Chapter 13: Priceless Cost【P3】

Jiro

[No luck at the OBP today, will try later! How’s your head?]

Still unread.

Maybe... Renji is already sleeping…

‘19:18’

Sayoko

“Meat!”

“Fish!”

“Meeeat!”

“Fi—”

Like cavemen dividing up the spoils of a hunt, they hunker over a cooler filled with crushed ice. The deceased fish stare up at them in horror.

Tags stand in the icy graves like tombstones.

‘7.7 Stars’, ‘7.1 Stars’, ‘8.6 Stars’

A golden fillet sizzled in browned butter with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice on top, flaking apart under a fork...

I turn around before I can finish my mind banquet.

Music loops overhead like some new method of psychological torture. People drift past with downcast eyes, sealed inside their own bubbles.

Some shoppers sweep things into their baskets without slowing. Others linger by the shelves as if choosing a new car, turning every package over before putting it back.

I pivot to the right, stepping into the artificially sweet scent of the bakery aisle.

‘1.5 Stars’, ‘2.5 Stars’, ‘2.1 Stars’

A loaf goes into my basket, masking its emptiness.

“How about we add some nagaimo for the hot pot?”

“Yeah! That’s the best idea ever!”

“Or—how about these yummy-looking mushrooms?”

“Wait. No, that is the greatest idea ever!”

“Man, what if we try—”

“Whatever you’re about to suggest, I already know it’s going to be the absolute—”

The two boys continue to blurt over the vegetable trays. Each snatches up a new piece of produce to praise it like a cult member before discarding it without looking.

Nothing of relevance here either.

Near the entrance, the self-checkout line creeps forward to a chorus of scanner beeps and low chatter.

A shelf on my left catches my eye as I pass.

‘1.1 Stars’, ‘1.5 Stars’, ‘1.3 Stars’

I shuffle forward in the winding line until an empty terminal opens up.

Beep.

…

Beep.

A tap of my student ID card serves as the final ingredient to clear the checkout, triggering the plastic gates to swing open. Only the sliding doors stand between me and the evening wind trying to break its way inside.

Let me help you.

Jiro

This does not look so bad. Considering you close your eyes most of the time anyway.

I face the bench and channel the real estate agent from my past life.

Excellent ventilation. Sought-after location. Minimalist layout.

Do not worry, valued client. The passing crowds are only an evening thing. By night, it is as quiet as a bankrupt mall.

A pillow could go right there, near the end…

Crouching, I plant the takeaway box on the armrest-turned-nightstand and pull out my phantom tape measure, scanning the wood from a better angle.

Exactly how many Jiros can this premium unit sleep? One, if you curl up into a human shrimp. One and a half, if you do not mind your shins dangling over the armrest.

A streetlight flickers to life, glaring into my eyes like a stadium spotlight and forcing a quick squint.

That… could be a problem.

I catch the last bite from the box with the chopsticks and push up, flicking the empty container into the trash can with two fingers.

Thanks for the viewing. But I will need to consult my spine first before making a final decision on this fixer-upper.

…

Maybe I should just fully commit to going back to nature…

Sayoko

The streets grow more treacherous as the fading light blurs the pavement ahead.

At least the map on my phone is a reliable ally. I take another look for the next turn.

Coming up…

Sparrow Park…

I glance out from under the umbrella and to the side, then cross the street.

Somehow, the mere thought of searching for another rock to sleep on already exhausts me.

A group of skaters in mat

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Discover what happens next in: Chapter 14: Hostile Ally【P1】

Written by Limited_Infinity. Extras, official publishing platforms and updates are publicly available only on the Patreon page “_Limited_Infinity_”

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