Ever since his transmigration, Hua Yi hadn't had the chance to properly explore Nagazora. Raiden Mei taking the initiative to suggest a stroll was a welcome turn of events.
Chiba Academy was quiet at night, but once they stepped off campus, Nagazora was buzzing with life.
It was, after all, a booming metropolis. To say the streets were teeming with people and traffic would be an understatement. When Hua Yi had first traveled from Tachikawa Academy to Chiba Academy, he had specifically chosen back alleys after considering the crowds and the distance.
In this Honkai-stricken world, the male population was scarce, and young men were rarer still. If he walked down a normal street, he was constantly badgered by women asking for his contact information or, more directly, inviting him for coffee.
Hua Yi didn't necessarily find it annoying, but he truly didn't have time to waste on random passersby. The days were slipping away; nearly ten days had passed since he arrived in this world, and yet he still only possessed a single Sharlena (T).
To be honest, he was growing anxious. If his virtual interface had a top-up option, he would have whaled on it already.
However, now that he was out with Mei, he suppressed his negative emotions. He didn't take the usual side paths, opting instead for a bustling main thoroughfare.
The women passing by frequently did a double-take when they spotted Hua Yi, their eyes lighting up. But as soon as they saw Raiden Mei walking beside him, they instinctively compared themselves to her.
Realizing they lacked the figure and looks to compete, they could only sigh and continue on their way.
Having once been the young miss of ME Corp, Mei was used to being the center of attention. Coupled with the personal growth she had undergone after her family's downfall, she didn't feel overly shy about being stared at while walking with Hua Yi. She walked comfortably by his side.
"By the way, Mei, you made those Strawberry Daifuku specifically for me... did you make anything for yourself to eat?"
Even though he wasn't familiar with this busy street, Hua Yi, as the man, couldn't let Mei carry the progress of their outing alone. He took the initiative to speak. Fortunately, the shop signs were clear, and with the enhanced vision provided by his Stigmata, he was far from lost.
Though the girl had claimed this wasn't a date, Hua Yi treated it as one nonetheless. At the very least, he felt he should be the one to pay. Mei's father, Raiden Ryoma,
had been imprisoned a year ago, and her mother had passed away long before that. He didn't know how much disposable income the girl actually had; even if she wasn't destitute, she certainly wasn't wealthy.
In that short span of time, Hua Yi considered many things. He couldn't just lead Mei aimlessly through the streets just to chat.
Hearing Hua Yi's question, Raiden Mei paused for a moment before deciding to tell the truth.
"No, there wasn't enough time..."
Strawberry Daifuku wasn't an especially intricate snack, but it still took time to prepare. Furthermore, Mei hadn't wanted to make Hua Yi wait too long. Even with their meeting delayed by half an hour, she hadn't found the chance to cook for herself.
Like Hua Yi, Mei didn't usually go to the school cafeteria, preferring to prepare her own meals. However, unlike Hua Yi, who didn't want to waste time, Mei simply didn't like the atmosphere of the cafeteria. Seeing her classmates sitting together in groups while she sat alone only intensified her sense of isolation in such a lively environment.
"So you stayed hungry just to make something for me? I'm truly moved. As a reward, what would you like for dinner? It's my treat, so please, don't be polite."
Even though he planned to resign from his internship at ME Corp, the bank card Hua Yi held still had a substantial balance. Even if he ran out of money one day,
he could easily work as a tutor for elementary or middle school students given his transcripts from Tachikawa Academy. Or, he could rely on his physical fitness to become a trainer at a gym. He had no reason to worry about money.
Hua Yi acted very generously, but Mei being Mei, she simply chose a very ordinary-looking restaurant.
However, any restaurant capable of staying in business on such a busy street couldn't be truly "ordinary."
The interior was decorated in warm tones. Within the modest space stood a U-shaped counter. The owner worked in the center, taking orders and serving food, while the customers sat along the outside of the U.
Such a layout wasn't exactly a selling point; the restaurant's true capital lay in its high-quality, affordable dishes. Glancing at the wooden plaques hanging on the wall listing the items and prices, Hua Yi guessed as much.
A U-shaped table could feel quite crowded if full, forced strangers to sit extremely close to one another, which could be awkward. Fortunately, the shop wasn't that busy yet; the seats next to Hua Yi and Raiden Mei were empty.
Though, considering the gender ratio of this world, Hua Yi felt that even if the place were packed, he wouldn't exactly be the one losing out he might even get some "fan service" out of it. It was almost a pity it wasn't more crowded.
Raiden Mei ordered a standard Tonkatsu set. Hua Yi, who had no strict demands regarding food due to his long-term disciplined training, simply ordered the same.
A man and a woman sitting together for a meal carried an air of ambiguity. Mei, who had been composed while walking down the street, finally began to show signs of shyness.
Luckily, the skilled owner soon brought their sets over. Having something to do made the girl feel more at ease, and she immediately lowered her head to eat.
In her bashfulness, Mei overestimated herself and took a massive bite, and as fate would have it, she began to choke.
While the set had meat, vegetables, and rice, it was lethally missing water or soup. Raiden Mei had encountered a major crisis!
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