MENACE

CHAPTER SIX : Meet New People

"Yohan senpai, stop bothering the customer!"

The cute waitress from before suddenly popped out like a mushroom, and put a fist on top of the head of the guy named Yohan.

"Sumimasen. He's always like this particularly to pretty ladies. My name is Asayaka Reina ! " The girl bowed and her long silky pig tails swayed.

"Ouch.. it hurts, Reina-chan." Yohan pouted like a kid being disciplined and smiled at Rita again.

"I'm Yohan Kishibe, 25 years old. I'm half German and Japanese, my uncle owns this restaurant. And we're very glad to have a new beautiful customer such as you~" He outstretched his hand, and Rita hesitated for a moment.

"I'm Rita, I just came here, so I don't know much.." She carefully said and saw both of them brightened so Rita got confused.

"I see, nice to meet you Rita-san! Welcome to Moriah Town! I hope you enjoy your visit here, and feel free to ask us if you need anything!" Reina chirped and kindly assured Rita.

"Thank you."

"By the way, Rita-chan where are you staying right now?" Yohan suddenly asked while tilting his head.

"Senpai! Is it really necessary for you to ask address -" Reina frowned at Yohan and was about to pull his cheek when Rita blurted her current situation.

"Actually, I plan on sleeping outside..."

"WHAT."

Both of them instinctively shouted, which quickly attracted some of the customer's attention.

"Yohan! Reina! What the heck are you guys lazing around, and bothering a customer?!?"

Suddenly, an old man who came from the kitchen said with a drum voice. It's quite scratchy, thus some covered their ears including Reina and Yohan.

"Ojii-chan! Let us take a break first!" Reina grumbled but she still went back working right away.

"Gee- that old man, his voice literally damage eardrums. " Yohan also muttered under his breath and Rita couldn't help but chuckle.

"Ah, seriously Rita-chan. Although we might've just met, I'm concerned to let a young woman like you sleep outside! It's quite dangerous."

Yohan said and Rita felt amaze of how he suddenly he shifted to serious a tone.

"...." Rita didn't know what to reply, so she stared out of the window and noticed that the sun is completely pulled down, replaced by dark -orange skies. The town looked bustling and Rita bet she could find any free space where she could camp out. As for the matter of danger, she also didn't think anything could scare her that much. She'd gone passive nowadays and couldn't even completely cope what were her feelings at. And for someone to worry about her, it still constantly send her to a spiralling wave of guilt. I still can't find the reason why am I alive though, but being worried about... It's not a bad treatment I could possibly receive.

It made Rita feel appreciated even.

She's about to open her lips to speak out but the next words he said made her shook.

"Also... I'm sorry but I actually saw you more than 3 hours ago, while I was buying groceries. You kept entering some nearby hotels but exited looking dejected. So I got curious."

Yohan scratched his nape, and Rita felt like a weight got moved from her chest. It's still a mystery how Rita could tell the difference between negative observations and not. Although it may sound irrational and as they say, "Instincts are not always true." Rita had relied on her gut all along and whatever it might lead her. She had to or else she will completely fall into the depths of remorse.

Though she still couldn't completely trust anybody that easily. She still wanted to confirm any hidden intentions of these new people she had met. She decided to observe their expression and read any signs of deception.

"And when I saw you enter our shop, I got excited right away." Yohan smiled widely with his forest green eyes and he stood up, showcasing his tall height. He's around 182 centimeters and doesn't look too lanky either. His blonde hair also seemed unnaturally bright against the lights.

Yohan smiled at Rita as if caught her observing his appearance and flashed a pearly smile.

"Also, Rita-chan if you still don't have any place to go, you could stay here for the mean time -"

"She can't."

Both Rita and Yohan got surprised when a loud voice suddenly inserted between their exchange.

"Uncle! Don't surprise us like that! Sheesh.."

"Shut up, kid. Go wash the dishes."

Yohan's face suddenly got distorted and he walked away without saying a word, but he waved and whispered 'see you' to Rita which made her cringe by instinct.

"Don't mind that flirty brat." Rita's attention completely shifted to the domineering presence in front of her.

"I apologize for my nephew, and my granddaughter. They get excited alot by tourist and new faces around this town."

The buffy person with white beard surprisingly sounded gentle than his usual tone to his relatives.

"It's alright, they're very kind talking with me." Rita deliberately said, afraid if he might scold those two again.

"I see, So I heard that you're camping outside ?"

Rita broke into a cold sweat and laughed awkwardly.

"I didn't mean it that way, I'll just sleep at the shed-"

"There are recent kidnappers here."

Rita immediately shut her mouth and fidgeted.

"....If you want some place, I could recommend some."

The old man seriously said while seeing the customers that waved him goodbye. It was already 7 pm and Rita may not admit it, but she seemed to enjoy chatting with these new people, that she slightly forgot her current dilemma to find a reliable place to stay.

"So far, all the hotels I've visited refused me or said they got no vacant space -" Rita recalled her humiliation and couldn't help herself feeling down.

"Ah those arrogant hotels. Of course they would only pick customers based on the value they could provide. Based on your appearance, and goal to get an affordable room, I bet they'll reserve it to those who offers more better."

The man shrugged, and Rita felt hopeless.

Well, what do they expect? I'm not here for just some sort of vacation. I'm here to get peace and probably start anew. And to achieve that, she needs to make proper budget to sustain her living expenses until she could get a proper job.

"I see.. I'm sorry I didn't realize it."

Rita lowered her head and silently sigh. Maybe my mother is right that I couldn't live by myself. Even choosing for an appropriate place seems a tough challenge.

"Don't get too hopeless, kid."

Rita felt a heavy pat on her head.

"Alright, I'll let you sleep in our guest room for tonight. By tomorrow, I'll drive you to someone I know who owns rental houses. "

Rita felt like being blessed with new hope and she couldn't help feeling like a dry flower being showered with new hope; as some people are willing to stretch an open hand when she was feeling down in the slumps.

"T-thank you so much, Mister-"

"Call me, Gen. As what the kids said, feel free to ask of you're troubled here."

Gen who owned the Ramen shop, walked and lead her the room located at the extension of the shop.

"Thank you Gen-san, I'll be indebted by your kindness." Rita bowed and expressed gratitude sincerely as if thanking the gods. Gen also awkwardly nod and walked away saying he still got things to do.

"Just ask my granddaughter if you need some company." Old Man Gen said finally before two person burst out and entered the room provided to her.

"Yay Rita-san! Get rest well okay?" Reina brightly exclaimed and immediately smacked Yohan's head as he expressed: "I'm just right next door , Rita-chan-"

"Thank you so much, Reina, and Yohan."

Rita sincerely said and bowed.

"It's a pleasure! Please relax and rest."

Rita deeply appreciated their kindness and immediately passed out in the soft comfortable bed. She prayed for whatever tomorrow may bring and thanked heavens for granting her luck from every unfortunate moments she may had.

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