SWNOVELXO Chapter 26: A Date
"Ahhghh!! What the hell are you doing, you psycho!?"
The hollering hooligan's outburst was met with a cold, unimpressed glare. "Can't you see you're bothering her?" Cassius said evenly, twisting the man's arm just enough to elicit another high-pitched shriek.
"Who even are you!?"
"Let go of Jacob, freak!" one of his friends yelled, though his voice cracked halfway through.
Cassius turned his gaze to the peanut gallery, who froze like deer in headlights. "Shut up," he said flatly, his tone as sharp as a knife. The wannabe tough guys visibly shrank, suddenly unsure if they wanted to continue their catcalling careers.
"Cassius…" Grace muttered, a mix of awe and relief flooding her expression. Her knight in slightly worn jeans had come to the rescue. Still, the intensity on his face gave her pause—it was a little too much, like he'd been fighting… monsters… instead of idiots.
Realizing he might've overdone it, Cassius released the blonde guy's hand and gave him a swift kick to the rear for good measure. The man hit the ground with a yelp.
"Scram," Cassius ordered, his voice as cold as winter frost. The hooligans exchanged nervous glances before fleeing with bruised egos and possibly a few bruised body parts. One couldn't resist yelling back, "You'll regret this!" as he tripped over his own feet.
Cassius sighed and turned back to Grace, his expression softening. "So, what do you wanna eat?" he asked, attempting to shift the mood.
Grace blinked at him, then broke into a dazzling smile. "There's this sushi place I've been dying to try, but my parents wouldn't let me. Want to go there with me?"
Her bright, hopeful expression was enough to knock the wind out of him. How could he say no to those puppy-dog eyes? "Sure," he said with a small smile. "Lead the way."
Grace giggled, the earlier incident already forgotten, and practically skipped ahead of him. She paused a few steps later and turned back, her cheeks pink. "By the way… thanks for helping me back there. You were… really cool." She stumbled over the last part, turning redder by the second.
Cassius chuckled, jogging to catch up. "I didn't get the chance earlier, but you look lovely today," he said. "Though, honestly, you didn't need to dress up for someone like me."
Grace nearly tripped over her own feet. "Wha—this? It's nothing special!" she sputtered, staring at her shoes as if they were suddenly fascinating.
Then her gaze darted to the wooden sword strapped to his back. "Uh… about the sword. Why are you carrying that around? It's kind of… unique."
Cassius glanced at it and shrugged, shifting its weight on his shoulder. "I've been getting into a new hobby. Hope you don't mind me bringing it."
Grace waved her hands frantically. "No, no! It's cool—really cool! Like… like you're some kind of modern knight or something…"
Her voice trailed off into an unintelligible mumble, but Cassius caught enough to grin. "Modern knight, huh? I'll take it," he said, reaching out to pat her on the head.
Grace froze, her cheeks turning scarlet as steam practically poured from her ears. "Wha—you can't just—"
"Too late," Cassius teased, his hand still on her head. "You're officially knight-approved."
Behind them, a dark aura loomed as Aya, draped in black like a discount ninja, gripped the metal pole she was hiding behind. 'Ugh, they're not even holding hands! What is this, a Hallmark movie?' Her eyes narrowed, and the pole creaked under her grip. 'And I was saved by him too! She's not special! I've known him longer, anyway…'
Grace snapped back to reality as they arrived at their destination. Cassius stopped in front of a neon sign that read "Sushi Haven." It wasn't fancy enough to be high-end, but it was leagues above the average chain.
"This the place?" he asked, glancing at Grace, whose wide eyes sparkled as she took in the restaurant.
"Yep! I've always wanted to come here!" she said, practically bouncing with excitement. Cassius couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. He reached out and ruffled her hair again, earning a muffled squeak.
"Seriously?" Grace muttered while pretending to swat at his hand. "You're treating me like some fluffy pet…"
"If you hate it, just say so," Cassius said, laughing as he moved to pull his hand away.
To his surprise, Grace grabbed his wrist and held it in place, her face a shade of red that could rival a fire truck. "I didn't say I hated it…"
Cassius blinked, then smiled, deciding not to push his luck. "I see," he said with a playful chuckle, letting her keep his hand where it was as they headed inside.
Aya, meanwhile, growled from her hiding spot. 'This isn't over, Grace. Just wait until he sees how much more girly I am!' She crushed the pole in her grip, startling several bystanders who immediately turned and walked the other way.