Previous Chapter | Previous Footnote | Next Footnote

Aunt Minami and I went to a local discount store. It was my first time in a place like this; it was almost overwhelming seeing how much stuff was on sale. From food to toiletries to electronics to clothing to toys, basically anything you could think of was in stock. We didn’t have too much money on hand, but we were hopeful that we would end up with a good haul of stuff to bring back home. Aunt Minami and I looked at our shopping list, which was almost as big as the store itself. We’d need to scour this place from top to bottom!

We started with the food section. Everything was packaged in some sort of plastic or some other type of container—not like the food we usually had. I almost didn’t recognize it as food at first, because the types of food in stock were so different to what I would eat. Noodles in cups? Packets of curry powder? Chocolate shaped like mushrooms and bamboo shoots? Somehow, monster meat seemed normal to me compared to them. Minami looked ready to try it all.

Ooh, I know what you’d like!
What is it?
Cup ramen, seafood flavor! I know how much you like seafood.
Blegh! I’ve had enough of that. I’d like something different.
How about beef flavor, then? Haven’t tried that before, have you? And… Ooh, spicy ramen! Gotta get that for Toten and Carmen!
Huh, says we need to heat this in some boiling water…
Not to worry! You can always ask Carmen.

Aunt Minami filled our shopping cart with ramen, and, out of curiosity, candy. I’d never actually had anything as sweet as candy before, so I was excited to try it out.

Next was the healthcare section. We expected most of our shopping to happen here, since Hisoka, Aunt Yurika, and Uncle Tenkei had filled our shopping list with a bunch of healthcare items: bandages, gauze, latex gloves, and some painkillers as well, in case I or Hisoka or even Namako needed them. But there was one item on the list that confused Minami.

Pads?
Oh, I know what they mean. Let’s head to that section over there.

I led Aunt Minami to the women’s health section, and she looked quite confused.

I’ve never seen products like these before… What’s a “tampon”?
So, they’re looking for pads, right? They mean menstrual pads. Hisoka mentioned that she’s been having “cramps” lately, so she’ll probably need those.
These “pads” alleviate the cramps somehow?

I whispered in Aunt Minami’s ear.

Ohhh. I see. Your physiology is so confusing!

I put some pads in our shopping cart. Just one pack’s worth would be fine.

Aunt Minami and I went to the clothing section. There were aisles of clothes everywhere we looked; it was the most colorful section of the store so far. There were all sorts of clothes I couldn’t even name, and some that looked like they’d fit me. Finally, I thought, I’d be able to pick some clothes for myself. I didn’t hate the clothes I had on now, but it’d be great to expand my wardrobe a little.

Like a kid in a candy store, huh?
There’s so much to choose from! How about this? Or this? Hmm… Will we be able to afford it with our budget?
I guess a few clothes can’t hurt…

Just as I was about to pick some clothes out and try them on, I saw a familiar sight at the corner of my vision. I turned my head and there I saw him… He was wearing a different outfit from his usual gi pants, but I could recognize him.



Uncle Alchias?
Alchias?
Good day to you two.
What are you doing here? It’s not like you to shop… Unless you’ve got something planned.
I have come here not to “shop,” but to seek “safety.”
Safety? From what?

Uncle Alchias looked around. Though his face looked neutral to us, we could tell he was worried.

It appears that my “assailant” has not found me yet here.

Uncle Alchias steepled his fingers together.

I am “under attack.”
Under attack? Who’d want to attack you? You’re one of the strongest spirits in Tokyo!
That is precisely the “problem.” If I were to “retaliate,” that would lead to my assailant’s “demise,” and I would have ichor on my hands.
Who’s this “assailant” you’re talking about?
A few days after my release from prison, I received a “letter” from someone who claimed to belong to the “Komi Clan.”

I knew where this was going. I shuddered, but I couldn’t say much about the situation to Aunt Minami.

This individual has claimed that my actions in Shibaura-Minami Futo Park have put the entire spirit community in Japan, as well as the whole world, in “jeopardy.” They “threatened” me by stating that they would go after my “friends,” and, eventually, me. Indeed, Zakadochi has already told me about meeting with an “ornery” Komi Clan member.
That’s…horrible. I used to think you were insane, but even I wouldn’t go that far!

Uncle Alchias seemed to pause for a moment.

Ah, my apologies. I did not mean to “burden” you with this “knowledge.”
N-No, it’s nothing, Uncle Alchias! Thanks for letting us know! In fact, if you need our help, just ask!

Uncle Alchias nodded.

In that case, when you are done “shopping,” come to me.

He left, leaving me and Aunt Minami. The two of us continued our shopping spree, which took—I wanna say—an hour before we finished.

Previous Chapter | Previous Footnote | Next Footnote