Versatile: Alternate World

Those voices in the inner room of the izakaya are both familiar voices.

"Are those two here, pops?"

??

"Yes, they arrived not too long ago and ordered the "usual". They are also in the usual spot too. You can go there with her since it is a big room anyway."

"Thanks pops, oh, and also, bring us two of the usual and two servings of the specialty too. Please double the usual servings for my food while keep the second plate the normal serving since it is for her. Add some of the tops on the specialty too."

"No green peppers right? Got it, please wait for a bit."

After ordering the food for both of us, I push Pandora's wheelchair and went through the tables, and went into the closed rooms. Although it is not really closed, there are walls that separate you from the other customers of the izakaya and it is useful if you want to have it if you are drinking with your friends. I remembered Pops remodeled the Izakaya to be much bigger and easier to move around due to the booming business. It has the feels of the same izakaya but it is much easier to move around compared to the time Pops did not renovate the place. So if you compare it to the normal izakaya, this place would look like a small eatery instead.

As expected, the usual spot where we usually eat is occupied by two individuals I already know much.

"Yo! I tried to contact you but somehow but the kids in your house said that you are out. Who would have thought you would be with a girl? That is kind of unexpected especially since it is you, Manato!" Janus said while grinning from ear to ear.

"Damn, you scored a pretty girl like me, boy! Good job! As your first female friend who watched you grow from a snotty boy to a full-blown man, I am proud of you!" Riko grinned and raises a mug of pineapple juice up in the air while giving a thumbs up.

"PROUD MY *SS! I am not dating Pandora, Riko, we are just friends and her brother entrusted me to take care of her for the time being."

"Eh, so she is Pandora? Hey there, Pandora! I am Riko and this guy here is Janus. We are Manato's friends ever since we are kids. Is this guy here treating you right? He can be an *sshole sometimes so please bear with him please."

"Yep, the name's Janus! You can call me Janus! Yep, that is also my nickname! Very unique right?!" Janus grinned but Riko throws a water bottle to Janus' head, causing him to fall from his chair and slump into the floor. Not only that, the water bottle sticks for a few seconds on his face before it fell to the floor and leaving the red face of Janus with the shape of the water bottle imprinted on his face.

["Hello! My name is Pandora. Manato is nice to me and he treats me nice. You guys don't need to worry."]

When Pandora raise her sketchbook after writing, Riko didn't expect to know her situation while Janus managed to recover from the attack Riko made and returned.

"Don't be surprised guys. She is mute and she had some sickness that I have no idea what since her brother won't tell me. So if you guys want to communicate with her, be gentle with your voices, even though she is not deaf but we should be considerate to her and stop being so loud once in a while especially you, Janus."

"Hey! Why me? Riko is also a-" Janus did not finish his sentence when he spotted Riko smile and the rib bone she was holding was snapped into two. I can only shake my head on Janus to stop what he was saying because it will only cost him half of his life if he continues.

"Well, who cares if she is a mute? She is still fine and can still communicate to us and that is a good way! Don't worry about this boys, girl. With me here, these boys will receive a bonk if they misbehave."

We stayed silent as we don't want to suffer from the hands of Riko. We still wanted to live.

"E-ehem...Alright, Manato and Pandora should join us for lunch, we just started eating so you guys can still join us, the more, the merrier!" Janus said to change the topic.

"That's the plan. Besides, Pandora still hasn't eaten the food made by Pops. It would be great if she also eat some good food made by him. We just ordered back there and I bet it is almost done."

And as expected, Pops appeared and has a big tray of food in the plate. Not only that but he also brought the dessert that I ordered for me and for Pandora who hasn't tasted the food.

"Wow, Manato, have your appetite increased again? Isn't this double the amount of food you usually eat whenever we go here?" Janus was surprised.

"As I am a growing man, my food intake will also increase. That is nothing to be surprised about," I said.

"Call that bullcrap, I am also a growing man but I don't think I eat that much to be honest?" Janus was confused.

"Did you really think you and Manato has the same stomach, Janus? Your appetite is quite pitiful so you should learn on Manato's example! Look at you, you are so skinny I can blow you away from here with just one flick!" Riko said.

"Yes, yes, don't worry, I will eat a lot. Pops, another serving for my food!" Janus almost went to panic after hearing what Riko just said.

Our lunch became quite a good time and even Pandora who was not part of our circle of friends and just joined recently became quite a buddy to Riko already. And she was delighted that the food that Pops cooks are up to her tastes.

We are still busy chatting and eating when all of a sudden, we heard a few screams ringing out inside the izakaya.

"OH? THIS AREA IS QUITE SPACIOUS AND GOOD TO DO SO WHILE THE OTHERS WILL DEAL WITH THE BANK. MY PLAN IS GORGEOUS AS ALWAYS THAT I DON'T THINK I WILL FAIL ON THIS ONE! HAHAHA!"

My eyes squinted when I heard of the voice. I may not be in this situation before but I still remember what this situation was. It was the robbery of a local bank and the jewelry stores nearby. It was a huge event since not only does this particular group did robbed the whole area, but they also take the whole street here and all the establishments and people who were there during that time were captured as hostage. I also remembered that Riko gained a massive injury on her head after she was bashed in the head by one of the members. Thankfully, she was able to survive but she was bedridden for a week due to the injury.

This incident also caused Pops to stop cooking for good due to his arm injury after the boss of this syndicate tried to take the store by force but Pops stops him which enraged him and caused him to harm Pops which ended the career of Pops as a cook of an izakaya.

Yes, the syndicate group, Freedom Sky. Their name was quite the opposite and I heard that this was the biggest hostage taking and robbery done in this area for the longest time. It took two days for the situation to be resolved. I didn't expect this situation to happen while I am with Pandora!

I can hear the sound of an arrogant man declaring something and doing some monologue like some sort of guy who owns the world or something. I only heard his voice in the television and he was currently using a megaphone that time so his voice is a bit different than what I remember but I can still compare them and they are almost identical.

"Oy, what do you think you are doing, young man?!" Pops' voice can be heard.

"Hey, someone is making trouble inside the Izakaya! The f*ck is going on?" Janus frowned.

"That's it, these bastards just ruined my appetite. I will talk to them," Riko stood up but then, someone came into our room and a few thug men holding some guns appeared.

"Hey, boss! I think I found a great bounty today! Look here! She is a looker right?" the thug then grinned with his disgusting smile. His eyes were locked straight to Pandora. Due to this, Riko can't hold it anymore and grab the nearest object she can grab and hurl it towards the bastard thug. What she just throw is the frying pan used to fry the rib meat that they ordered.

The frying pan that was known for being used to cook food, is now used as a weapon. Not only that, it was so effective that before the bastard thug can even react, one of his teeth fell from his mouth and his nose bleed the moment the frying pan landed on his face.

"You bastard! If there is anyone allowed to lewd Pandora, that previledge would only be applicable only to me! Your free trial of living has finally expired!"