Chapter Five: Late night stroll with a side of punch

"Manager, we need more fries." "Manager, the cash drawer needs more change." "Manager, the menu screen broke again." On and on and on... The day slowly and painfully turned to night. How many years have I done this now? Life has a habit of passing by when you're stuck in doing the same thing over and over again. "Manager, that girl of yours is back, and she's asking for you."

Girl of mine? What girl? Oh, right, that shrine maiden did say she would come back. Wait... that employee wasn't even here earlier. Don't tell me they all talk badly about me behind my back. That hurts. Well, not really. I really don't care what some part-time teens think about me. I know what kind of mess I am, and quite frankly, it would surprise me if they feel the same way.

I checked the time, and it was about 1:00. Well, I guess it's closing time, so I might as well humor her. I walked out to the front, and that shrine maiden was the only one there. She was patiently standing by the front door, arms crossed. As soon as she saw me, she quickly walked up to me. "I've been waiting long enough. Take me to your house."

"You should probably take someone to dinner first before you ask them that?" "What?" she looked at me with a puzzled expression. "Phrasing. Think about what you just said." She took a second to think about it, then her face turned bright red. She then punched my arm. "You know, damn well that's not what I meant!"

"I know. You just want that weird marble thing, right?" "Yes! Now take me to..." There was a short pause as her face reddened more. "Just give me the stupid wishing orb." "Yeah, yeah. Let me lock up first." "Fine! I'll be waiting outside. And don't you dare try to run away!" She then stormed out the front door.

Man, kids these days are quite the handful. I grabbed my keys and made sure all the doors were locked, then headed to the front where she was waiting for me. "You, done." "Yup. I hope you're ready for a long walk." "Walk? Wait, you don't drive?" "What makes you think I can afford a car?" "But you're a..." She stopped herself from saying it, but it was obvious she was going to say 'manager'.

To be naive enough to think that I get paid well. We started walking towards my house. "I'm sorry, I asked." Why is she feeling sorry? Maybe she believes that it hurt my feelings? Well, it's not like I have those anymore. "Look, the last thing I want is a kid like you to feel sorry for me."

She stopped walking. "I'm not a kid!" I stopped and looked at her. "You sure look like one to me." "I'm an adult! I'm... just short." "Suuuree." "I'm being serious. I'm..." "What, is the kid too ashamed to admit her real age?" Without missing a beat, she punched me in the arm.

"Age is just a number. Okay." "Yeah, so is a jail sentence. I mean, I am the one taking a considerable risk escorting you around at this hour." She punched me in the arm again. "Domestic violence much?" She quickly turned her head and then started walking in front of me. She was clearly trying to hide her embarrassment.

Why was she trying so hard to act like an adult? Being an adult sucks. We got bills, terrible bosses, debt, and we never get any sleep. Whatever, trying to understand someone is not something you can do when you've just met. We walked in silence for quite a distance until I finally remembered that I had that marble in my pocket.

"Hey, um... shrine maiden?" She stopped walking but didn't turn around. "My name is Akari." "Okay, Akari, don't be angry, but I forgot that I had that marble thing in my pocket this whole time." She turned around with eyes full of rage. "You what?!" She started stomping her way towards me while clenching her fist.

"Look, I'm sorry it was an honest mistake." She didn't stop and kept coming towards me. I quickly reached into my pocket and then showed her. "Look, see." The marble in my hand shattered completely, and a strong wind blew the glass shards out of my hand. Did I break it when I sat on it?

Oh, no, she's going to be pissed. I slowly looked up at her and noticed her face wasn't angry but shocked. "You used it?" "Used what?" "The wishing orb!" I don't even know how to respond to that. "Indeed, he did." Another voice came from beside us. I looked over to see the large fox. "Miki, what's the meaning of this?"

"He has become a participant in the wishing game." "But I told you that I don't want to drag anyone else into this." "I understand, Akari, but he did so out of his own free will." Akari looked right at me. "Is this true?" "Wait, that fox isn't a hallucination?" Akari looked shocked at what I said, and immediately stomped her way over to the fox.

"This is what I was talking about, Miki! You shouldn't drag random people into this." "But I didn't drag him. He had a wishing orb and asked for a wish." "Did you ask her for a wish..." She paused once she realized she didn't know my name. "Um... manager," she said in a quiet voice. "I don't think I did?"

Wait, did she just refer to me as manager? Well, I guess my heart and soul are apparently just a manager. "Manager, you wished for Seiji's daughter to be healthy again. Though you did not have enough wish points to make that wish. I, at the very least, made her pain subside." Great, now she's calling me Manager.

"Wait, you can actually cure Seiji's daughter?" "Of course, Manager." "Wait, you made a wish and joined this game without even knowing what you were doing?" Akari asked. "I guess so. I mean, who would have thought that your sleep paralysis demon would grant you wishes?" Akari began rubbing her forehead. "I don't even know where to start with this mess."

"Well, you can start with the participant approaching us," The fox said. Both Akari and I turned to look down the street to see a man in white knight armor approaching us.