“Nope, it immediately fell right off the cliff.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZ2zEc2qLp
Any glimmer of light that shined on the young man’s mood was devastatingly eclipsed by storming dark clouds of unriddled annoyance.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbukCZD6pKw
The cause? Shikata’s current, and reoccurring, client.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5g2E2t6Dz
“So, you’ll never believe what happened next!” said a woman sitting across from our grieving protagonist. Caught up in the unfaltering tailwind of her flapping lips, she didn’t have an ounce of oxygen to spare so her brain could process the vacant stare she was receiving for her loose jaw, “You remember Omu, my co-worker, right? Well, I was talking to my friends and what they told me about what they heard, it’ll shock you to your core!”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvewc6wT3j
As a social worker, patience was a virtue required for people like Shikata. But like workers in every profession, they’re all human, and people have limits, it’s just a matter of how much does it take to reach the threshold.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EcsbthDWZ
“And I keep telling them about eating too much butter,” the woman continued. Her eyes widened up as if a revelation struck her and she changed her posture sitting down, “Sorry, went off topic a bit. I just wanted to get that off my chest quickly.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOscBePH4Xf
“She’s been talking for over forty minutes,” Shikata moaned to himself, he was pressing his fingers against his forehead to tend the aching migraine being evoked, “She didn’t leave a second for me to speak. Wait, did I even greet her properly or did she start talking the second I walked in?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAa5wkJ21m
This client’s name was Oshaberi Hako, a junior college graduate who was a few years out, and a very frequent requester for his counseling. If it wasn’t obvious enough, she was quite... talkative. Most of their time together felt like one-sided gossip sessions to Shikata and the idea of it possibly being true haunted the young man for a multitude of reasons. Hitting a point where he suggested they go to a cafe with an outside patio and discuss her current issue; at least then he can mellow out the experience with sweets.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeAgiW9NqX
An action he doesn’t personally recommend others.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTqQpF2qFU
But this was a special case, he’s desperate here.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLpvw6RgbU
Finally getting back on the subject, Hako said, “Back about my coworker.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kqyZ4LbJp
“Mmm oh god!” murkily groaned Shikata, it’s been a while since he felt every cell in his body cringe. Constipation has given him experiences more pleasant than this, and at least then once it’s over, it’s over and he can take proper precautions for prevention. Feeling like one was stuck in a looping effect would push the buddha to act out of their usual character, especially if they have been slowly declining from it for a lengthy amount of time.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeYPN04NdF
“Hm?” Haku asked, tilting her head in confusion. Thankfully his accidental outburst was muddily enough by incomprehensible noise that she didn’t hear him, “Something wrong?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp3oaS76Pu
Catching onto his mistake, Shikata quickly stammered a response.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIQNjkL8r8
“A- my apologies, I didn’t eat this morning. I was in a rush to leave,” he signals for the waitress so he can order something light and hopefully somewhat healthy, “I am actually pretty hungry. Really wish I had some melon buns right now. Hopefully, this place has some good flavors or at least is made properly.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSTcnAwkWX
“Oh, I can relate! I had my fair shares of stories like that- oh that reminds me of this one crazy adventure I had with my friend--”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHHPXWAwGA
“I think we should keep the conversation on why you called me this morning. It sounded important like an emergency.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyqX8kJJvn
“Oh, right, right! As I was saying, my coworker-”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74Y6fpIoOb
Thankfully they’re back on track, hopefully, Shikata mentally sighed to himself, “A close one. You know, it’s almost a shame.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCVAsMvUXw
He sat back to relax as he continued to listen to this woman, “She’s not a truly rotten person, just an exhaust pipe for unhealthy behavior. By the sound of it, she’s a dedicated worker and is quite the beaute as well; not that I have any interest in dating her or is allowed to, I’m not losing my job to chase a skirt. It’s just sad to see someone with such an enticing bait end up catching nothing because all potential takers get turned away from her hook the moment she opens her mouth… and it never closes!”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ga6380Emm
Usually, he would refrain from thinking such statements about the people he works with but this was an exception on the basis that it actually happened... multiple times… sometimes it’ll occur more than once within a single day.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfpQbx3Fas
Shikata has heard all kinds of crazy stories in his job, many of which made him question the human race’s existence, but even he felt like she exaggerated her experience in the last bit. He didn’t become a believer until he witnessed it himself, never before had he seen a highly attractive woman blow it with five different guys within the span of twenty minutes. If he wasn’t the one hearing her rants exposing how it was all unintentional, he would’ve honestly thought she was doing this on purpose as some sort of deterrent against men she had no interest in with excellent talent.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xmsC2gDSj
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyx7f9fX6FQ
“What the fuck am I doing with my life?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3yAgj9XFA
Reminding himself of that baffling event tanked his mind into questioning what he’s doing, hypocrisy is a grand pet peeve of his.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjD8pLE6dE
