After Lukas and Yaho had finished the bowls of noodles that the Manga Café had kindly given them for free, they sat there quietly for a little while longer, savoring the last warm sips. When the clock showed it was nearly lunchtime, Yaho looked over at Lukas and said, "Why don't we head back to the hotel and grab something there?" Lukas nodded in agreement, folding his chopsticks carefully and standing up. They left the cozy café together and walked down the street toward the Peninsula Hotel, where he was staying.
Once inside the hotel, they made their way to the dining area reserved for premium guests. Lukas took his seat at the polished tablecloth, noticing the soft light of the chandelier overhead and the neatly folded napkin beside his plate. Even though he was staying in the imperial suite, these lunches were not free like the ordinary meals in the hotel had been so far. He briefly thought about the cost—he knew it must be high—but he did not worry.
