CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 10.11 : AFTER THE CLASH AT THE CAFE (2)

Before long, the atmosphere inside the café gradually returned to a state that could be described as relatively calm and conducive once more. Several of the people of interest had already finished giving their official reports, including Al himself.

The police officers on duty appeared visibly perplexed and uneasy when it came to handling an incident that directly involved the children of influential high-class families. Their hesitation was apparent, and instead of taking responsibility themselves, they seemed more eager to transfer the handling of the case to higher authorities who were more accustomed to such delicate matters.

The situation became even more complicated because the witnesses of the incident were divided into two groups—some of them gave statements in favor of Gerald, while others sided with Al. To make things worse, the CCTV footage was mysteriously blackened, as though the recording had been damaged or erased by some unknown interference, and there was not a single additional piece of supporting media evidence that could be used as reference. Because of all these circumstances, the case, at least for this evening, was not pursued any further.

The faint and almost invisible smoke that still lingered from cups of coffee long since gone cold continued to hover slightly above the tables. Chairs that had been overturned during the earlier chaos were slowly being placed upright again by the employees of the café.

In certain corners of the establishment, the space seemed oddly spacious due to the departure of several shaken customers, leaving behind an atmosphere that was both somewhat empty yet still heavy with tension. The sweet aroma of caramel, which clung stubbornly from the drinks once served, mingled faintly with the damp scent of wet wood drifting in from outside, making the entire scene feel rather somber and melancholic that night.

Not far away, Johan could be seen making sure that Rina was truly alright, while in turn Rina was also equally concerned about Johan’s condition.

"You’re not hurt, are you?" Johan asked in a soft, almost careful voice.

Rina shook her head lightly while offering a faint, reassuring smile. "I’m fine... really, I’m alright. But what about you? I saw that you were pushed earlier."

Johan returned the smile, though there was still a trace of concern visible on his face. "I’m fine as well, nothing happened. What matters most is that you’re safe. Honestly... for a brief moment I was truly scared something bad might happen to you."

Rina was rendered silent for a short moment. His words caused a strange warmth to rise in her chest, and under the soft café lights her cheeks flushed slightly red. "You’re exaggerating. I’m not that weak." She tried to cover her nervousness with a light laugh.

"I know you’re strong," Johan replied, his eyes locking onto hers with earnest intensity. "But still... I could never just stand by and do nothing if anything were to happen to you."

Rina quickly turned her face away, pretending to focus on the empty street in front of her, trying her best to hide the involuntary smile that tugged at her lips. "You sound... like something straight out of a drama."

Johan chuckled briefly, but his gaze upon Rina lingered far longer than usual, unwilling to look away.

Meanwhile, Al was standing before Clara, with her three companions positioned quietly behind her. They appeared to be engaged in a rather light conversation.

"So you’re telling me you were merely passersby and just happened to stumble upon the fight by accident?" Al asked.

"More accurately, we actually had something we intended to do," Clara explained calmly, "but then Coto suddenly bolted off in a random direction for reasons none of us understood."

"Ah, so it was this little creature’s doing," Al muttered as he carefully lifted Coto down from his head and gently placed the fluffy being onto the floor.

The small companion still seemed completely preoccupied, rubbing and brushing its soft body affectionately against Al’s legs. Its pristine white fur stood out starkly against Al’s black trousers, leaving faint traces as it clung. Its tail wagged quickly back and forth, showing clearly that it felt no guilt whatsoever for what it had caused.

"Exactly. And when we finally caught up, there was already a large crowd gathered around watching the fight. What shocked me most, however, was seeing you there, right in the middle of everything. I truly didn’t expect to meet you again in such a strange and tense moment like this," Clara explained further.

"I didn’t expect it either. But I see you’re surprisingly popular, sis," Al replied casually.

"Ugh... don’t bring that up. We’re not that popular. Honestly, being considered popular in this kind of world isn’t pleasant at all. People never stop bothering us and constantly expect things from us. It’s utterly frustrating." Clara sighed in irritation.

"And what’s even more irritating is that because of you, we had to face Gerald. Ughh... things will definitely get troublesome in the future," Raka grumbled lazily.

"Hahaha, just ignore him, young man. He’s always like that," Malik interjected, joining in the conversation. He then turned his attention toward Clara. "So this is the boy you always talked about, isn’t it?"

Clara nodded affirmatively, before introducing her companions to Al properly. She also took the opportunity to finally exchange contacts with him, something she had forgotten to do before. Their interaction seemed quite positive overall, though it was occasionally colored by sarcastic remarks from Raka and with Daus mostly choosing to stay silent. They were, indeed, a rather peculiar group.