“I’m not some dump tank for idle gossip! This is not what I worked to be!”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDplvtA1ye
“So now my coworker is being snippy with me. My friend was so right about her! All this is making work a lot more stressful than it needs to be,” Hako stated, miraculously stopping so that someone else could get a word in.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUw6hajrhV
Seeing this as his chance, Shikata straightens his posture before speaking, “Well, Miss Hako, I think you might need to take a step back for a small analysis of your life and your actions.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJ3rAxTMm2
As he spoke, Hako seemed intrigued by his words. She intensely watched the gestures Shikata performed as he explained his advice and reasoning. Hako never said it out loud to not ruin the magic but it was always fun to witness him talk in such an articulate manner. It reminded her of her college days when she got lectures from professors or went to seminars.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbw8OLIcIl
“Right now, your focus regarding this issue should be on your job and how to maintain it at max efficiency. Your job is no longer at a Black Company and pays well for people in your age and skillset bracket.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUsbvdyt9l
“Yeah, it’s pretty ok working there. The workload isn’t too bad compared to my last job and I only get asked to stay for overtime only a handful of times a month.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvWATX6Fyw
“Which you’re paid for and are told about in advance.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspF6x6EaTa
“Yeah. My boss can be unbearably naggy though, it’s why I’m trying to avoid any problems on the job as much as possible. Besides that, he’s ok I guess.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRllbHK93EP
“That’s what I wanted to highlight. Right now you have a good thing going compared to people’s usual standard of just getting a serviceable job. It’ll be in your best interest not to ruin the opportunity you have by getting into unnecessary drama or letting minor issues get blown out of proportion into full problems.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV5ZyJJzdp
“Which is why I’m coming to you! You gotta help me, my friend is away so I can’t come to her for advice”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8a99lU3cKY
“Personally, that’s a good thing.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdLAuLk1tB
“What?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4YztPJs4R
“I meant, that might be for the best right now. Your friend, what was her name again?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFqMi24MLA
“Hebi.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdqgvxRfSz
“Hebi, right. She is quite a b-… Have you ever considered that Hebi may not be the best influence in your life, at least when it comes to your career?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4MB5xcDdG
“What do you mean?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDelVaArau3
“It seems like she has a habit of giving you advice that is not productive at all in solving any issues you have with your coworkers, or your job in general. In my honest opinion, I think she has done more to hurt the situation than help.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTye35HNPv
“How!? Can you name an example because she has always been a comfort to my issues; before you of course.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyYzgildQ9
“Well for one, how about the time she suggested you tell Miss Omu to, quote, eat shit and die if you ever ask me that again?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdw8wdQAm5
“It was because she said something rude! Hebi said to respond with the same tone back to show I’m not to be messed with, you know how often people try to dump their work onto others.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO1sstPYSH
Shikata took a quick moment to check his notes before stating, “All she asked was if you minded sending a few papers to the supervisor for her.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdo20pHgBP
“... I mean we started around the same time. Doesn’t seem right that she’ll feel so confident asking favors from me?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LRPqHYXKN
“See, that’s what I mean right there. Simple scenarios which can easily be solved by a civil discussed is being escalated way out of proportion and it’s not getting any better because the third party with very little hat in the ring is giving unhelpful advice,” pressing his fingers against his temple, Shikata asked, “Please think back Hako. Has anything Hebi advised resolved any issues you’ve had at work without immediately sparking several more pressing conflicts?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqYdOXKEPc
The young lady took a moment to think to herself before answering, “I don’t think so.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf0p9wxGnV
“That should be an indicator to start questioning if maybe the person you’re listening to may not be giving you the information you need to make your life better. I can’t dictate who you choose to socialize with but I can suggest being mindful of who you’re letting influence your life. There should be some consideration and boundaries when meshing people from your social life with your career life. Some friends may not have your best interest in mind when it comes to your career, it’ll be good to keep that in mind, you are the one who has to work there at the end of the day.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTlQezOuot
“I can see your point. But then what do I do when I have issues with Omu.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOqzazkiLe
“For one, you can talk to her directly. As I said before, this is your job and it’s a great one. It’ll be in your best interest to be able to discuss any issues you may have with each other before it starts getting in the way of your work. Omu seems reasonable enough to lend an ear. If that doesn’t work, you always have your supervisors or HR department to speak to. Or if it’s an issue that’s minor enough that they won’t look into it, I’ll suggest learning how to wave off the impact of her existence.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF3mFTMCc6
“Wave off her existence? You mean like, pretend she’s not there?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6URSN8XUGe
