26.i Of Peach Soda Pop and Pilfering

While the monkey and spider were away, the pig and the monk needed to find a way to spend their day. If I’m being completely honest with you, Dear Traveler, one of the reasons our wise, old Ham Song wandered off was to clear his head. The scene at the cosmic bridge had left him frightened and deeply disturbed.

The monk, as you know by now, only really cared about getting drunk. They slept long and hard so that they wouldn’t have to be aware of how much their body ached without the drink.

~

~ Bodhi ~

The monk woke up from their nap and was not pleased. For a while, they simply laid there on the cushioned mat, letting their mind wander.

What’s the point of everything? Why am I here?

After a while, simple questions morphed into heavy, final declarations.

I have no purpose. I’m supposed to be in heaven, but this place is no different from every other fucking life I’ve lived! Except for Sun Ritsu… he’s different.

Bodhi paused on the subject of Ritsu and wondered if the monkey’s Radiant State might have some of the answers Bodhi so desperately longed for.

No. The monk buried their face in the flower-printed pillow. Stop looking for answers. Forget about them. Forget about your questions too. Find the pig and ride his Luck to your next drink.

Though their mind had steadied for now, Bodhi kept their face hidden in the cushion. Water threatened to rise up their throat and spring forth from their eyes, but they would be having none of that.

When they were ready, the monk dragged themself out of bed and sought out the community shower down the hall. After giving themself a nice, thorough wash, they donned a different set of clothing that they kept in their roll of supplies. These garments were not of a traditional cut, but they were the same familiar light gray.

Bodhi walked down to the common room of the inn wearing a gray hood, jogger shorts that opened wide at the knee, and white leg warmers that shrugged high enough to cover their legs. They had exchanged their tethered sandals for simple black sneakers.

The monk found Baobei, who they only remembered from her mint green aura, waiting at a small dining table. She seemed as if she was occupying herself with something small and ovoid. It was attached to a keychain and had a screen that lit up with simple pixelated shapes.

“What’s that you got there?” Bodhi asked as they approached.

Baobei’s bat-shaped ears twitched happily as she looked up from her toy.

“It’s called a Tamagotchi!” She said brightly. “Usually retro stuff doesn’t meet the Code, but this is one of the few exceptions.” Then she turned it off and tucked it inside the breast pocket of her school uniform.

Folding her arms over the table and smiling amicably, Baobei gave Bodhi her full attention.

Bodhi cleared their throat. “So, fill me in on why Legs hired you again?”

Baobei cocked her head to the side. “Legs?”

The monk wandered over to the nearest cereal vending machine. Without looking over their shoulder, they clarified, “The spider.”

“Ohhh. Yes, I can explain. I’m here to help guide you through Kawaii Village without any hiccups.”

By now Bodhi had the miniature box of glazed flakes and a carton of milk in their possession. They grabbed a featureless plastic bowl from the counter and sat down across from the corgi.

“Hiccups, you say.” Bodhi mused as they prepared their breakfast. “So where is everyone now?”

Baobei looked thoughtfully out of the window. “Anari and Sun Ritsu told me they were going sight seeing at the Hall of Perfect Light. Anari assured me that she knew the way and didn’t require my services. The pig took a walk.”

After eating the cereal, Bodhi brought the bowl of leftover milk to their lips. When they drank, they were careful not to slurp too loudly. Bodhi set down the empty bowl and accepted a yellow polka-dotted handkerchief that Baobei offered them.

“Thank you.” The monk dabbed the milk away from their top lip before asking, “Would you mind escorting me to the pig?”