A night out [2]

We had arrived in front of "La Fleur Bleue", an incredibly fancy-looking restaurant where we would dine. Sarah had gotten to know about the restaurant from her father, who had warmly recommended it.

"My father said that the food here is really good, and they have great wines."

We made our way through the modern, automatic doors. Inside, we were met by an usher, neatly dressed in a black suit. He asked us:

"Good evening! Have you booked an appointment, and if so, in what name?"

Sarah, looking quite accustomed to this situation, spoke with clarity.

"Yes, it is booked in the name of Sarah Lindt. We had booked a table for four people, as well as pre-ordered an assortment of beverages."

Checking a small tablet, the waiter quickly found the correct reservation. Suddenly he turned his eyes toward me, and with some slight hesitation, he began to talk after clearing his throat.

"Hrmm! My apologies young lady, but there seems to have been a mistake. Unfortunately, our facility does not accommodate minors. Maybe we could have made an exception if it was mentioned before you arrived, but in this situation, my hands are tied."

*Pok*

My face hardened. Because I wanted to get along with my new clique, additionally because of where we currently were, I kept a forced smile and tries to explain.

"I am not a minor. I am a student at Kirkegaard academy, the same age as Sarah, James, and Brad."

I could see the gears turning in his mind, leaving us waiting a bit for his response.

"Then, would it be possible for me to see your student ID, esteemed young master?

'You don't believe me do you?'

Proving him wrong by handing him my ID, his face froze for a millisecond but, like the professional he was, he quickly said:

"Let me guide you to your table!"

The other three students all seemed relieved to not have to spectate the awkward mess in front of them any longer, and we all followed the usher to our table.

Arriving at our table, we were met by a basket of bread and a tray with four glasses of sparkling wine, most likely champagne.

The sight of the luxurious restaurant, combined with the glasses of fizzy liquid, finally led me to a realization that came way too late.

'I can't afford this!'.

With the cafeteria food being free, it appeared that I had forgotten that you have to pay for things in life.

As the rest of the group sat down, I had to tell them about how I wouldn't be able to join them tonight.

"Erm... I'm sorry. I completely forgot that I only have about 150 crowns remaining. I don't think I can join you guys after all..."

Though embarrassing, I came clean without any lies to avoid misunderstandings. We've had enough of those already.

James, Sarah, and Brad were all looking at me with pitiful eyes, and after a bit of thinking, Sarah was the one to speak up. With a gentle smile, it seemed like all her earlier apprehension had been fully melted away.

"It's fine, I'll pay for you. Not to offend you, but I don't think your body is physically able to consume all too much anyway."

Her innocent face made more than up for her little jab of a joke, which also had the underlying message of "I can afford it."

It genuinely felt like she wanted us to have a good time together, and as such, I took her up on her offer and sat down next to James.

In the corner of my eyes, I caught a glimpse of a weirdly intense face. Across me, Sarah watched us intently, while taking up a glass. We followed suit and commenced our dinner time by touching glasses. It was bitter, but also quite sweet.

Then a weird conversation got started, with the golden boy as the initiator.

"See guys, Miren isn't scary at all. I told you, you got things wrong."

'Scary? Did they think I was mentally unstable or something after fainting and not even being able to control my, relative to them, smaller amounts of mana?'

It couldn't be helped that I had a slight misunderstanding about the situation. I didn't see what happened, and I couldn't imagine that I had absorbed enough power to make all of my classmates faint.

"I suppose you are right."

A curt response by Brad, followed by a more interesting one from Sarah.

"Yea, you really are just a cutie aren't you? Even your dressing sense is pretty adorable! Ah, looking at the contrast between you and James is really... Hrmmm! Anyway, you seem like a nice boy, different from certain other guys..."

A singled-out Brad blurted out:

"What are you looking at me when mentioned these so-called "other guys", are you implying I'm a player or something?!"

"I didn't imply anything you sleaze!"

The both of them stood up, staring daggers at each other.

Weirdly enough, I didn't get angry from being mentioned as a "cutie". Maybe because it was a lot less awkward for her to view me as something along the lines of a little brother or cute animal, instead of a man, when thinking about our incident at the cafeteria.

There was also something about her that just made me go a little soft. (Not like that you pervs, soft as in I could relax.) Just like James had his magnetic charm, maybe the supporter of the party had an unconscious effect of relaxation and reassurance.

"Hahahaha!"

James's loud laughter caught my attention and broke the tension between the huge tanker and the golden-haired girl.

"Relax guys, wasn't it you two who wanted to go out for a good time tonight? Sit down and let's just enjoy ourselves."

