The Date

I sit across from the girls, who sit next to each other. I notice the tables near us are empty. I open my menu and start looking through it.

"Do you see anything you like?" Hino asks and I shrug.

"No, I'm just looking at the drinks. What about you?" I ask back and she nods.

"I'm getting the eggplant parmigiana."

"Again? Didn't you get that last time?" Myla asks and Hino nods.

"Yeah, but it's good. Are you getting the seafood alfredo again?" Hino asks and Myla shakes her head no.

"No, I'm getting the spaghetti and meatballs." Myla says as I start looking at the food.

"You two have been here before?" I ask and they nod.

"Our parents like the place. We came here when we first met..." Hino starts before pausing to look around. "Also after the battle with the Litch King." She continues and I nod.

"So have you decided what you're getting?" Myla asks and I nod. Before I can answer a woman stops at our table. She has the restaurant uniform on. In her hands are a pen and notepad. She looks to be around my age.

"Hey, my name is Lucy. I'll be your waiter today. Can I get your drinks or do you need some more time?" She says and the girls shake their heads no.

"I'll take a raspberry limeade." Myla says and the woman writes it down.

"I'll take the same." Hino adds.

"I'll take a cappuccino." I say and she nods before writing it down.

"I'll be back in a minute with your drinks." She says before walking off.

"Why'd you get a coffee? Isn't it a bit late in the day for that?" Myla asks and I shrug.

"Maybe, but I like it." I reply and she nods.

"Speaking of liking, what kind of foods do you like?" Hino asks and I think it over.

"I'm not too sure. Anything with chicken really, also spicy foods." I reply causing Myla to groan.

"I can't stand spicy foods. They never fail to burn my mouth. And no amount of milk helps." She says making both Hino and I laugh.

"Well, what foods do you like then?" I ask Myla making her tilt her head in thought.

"Any meat really. I'm not a picky eater, I'm more the opposite. I like trying new foods, so I don't really have a specific favorite. But I tend to like meats more than anything else." She says and I nod.

"What about you Hino? Any favorites?" I ask and she nods.

"My favorite is fish. It's my father's specialty. He used to make it all the time when I was a kid." She says and I gasp.

"Wait, Kagiyama cooks?" I ask, finding it hard to imagine him in the kitchen. She nods and Myla laughs.

"I had the same reaction, Eric. But apparently, Sugano isn't a good cook, no offense Hino. So Kagiyama took over the cooking." Myla says and I nod. Lucy returns with our drinks. She places them down in front of us. She then places a tray of breadsticks in the center of the table.

"Are you ready to order or do you need some more time?" She asks.

"We're ready." Myla says and Lucy nods before pulling out her pen and pad.

"What'll it be then?" She asks with a smile.

"I'll take the chicken alfredo." I say and she writes it down. She then turns to Hino.

"I'll have the eggplant parmigiana." Hino says and Lucy writes it down.

"Spaghetti and meatballs for me." Myla says while handing Lucy her menu. Lucy quickly writes it down before taking it. Hino and I do the same and she walks off.

"I have a question for you two. What's your biggest fear?" I ask the girls as I grab a breadstick.

"Where'd that come from?" Myla asks and I shrug.

"I was going to ask for the foods you don't like. Then this popped into my head." I reply and she nods while grabbing a breadstick.

"Well, I'd have to say Trolls." She answers and I nod, a little surprised.

"Why is it Trolls?" Hino asks. She takes a breadstick as well.

"The first Dunegon I ever entered was a Goblin one. My father and some of the other guild members were there. I was there to watch since I had never seen a monster before. They cleared out the Goblins without any trouble. Then the Troll emerged from their cave. They had no idea it was here and got caught off guard. They did manage to beat it without anyone getting wounded. But the sight of it shrugging off my father's attacks stuck with me. It eventually turned into a fear of them." She replies.

"How old were you?" I ask.

"I was thirteen. But don't worry. I had two guards with me and I had to hold a magic rope. I can't remember his name, but a man held the other end. He knew the Exit Dungeon spell and the rope would take me with him if he used it. So he could get me out if anything tried to attack me." She says and I nod.

"Is it normal for kids to go into Dungeons?" I ask causing her to chuckle.

"Yes, but only weak ones and if they have guards. It's important to show them monsters, especially fighting them. I should mention that I wasn't the only kid there. They brought five of us. All holding the rope." Myla replies and I nod. I turn to Hino, who remained quiet.

"What about you Hino? What's your biggest fear?" I ask and she flinches.

"It's nothing really. I'm pretty fearless." She says, clearly trying to avoid answering. Myla turns to her with a smile.

"Oh c'mon, I told you mine. It's only fair if you tell me yours." Myla says and Hino sighs.

"Fine, but only if Eric tells us his first." She says and I sigh.

"Isn't it spiders?" Myla says and I shake my head.

"No, I just hate the way they look and move. They don't scare as much, they're just unnerving." I reply and she nods.

"So what is your biggest fear?" Hino asks.

"I'm afraid of drowning. I almost drowned once in middle school. Since then I've avoided the water when I can. I do swim on occasion, but I never go too far out." I reply and Myla nods. "So Hino, what's your fear?" I ask and she sighs.