Yashiro Nanakase and Chris, the other two among Orochi's Four Heavenly Kings, one possessed the power of earth, nicknamed the Desiccated Earth, and the other possessed the power of fire, the Flame of Destiny.
And yet, these two people right now, one looked like a cheerful man who didn't bother with details, while the other looked like a somewhat naïve and ignorant boy. Their appearances fit them perfectly, but didn't match their true identities at all.
Still, people change. If Mature and Vice could turn into homebodies, then it wasn't strange for the two of them to end up like this either.
"Aiden, want a cigarette?"
The place Iori Yagami mentioned for eating was a bit far away. While chatting idly on the way, Yashiro took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, crushed and wrinkled from being pressed tight by his bulging muscles.
Aiden turned his head and glanced at Chris, then said, "If Chris doesn't mind… then sure."
"I'm already used to it," Chris sighed. During this period of living with Yashiro, he had already gotten used to secondhand smoke. As long as it didn't choke him to death, it was fine.
Hearing that, Aiden nodded. "Then I'll have one."
Yashiro immediately said enthusiastically, "Here, here, I'll light it for you… Iori, you want one?"
"I've got my own," Iori Yagami said. Also a smoker, he was sitting in a ridiculously cool pose. He raised his hand to reach into his jacket pocket, then froze for a moment.
"Hahaha, then just smoke mine," Yashiro said, tossing him one.
"Thanks," Iori nodded at him. After opening the car window, he raised one finger, and a purple flame, the same color as his sister's, flickered to life at his fingertip.
'Blue flames to light a cigarette...'
Aiden silently gave a thumbs-up in his heart. He was a bit envious of this practical ability, if he had it, he wouldn't need to buy lighters anymore…
Cigarettes and alcohol were the best tools for bringing men closer together. Three adults smoking, plus one kid, and on top of that they were on the way to drink, conversation quickly started flowing.
Too bad it wasn't a convertible. That would've fit the mood even better.
"Actually, we'd already heard your name before."
Yashiro rested his arm on the frame of the sports car window and spoke with a relaxed expression.
Aiden held the steering wheel with one hand, the other resting on the window frame just like Yashiro's. He glanced at him and said, "You've been in contact with Shermie, or with Mature or Vice?"
But when they heard this, both Yashiro and Chris showed surprised expressions. "Mature and Vice are also living with you? But Boss Goenitz only said you were with Shermie… hey, you're impressive. Mature and Vice have terrible tempers, ordinary people can't subdue them."
"Indeed," Aiden nodded hard, thinking of what happened that morning. "Subduing them took quite a bit of effort."
Yashiro clearly didn't realize that the "subduing" Aiden was talking about wasn't the same kind he meant. He just clenched his cigarette between his teeth, freed up a hand, and patted Aiden's shoulder. "Hard work, brother."
'Not hard at all!'
'Even one versus three wouldn't be a problem for me.'
Aiden thought proudly, then nodded again.
While talking, they had already arrived at the restaurant Iori mentioned, a small place, not very big.
After parking, everyone got out and walked toward the restaurant. At that moment, Iori suddenly quickened his pace and moved ahead of the group.
Just as Aiden was feeling puzzled, Iori lifted the bamboo curtain at the entrance. Then a soft, gentle voice came from inside, "Welcome… Iori, it's you. Why didn't you go back to spend time with Tsukihime today?"
"Tsukihime… uh…"
"So you must be busy. Then what would you like to eat today? Same as usual?"
"No need, Kikuri. I brought some friends."
As Iori spoke, Aiden and the other two had already walked in, and the three of them saw a girl standing beside Iori.
The moment Yashiro saw her, he immediately stepped forward and slapped Iori's shoulder hard, wiggling his eyebrows at him. "Ohhh… no wonder we had to come all this way. So that's it… hehehe…"
He didn't say it outright, but Aiden and Chris both understood the implication and looked thoughtfully at Iori and the girl called Kikuri.
Even someone as proud and self-willed as Iori Yagami, after hearing Yashiro's words and meeting Aiden and Chris's strange looks, showed a hint of embarrassment. He then said coldly, "She's my friend, Tanima Kikuri. She and her older sister, Tanima Konoe, are the owners of this place. It's close to my home, and the food is pretty good, so I usually come here to eat."
"Got it, got it, we totally understand," Yashiro continued patting Iori's shoulder.
"After all, a place that even someone as picky as you thinks is good… hey, we can't wait to try it. Right, Aiden, Chris?"
"I'm already hungry," Chris said.
"Same here," Aiden said with a smile, nodding.
But inwardly, he was thinking, 'Tanima Kikuri, Tanima Konoe… that sounds familiar. If I remember right, she's officially Iori Yagami's girlfriend, and they're a pair of sisters… hmm, knows how to play, but still far inferior to me.'
While Aiden was thinking this, Kikuri, who had been teased into a bright red face by their words, kept her head down, not daring to look at anyone, especially not Iori. In the end, it was Iori who reminded her, snapping her back to her senses. She then led everyone to a table.
Taking a notepad out of the pocket of the apron hanging on her chest, Kikuri asked, "What would you like to eat, Iori?"
"Bring out some of my sister's signature dishes. Preferably things that go well with alcohol," Iori said, then turned to Aiden and the others.
"What do you guys want?"
"Anything's fine," Aiden wasn't picky.
"As long as there's alcohol," Yashiro said bluntly.
"Please wait a moment," Kikuri said. She put away the notepad, bowed slightly to everyone, then glanced at Iori before turning and walking toward the semi-open kitchen.
As soon as she left, all three of them turned their eyes toward Iori.
Yashiro punched Iori's shoulder and laughed. "Not bad, Iori. Your girlfriend's really pretty, and capable too!"
"I already said she's just a friend," Iori said helplessly, but his voice was very low, deliberately suppressed.
He was clearly afraid the sisters might hear.
Aiden and the others understood instantly.
"Alright, let's drop that," Aiden said, taking the initiative to change the subject. "By the way, Iori, why is your sister mad at you?"
"Isn't it because of this King of Fighters tournament?" Iori said, troubled.
"I don't know where Tsukihime got an invitation, but she insisted on dragging me into the competition. I'd already decided to team up with Yashiro and Chris, so I refused her."
He sighed. "I spoiled her too much before. She used to be very well-behaved when she was little."
'Well-behaved?'
'That word doesn't really fit her, does it?' After hearing Iori's words, Aiden thought silently.