"Mel. Are you sure this is where we're going to eat?"
"Of course! This is the best spot in the Southern District!"
"If you say so..."
Lila looked skeptically at the run-down bar restaurant. It is tucked away at the end of the street, with a crooked wooden sign on top. The wall's paint faded like peeled skins, revealing weathered stones from beneath.
Mel pulled Lila inside to reveal a homely interior. Waxed candles flickered softly on holders, and tables made with carved wood sat idly by, spotless and dust-free.
[ Ta-da! My favourite restaurant! A bit expensive, but the food is more than worth it! ]
Mel's lips held back a chuckle at the System's quip, before glancing at the bar table at the side, musing on how the wide selection of alcohol on display would have attracted a particular Witch of Gluttony.
She mumbled inwardly. Are you sure it's all right to eat in a Bar Restaurant? Don't you have traditions and everything?
[ Pft. Traditions? What traditions? I'm but a humble System, and I'm here to guide the Host for yours truly! ]
Fair enough. She guided Lila to sit down. I'll bring you here next time.
[ Hehe. Thanks Mel. It's a promise. ]
After the short banter, Mel glossed over the paper menu before facing Lila, who sat beside her. "Want something light or heavy, fresh or oily?"
Lila (in Mel's observant gaze) glanced down at her lover's full, healthy bosom, then at her own, noticeably smaller in comparison.
She grumbled as if her heart suddenly became heavy (but not as heavy as Mel's). "A steak, please."
Mel, totally unaware of Lila's little complaint, merely glanced at the waiter approaching them. "Ah. Here! One steak for me, medium rare, please! The drink is lime tea. And Lila..."
"Same with her." She hesitated before adding. "Extra large. Medium rare. Cherry Bloosm Iced Tea."
The waiter blinked, her eyes flickering downwards, before nodding knowingly. "Understood. It should take about 10 to 15 minutes. Medium is prenium on the menu after all."
During the wait, the couple chatted for a while, with Lila not forgetting to sneak in a few complaints about the 'Mel Decoy' Incident.
From here, Mel learned more about how Saria looked visibly concerned about 'Mel', how Samantha's eyes glossed over her in suspicion, and how Rosana the Dragoness held an amused grin at the debacle.
Mel's eyes narrowed as she propped her elbow on the table, resting her cheek against her hand. "Was I really that depressed-looking back then?"
Lila pouted. "That decoy did. Luckily, Saria and Samantha treated you as if you were worried about my safety. Can't say the same for that prying cat, though."
A chuckle escaped from Mel. "Well, you'll have to face her in the academy. Rosana is infamous for being obsessed with those stronger than her."
In the OG timeline, before Greed became the Witch of Greed, Rosana's uncontrollable desire to challenge everyone reached even the Saintess once, before she was promptly shoved into the ground like a wack-a-mole rat.
She did laugh out loud in the end, so maybe she's a masochist? A rude thought flashed in Mel's mind, a jab she promised not to bring upon the Dragoness later.
Unaware of Mel's rudeness, Lila merely sighed. "Well, I'm mostly fine with it. I know Mel wouldn't like such a clingy, annoying, bloodthirsty person."
"..."
"...why are you looking away, Mel?"
Mel chortled playfully. "Well, well. Let's say I treat all beauties equally."
She couldn't tell Lila. In her previous life, when Rosana was released as the first, playable Witch gacha character, she dumped almost 4 months of salary into her.
She remembered how she bragged on social media back then, only to be shot down by the crazy spenders who bought copies of her, her signature weapons, her extra costume skins, and so on.
As such, Rosana held significance for her in more ways than one.
Unaware of her sentiment, however, Lila's cheeks bloated again into a pout. "Mel."
Mel's ears perked up, her heart warmed with the slight grumble that escaped Lila's lips.
Her hands stretched out to squeeze puffy cheeks, enjoying Lila's complaining whimpers.
Their food arrived soon after on a plate with the drinks, steaks with sparkling salts atop, potato wedges set aside as snacks.
Mel cut the steak with cutlery and took a bite with practiced grace, humming satisfily at the juiciness.
She eyed beside her, with Lila clumsily cutting the steak piece by piece. She smirked at such a gesture before sinking her fork into one of the sliced pieces.
"Ah-Mel..."
Lila, seeing through Mel at a glance, blushed hard.
Mel admired the 'extra tomato' in the form of Lila's cheeks, prompting her to nip at the steak's salt that remained in her teeth.
She stretched her fork to Lila's moist lips, tempting. "Come on now. Don't be embarrassed."
As Lila smelled the spiced scent just below her nose, she swallowed her hesitation. At Mel's approving glances, she parted her lips, bit into the meat, and leaned back slightly.
"Good?"
"...too good."
Lila hung her head, her emerald eyes welling with embarrassed tears of enjoyment as they met Mel's softening gaze.
In this instant, she felt she was too pampered, as if this was a new form of comforting cradle, with Mel as her one and only solace.
[ Envy's heart swelled for more need of a motherly love! What a fetish that would surprise even the Divines! ]
[ Envy Favourability: 86 -> 89 ]
Mel looked back at the meal. "Glad you like it."
She cut and munched on the steak again, a glint of pure indulgence flashing through her expression.
The rest of the meals went along quietly with a few banters in between. Mel chatted about the Academy matters, rules, regulations, and teachers Lila needed to take note of, as well as all information provided by her system.
Then, her eyes caught two unexpected individuals, their tall figures entering through the restaurant's door.
One of the figures' brows raised in surprise, before strolling to the couple, the other following lazily in the distance.
"Oh. You two." Saria, in her vested uniform, greeted the couples.
Mel leaned forward, curving her eyes playfully. "Hi hi, Sis. Cheating on Emilia so soon?"
Her tease was immediately rewarded with Saria's light hand chop.
"Hm." Samantha, watching the two's regular everyday exchange, held her chin. "You know each other?"
The Radiant Knight sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. This brat lived with me back in the village."
"Heh....."
Samantha contemplated deeply. Yesterday's 'Mel', although acting as cheerful as she observed, was off.
It could be justified away as a friend's worry, but she has seen enough of the demon spies that small details like these would not be missed.
Yet, a tired, subdued breath escaped her lips. She was in the middle of slacking off and escaping from her teacherly duties.
And she was still confident in her Archon ranked strength in case of emergencies, aside from a Witch's appearance.
Just a brat? Nah, she'd rather drink.
[ Hm? Host, Samantha, seemed to be still suspicious of yesterday's behaviour! ]
Mel's knowing eyes swept over Samantha before curving in playfulness.
"Hey. Miss Samantha."
She called out in the most friendly tone possible.
"Thank you for saving Lila back then. I was too distraught back then, but now I want to thank you and Saria properly."
Let's bait her a little. Suspicion and animosity are better than complete ignorance after all.
Mel smiled with an 'exaggerated' politeness. It is time for her to play for the long haul.