Ever since he transmigrated, Evan hadn't properly explored Nagazora City. Mei's suggestion was a perfect opportunity to kill multiple birds with one stone.
Senba Academy was quiet at night, but outside the campus, Nagazora City was bustling with activity.
This was a major emerging metropolis, after all. It was no exaggeration to say it was teeming with people and traffic. Previously, when Evan walked from Tachikawa Academy to Senba, he had chosen a side street that balanced foot traffic and distance. In this world where the male population was scarce, and young men even more so, walking on a normal street meant he would constantly be approached by women asking for his contact information or, even more directly, inviting him for coffee.
Evan didn't find it annoying, but he truly had no time to waste on random passersby. It had been nearly ten days since he arrived in this world, and he still only had a single Shigure Kira (T). To be honest, he was getting a little anxious. If his virtual interface had a top-up option, Evan would have already spent a fortune on it.
But now that he was out with Mei, Evan naturally suppressed all his negative emotions. He didn't take the side street this time, instead heading for a prosperous main road.
The women coming and going saw him, their eyes lighting up, but then they noticed Mei walking beside him. After a quick self-comparison, they realized they had no advantage over her in terms of figure or looks, and could only sigh softly and continue on their yuri path.
Mei was once the young lady of ME Corp and was used to being the center of attention. And after her personality had matured due to her family's downfall, she wasn't so shy that she couldn't handle being looked at while walking with Evan. She walked alongside him quite naturally.
"By the way, you prepared strawberry daifuku for me earlier. Did you make anything for yourself to eat?"
Even though he was unfamiliar with this bustling street, as a man, Evan couldn't let Mei take the lead on their "date." He naturally took the initiative to start a conversation. Fortunately, the signs of the various shops were clearly written, and with his Stigma-enhanced vision, Evan wasn't at a loss.
Although she had said it wasn't a date, Evan was still treating it as one. At the very least, he should be the one to pay for things. Mei's father, Raiden Ryoma, had been in prison for a year, and her mother had passed away long ago. He didn't know how much living money she had at her disposal, but even if she wasn't struggling, she probably wasn't wealthy.
In that short time, Evan had considered many things. He couldn't just wander the streets aimlessly with Mei just to chat.
Hearing his question, Mei paused for a moment, then chose to tell the truth.
"No, I didn't have enough time..."
Strawberry daifuku wasn't a particularly elaborate dessert, but it still took time to make. And since Mei didn't want to keep Evan waiting too long, she had only delayed their meeting by half an hour, leaving no time to make anything for herself.
Like Evan, Mei usually prepared her own meals instead of going to the school cafeteria. But unlike Evan, who did it to save time, Mei simply wasn't used to the cafeteria's atmosphere. All the other students sat together in groups to eat, while she was always alone. In that lively environment, she only felt more lonely.
"So you prepared food for me while you were starving yourself? I'm truly touched. In that case, as repayment, what would you like for dinner? My treat. Please, don't be polite."
Even if he planned to quit his internship at ME Corp, Evan still had a considerable amount of savings in his bank card. Even if he ran out of money one day, he could easily tutor elementary or middle school students with his Tachikawa Academy report card, or work as a part-time trainer at a gym with his physical abilities. He had no need to worry about money.
Evan made a generous offer, but Mei, being Mei, just chose an ordinary-looking restaurant.
However, a restaurant that could survive on this prosperous street was naturally not truly "ordinary."
The interior had a warm color scheme, and the relatively small space was dominated by a U-shaped counter. The owner moved about in the center, taking orders and serving food, while customers sat on the outside of the U-shaped table.
This layout alone wasn't enough to be a selling point. The restaurant's main appeal must be its delicious and affordable dishes. A quick glance at the wooden plaques on the wall listing the food and prices confirmed Evan's guess.
If the U-shaped table were full, it would feel very crowded. In that case, two strangers would have to sit very close, which could be a bit awkward. Fortunately, the restaurant wasn't that full right now, and the seats next to Evan and Mei were empty. However, considering the world's gender ratio, Evan felt he wouldn't be at a disadvantage even if the place was packed; he might even get some extra benefits. It was a bit of a pity.
Mei ordered a standard pork cutlet set meal. Evan, who wasn't picky about food due to his long period of intense training, couldn't be bothered to choose and ordered the same thing.
A boy and a girl eating together is an intimate affair. Mei, who had been able to walk alongside him on the street with a calm expression, was now showing a bit of shyness. Thankfully, the skillful owner quickly brought over their meals. With something to do, the girl seemed much more at ease and immediately buried her head in her food.
In her shy state, Mei overestimated her abilities and took too big of a bite. Unsurprisingly, she started to choke.
The set meal had meat, vegetables, and rice, but crucially, it lacked any water or soup. Raiden Mei was in a major crisis!