“Yeah, more like, not giving her your attention outside of what’s one-hundred percent necessary. You don’t need to be rude toward her whenever she speaks to you, that will cause more issues, just don’t bother with her as much as possible outside of essential moments. Keep conversions quick and with as few words as possible, of course, this is the last resort if you can’t get it initially solved. I do suggest trying to work it out first. You don’t need to get along with every person or coworker you have, being able to co-exist within the same room would do favors for everyone.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0E8P0sweE
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c4Tt0xBaf
Hako only took a moment to digest the advice before her eyes lit up, “You know what, you’re right!”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRLjxFDlJD
The perky young woman jumped to her feet in excitement, immediately running over to Shikata with joyful and confident eyes, “I’m going to do exactly that!”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvogNiRq0J
“Thank you Mr. Shikata, you’ve saved me once again!” she exclaimed, taking up the social worker’s hand and shaking it while bowing to show her gratitude, “This is why you’re always on speed dial, it sounds so much easier when you explain it!... Wow, your hands are still so tough.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35eW5hUL9B
Politely taking away his hand, Shikata tells her, “I hope you got the assistance you were looking for today.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCixPcpDVFV
“I sure did! I’ll be off right now, thank you!” she said before running off, as she slowly disappeared she called back, “I’ll report to you the good news next time, maybe then you’ll smile!”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzihPpxUzt
“We’ll see,” replied Shikata, rolling with the comment.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW1NzZmquv
“I won’t forget this!”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjTBVFmrtb
“Hopefully not.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72mgeavAmp
She went out of sight.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0pF5h88E8
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNHaW1VBNT
“She’s not going to learn anything is she?” Shikata told himself, furrowing his eyebrows. He looked down at the notebook he has whenever he had to talk with Hako, a lot of it was filled with harsh criticism that he would have to heavily filter if he wanted to say them to his client and not risk getting fired, “This was her third time calling me this week… what the fuck am I doing with my life.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyz2zrB0AK
He let out an exhausted sigh.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhBmrrRk6Q
Never before did he feel like his life was so inane with mundane acts.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2L4XX7BTX
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xCQ4vGMOe
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd7OE1NFHg
Dead silence has dominated the farm estate The Masked Wanderer was on.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7stCmjG6cq
The fighting was over, the threat was gone, and the land was calm once again. Yet, no one felt like a victory was earned.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q4gfVGH6H
Flowing up into the sky was a hail of red particles, reaching greater heights until they slowly faded out. The entire time, the wanderer stared up at the spectacle in front of her until it was finally over.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpV8QFEHlha
The wanderer then turned toward the woman she just saved.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL7TMiqL3X
All the devastation drained her capability to muster the energy to weep, she was just tired. So much was lost in a few minutes, it felt unreal, yet it happened, her life had a vibrant change.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYmKmEoLju
With nothing left to do, the wanderer unplucked her spear from the ground and made her exit without another word. While sad it was nothing new, traveling through this plane of existence one would see tragedies of all kinds.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmQJgzraXu
For a single being like The Masked Wanderer, there was only so much she could do for each case she stumbles onto.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnFvQPKsgI
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSQk57HxPq
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86EWN9wO8z
The walk through the streets dragged heavily on Shikata’s mind, what was objectively a successful session felt more like a defeat to the young cynic.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajLXdL0EZN
“You know, this isn’t exactly how I envisioned my life at this. When I became a social worker, I expected to be mending the wounds hidden deep in society by helping the hard cases, not this Saturday morning drama show,” he sighed.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5vJSPwcle
His mind wandered back to earlier in his day, the encounter with the old man at the train station stuck with him.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbdl0RJs0k
“Someone like that should’ve been the priority of my day.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rqhOlzdeB
As Shikata sluggishly strolled through the streets, he couldn’t help but notice the signs of struggle he noticed from the people he walked by.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIqGxhza3u
“Or that gentleman, his eyes are red, face was distraught, and why is a regular office worker out at this time; he probably got fired today. Or her, she’s overly flustering over her hair covering half her face; is she suffering a form of physical abuse from work or at home? Even that young kid over there weeping, there’s a university nearby from the direction he’s coming from and I think today was the day they announced who got accepted; must’ve failed to get in. People his age take it extremely hard whenever they don’t get into their desired schools, will he be able to handle it on his own, can anyone help him before he takes any unnecessary drastic actions?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjEfwBVMW0
He thought maybe he could help them. His body jerked toward one of the hurting people he passed by but halted as he had lost them. Those three weren’t the only person that showed signs of pain, it was a sea of people in anguish that awashed his vision. Each going their own way and fashion, getting further from his reach. Even with all his skills and knowledge, what could he do to turn the tide?
