Shopping

Sun shone through the window as my alarm gently shook me awake. I slammed my glasses on my face and swiped the alarm away into hopefully the hell it deserves.

Screens popped up and a message wishing me a good morning sprouted up near the ceiling.

“Ack” It had to be this way, but god damn my mattress made my back feel like shriveled paper. It’s not like mattresses grew on trees and it was better than the rock hard concrete ground.

I swiped away a few pages, only glancing at the news; nothing, all the articles were the exact same as the night before.

Well whatever, not my problem. Long as I and that future mental asylum patient stayed far away from each other it did not concern me. Besides, what was the chance I ran into someone like that? Tokyo had millions of people after all.

I popped the radio on and walked over to my dresser.

“Good morning Tokyo, this is MHK with the news for the day. Starting off, lead Fides researcher Daichi Umahina addressed reporters last night at the annual Akihabara exhibition.”

My ears perked up. Daichi Umahina was a legend, one of the founders of the Truth that created modern Tokyo. Last I’d heard he was shut away in some research lab working on some classified project, it’d been years since he stood on a stage.

“The Taito based researcher hinted at a quote ‘revolutionary product that will change the fabric of Tokyo and lead the city into a new age.’

While details are unknown at this time, Daichi Umahina assured reporters that news about the project would be revealed sometime in the near future.

In other news, construction has begun near…” I slid my glasses off and set them aside. There was time later to get caught up on whatever.

My door creaked as I forced it across the hallway. That surprise at the market yesterday made me completely forget about getting supplies after work, leaving me here. Least I didn't have work today or this would have been a hassle.

One rickety elevator ride later and fresh air filled my lungs. Swarms of people walked around in the hazy street, not speaking a word to each other, pretty much par for the course.

Part of me was a bit hesitant to head anywhere near the market. After all, who knows what else someone could have planned. These people didn't think rationally, hitting the same market two times in a row would probably sound like a great idea for someone not thinking rationally.

The familiar shouting of salesmen was all that was there to greet me, however, Nothing resembling a rebel in the slightest.

Let's see, honestly, there wasn't too much I really needed. Just some food to store in Kono’s fridge and whatever I could get away with storing in my apartment. If I wanted to save the cold stuff for last, then it would be best to-

“MAKOTO!”

Running behind me like a bullet was Akane, her face as if she’d seen the sale of a lifetime. She skidded to a halt less than a foot from me, looking as if she ran a marathon.

“What the heck happened to you?” Bruises covered her arms like someone slammed them with a hammer.

“Dad sent me out last night to check on the trash… only for me to trip and tumble down the stairs like a ragdoll” She slightly grinned and rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment.

“Happens to the best of us.”

“Nope, I'm special that way.” She laughed. “Anyway, I'm assuming you're in the middle of a shopping trip.”

“Yeah. Didn’t have time yesterday, so here I am.”

“Can I tag along? Dad needed me to pick up a few things and I could use the company.

“Well, who would I be to say no.”

She happily skipped up to my side. “Great! Anyway, it's been a nightmare recently finding good deals! Stuff has been skyrocketing recently and I can't find a single reason why.”

“Yeah, I noticed that yesterday while getting some stuff for Kono.” A year ago that spark plug would have gone for half the price we paid at most. Maybe there was more to it than just gas guzzlers going out of style.

“It's crazy, part of me fears coming here because of the prices alone. It's a wonder this place is still so packed despite that.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “People need food after all and Utagai Market has a practical monopoly around here shopping wise.” The lack of rules or restrictions would keep anything from replacing it as well.

“Well, nothing we can do. Time to get a heart attack for every price we see.” Akane smiled and skipped along towards the stalls.

She raced like a hoverbike to every single one, chatting the owners up. It was all I could do to keep up with her neverending pace. Well, it was Akane after all, she’d been like this ever since we met.

“Oo Makoto, look at this one!” She pointed towards one of the stalls with a blue cover. Shiny appliances littered the table. Knives, mixing bowls, portable stoves, everything I could think of in the realm of cooking was displayed in neat little rows.

“Our blender recently kicked the bucket, so I’ve been looking everywhere for one that wasn't too expensive, granted these days that's a fool's errand.” Akane sighed. “ Well if I look hard enough I’m bound to eventually come across one.”

