{My conscience tells me to return, no matter the reason.}
"Look over there."
"No, I didn't find it."
Mayar and I kept searching for the sugar, but to no avail.
"It seems we're completely out... but Maria should have bought more as soon as the kitchen supplies ran low."
"Don't blame her. She's got her hands full on multiple fronts."
"I suppose you're right..."
"How about we go out and buy some?"
"Don't you see the rain pouring out there?"
"Is your car just for decoration? Stop being lazy and let's go!"
"Excuse me?"
"A-Ah... I'm sorry! I didn't mean to sound so pushy. I apologize!"
"No, no... that's not it. Can you speak to me like that all the time?"
"Impossible! That just slipped out by accident!"
"Hmm... I kind of wish things like that slipped out more often."
"...W-What do you mean by that, exactly?"
"Who knows. Anyway, are we going or not?"
"Yes!"
(I didn't quite understand her sudden urgency to go out, but I saw no reason to refuse.)
"Let's go then."
Rena and I headed out and got into the car, the heavy rain still pounding relentlessly against the windshield.
"Do you have a specific shop in mind?"
"I know a few places, but let's go to one that should definitely be open at this hour."
(At this hour? Sure, it's a rainy day, but it's still broad daylight.)
"I'll pull out onto the main street; just tell me where to turn."
"Got it."
I drove as Rena navigated. We passed several open stores along the way, but she seemed stubbornly set on going to a specific location. After a few minutes:
"It's that shop over there."
"This one? Hold on while I park."
We got out of the car, and the first thing that caught my attention was the building's appearance—it looked noticeably old.
"Do you always shop here?"
"You could say that, though I haven't visited in a while."
"Then let's head inside quickly. It's freezing out here."
Upon entering, the shop was eerily quiet. No customers, no chatter from staff—just a heavy silence dominated by the sound of rain outside.
"So... where are the workers?"
"It's just one old man running the whole place. He's probably in the back room."
"Well, let's wait here until he comes out."
"No need, I'll go check."
"The owner isn't even around; who's giving you permission to wander into the back?"
"Don't worry, I know him well."
Those were her last words before she vanished into the back.
She eventually returned with the sugar and a few other items, but the owner was still nowhere to be seen.
"Does he always take this long?"
"No, maybe something happened to him."
"Who knows."
"I'll head back into the storage room to see if he's okay."
"Should I come with you?"
"No need to bother you."
"I'm coming anyway. Let's just find him quickly."
I followed Rena to where she was standing, and we began searching around before heading toward a door leading into the back storage room.
"I'll go in first, alright?"
"Okay."
The moment I pushed the door open, I saw an elderly man sitting directly opposite the entrance. Before I could even catch a clear view of him, a glass bottle came flying straight at my head! I managed to slam the door shut just in the nick of time.
"What the hell?!"
"What happened? Did something fall?"
"I wish! A crazy old man just tried to throw a Cola bottle at my face!"
"...It's definitely him."
"Huh?"
Rena stepped closer to the door and called out softly:
"Uncle, it's me—Rena! There's no need to be scared."
Silence lingered for a few seconds before the old man's raspy voice echoed from inside:
• "Come in."
Rena opened the door and hurried over to him.
"What happened, Uncle? Are you okay? Why weren't you out front?"
• "I lost feeling in my left leg, so I stayed sitting here hoping it would pass. But then..."
"But...?"
• "Some idiot disturbed me while I was resting. Probably trying to steal something."
Rena burst into a soft laugh.
"No, no, he's with me! Please let him in, he didn't mean any harm."
• "...Let him in."
"Kenjin, come on in."
"I heard everything, you know. Do I really look like a thief to you?"
As soon as I walked in, the old man glared at me with pure irritation.
• "Yes! What else was I supposed to think when you barged into my storage room?"
(It was Rena's idea, by the way.)
"So... are you going to live?"
"Kenjin! Don't joke with him like that, he's elderly!"
• "You're the elderly one! I'm still young!"
"Clearly."
• "You want another bottle thrown at you?"
"I'd prefer a different flavor this time, please."
• "...Brat! Rena... why are you here today? And why did you bring this nuisance with you?"