Having just gotten a glass of wine served, I took the initiative this time.

"Yea, if you forced me to come out here you better let me enjoy myself.

I raised my glass for another cheer, eager to get to taste another kind of alcohol. Sarah and Brad finally sat down, and we cheered yet again.

'This is amazing! Bitter and rich, a little bit sour, and a tinge of sweetness! Is this how alcoholics get birthed?'

Like this, we managed to get a bit closer to each other, as well as a bit closer to getting hammered by drinking too much wine accompanying the amazing food.

****

After taking to the streets, having enjoyed the best meal I had ever had, everyone seemed quite cheerful. Even Brad had gotten a bit more mellow and was happily leading us to "the pretty ladies".

Sarah and James were walking side by side. making a lot of heads turn. I was currently walking a few steps behind, creating a situation where I could enjoy quite the view with the bountiful woman in front of me. The main reason I was walking a little bit behind them though, was the fact that I didn't like feeling small when compared to those two tall models around me.

Even though both James and I had enjoyed our first drinks ever at the restaurant, unlike James, I was completely sober. My head felt just as clear as before we started drinking, so I decided to try something a bit stronger when we arrived at the bar.

That's when I got bumped into, making me fall to the ground. Just like when I met James, I was currently sitting looking up at a tall, athletic man. Unlike when I met James, he wasn't nice at all.

"What the fuck are you doing boy? Watch your steps! Shouldn't you be home asleep anyway?"

As I was currently incredibly confused as to how two of the same kinds of incidents could play out so differently, it appeared I had been so slow to respond that the man had already lost his patience.

Grabbing me by my collar he lifted me into the air. In the corner of my eyes, I could see my clique turning around and starting to walk towards us.

'I wonder if they will help me out here, or if they think that as I am an elite student I should save myself? I could electrocute him right here and now, but I haven't actually tested my lightning's strength on someone else, so it might be dangerous...'

Before they could, maybe, save me an incredibly desperate male voice rang out.

"LET HIM GO! DON'T TOUCH HIM!

A red-haired youth was running to us, trying to make the man stop teaching me a lesson.

"Hmm? Arthur, what's wrong? Why shouldn't I show this little kid his place? It's the responsibility of adults to teach the younger generation!"

My classmate was also out, enjoying the nightlife with his entourage, as one of his friends had bumped into me.

"He is not a little kid! He is a mons... He is my classmate, a student attending Kirkegaard in the A-class!"

The man inspected me closer, trying to find any semblance of an elite student of the most prestigious academy in District 5.

"This little brat is attending Kirkegaard? Are you sure you haven't consumed a wine glass or two too much?"

Agitated Arthur pushed forward, desperate to end the incident right here.

"If you do not put him down, right now, I will incinerate you and send your ashes back to your family. And trust me, that would still be a better ending than if you were to continue this foolish act."

My mind quickly spun, elegantly ending up reaching yet another misunderstanding. Nothing strange really, if a factor is incorrect the product of the equation will always be faulty.

'What would happen if he continues? Ah! Maybe Arthur would get in trouble if this comes to light to the teachers. Thinking about it, there is no way students would be allowed to create trouble for each other, even if it's outside of the academy.'

With a pale face, the big man put me down, quickly apologized, and walked to Arthur's side. Arthur in turn bowed to me and also apologized. At this point, my group of newly acquired friends also stood at my side.

"I'm really, really sorry Miren! Please don't let this make you lose your temper and do something stupid! I will take care of this meathead personally, and this will never happen again!"

'He truly thinks I will talk to the teachers about this huh? Well, maybe I would if it did continue, but he seems intent on taking care of this. I guess I'll just let this go then.'

"Ah no, it's okay. If you say you will take care of it, I'll trust you. We are classmates after all."

Giving him a gentle smile, Arthur almost appeared to be so relieved he got tears in his eyes. Concluding our conversation, Arthur walked away with his entourage, mostly girls now that I actually get a look.

James grabbed my shoulders and asked, pretty much shouting at, me with concern:

"MIREN! ARE YOU OKAY?! DO YOU NEED ME TO KILL SOMEONE FOR YOU, SHOULD I FOLLOW THEM AND DRAG THEM INTO AN ALLEYWAY?!"

'Kill them?! How drunk did you get from just a couple of glasses of wine?!'

"Ummm, no... It's fine. It was just an accident, just like when I met you for the first time, we bumped into each other, but it seems like maybe he was a bit drunk? It does seem like it can affect one's temper a bit..."

As I explained the situation, while at the same time trying to subtly tell my shining knight that he was acting crazy, we started to walk towards our final destination once again.