Chapter 13: Daily Life
"I have the next guest."
"Welcome, do you have a point card?"
Tanaka, who had just arrived at the store, asked the customer while scanning the products.
"Hi."
The man replied.
"Okay," Tanaka nodded. "Please show me."
"…Hi."
The man spoke again but did not act.
Tanaka looked up and repeated with a professional smile.
"Please show your points card."
"...English please!"
The guest said hesitantly.
"Ah." Only then did Tanaka react, scratching his head as he said, "That... Point card, please!"
"..."
It didn't matter if Tanaka understood or not, but the person on the other side definitely didn't, judging by his confused expression.
The two stared at each other, bewildered.
Seeing this, Kato, who had just put a discount label on a bento, approached the Asian-faced man and asked politely.
"Do you have a point card?"
His articulation was clear and the pronunciation standard, just like a recording.
"Oh! No, no, no."
The man suddenly realized, shook his head repeatedly, and then asked Kato.
"How much are they?"
For the two packs of cigarettes and a bottle of water, Kato glanced at the price displayed on the machine and replied.
"1000."
The man nodded, handed over a thousand-yen bill with Noguchi's portrait, pocketed the cigarettes and water, and nodded to Kato.
"감사합니다."
Then he left the convenience store.
"Ah? What did he say? It sounds so familiar."
Tanaka stared at the man's back and asked.
"That's 'thank you' in Korean."
Kato walked back to the cashier while talking, placing the discount label in the counter.
"So it is!" Tanaka clenched one fist and knocked on the other palm with a "dong." "No wonder it sounded familiar; my wife watches those Korean dramas all day, so I can only secretly record and watch late-night animations."
Kato paused. Watching late-night animations was one thing, but doing it sneakily was another.
"Mr. Tanaka, are the animations you record and watch rated?"
"Huh? Of course, adults should watch what's meant for adults," Tanaka said matter-of-factly, then looked at Kato suspiciously. "But why do you ask? Do you want to borrow them?"
Kato nodded.
"Sure, it doesn't matter if it's lent to you kid."
Tanaka said carelessly.
"And since you want to borrow it, I recommend 'Fate: Vow in the Snow,' an animation adapted from a game. The delicate expressions are simply amazing!"
At that moment, Kato was indeed tempted, but...
"No—!"
With a sharp cry, Takada suddenly appeared from behind a shelf.
"Kato! Mr. Tanaka!"
She articulated each word angrily as she walked to the cashier counter.
"Takada!? Why are you here!?"
Tanaka was taken aback.
"I've always been here!" Takada stated, hands on hips. "Compared to this, it's a crime to lend such inappropriate material to minors!"
Takada glared at Tanaka fiercely.
"Yeah... what are you talking about? I can't understand at all. A crime? How could I do something like that?"
Tanaka feigned ignorance, scratching the back of his head.
"Really?"
Takada eyed Tanaka skeptically.
"Of course!"
Tanaka insisted, nudging Kato with his elbow as he spoke.
"Isn't it, Kato? Do you think so too? Ahaha, ahahahaha."
'This man can't lie at all.'
Seeing Tanaka's forced smile, Kato grimaced but played along.
"...Well, that's right."
"Is that so…?"
Takada remained doubtful.
"Then what were you talking about?"
she pressed.
"This..." Tanaka faltered, his eyes darting around until an idea struck him. "It's this—!"
"What, what? Why so loud all of a sudden?"
Takada was startled.
"Because today is payday, that's what we were discussing just now!"
Tanaka declared confidently.
"Then why mention borrowing anything?"
Takada questioned.
"Ah...that."
Hearing her question, Tanaka sighed, glanced at Kato sympathetically, and then told Takada.
"I didn't want to tell you, but since you overheard, it can't be helped..."
He sounded disappointed.
"Actually, Kato just asked me to lend him some money. He said he has been facing difficulties lately and he hasn't eaten in days..."
"Isn't that a lie?"
Takada interrupted, skeptical. "Isn't the cooked food in our store free to eat?"
"And I just got paid today; how could I have spent all that money already?"
Takada retorted coldly.
"This is... actually, Kato was scammed over the phone,"
Tanaka explained hesitantly.
"…Really?"
Takada looked at Kato with questioning eyes.
Just then, Kato also looked over, and their eyes met. Recalling the afternoon's events made Takada blush and look away.
"No..I..."
Kato started to deny but was cut off by a kick under the table from Tanaka, who was winking desperately at him.
So he sighed, gesturing subtly under the table.
"5000 yen."
Tanaka blinked in surprise, then countered with a gesture.
"500 yen."
Kato raised his eyebrows, turned to Takada, and said, "Of course it's not true..."
Tanaka's expression changed dramatically, and he grabbed Kato's arm, signaling another amount.
"2000 yen."
"Okay!"
"Lie? What did he lie about?"
Takada looked over suspiciously.
"What did you just say?"
"Um..."
Kato hesitated, then cleared his throat and said,
"Sorry, it's exactly as Tanaka-senpai said. My carelessness is to blame."
He sounded genuinely remorseful. Kato first lowered his head, as if ashamed, but then defiantly raised it again and declared,
"But it doesn't matter; I can handle it myself!"
His voice shook slightly, the young man gritting his teeth as if resolved to overcome any hardship.
At that moment, not just Takada but even Tanaka stared at Kato in amazement.
"Could it really be true what I just said!?"
This thought occurred to Tanaka, and a mix of pity and guilt washed over him as he reached out to comfort the determined young man.
Then...
Takada grasped Kato's hand with a pained expression, placed his hands on her chest, and tearfully said to him,
"It's okay, I'll take care of you!"
Tanaka: ? ? ?
Kato: ? ? ?
...
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