“That's the spirit.”

Akane walked over to the stand, smiling at the owner. A man in his late thirties. “What can I get you two ladies?”

“Ladies?” I asked, face flushed.

“Yes? Would you prefer me to call you something else?”

“I’m a dude!”

His face froze for a second. “Oh, I am so sorry.” He turned a bit red as he realized his mistake.

I swear, I didn't look that much like a girl! Well, I guess there was Akane’s dad yesterday, and now this…No, it was just a coincidence, no other explanation.

“Anyway, do you have any blenders?” Akane asked.

“Blenders? Let me check.” He kneeled down and rummaged under his stall. “Here we are.”

He pulled out a clear box with a glass bowl of sorts inside. Beneath it was what looked to be a gray cylinder with a dial on it and two sharp blades affixed to the top.

“That looks perfect! How much?”

“45,000 yen, doesn't get much cheaper than that these days!”

“F-Forty five thousand? I’ll pass this time, thank you though.”

She turned to leave and then froze, staring intently at something on the table. “Actually, how much is that?” She pointed to a beat up set of utensils, with Chinese dragons carved into them in black.

“This cutlery set? 5,000 yen. It's not in the best of shape though. I got ones in better condition for a similar price rang-”

“I’ll take it.”

“You sure? I’m never going to say no to a sale, but these won't last you very long. I was honestly planning to trash them within the next week or so.”

“I just really like the dragons, don't you think they look great Makoto?”

“Huh? Oh yea, I really like the design.”

“Well, no reason for me to say no to your money.” The shopkeeper slid a computer lens out of his pocket and placed it on his eye, Akane doing the same.

A few seconds later both took their lens’s out with happy expressions on their faces. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

“You too. Come on Makoto.”

At this point, our bags were full of supplies, and there weren't many stalls left that we hadn’t hit. Rush hour was in full swing, making it so you couldn't walk a step without running into a person or two.

“Anything else you need Makoto?”

“Think I am pretty much golden. Can’t think of anything else off the top of my head.”

“Great! Think I just got one more stall to hit if you can still handle my presence.”

“I think I’ll be able to hold out long enough, just barely though.”

Akane’s face burst into a grin. “You must have some next level willpower then. Oh, that's the last stand I need!”

She gestured to one on the opposite side of the street. While most of the shops set up here, a few set up across the road due to the lack of space and not wanting to set up in a back alley. If their goods were legal it was the best alternative.

“Mommy!” My head turned at the sudden shriek. A kid collapsed on the ground with his foot caught on a crack on the road, and the sound of a hovercar rapidly approaching.

“Hold this!” Akane thrust her bag towards me and took off.

She darted between the crowd, practically a blur. It was all I could do to keep track of her as she sped towards the kid on the road. Was this the same Akane I knew, the klutz who could barely stay on her own two feet half the time? Part of me refused to believe it, but I couldn't exactly deny what was right in front of me.

Her body shot in the air as she bounced off a nearby stall into the clear road. At this point, the hovercar was in view and showed absolutely no signs of stopping, only blaring its horn like it was an addiction.

Just before the hovercar sailed through, Akane swooped down and pulled his leg out, leaving the shoe as they collapsed at the end of the road.

“Akane!” I rushed over once the coast was clear. She was gently rubbing her head while the kid in her arms slowly got up.

“I’m fine.” She looked up with that bright smile of hers as the kid’s parents rushed over.

After thanking her a billion times over they walked back towards the market, noticeably with a tight grip on their kid’s hand.

“It’s only around eleven, and I've already had more than enough excitement for the week.” Akane joked.

“That was enough excitement for the year, and I didn't even do anything.”

Akane smiled as we walked over to the stall she pointed out earlier. One transaction later and both of us were walking back with bags in hand.

“Think I'm going to check out the library after this actually.”

“Library?” Akane tilted her head in confusion.

“Yea, there's something that's been on my mind lately, want to come with?

“Sure why not. Not like I have much to do right now at home anyway and none of this stuff needs to get home anytime soon.”

“Great, let’s get a move on then.” Akane smiled and skipped along behind me as he headed out of the market.