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QTETf68W0
The vacant eyes of Shikata stared up at the blue sky above him.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKPmy5qNRj
“I guess a helping hand can only be held so low.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUzn8RP7MF
At times, he questions if any efforts he makes at all matter or if it was a futile endeavor.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeBP0Gf1rO
“It’s like a waterfall, no matter how much I try to divert it, the water moves around my offered hands to fall into their fated destination. My attempted assistance could’ve been there or not, nothing would’ve changed, I’m only indulging myself in a pious play.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5zHVjYWRE
The world being so big and chaotic, it’s hard to see anything that can give it a moment of calm.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ1fBkUD5G
Could a dream achieve it be so foolish?
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYDzSPgd3p
His thought was interrupted when he heard the crunching sound of paper crumpling near him followed by a yelp and a thump. Looking close by he found a woman on the floor, her groceries laid out on the floor, and a small girl next to her who shared similar facial features.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf8G9gvKDb
Hearing her groan was practically a calling card for Shikata to come over. The young child was attentively asking her mother if she was ok only to see a man she’s never seen approach the both of them. Seeing his stoned face understandably frighten the child, the mother finally recovering from her fall looked first at her child to assure she was ok but trailing her sights up to what was rattling the girl. Their eyes mimicked each other, sharing the same unsettled display.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw54NtxEpP
“Are you ok?” Shikata asked as he bent down to help retrieve her groceries.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV9ZHiocMq
For a moment, the mother seemed surprised that she was being assisted by a stranger. Snapping out of it, the modesty in her made her move to help collect her items, “You don’t need to help… with… that.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpUKl4xJUj
Her words trailed off as she witnessed Shikata’s hands shoot out quicker than a child grabbing a candy bar, swiftly picking up all the littered items and repacking them back into the bags. The mother barely had time to process the amazement before Shikata was finished, holding the bags up as if they never fell in the first place.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRhwTTmBkT
All she could think to say was, “Oh.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsonGnIH9mJ
Standing to his feet, Shikata held out a hand to help the mother up, who accepted it. While helping her up, he noticed the lack of a ring on either of her hands.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkRvnVAEju
“Divorce, never married, wedlock, or maybe a widow?” he asked himself, “Or their child flushed it down the toilet, that surprisingly happens more than you’ll think.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjIJEooHEo
Getting to her feet, the woman showed her gratitude with many forms of, “Thank you!”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASOt7MkPRb
“Huh, oh don’t worry about it?” he says, his mind was adrift in his memories for a bit before her voice brought him back. His eyes lowered down to the little girl hugging her mother’s leg, “Uh… is she yours?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLvLr9ANgR
“Yes, yes. Where are your manners Hogo? Greet the kind man.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhBFU3zhhV
Poking out her head away from her mother, the girl named Hogo mutters, “H-hi, thank you.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mDtO1SVc0
“She’s a little shy,” her mother explained, trying to wave off her daughter’s demeanor.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwOslwPM1o
Assuring raising a hand, Shikata went to ease the tension by telling her, “It’s nothing new, I scare children often.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMrI6Y5LiH
“What?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz8Z119wG9
“Eh, I meant kids find it intimidating when I approach them… because of my stature.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzmQ00JB3o
“Ah, I see.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuwDnLxMvz
“Don’t blame them either, at their age I look like someone who’ll give them a pretty lengthy scolding. That’s nightmare fuel to them.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjzNIJG0Zm
That last comment managed to get a giggle from the woman despite the dry delivery. Echoing her mother’s sentiment, the child started to ease up a bit, looking at the gentleman in front with less fear and more curiosity from how he managed to make her caregiver smile. Looking past the stone-face, Hogo laid her eyes upon Shikata’s hands and her eyes became dazzled with amazement.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo2mpzeiTa
“I recognize those rings!” Hogo blurted out, pointing to the multiple accessories attached to his finger. “They’re from Crescent Fate Princesses.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzJvTR8qe7
“Huh?” the mother said, befuddled at first before she started to remember, “Wait, do you mean that show you’re always watching.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEplji5GoBy
“Yeah, I love it! Those are Stellar Rings, they give out amazing powers to do fantastical feats. Do you see the longer metal one on his index? That one specifically was worn by the vigilante Gentle Eclipse! He goes around the galaxy executing his own sense of justice to help people and oftentimes being at odds with the main hero Marine Lunar and The Moon Crew.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3zdp29XR8
