It didn't take long for Shu to reach the front of the line.
There was only a single payment QR code displayed on the counter. The ubiquitous "scan to order" apps from before the Great Eruption simply didn't exist yet.
Currently, Spark was still just a forum network used for basic communication, posting commissions, and general announcements.
Otto hadn't even open-sourced the network architecture yet, so how could commercial web applications possibly exist?
However, that would likely change soon. After all, managing an entire city's worth of people without open-sourcing some network APIs would be incredibly inefficient.
Behind the counter, the Twintail Girl, the Glasses Girl, and two or three other members of the "Kiana Energy Replenishment Station" fan club were frantically operating the machines.
Looking at the number of customers waiting nearby, Shu understood why.
It seemed they were incredibly busy.
"What would you like to order?" The Glasses Girl, having finally finished her previous order, found a second to take Shu's request.
Shu glanced at the menu, entirely ignoring the drinks with bizarre, overly complicated names.
"One pearl milk tea," Shu said, glancing at the ice maker behind the counter. "Room temperature."
The Glasses Girl nodded quickly, grabbed a pen, scribbled on a sticky note, and slapped it onto one of the machines.
Shu stepped aside to wait, his attention drawn to the sticky note.
It had barely been there for two seconds before another employee snatched it off, glanced at the order, and expertly grabbed a cup. They added the boba, poured the tea, and ran it through the sealing machine with practiced efficiency.
In little over a minute, his milk tea was placed on the counter in front of him.
"Thank you," Shu said out of habit. He grabbed his drink and stepped away, making room for the next customer.
The counter was immediately swarmed again. Shu carried his milk tea over to the lounge area and found an empty seat.
He watched the projector screen for a moment. Seeing a giant Arahato Unit-01 raising a hand to protect Shinji Homu, Shu's expression stiffened. He lowered his head and stared at his drink.
I miscalculated. This isn't a classic work.
I'm absolutely recommending this movie to Joachim.
He grabbed the straw, ready to puncture the plastic seal on his cup, but froze the moment he actually looked at the design printed on the film.
He stared at the combat-ready silhouette of Kiana printed on the seal, then slowly turned his head to look back at the counter in deadpan disbelief.
They even snuck in their private merch?!
Now he understood why this group was so enthusiastic about running the shop.
Shu let out a soft chuckle. Carefully avoiding Kiana's silhouette, he found a blank spot on the plastic film, pierced it with his straw, and took a sip.
Hmm... It tastes like completely normal milk tea.
Savoring the taste, Shu slowly leaned back in his chair, feeling himself relax slightly.
The flavor was incredibly ordinary. Although Shu had never tasted milk tea from this world prior to the Great Eruption, he deduced it must have tasted exactly like this.
But right now, this ordinary, mundane flavor was incredibly rare and precious...
Chewing on the straw, Shu gazed toward the counter.
The anime dialogue served as background music, while the chaotic chatter of the crowd was the main attraction. Everything before him was lively and bustling, evoking a sense of longing for the days when the Honkai hadn't yet destroyed the world.
How wonderful...
A world like this.
Picking up the two movies he had selected and holding his milk tea, Shu walked over to the main register to check out.
He paid swiftly and efficiently. Without making any extra small talk with Yae Sakura behind the counter, he took his bagged items, turned, and walked out the door, exactly like an ordinary customer.
Standing outside, Shu glanced back at the shop one last time.
The next time he came here... he would probably look very different.
Yeah, tomorrow sounds good.
He'd go have a chat with Otto later to get his story straight regarding the store's development over the past half-month. Then he'd ask Otto why he arranged for Bianka to enroll in the school... Hmm, now that I think about it, I have quite a few questions for him.
Take it slow. No rush.
...
"You're saying... Bianka enrolled in St. Freya as well?" In his office, Otto's eyelids were half-drooping, his entire demeanor radiating an aura of someone who was about to ascend to the next plane of existence.
Combined with his slightly sunken cheeks and the heavy, dark bags under his eyes...
"Never mind that for a second." Shu solemnly set his milk tea cup down on the desk, staring intently at Otto. "Are you taking drugs?"
Otto: "?"
He subconsciously licked his cracked lips, trying to moisten them with what little thick saliva he had left to ensure his skin wouldn't tear when he spoke.
He had been so busy lately he literally forgot to drink water, and now Shu was coming in here accusing him of smoking crack?!
"Sigh... I know you're under a lot of pressure, but you shouldn't resort to that kind of stuff, you know?" Without giving Otto a chance to explain, Shu put on a deeply pained expression and began earnestly lecturing him.
Otto felt murderous intent rising in his heart.
Current Otto had absolutely no energy to play games with Shu. Right now, his mind was filled with nothing but work.
Work.
And more damn work.
One had to understand that the current state of Arc City was basically indistinguishable from a post-war reconstruction zone. Personnel management, community zoning, selecting locations for crucial infrastructure...
The livelihood and safety of over ten million people rested entirely on Otto's shoulders. Before the Great Eruption, this workload would have required an entire government cabinet to manage.
And he was doing it alone... All alone!
Right now, Otto was a walking powder keg. Even if Kallen were here, she would have to tread lightly, serve him tea, pour him water, and gently coax him into resting.
But this guy!!
Otto stared murderously at the milk tea in Shu's hand, his eyes so cold they could have added two extra ice cubes to the drink.
"Ah..." Finally, Otto spoke, forcing out a voice so ragged it barely sounded like him.
"So the esteemed Captain has graced me with his presence... My friend, you seem to be in exceptionally high spirits lately. Enjoying yourself, are we?"
Shu dropped the act in one second flat, returning to the deadpan, emotionless expression he wore half a month ago.
Otto scoffed coldly, capped his fountain pen, took a deep breath, and slumped back into his chair in utter exhaustion.
"So? What instructions does our enlightened Lord Shu have for me now?" Otto didn't even look at Shu; he just stared blankly at the ceiling of the office that was rapidly becoming his prison.
"Hmm... How about you take a break first?" Compared to Otto's current state, Shu felt that his questions were completely trivial.
If this kept up, Otto was genuinely going to die of cardiac arrest before Dr. Schrödinger even got the chance to assassinate him!
"A break? I appreciate the sentiment." Otto chuckled dryly. "But with the weight of an entire city and ten million lives resting on my shoulders, how could I possibly dare to rest?"
Huh? Have our roles completely reversed?
Shu vaguely remembered that just over a month ago, Otto was the one desperately trying to coax him into taking a break with the exact same exasperated tone.
Back then, Shu hadn't resolved his internal trauma, and Yun Mengxi hadn't yet delivered her massive gift.
And now...