Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 10 - Sammelplatz Diner

Chapter 10 – Sammelplatz Diner

I had been waiting for about ten minutes in front of the girls' dormitory, checking the time every so often. It was already five in the afternoon. I watched as female students walked in and out of the building. I even noticed a familiar face—a male student who used to wait with me by the entrance. Now, he was with his partner, ready to head off together.

Standing there, I probably looked like one of those guys waiting patiently for his girlfriend. Some of the female students glanced at me, maybe assuming I was waiting for someone special. I glanced down at my outfit—a black and blue checkered polo shirt, unbuttoned, with brown pants. I wore them just in case Myrrh picked a spicy restaurant. To be honest, I did look like I was waiting for a date. But I had dressed up because Myrrh mentioned she'd be treating me to a fancy dinner.

I checked the time again, starting to feel a little impatient. After what felt like forever, my fifteen-minute wait finally ended. Stepping out of the dorm was Myrrh, the reason I was here.

She looked stunning. Myrrh was wearing a short white dress paired with thigh-high, high-heeled boots. A blue corset cinched her waist and highlighted her curves, pushing up her cleavage just enough to be noticeable. Her long lime-green hair flowed down her back, and she had winged hairpins above her ears, adding a delicate touch to her look.

"So... shall we go?" Myrrh asked, leaning in with an adorable smile on her face.

"Y-yeah," I replied, quickly looking away to avoid her cute expression. "But you made me wait."

"Wasn't the wait worth it?" Myrrh teased, her smirk playful. "I mean, you're about to have dinner with a beautiful girl like me."

"Just so you know, you're the one paying tonight," I reminded her, trying to stay composed. "I'm more interested in the free meal than the 'date.'"

"Fine, fine," she sighed, pulling back and groaning. "No wonder you've never had a girlfriend with that attitude," she muttered, pouting.

"Stop picking a fight and let's get going. I'm starving," I said, stepping forward.

"Ugh, you're so annoying," she grumbled under her breath. I decided to ignore her complaints, thinking it was safer not to push my luck—who knows what she might do to my food if I gave her a reason.

Myrrh quickly caught up as we left the university grounds and walked along the sidewalks. With the sun already setting, the neon lights of the cyberpunk metropolis, Xyraxis, were beginning to shine brightly. The entire city seemed to come alive. Giant advertisements glowed atop the towering buildings, their colors reflecting off the glass windows. The streets grew noisier with a strange mix of 1950s music playing from nearby speakers, while hologram screens flashed everywhere, showing off the latest trends and products.

I wasn't sure where to go next. I slowed down and eventually stopped, waiting for Myrrh to take the lead. Noticing I had paused, she turned back to look at me, a curious expression on her face.

"What's the matter, Zaft?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Ladies first," I replied, gesturing for her to go ahead.

She smirked, a knowing look in her eyes. "Wait, does that mean... this is your first time in the metropolis?" Her smug grin only widened.

I froze for a moment, surprised by how quickly she had figured it out. My cheeks flushed red as I glanced away. "So what if it is?" I mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed.

"You mean to tell me you survived your first week of university life without ever stepping into the city proper?" Myrrh asked, her eyes wide with astonishment. "So for five whole days, it was just dorm and school for you?"