“Oooh,” the mom exclaimed, nodding her head as if she understood before immediately breaking the illusion covering her confusion, “What?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3t2uDam4F
Shikata squatted down as he explained, “Imagine superheroes, but they’re magical, mostly girls, and are in space.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbP4iAo1v1
“That’s better.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmFuTfdST6
“The sequel series is extremely popular these days. I assume you’re a fan?” he asked Hogo, holding out his right hand so she could get a closer look.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLqvSFklnq
The little girl happily jumped at the chance to awe at the metallic accessory, ”It’s my favorite show! These look a little different from the show though, did you make them yourself?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJwgyr0nas
“No, they’re modeled after the design from the original series. It was a gift.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK1TxygPIg
“Awesome!”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5cnGZsMdo
Shikata rose to his feet, reached into his pocket to get out his business cards, searching through them before handing one to her; one with a different set of addresses and numbers on the back, “Anyways, I should be going. You lot have somewhere to be as well. Here’s my card, if you need any assistance with something let me know; I know a few places that could be able to help with any troubles you may have.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKsTScyuFl
Looking down at the card and back up, the mother told him, “Thank you, I’ll certainly repay you for this.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWPFaTF5Ot
“I like melon bread,” he said before walking off.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGzuvR3uo1
Exchanging quick farewells, they went on their way.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLlyS7pf9K
As he walked away, the young man looked back at his right hand to eye the metal ring; and began glaring at it almost in disgust seeing it on his finger.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6CBEGUqRz
“This shouldn’t be here,” he thought to himself, almost tempted to toss it off his finger right then and there. It brought a sickening feeling to his stomach, but soon he calmed him as he crossed the street, “Eh, no use thinking over it now. Not like being overdramatic will doing anything anyways.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIknzMoyGH
Shikata looked at his phone to check the time, noticing he had received a few text messages. His heart sank when a message from Hako was among the top ones he recently received; she didn’t even go to work yet what could’ve happened in that small time free!
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17pMBLy1ZE
“I’m about ready to check out today.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jRWuTGAmh
Sighing, he went to answer his phone.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZH0uIdfvG
SCREEEEECH!435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP4G6JEYWG
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxhE0HTKRy
BASH!
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvJl7qbwiY
SCREEEEEEEEEEECH!
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpNYTqiDZR
It was right then that the shrieking of rubber rubbing against asphalt and the honking of a horn tore through the air with an ear-piercing cry. Like any regular person, his first instinct was to look in the direction it came from, both out of curiosity to see what happened and if this disturbance could affect him as well.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuZUzM2G3i
It was the latter, for as he turned to the street he discovered a runaway truck swerving recklessly in the streets at high speed straight toward him; and unfortunately, it was a lot closer than Shikata would expect. The young man was square in the middle of its path and he barely had time to process what happened before the truck was only a couple of yards away.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7TOws8ZWW
Could he get out of the way? Run, jump, duck, roll, dodge.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm4NknvBDR
All sorts of options that may not give him a high chance to evade but would be something that might assist in his survival.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpncdRE7CmL
Yet, an eerie relaxed expression hit Shikata’s face as he stared at the charging metal vehicle. Only a thought passed through his mind.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKK6d4g25M
“How about that?”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfagcqqhh5k
The next couple of moments were fuzzy for Shikata, it was a hectic couple of seconds, but there was a single certainty that it ended with everything turning dark.
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpXuxrsl1Q
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2frNaBIOw
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIHy4Wx50X
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdj0DTszHD
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz9JkfMxFX
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiruRiE7TDM
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJhzlEyqeg
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIA0K3ijdq
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshUQdbHCKS
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOrpKKtx2q
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBUxeKqxco
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTO0Q7QtuE
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YuB1DIdTs
…
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Zt7w5nUsh
Then an angelic voice called out to him, “Greetings, you have died.”
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7joz4K4bO0
A/N: HOPED YOU ENJOY IT, follow me on Twitter or Youtube at HeroDarkyDark, or go to my Kofi to support me in other ways. See ya next time
435Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvHfx3A6Ac
