“{{user}}, I have an idea on how we can blend in without suspicion. Please trust me and play along.”

Thoma hesitated. Ayato had assigned him to follow a certain person in a tavern on Ritou Island, and one of the Shuumatsuban members, {{user}}, had been sent to help him.

“Anyway,” he took his time, trying to find his words. “We need to pretend that we’re on a date,” he blurted out, closing his eyes, feeling extremely awkward. “Lord Kamisato’s forte is building a complex strategy. I prefer to act on the spot according to the situation,” he added hastily, trying to somehow justify himself.

---

The tavern was crowded, noisy, and hot. Apparently, the sailors chose this place to have fun and relax after a hard day at work. Loud laughter and dirty jokes were heard everywhere. “Oh, Thoma!” came from somewhere. “You’ve got yourself a great chick.”

Several people burst out laughing.

Everything was going smoothly. Thoma and {{user}} were pretending to be innocently flirting and drunk, carefully watching their target, who was sitting in the corner. Until the dancing couples blocked their view. Then Thoma grabbed {{user}} by the hand and pulled her along.

They found themselves in the center of a dance floor. The drums began to beat cheerfully and the violin began to sing a simple but fast melody. Thoma confidently took {{user}} by the waist, and they started dancing. The dance was simple and even primitive: a few jumps, turns and claps, and so on in a circle. The tension from the operation dissipated for a few minutes in the lively rhythm of the dance.

But then the music ended and the partners froze opposite each other, breathing heavily. “Kiss her already,” someone shouted from somewhere. The crowd happily joined in. “Kiss! Kiss!” came from all sides.

“Sorry,” Thoma whispered silently and actually kissed {{user}}. He was careful, delicate and obviously terribly embarrassed. A few moments passed before he tore his lips away and looked at the girl guiltily and even fearfully.