/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>45082902

He took a few minutes of silence as me and Chen competed to scarf down the tea cakes. For such a little thing, she could really stuff them down fast, but I was a master at eating sweets. By the time Anon had put down the catalog, the last cake had disappeared into Chen's mouth. I had let win and have it. Totally. Anon put down the catalog, having written down the titles he wanted. "I'll have these for now" He said.

I took it from him. There was a book on knitting and a novel in a series he was reading. I added the spider book Chen wanted as well. All in all, my business here was done, but twenty minutes was twenty minutes. I'm sure they wouldn't pay much attention to me sitting around and talking to a friend. The perfect cover.

"How is everything? Are the kids doing well?" He asked as he gathered up the empty plates and stacked them out of the way.

"It's all good. The kids are getting to that age where they can be a bit more to handle but my parents are there to help look after them when they're not running around the village getting up to how knows what"

A slight smile comes to his face "I get you. Kids will usually cause some trouble when they grow older and more independent but haven't matured yet. I know Hana caused a bit of mischief when she was younger"

"Oh?" I say as I lean forward. Did I detect a story to be told?

"I remember one time, she was about five or six. She had convinced some of the other kids to come to the shrine and go on a 'youkai hunt'. She must have gotten them all riled up with stories because they all come running into the shrine, scared about their wits about a youkai they had heard stomping through the bushes. So Reimu and I go out to investigate the site, and we find a very confused man hunting for mushrooms. He was scared because he heard a bunch of children yell about a youkai and run away screaming, so he thought there were a bunch of kids in danger. We had to explain what had happened and send all the other kids home after a scolding."

I let out a chuckle and take a sip of my tea. Hana, huh. I hadn't seen much of her after she came back from her months long isolation in the mountains, but she seemed to keep herself busy, always running around doing something. It seemed like everyone was busy since this place opened now that I thought about it. Marisa had come by a few times, but she had seemed oddly tired. Poor girl must be worried about Anon, even if she had downplayed it when I asked. I hadn't even seen Aya since she published the article about this place. She hadn't even come by to check if I was selling that issue. Which was all good and well by me as I hadn't. The Suzunaan was a family friendly store, and the issues talking about the HSE I refused to stuck. The nerve of that tengu, to brag about things like that.

"When are you coming back?" The question slipped out of my mouth before I realized it. It was way too personal and he clearly wouldn't be comfortable for him. Even Chen looked a bit sad, her ears flattening to her head.

Anon tenses up and looks into the distance as if looking for something. "I'll leave when it is safe for me to do so. When Reimu is sorry I'll return" I wanted to say that Reimu did seem better and it should be safe for him to return, that I wanted to see him again without having to slip into a brothel. But my gut told me it would be bad to ask. He was ready so involved with powerful youkai here, no doubt trying to mess with things would cause trouble.

"Ah. I see" I said as I took a other sip of tea. The realization hit me just as I swallowed and I gagged.

"You okay?" Anon asked as I coughed. So that's how it was. Suddenly deciding to change to such a disreputable career, avoiding friends and family, giving dodgy answers, being surrounded by youkai. He'd had gotten himself into trouble just like I used to when I was younger!

"I'm fine, just swallowed it wrong" I tell him. I had to act cool so I could get out of here and warn someone. As if on que, the door opened to reveal Yamashiro.

"Alright, I'm leaving so you better be ready." She says.

"Ah, this is it. Goodbye Anon, goodbye Chen" I get up. All smiles Kosuzu. You can do this.

They both returned my goodbye as I followed Yamashiro out of the shrine to where the door was already open. But Yamashiro stopped when we reached the hallway. Had she found out? Was this was the end for me? Goodbye worl-

"Hey, let me see those orders do I can record them for accounting" Oh. I hand it over and she disappears into a office for a minute before stepping out again. "Thanks. We can go now"

I tried to maintain a neutral expression as I again followed her, this time out of the building. As she trotted off into the distance to wherever she home was, I propped myself up against the wall and caught my breath.

>>43791627
I shall pick up the slack where you give up