Upon entering the restaurant, the receptionist greeted them with a warm smile.
"Good evening, sir. Welcome to the V-Building Restaurant."
"Table for three, please," Takeshi replied.
She guided them to a table, handed over menus, and left them to browse.
As Takeshi and Nyx studied their options, a loud voice from across the room broke the peaceful atmosphere.
"What is this? Poison? It tastes horrible!" a man shouted, spitting food onto the floor.
A waiter rushed over, bowing deeply. "I'm terribly sorry, sir. Would you like us to replace the meal?"
"Replace it?!" the man growled. "Do you even know who I am? I'm Kruger Shinomata—Rank B+. I could kill you for serving me this filth!"
Takeshi glanced up, irritation flashing in his eyes. The man's voice had drawn the attention of everyone in the restaurant. When Kruger raised a fist to strike the waiter, Takeshi stood up and stepped in.
"Enough," Takeshi said firmly, grabbing Kruger's arm mid-swing.
Kruger turned, sneering. "And who do you think you are? You picking a fight with me, kid?"
"Just telling you to calm down," Takeshi replied, holding his gaze. "You're ruining everyone's meal."
Kruger's lip curled into a smirk. "You've got guts. Let's see how far that gets you."
Energy crackled between them as both unleashed their auras. A heavy pressure filled the room, sending chairs clattering and plates shaking. Other patrons scrambled to escape—except for Nyx and Akari, calmly seated behind a glowing magical barrier.
"Mama, Papa's not eating his meal," Akari said innocently.
Nyx chuckled. "Don't worry, Akari. He'll finish it soon."
Before either man could make a move, an overwhelming force surged through the restaurant like a tidal wave. The pressure slammed both Takeshi and Kruger against opposite walls, pinning them down.
"Enough," a deep voice commanded, cutting through the chaos.
A tall man in a sleek uniform stepped forward—the manager. His presence radiated control, and the oppressive force vanished as quickly as it had come.
He offered Takeshi a hand. "My apologies for the disturbance, sir. We'll deal with him immediately."
Takeshi stood, wincing as he rolled his shoulder. "Just make sure he doesn't cause trouble again."
As he returned to the table, Nyx looked at him with a smirk.
"That guy was strong, huh? Threw both of you like sacks of flour."
Takeshi groaned, easing into his seat. "Yeah, yeah, thanks for the reminder."
Nyx passed him a plate. "Now eat before Akari steals your share."