“Nope, it immediately fell right off the cliff.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0G2ylolQ4X
Any glimmer of light that shined on the young man’s mood was devastatingly eclipsed by storming dark clouds of unriddled annoyance.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6TrzpU34I
The cause? Shikata’s current, and reoccurring, client.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpiO4hZZ81
“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!”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKc4t0K5Pg
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zCsthXJiA
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1pen0IxUH
“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?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QDftJkWvE
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZtvbz7y4j
An action he doesn’t personally recommend others.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvuDNE4Y5c
But this was a special case, he’s desperate here.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OMDplXG3v
Finally getting back on the subject, Hako said, “Back about my coworker.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTlijthijb
“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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5XBcHPRGP
“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?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqdbuuKC2a
Catching onto his mistake, Shikata quickly stammered a response.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKSo01dfXI
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUjBYXoULQ
“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--”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATw3dcbDoQ
“I think we should keep the conversation on why you called me this morning. It sounded important like an emergency.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzhJVf4euQ
“Oh, right, right! As I was saying, my coworker-”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBB3Fuz9Eev
Thankfully they’re back on track, hopefully, Shikata mentally sighed to himself, “A close one. You know, it’s almost a shame.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSZVQEciiK
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!”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00MSuf3xBs
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK3M8HqbZ7
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSClj1k1Is
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBceapDZap
“What the fuck am I doing with my life?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDWT20L186
Reminding himself of that baffling event tanked his mind into questioning what he’s doing, hypocrisy is a grand pet peeve of his.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXnWzBY66n
“I’m not some dump tank for idle gossip! This is not what I worked to be!”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMnxROI7wI
“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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pjKH1Zz3v
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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeV3Rfy2sg
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaKlUYrc0k
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWegu9AM8X7
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh05KsoYXkl
“Which you’re paid for and are told about in advance.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05QcttKE7M
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RvwKewZl5
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSFRRj3YqO
“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”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdNeXmfoj7
“Personally, that’s a good thing.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeq1LWLNfc
“What?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLafWJgOvh
“I meant, that might be for the best right now. Your friend, what was her name again?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGNTPcdGAk
“Hebi.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseQIT3gCma
“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?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7y7grCkZKa
“What do you mean?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXBGBu1N1O
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlHRVNZHOJ
“How!? Can you name an example because she has always been a comfort to my issues; before you of course.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPIDWZFdWB
“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?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsN7ptx4Gh
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQOGDYrCoC
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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpvlzuJ42P
“... I mean we started around the same time. Doesn’t seem right that she’ll feel so confident asking favors from me?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqWvH3qcKW
“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?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeksWJkCVR
The young lady took a moment to think to herself before answering, “I don’t think so.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVZV0BVNPU
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMV6B91Fhi
“I can see your point. But then what do I do when I have issues with Omu.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKKdjvLf5U
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF1aPuTnsk
“Wave off her existence? You mean like, pretend she’s not there?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVu0tJZLRMo
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8a15wP2ko
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UB185EJLz
Hako only took a moment to digest the advice before her eyes lit up, “You know what, you’re right!”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYAFF3GGfF
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!”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlep7r1vDt
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7prUD0X3p
Politely taking away his hand, Shikata tells her, “I hope you got the assistance you were looking for today.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPuvlRIdfl
“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!”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaegH4bcco
“We’ll see,” replied Shikata, rolling with the comment.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeWmljgGlF
“I won’t forget this!”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcFfEI47kW
“Hopefully not.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKi2Nkm7L3
She went out of sight.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhxPheFSdu
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMamlsZ1M7K
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgIxeGZWCy
He let out an exhausted sigh.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE62okdMJE3
Never before did he feel like his life was so inane with mundane acts.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq89TOgG4fO
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe2c6ANTdn
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaA9NXS13eF
Dead silence has dominated the farm estate The Masked Wanderer was on.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1vQgQvptp
The fighting was over, the threat was gone, and the land was calm once again. Yet, no one felt like a victory was earned.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI4DoKZ4ek
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJBv0BGu6n
The wanderer then turned toward the woman she just saved.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9IB6sPGwV
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzc00HnCa7
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggasJOCNQC
For a single being like The Masked Wanderer, there was only so much she could do for each case she stumbles onto.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwG8Yo6I4Hq
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9xrnia0WP
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgh1c9dqB1
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tsNacgYBW
“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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqkUhAb4Z9
His mind wandered back to earlier in his day, the encounter with the old man at the train station stuck with him.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3Qq345PMZ
“Someone like that should’ve been the priority of my day.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOeLaEqksE
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAVepmWowH
“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?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWous1MJj8
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?
