There are still other-"
"You might see that beautiful woman from before~ She and I are friends, you know?" Sophie wink.
"Looks like you'll be seeing me more often, Ms. Chef." Kurt immediately changed his attitude and struck out his hand.
"Perfect! Also please, call me Sophie." She shook on it.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Sophie. I'm Kurt."
The two of them had wicked smiles on their faces as they shook hands. With Sophie mainly thinking about the profit she would passively make with Kurt being in the diner, and Kurt thinking about the encounters he would soon be having with Diana.
Sitting back at his seat to finish the rest of his food, a sudden thought clicked in his brain. 'Wait, 'Sophie'? Is she the owner of this place? If so then I seriously lucked out by not getting in trouble.'
A short time passed when Kurt finished his food and the waitress came to collect his empty plates and receive payment.
"How was your meal, sir?"
"To be honest I had my second thoughts at first, but it was proven to be wrong. It was fantastic, thank you. Hats off to your chef."
He smiled gently at the waitress causing her to turn tomato red.
"I-it was my pleasure, s-sir!"
"How much do I owe?"
"T-two silvers."
Kurt reached into his blazer pockets and grabbed his coin pouch. He then handed the waitress three silver coins.
"The one silver is a tip for you."
"Wow… thank you dear customer!" She quickly bowed up and down, feeling grateful.
With that, Kurt has finished what he came here to do. He stood up and walked to the exit when he heard Sophie from behind the counter and in the kitchen yell,
"See you around, handsome!"
Without turning around he waved her off and left the diner.
Taking a quick glance at his phone, he saw that it was just about to hit 17:00pm.
'Hmm now what to do?' He thought.
After walking for a bit, he reached an intersection. Just when he was about to take a left to get on the main road he heard,
"Get out my way!"
"What the- oof!" Kurt staggered sideways as a man in all black pushed him out the way and ran at full speed.
'What a dick.'
Shortly afterwards a student in a white uniform with pink braided hair and big round glasses came running up to him and asked,
"E-excuse me sir! Have you seen a man come running this way? He was wearing-"
"Yeah. He went that way." Kurt pointed behind himself. "You better hurry before he gets away."
"T-thank you!" She bowed and gave chase.
'She's pretty slow to be trying to catch that guy. I would help if not for the fact that I just ate. Feeling pretty bloated.'
Deciding that it couldn't be helped, he stuffed his hand in his pockets and carried on his way.
*meow*
"Hmm?" He looked down.
Blocking his path was the same white cat that was staring at him from before.
"Why hello there little kitty. Nice seeing you again." He bent down and started petting the cat. "Who's a cute kitty? You are~ Yes you are~"
*purrs* *meow*
"Excuse me young man, you're blocking the way."
"Oh. Sorry granny." He stood up, making way for the old woman.
When she trotted past him, he noticed that the cat had disappeared. Feeling disappointed he continued on his way only to see that the cat was blocking his path again.
'Huh?' "Where do you keep popping from, little kitty?" He bent down to pet the cat again but this time it swatted his hand away.
*meow* *hiss*
"Whoa! Talk about a change in attitude. I'll leave, no need to get hostile."
Kurt stood up to leave but the cat clung onto his pants.
"You're gonna rip it! Let go!"
The cat let go of his pants and skipped a few steps behind him. Kurt ignored this, thinking the cat would also leave but when it saw him walk away, it turned around and clung to his pants again.
"Ow! What the hell?! Your claws are sharp so let go!"
*meow* *hiss*
It let go and skipped back again, only to turn around and look at him.
"What? You want me to follow you?"
*meow*
"...Okay then." He said softly.
Although he was reluctant, he followed the cat to see what it wanted.
At first it was just walking through the street, looking left and right as if searching for something. Occasionally it would also look back at Kurt to see if he was still following it.
'Seriously, what does this cat want? I've got other things to do.'
Suddenly, its tail shot straight up as if it had been alerted of something. It turned to Kurt, hissed and broke out running.
"HEY WAIT!" He shouted, running after it
While running, the cat took a hard left into the alleyway and jumped over a flimsy steel gate.
'Oh, come on!' Keeping up his momentum, Kurt jumped, latched himself on the top of the gate and smoothly maneuvered over.
Landing steadily on his feet he continued chasing after the cat without breaking pace.
'Where are you taking me, little kitty?'
Just before reaching a corner in the alleyway, the cat finally stopped and stood on top of a dumpster. When Kurt caught up, he was about to ask the cat what was wrong. That was until he heard voices coming from around the bend.
Keeping his back to the wall, he peeked over just enough to see what was happening,
"It took a while, but I finally shook that girl." A man in familiar all black said.
'Wait a minute. That's the guy who bumped into me… Who's the other bald guy though?'
He looked at the cat next to him and back at the men and thought, 'So this is what you were pestering me about. But how'd you know where to go?'
Focusing his attention back at the men, he listened in,
"Where's the buyer?" asked the bald man, "He's supposed to be here by now."
"I don't know… Hey, do you know what he'll look like?" The man in all black nervously responded.
"No, he just sent us a card with this location. I told you those cult lunatics all keep their identity a secret."
'Cult lunatics?'
"Ah shit! *tsk* Always making things so difficult." The bald man took out a cigarette and lit it with fire magic.
"Say, why do you think they need these display tags? Don't get me wrong, stealing it off that dumb girl was easy but how'd they know where she'd be and that she'll have them?"
"What's with all the questions? Who cares about why they'd want them? I just want to get paid."
"Ha! Fair point. Just wish they'd hurry up. This place gives me the creeps."
'There're just a bunch of petty thieves looking to make a quick buck. Not a job for me. I know their faces, so I'll report this to those so-called prefects'
As Kurt was about to quietly sneak away, the cat decided to open its mouth and let out a loud-
*meow*
'Oh shi-'
"HEY! WHO'S THERE!"