From time to time, Al studied their expressions closely. Clara appeared sincere and composed, Malik exuded the aura of a wise elder brother, Raka constantly fidgeted with his fingers in his pockets as though he could not stand still, while Daus stood stiffly upright, his gaze firm and unwavering, reminiscent of a soldier maintaining strict discipline. The contrast among them was stark, yet it was precisely this diversity that made their group appear unique. And Al also noticed a familiar logo subtly hidden on their clothing, something he could immediately recognize.

Eventually, Clara signaled her intent to leave after receiving a subtle gesture from Daus, who seemed extremely disciplined and mindful of their schedule. Their agenda for the night had already been considerably delayed because they had helped Al, and Al understood this perfectly, especially since he too had further plans to attend to later in the evening.

"Unfortunately, I have to leave now," Clara said with a hint of regret.

Al merely nodded in understanding and returned Coto to Clara.

"I suppose Coto will miss you after this. I’ll contact you again once your exams are over, and perhaps you can accompany him to play again."

Al looked into Coto’s eyes, which shimmered with a glimmering hope as though the little creature was truly wishing for their reunion. He nodded his agreement, and Coto responded with a cheerful meow, as if in delight.

"Alright then, we’ll be going now." Clara waved her hand in farewell, and the four of them, along with Coto, departed from the scene.

As they walked away, however, Raka cast one last sharp glance at Al, as though sensing something unusual about him. Yet he said nothing and simply turned his head forward, following his companions who were already ahead.

Their footsteps echoed lightly against the stone pavement, until the sound gradually faded, swallowed by the darkness of the night street. For a brief moment, the only audible noise was the soft clinking of spoons against glasses coming from inside the café.

After their departure, Rina and Johan approached Al.

"Oh, you two. I’m sorry that because of me you had to go through all of this," Al said apologetically.

"It’s nothing," Rina replied simply. "Oh, right. Let me introduce you. This is Johan, one of my... well, yes, one of my friends I mentioned before."

Johan extended his hand politely, and Al accepted it, the two of them shaking hands firmly in greeting. Al’s palm felt slightly cold, contrasting with Johan’s grip, which was steady and strong. For a brief instant, Johan’s gaze seemed to probe, as if trying to discern who this young man before him truly was.

Al lowered his head slightly in gratitude, thanking them again for their help that night—even though, deep inside, he hadn’t truly needed it.

"You know them, bro? I didn’t expect you to have connections with the so-called Phantom of Bantiamur," Johan asked, his tone carrying a hint of admiration regarding Al’s acquaintance with the four figures from earlier.

"Yes, and was that woman the older sister you mentioned this afternoon?" Rina added curiously.

Al shook his head.

"No. I just happened to meet that woman while saving a stray kitten some time ago"

Rina and Johan exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously.

"Aaahh, I see," they both said in unison, their voices overlapping as though perfectly synchronized.

Al only nodded nonchalantly.

But then his expression shifted into slight annoyance as he cast a sharp glance toward Rina.

"Oh right. You were the one who rushed me to come quickly, yet you yourself ended up arriving late," Al said in irritation.

"Wha... haha... Sorry, I just needed a little extra time to get ready. Haha," Rina replied awkwardly, trying to laugh it off.

"Yeah, sure... I suppose you needed time to dress up and look good just to make an impression on your friend—Johan," Al responded lazily.

"What... no, that’s not... I mean, of course I need to look presentable in front of my friends, don’t I?" Rina answered nervously, sneaking occasional glances at Johan.

Johan gave a small smile, though deep inside he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy as he observed the natural flow of interaction between Al and Rina, which seemed far more effortless and organic compared to the slightly awkward, drama-like romantic air between himself and Rina.

Al merely let out a faint snort, shoving both his hands into his trouser pockets, his eyes half-lidded with disinterest but still clearly evaluating the two of them.

"Anyway... At first, I thought I had come to the wrong place. For a moment I even thought you meant to take me to some kind of nightclub." Al said while glancing around.

"As if! We’re not even old enough yet," Rina quickly retorted.

Al turned to her with an indifferent look.

"So... if we were old enough, would you have actually brought me?"

Rina narrowed her eyes, then flicked his shoulder with her finger.

"I can’t believe your mind sinks that low. Don’t tell me you’re that interested in scantily dressed women."

Al shot her a deadpan look.

"A sarcastic reply to my joke. Wonderful."

"Enough already. Let’s go inside. My other friends have been waiting for us." Rina redirected the situation quickly.

With that, she averted her gaze and tugged Johan by the arm. The two of them walked ahead, while Al followed casually from behind.

The neon lights of the café reflected dimly upon the glass windows, silently emphasizing that the night was far from over. A long, pressure-filled night was still waiting just beyond this point.

---