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwsTV7c2p2
The vacant eyes of Shikata stared up at the blue sky above him.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbQJt9ZcwZ
“I guess a helping hand can only be held so low.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumwIhZs4PP
At times, he questions if any efforts he makes at all matter or if it was a futile endeavor.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E653wCWly
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH7prjYtDB
The world being so big and chaotic, it’s hard to see anything that can give it a moment of calm.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpevCdvfkZ
Could a dream achieve it be so foolish?
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUxF3PQaqH
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoCef5qY0e
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswRpXzWzk5
“Are you ok?” Shikata asked as he bent down to help retrieve her groceries.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIZURtYErK
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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMD4SBrv7Cs
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeHKkpvBbi
All she could think to say was, “Oh.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1icp0zfNzM
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGdH4j7sI4
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF57Gm1SyW
Getting to her feet, the woman showed her gratitude with many forms of, “Thank you!”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv9klSmpOP
“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?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz3vKVbVnt
“Yes, yes. Where are your manners Hogo? Greet the kind man.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2tH3QiCyJ
Poking out her head away from her mother, the girl named Hogo mutters, “H-hi, thank you.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTGe53Eqjk
“She’s a little shy,” her mother explained, trying to wave off her daughter’s demeanor.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v3zQ5bLkP
Assuring raising a hand, Shikata went to ease the tension by telling her, “It’s nothing new, I scare children often.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IR5uWwfaZ
“What?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxwkqK4TxS
“Eh, I meant kids find it intimidating when I approach them… because of my stature.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPhrwOxVjM
“Ah, I see.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopBaO4a643
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2APSQK63F
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXB9pPT3PA6
“I recognize those rings!” Hogo blurted out, pointing to the multiple accessories attached to his finger. “They’re from Crescent Fate Princesses.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUFJoGQ4VC
“Huh?” the mother said, befuddled at first before she started to remember, “Wait, do you mean that show you’re always watching.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxY6irmu8F
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbX7JsIvbA
“Oooh,” the mom exclaimed, nodding her head as if she understood before immediately breaking the illusion covering her confusion, “What?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHwAsm2y9M
Shikata squatted down as he explained, “Imagine superheroes, but they’re magical, mostly girls, and are in space.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NBPlbnKXx
“That’s better.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOzYjuRlPU
“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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkHGGfYgew
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?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vWWOOTEjL
“No, they’re modeled after the design from the original series. It was a gift.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTJtGalPcT
“Awesome!”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlweAOOpg81
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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mRi21Fue5
Looking down at the card and back up, the mother told him, “Thank you, I’ll certainly repay you for this.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXu0sdgwWM
“I like melon bread,” he said before walking off.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu3y7DBoPL
Exchanging quick farewells, they went on their way.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozC4izcOAS
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBkzgD8tqX
“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.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwDURmIBqL
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!
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOwkL3qvIA
“I’m about ready to check out today.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhr2oIbvfF
Sighing, he went to answer his phone.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsHfSAwvoD
SCREEEEECH!576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQaibj86Nt
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQIeKUsRZD
BASH!
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhQlNwRG1c
SCREEEEEEEEEEECH!
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYcUeZgvFZ
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYKGPoGOFr
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BTUppLSpx
Could he get out of the way? Run, jump, duck, roll, dodge.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuItewZDpvf
All sorts of options that may not give him a high chance to evade but would be something that might assist in his survival.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYf0VmjFMf
Yet, an eerie relaxed expression hit Shikata’s face as he stared at the charging metal vehicle. Only a thought passed through his mind.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5W7drLYx3N
“How about that?”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZxZ9Knb6S
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.
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxU4SXyLkN
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBVHw2Okg9
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMdHElB7WC
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsu4FRGAzw
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7RWvwzy1K
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGED5CJVn5P
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELsD2NtBcZ
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyrAY6gMOI
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52cessxLWT
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk60DZXcy0A
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEneOgZSTL
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc8rGcCcVC
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj2o48fuKP
…
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdN69Ea2Sz
Then an angelic voice called out to him, “Greetings, you have died.”
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDxpP3F6hD
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
576Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaa8Umz84l
