Chapter 3: Hunger! Black Hole Milo
Chapter 3: Hunger! Black Hole Milo
Wednesday, 1987/08/19 -- noon
"What about a proper lunch now?" Milo asked. "I'm a little hungry, you know..."
"That's no reason. You are always hungry. You know, it's expensive to feed you all the time!"
"Doesn't the Graude Foundation allow for the provision of the Saints you examine?"
"May I remind you that we completed your examination a while ago? Anyway, I'd have to fill in tons of papers to get money for stuff like this."
Himiko nodded. "Yes, all the red tape is a real pain."
"You should do so anyway. I don't want to starve."
"And what about the burgers you ate just a moment ago? And the Mars bars?" Makoto asked with raised eyebrows.
"They didn't help much. I prefer the stuff you cook."
"Was this truly a compliment?"
"I guess so," Milo admitted with a wry smile, that he immediately replaced by his best lost puppy gaze. "And do I get something now?"
"Why can't I just say 'no' when you look at me like this? -- Okay, okay, what do you want?"
"Something tasty!"
"If you dress a bit more nicely, we could go to a restaurant," Makoto suggested.
"Yeah! Be right back!" Milo teleported away, and it took no more than five minute until he returned, again clothed in a nice Greek looking ensemble with with, blousy tunic and tight black trousers. Too tight black trousers, to be precise.
Makoto looked pointedly at them. "So you haven't put on weight?"
"Hey, that's in today!" Milo claimed. "Anyway, doesn't it look better than lose fitting trousers?"
"It depends..."
"I think it looks sexy," Himiko said and tried to imagine Camus in this outfit. Nice idea... Of course this caused a new pink heart to pop up.
"I don't get it -- she sees me and still only thinks of Camus?" Milo grumbled when he followed the heart's path up to the ceiling where it burst.
"No one can compare to him," Himiko smiled soulfully.
"Now I really need something to eat to get over this constant disrespect."
They left the lab for a small and not too expensive restaurant in the vicinity. Many of the scientists from the Graude Foundation Research Labs went there when they didn't want to endure the infamous canteen fodder.
They entered the restaurant and first took a look at the wax models. Milo found them highly intriguing. But at least this gave him the chance to make a choice even though he couldn't read the menu. On the other hand, both of the choices looked slightly suspcious -- one of the models showed a whole fish among soup, zensai and rice, while the other contained some not so easily recognizable ingredients (plus soup and rice).
"I'll take menu 1, as usual," Himiko decided. She loved fish in any variety.
"I'll go for menu 2," Makoto said.
"The same for me," Milo nodded. When he only got chopsticks,
he would be totally lost with a whole fish.
They were directed to a low table, and a smiling waitress poured them green tea. Milo grimaced. Either he got used to green tea soon, he thought, or every meal would become an exquisite torture.
They waited for the food, and Milo looked impatiently around.
"Patience," Himiko smiled. "Comes time, comes food!"
"Comes time, comes greater hunger," Milo contradicted. He had to admit, though, when he sat down on the cushion, that his trousers were dangerously tight. He only hoped they survived this.
"Awwww..." Makoto giggled and tickled him in the side.
"Yikes!" Milo started. "You like unfair attacks!"
"Sure. You're too strong that I could attack you directly."
"You two act as if you were almost married," Himiko said wistfully. "Why can't my Camus-sama do this with me, too?"
"Camus is picky."
"I'm, too," Milo claimed.
"Why can't I believe you that?"
"But I chose you!"
"Because no one else was around."
"Himiko was there, too."
"You don't have the tiniest chance with her and you know that."
"I'd have every chance. I just have to change my name to 'Camus'!"
"I'm afraid I have to tell you that there are some more differences..."
"Okay, okay -- He's Aquarius Gold Saint and I'm Scorpio Gold Saint..."
"I thought more of the fact that he's handsome, slim, intelligent and has good manners," Makoto enumerated. But still she couldn't stand him, she added mentally.
"But that's true for me, too! I'm at least as perfect as he is!"
"That's your opinion..."
"Himiko -- what do you say?" Milo asked sulkily.
"Only my Camus-sama is truly perfect. No one can match him."
"I don't get it," Milo groaned. "Just look at me! Don't you see my excellence?"
"Nope." Makoto said after a long look.
"Then you should get some stronger glasses."
"Pah. Even with stronger glasses one can't see what isn't there."
"Milo, can't you convince my Camus-sama to accept an invitation to lunch or dinner?"
"As soon as he realizes who is behind the invitation, he will politely decline."
"Indeed. I don't think you can trick him that easily," Makoto pondered. "You have to devise a real cunning plan."
"Too bad," Himiko sniffed. "But I want him sooooo baaaad!"
"This is unbearable," Milo grumbled. "Camus, Camus... I can't hear it anymore."
"That's just pure envy," Makoto grinned.
"Why should I be envious only because there's one girl thinking fondly of him?"
"If I remember correctly, it's more than only one girl," Makoto pointed out.
"At least you are my woman," Milo stated smugly.
"I'm no one's woman but my own!"
"Pah!" Milo sulked.
"You always look absolutely sweet when you are sulking," Makoto said and tousled his hair.
"Why don't you give in to me then? Tell me what you want to me so that I can show you that I have every quality you demand."
"It's simple. You are not my type."
"And who is?"
"Well, someone else. And you are too young for me anyway."
"Don't say you would prefer a guy like DeathMask!"
"Certainly not," Makoto said shuddering. "Anyway, he's not much older..."
"He's 24! -- Don't tell me you would like someone as old as Saga or Aiolos!"
"I think their age would be better indeed."
"Oh dear," Milo sighed. "See it from the other side -- I'm still fresh and very active..."
"Maybe that's the problem..."
Finally the lunch was served, and Milo had once more difficulties to use the waribashi properly. At least this time he didn't break them. Himiko delicately broke her chopsticks apart and began to eat in a far more civilized manner than the other two together.
"By the way, who is next for our examinations?" Himiko asked. Makoto usually kept the schedule.
"I think it was Albatross Arythar, but we still have to call him. I only hope he's currently in Tokyo. Ah, finished..." Makoto put her chopsticks away.
Himiko looked at her colleague and shook her head. She had just finished the miso soup and the zensai. Milo asked for a second helping.
Finally they had all completed their lunch. Himiko paid at the cashdesk and they returned to the lab.
Milo told them he had to train now and teleported away. Himiko shrugged and looked at her purse.
"He will really eat us poor," she complained. "We have to find some work for him so that he can pay for himself."
"But what kind of work? I don't think he is able to do any well-paying work."
"Maybe we could hire him out as aerobic trainer or something like this."
Finally they arrived at the lab. "And now let's call this Albatross Saint Arythar."
