I was truly shocked. Not only for the fact that there was an actual food court, as rustic and Renaissance-like as it could be, but by the fact the twins preferred choice was crepes.

[Welcome to 'Oh my Crepes!']
[To order, choose an item from the menu]
1- Crepe with cheese..............100
2- Crepe with meat................100
3- Crepe with meat and cheese.....180
4- Crepe with sweets..............150
....

…couldn't they be less lazy with the names?

I swear, sometimes it’s like this system is controlled by a five-year-old.

"Which one do you want?"

They raised their heads to look at me, and I had an inkling I would be able to hear their stomachs rumbling if I payed attention.

"Will mister pay for us?!"

"You rich or something?"

"I'm older, and also you helped me earlier. I also gained a lot of points for saving you, so consider this a payback." It was not a lie, per se. I did gain quite a lot of points for surviving the tracks.

"Option 4!"

They shouted at the same time. I glanced at the menu, a smile playing on my lips. Oh, to be young.

"Sure thing, wait for me at the table." There was quite the crowd here, more people arriving by the minute—didn't want to wait for tables just so I could enjoy my first meal here in peace.

The twins slapped their hands together, their eyes glowing like stars as they laughed and ran toward the tables and chairs.

Apparently, even Hal could act cute sometimes.

I glanced at the barbecue restaurant across the court, wondering how much more expensive it was. Perhaps I can try it, next time.

I bought the twins' sweet crepes and a meat one for me, joining them a couple of minutes later. Their eyes popped as they saw the chocolate filling, their mouths wide open.

As soon as I put the food on the table, their hands grabbed the crepes in a desperate gesture, brother and sister staring at the cooked dough in their hands for long seconds before taking a big bite.

I watched as their eyes exploded, holding back a chuckle, the joy, surprise, and pure excitement flooding from their faces as they chew.

I tried my best not to laugh as I asked, "Is it good? Did you guys like it?"

They nodded their heads several times, their mouth full.

"Then eat up! Next time you kids pay, deal?" They kept nodding, and at that point I wondered if they were even listening to me.

Somehow, this made me think and ponder of my childhood, once again. My memories of that time were fuzzy, filled with moments not really worth remembering and others that were plain painful to recall.

However as I watched the twins and their innocence and childlike behavior, it simply made me think... Made me want to remember something that joyful and precious, either a moment I shared alone or with Hana. Yet my memory kept failing me and at some point, I stopped forcing it to recall days that may not have ever existed.

When I gave the first bite of my crepe I widened my eyes.

This is decent! And pork meat, huh? Did the system know it was my favorite?

…was it trying to win me over?

"Mister, this is so good! What is this cream?" Hildr asked with her crepe half eaten, while Hal was busy licking his fingers.

I blinked a few times in order to control the surprise in my voice.

"Are you talking about the chocolate?"

Hildr stared back at her crepe in awe, whispering back the words as if she had never heard of it before.

"We didn’t have that. From where we came from." Hal answered a question I hadn't even asked yet, making my heart stop for a few seconds, my mind processing his words.

That shouldn't be possible, right? I didn't know from what part of the world they were, but with their physical traits and their names—they had to be from somewhere in west Europe. Countries like Sweden, Germany, or Denmark.

How come they had never seen or heard of chocolate?

Before I could ask them, an unfamiliar voice called them out.

Turning my head, I saw a man accompanied by a small group. There were two men and two women in total—the women appearing to be mother and daughter.

I witnessed all joy and excitement perish from Hildr’s smile, Hal clenching his fists while one hand went to his pocket.

"What do you want, uncle?"

"Hal, just let it go..."

Hildr whispered in a shaken voice, yet the anger glistening in Hal's eyes did not fade. It burned even brighter.

It was safe to assume the group was acquainted with the gacha Store. The woman had a bronze bracelet on her wrist, her daughter and the men wearing different colors of the same cape.

However, the cape from the man who first spoke was a bit different, something in the odd way it reflected the lights as he moved.

"Is that how you talk with those older than you? You should show respect, kid. Your parents should've taught you that much."

I saw Hal rising from his seat, grasping something in his pocket. It was then that I remembered; he had a knife.

"Didn't your parents teach you how pathetic it is for a man your age to talk this way with a child?" I stood up from my chair, putting my hand on Hal's shoulder and giving a gentle squeeze, my heart racing faster against my chest.

The man chuckled, his eyes shifting their focus to me. He gave me the same impression as Giorgio—only stupider.

"And you are? Don't really recall anyone being chummy with those two back at the cabin."

"Mister was an operator! He is way better than—"

"Hil...!"

Hal rushed to cover Hildr's mouth, a hint of fear in his gaze. A shadow crossed over the stranger's eyes, a different tension weighing in the air as the group shifted in their places.

"You were one of those guys?" The man took two steps forward, standing only a few breaths away from me.

"Any problems with that? Why, don't tell me you are going to bring some classicism bullshit right now?" I replied with a cynical smile, giving another bite of my meat crepe.

The man’s left eye twitched a few times, his mouth half open.

"You know our points changed depending on what you chose, right? I lost a lot of points because you guys from the first cabin kept fucking up."

He grabbed my collar with one hand, a part that was not covered by my armor.

Look at this guy, being so cozy with me. We were not even colleagues.

I gave another bite, shrugging. "Not really my fault. You should've tried harder if all you wanted was to score more points. Think about all variables, scenarios, and such."

"You shitty bastar—"

"But hey, don't worry." I grabbed his hand—the one holding my shirt—glaring at him with a quiet fire burning within my gaze, twisting the hand until he let it go. "I killed the asshole who was messing with your points."

He got paler, staggering back as he stepped away, rubbing his hand. I could see he was uncomfortable, maybe even embarrassed, as he kept looking around and fidgeting in his spot.

“If you are done, uncle, leave. Me and my sister want to enjoy our meal, and I will get indigestion if I look at your face too much.”

I almost choked by Hal's words, managing to control my laughter as I finished the crepe.

He clenched his jaw, trying to take one step toward Hal. I placed my hand on his chest, standing my ground.

“You heard the kid. We want to finish our meal quietly.”

The man sneered, stepping back again before spitting his words at me.

"Don’t forget to wash your mouth after this—your breath stinks."

I cleaned my hands on his shirt, without ever breaking eye contact.

“Then you should probably take a shower. Though I’m not sure it will remove this rat stench.”

The older woman grabbed the stranger by his wrist before one of us threw the first punch, practically dragging him back. He kept staring at me until there were a few good meters separating us, finally turning away and disappearing amidst the mass.

The moment the group left, the twins relaxed—their shoulders dropping, their breathing lighter. I felt it was not the moment to ask about their relationship with the group, so I asked something else instead.

"Do you want another crepe? I'm still quite hungry, to be honest."

Hildr opened the cutest smile, the glow coming back to her eyes as she nodded. However Hal shook his head, his gaze a bit distant. When I followed the direction he was looking, I saw small a clock tower in the middle of the court. Time was almost up.

It was difficult to acknowledge that, as far as any of us was concerned, that could've been our last meal.