"I'm just kidding! You actually think I'll actually survive after getting doubled?!"
" … What?"
Before she could make any more action, I shook her head a bit too hard while laughing like a mad man, trying to deflate the situation from escalating further than this.
"You…!"
Aya growls at me with a clearly disdainful eye while trying to push me away, and with that I immediately separate from her and continue with my coffee.
"…?"
Aya then turned her gaze ever slightly on the surroundings, as her face immediately dimmered at others' suspicious gaze. She then looked back at me with an explicit look and lowered her head to my ear.
"… Sorry Jouno-san, I was carried away."
She then quietly apologizes to me and bow her head a bit, and I slightly nod my head in acceptance.
Gosh, I wish the kids at my place could have a fraction of Aya personality…
… Despite her rash action just now, the whole thing undeniably is from me, so she has no part in this. Besides, she even acknowledges her own mistake and immediately apologizes, which perfectly emphasizes her hidden potential just like the manga…
I gotta admit, her mindset is clearly more mature than some actual adults I've ever met, and she undoubtedly will succeed with her dream one way or another…
"By the way… do you feel okay?"
"…"
After all those gaze had totally shifted from us, I quietly asked her with a hint of concern. Her body then slightly trembling, likely has recognized what I secretly mention, but she still holds herself looking into nothingness with a painful look.
I know that she still can't get over that traumatizing event, as it just happened yesterday, but she has expressed a surprisingly stable demeanor throughout all of it.
Is it because of my encouragement (which I know that it sounds so cringe and horrible, but I can't think of anything seeing her lifeless gaze), or is she just trying to be tough…?
Anyway, it's good to see her still active after all of that, but still… It seems that I need to go through with her mentally after the Guild matter…
"Well, slide the stupid joke aside… what happened after you left me behind?"
"I just saved Ranpo's companion from the kidnapper, and then got dragged back for congratulation. Sorry for not contacting you later."
I quickly make up a story with a clear face, and Aya seems to believe that story more than the "bad joke" I yapping earlier.
"Besides, I just got accepted to the Agency, and will start there tomorrow morning."
"I see…"
Aya frowned before my story with a distant look, seeming like she still needed time to get the hang of it. During the time the waiter also brings her the order, and she slowly drinks it with a thoughtful look.
"Well then… what will you do next?"
"Preparing."
Aya then reluctantly asked my next actions, to which I simply shrugged and casually answered. In all honesty, there's not much I can do until the first batch arrives.
The story feels pretty rushed in the first few arc not gonna lie, I believe from the beginning of the story all the way until Moby Dick got dunked happened in around a month at best….
You know… maybe Atsushi isn't that horrible. Personally, without the knowledge, I would become insane with the crazy escalation.
And from that point on, Atsushi, a parentless kid who got kicked out from the orphanage, goes from being a newcomer at a supernatural Agency to fighting the 4th dimensional being and an immortal genius for the sake of the world in less than… half a year.
… Yeah, I should make plenty of preparations, especially against that Russian.
Although the mission only requires me to defeat a Hunting Dog member, doing it recklessly will surely attract Fukuchi's attention, who will surely inform this to that damn devil, and he will surely figure out my background.
Not to mention Gogol, the clown with countless faces. Even if I somehow manage to avoid Fukuchi's attention, that clown surely won't miss my existence with how I prepared for an unseen future.
Even though I will return to my old world once the mission is over, I can't bear to let Aya be involved in this mess, especially since she joined the mission due to her… mysterious confidence at that time.
Seriously, why didn't she ask me first for the mission? I did briefly inform her about the future, so she should've known that already…?
"Prepare?"
Aya word then woke me up from my thought, expressed her annoyed yet concerned looks. I stay dead silent for this long?
"Sorry, I was just thinking about something…"
I grunned with annoyment, thinking of possible solutions for Gogol and Fukuchi existences. They are so cunning in many ways, so sneaking past them would be almost impossible.
In fact, I dare to bet that Fukuchi must know of my arrival already, and is now planning to capture me for some "valuable" information that I have…
Wait…. Capture?
Suddenly, I started to think of an idea, a horrible one at that… High chances that this will fail, but considering this world timeline, it may be worth a shot.
" … You know, you could've asked m—"
"No."
Aya briefly speaks up, likely to offer something, with her expression becoming complicated, but I immediately stop her track.
"Eh?"
"I know what you're trying to do, and my answer is no."
Aya's face became dumbfounded with my immediate response, but I paid no more attention to her.
Despite her contribution in the manga, she's just a ten years old girl with a childish dream, and she's been put through countless trouble, and almost death, since the cursed Jono gave her the note…
Yep, when I meet him in the future, I will gladly give him a punch to the face. He'll probably avoid that, either with his enhanced physica, exceptional senses or ability, it'll still be worth a shot.
I knew that she's trying to offer her assistance to the mission, since she voluntarily involved herself on this. And I, as the first one to participate and the most knowledgeable person of the members, won't let her do something stupid like this.
I won't let her join in the mission, whatever it takes…
"Jouno-san…?"
"?"
Aya then suddenly shivers while looking at me with a slightly shocking look, as I then reclaim my attention.
"What's the problem?"
"Eh… it's nothing…"
Auya shook her head and smiled back at me, which irritated me for a bit. Is my face just now that scary? Come to think of it, Kisame sometimes did call out my expression during the meeting for upcoming exams, something about me being "out of character" or a "predator" thing…
Hm…
"So, you want to call something to eat? I still have some money left."
" … You sure you wanted to use all your money on this?"
"Why not? The purpose of money is to use, and it would be disrespectful not to use them."
I make a dramatic statement against a doubtful Aya, and her eyes twitch a bit with my ideology. Seems like she is not convinced one bit by my words, which makes me a bit irritated.
But, her concern is obvious since I already stated about a "plan" for the future apocalypse. It's not like they didn't cost me money, but I already have some ideas about how to get them without paying a dime.
Still, I gotta make sure not to let Aya notice my crazy plan.
"Don't worry my dear, I already have a way to prepare without using a dime."
I state that with a smug face, while also making a dramatic pose. Aya, as expected, was further confused with all of my actions.
" … Are you really that older than me?"
Aya let out a sorrowful sigh, not bat an eye on me no longer. She continued with the drink while looking around with an uninterested look, while I let out a small grin and sat down to continue with my order.
"… Jouno-san, do you… want to take a look at Saru's side?"
"Why not."
Feeling a bit awkward after half an hour of total silence, probably gotten bored with watching the sky slowly fade into the night, Aya suggested something else to do with me, to which I casually accepted.
After all, I did have some curiosity about his story earlier, being the "Lala bodyguard" thingy…