Chapter 24: Outing

"Took you long enough," Thaddeus said with a slight smile as he leaned on the wall that separated them from whatever the outside world had to offer.

Sebastian walked up to the area where both Thaddeus and Reinhardt stood, patiently awaiting his arrival. He wore a shirt that consisted mostly of the colours blue and white striped horizontally with the blue appearing in two variations of colour, one being royal blue and the other navy blue.

"But I got here on time didn't I?" Sebastian asked in confusion, checking the black watch on his right wrist, "Yeah it's six, just as you said."

"He's just pulling on your tail," Reinhardt said, his arms folded just underneath his chest, "You should try your best to not take everything so literal."

Sebastian nervously chuckled for a bit, reaching a hand behind his head as he gently scratched his nape. He glanced back up at Thaddeus and Reinhardt who slowly started moving in the direction of the exit, wearing casual clothing, which Sebastian found strange because he'd only ever seen them in their uniforms. Reinhardt wore a red T-Shirt that had a stencilled design of a wolf's face on it, accompanied by tight fitted ripped jeans while Thaddeus wore a plain black T-shirt and a matching black pair of jeans.

"Understood," Sebastian replied with his head down, following a few feet behind them.

The trio walked past the gates of The Hunter's Association, a sigh of relaxation leaving Thaddeus' lips the moment they were off the compound.

"I hope you're up for a decently long walk," he chuckled as he looked back at Sebastian, "The place we're visiting is about a fifteen-minute walk."

"Wait, I thought we were going by car," Sebastian said, glancing around the empty road, "You didn't have a car?"

"And where would we get the money to have one? You giving it to us?" Reinhardt asked, glaring at Sebastian through the corner of his eyes, "We're not rich, at least nowhere near it yet."

"Noted," he responded, subtly biting his tongue as he awkwardly followed the two that would be deemed his seniors.

They walked for about ten minutes in near silence, admiring the beautiful scenery that the city gave off as the sunset. The lights of several businesses and houses danced in the coming night sky as the air became heavier and thicker along with the gradual temperature drop.

"Ah yes, just about here," Thaddeus said, coming to a stop before a building that had the label 'Fujime's Blessing' written in white and red lights just above the open doorframe that had dark green curtains blocking the people on the outside from viewing what might be on the inside. Sebastian hummed lightly as he stared up at the building's name just before exchanging glances between both Reinhardt and Thaddeus.

"There's nothing to worry about," Reinhardt reassured, "The food here is actually quite decent, plus as mentioned before, we're paying for your meal, so relax."

"I appreciate it, but that's not what I'm worried about though," Sebastian shrugged, "Shouldn't people be more cautious with their security while the vampires roam about at night? Shouldn't there be more security here than a flimsy curtain?"

"Now now, don't be like that," Thaddeus groaned, "These people trust the hunters to do their job, so they feel safe. They have no reason to close up shop and barricade the doors if the hunters are cleaning the streets for their safety."

"But a hunter doesn't usually act till after an a-"

"Could you be any more pessimistic? Gosh. We're just trying to treat you to a nice dinner and get to know you a bit. Either forget about vampires and all that bullshit for one night or head back to the Association and do all your moping and worrying in solitude!"

The air went still for a moment as silence gathered around the three, broken momentarily by Reinhardt's groaning.

"Are we gonna go inside and eat or are we gonna stay out here and starve the whole time?"

Reinhardt's complaint brought glances from both members of his party as responses, which he reacted to by stepping forward and past the green curtains that previously obscured his vision of the inside. Shortly after, Thaddeus followed, and then Sebastian, who sighed as he entered the building.

The inside was a complete change of atmosphere from the outside. The air was no longer thick and moist, but warm and filled with the aroma of food of various kinds that easily evoked bits of drool from all three of the people who had just entered.

Sebastian looked around the room, in awe at the large number of people that were gathered in this one area. The majority of the seats were filled and the line to the cashier seemed to be never-ending, yet, at the same time, it was rapidly decreasing in length as people would get through and quickly scour around for a suitable seating area.

"Okay, so tell me what you guys want and I'll order it while you two go look for a table that can hold all three of us okay?" Reinhardt said as he stared up at the bright television screen before him that hosted the bright orange menu, blending in effortlessly with the inside's orange theme that could be seen from the walls to the ornaments and even the lighting in the main lobby.

"I'll have their signature ramen mix," Thaddeus said with a slight smile as he stretched lightly.

"I'll have..." Sebastian stared at the menu for a while trying to make up his mind on what to buy. His eyes glanced amongst the ramen, sushi and Yakitori options as he hummed to himself.

"I'll just order you whatever I'm gonna buy," Reinhardt said with a slight sigh, "You can trust my judgment in foods, so don't worry about being stuck between options."

Reinhardt turned his back to the group and walked off toward the line to the cashier as Thaddeus and Sebastian walked around the restaurant in search of a fitting table.

"So, I hear you're Nana Moe's prodigy," Thaddeus said to break the ice as they paced the restaurant.

"Nah, it's nothing like that," Sebastian chuckled nervously, "She just took me in after my parents died is all. I'm not deserving to be called her prodigy... I highly doubt I'd be able to live up to all that expectation."

"While your reasoning does make sense, it's not like you have much of an option now do you?"

"What do you mean?" Sebastian asked, coming to a halt as he looked at Thaddeus in confusion.

"I mean, not only are you the only vampire, human half breed we've ever heard of, but you showed some impressive display of skill during your fight with Corniellia. If the eyes of the whole association weren't on you before, they'd definitely be on you now."

"About that fight with Corniellia," Sebastian sighed to himself, "That wasn't technically-"

His statement was interrupted by a sudden sharp pain in his chest, forcing him to grip onto his shirt just outside his pecs. He stumbled for a bit as his vision blurred for a moment, but after a few seconds have passed, the feeling was gone just as quickly as it came.

Sebastian was left baffled as Thaddeus' muffled voice beat against his eardrum, slowly becoming clearer and clearer by the second until he could finally make out what was being said.

"Sebastian! You okay?" he asked with an arm rested on his shoulder and the other outstretched just in case anything were to happen.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he muttered, "Just felt a bit... Odd is all."

"Okay! Everyone get your hands in the air and no one will get hurt!" yelled a voice coming from the entrance of the restaurant, drawing everyone's attention to him.

At the entrance stood a total of seven men, six of which being of average build holding pistols as they pointed their guns at various angles to cover the vast space of the restaurant. The man at the very back however held no weapon and was of a greatly muscular build. He held his hands in the pockets of his tight dark jeans as he looked around the place in his rose coloured shades.

"I'll only repeat this one more time! Hands in the air and no one gets hurt!"