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Asahi spoke in between breaths from the effort. “We finally, got them,” He firmly held onto Courage, while Akemi secured the cat, which was still clutching the small box in its paws.

Muriel, who had been watching the whole scene with growing concern, approached Asahi with a look of gratitude and apology. “I’m so sorry for the trouble, young man. And as for you, Courage, I’m very disappointed,” she said, addressing the dog with a stern yet gentle tone.

“Woo.” Courage let out a low, woeful whine, as its ears drooped, a clear sign of its sadness over the situation.

“It’s fine, anyways you got your stuff, granny? Leave em at the counter, I’ll take care of it.” He said, gently setting Courage down on the ground before heading towards the cashier counter. Akemi, mirroring her brother’s actions, also guided the cat towards another counter to handle its purchases.

Standing behind the counter, Akemi looked over the setup, her expression one of slight confusion. “So, How exactly does this work?” she asked, her voice revealing her uncertainty about operating the cashier system.

Kazuhiro, overhearing her query, stepped over to offer guidance. “Each counter has two designated spaces,” he began, pointing to the areas on the counter. “One side is for selling, and the other is for purchases. If a customer wants to buy something, they should place their items on the purchase side. For multiple items, you’ll need to scan each one individually. For a single item, just ask them to place it on the counter. After that, inform the customer to place their currency or any item to trade on the selling side, which is over here. Unless they use one of the store's virtual card, in which they'd only have to hover it over the card reader.” He explained, indicating the specific area.

Akemi nodded, absorbing the information. “Got it.”

Asahi, who had been listening, gave a thumbs up, ready to assist the customer at his counter.

Kazuhiro glanced around, realizing that Toru had quietly slipped away. ‘He must have started on his tasks.’ 

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+Asahi POV+

Asahi couldn’t help but notice the size of the bag Muriel was carrying. It was surprisingly large, yet she seemed to handle it with ease, showing no signs of exertion. ‘Is she unusually strong for her age?’ Asahi wondered briefly but decided not to dwell on it.

He picked up the first item from her bag to scan it. It was a small box, adorned with blue and green colors. Curious, he read the title before scanning: ‘Scooby Snacks.’ The name didn’t ring a bell.

Muriel noticed Asahi’s glance at the box and chuckled. “Oh yes, I had to pick up some snacks for Courage. This one seemed quite new. According to its contents at the back, it’s a dog treat.” 

Asahi smiled at her explanation, amused by the brand’s name and the thought of dog treats called ‘Scooby Snacks.’ He proceeded to scan the item, the beep of the scanner punctuating the moment.

The screen in front of him came to life, displaying information about the product. He leaned in to read the description,

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Item: Scooby snacks. (Scooby doo, not visible)

Description:

A snack provides a temporary boost in morale and motivation, especially when facing fears or challenging tasks.

Quantity: x1

Total: 39.99 SC

(AN: conversion rate is 1 SC to 2.26 USD)

Xxxx

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‘Huh... will it work on humans, or just dogs in general?' He pondered to himself. Next Asahi pulled out a few apples, he chose to scan them individually.

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Item: Golden apple. (Minecraft)

Descrition:

This apple possesses unique properties, capable of healing wounds and rapidly restoring health. It also has temporary effects on the mental state, such as increased bravery, reduced fear, and enhanced calmness under stress.

Quantity: x6

Total: 4,804,800 SC

Xxxx

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Asahi’s eyes widened in astonishment at both the description and the staggering total price of the apples, he was momentarily stunned. He glanced at the old lady who was smiling, ‘let’s hope she’s loaded.’ Asahi mentally sighed.

He turned his attention back to the task at hand, mentally preparing himself for whatever other surprises might be lurking inside. He reached for the next item

‘It looks strange. Some rare fruit from the Amazon forest I guess?' Asahi speculated the peculiar appearance of the fruit and began to scan it.

With caution, Asahi placed the fruit under the scanner, half-expecting another extraordinary description. The scanner beeped, and the screen displayed the details, confirming his suspicions.

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Item: Bomb Bomb fruit. (One piece.)

Description:

This devil fruit grants its consumer a unique ability: the parts of their body can explode without causing self-harm. The user can create explosions at will by turning any body part into a bomb. However, consuming this fruit comes with a significant drawback, the loss of the ability to swim...

Quantity: x1

Total: 547,333 SC

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Asahi remained momentarily speechless, the absurdity of the situation rendering him wordless. He stole a brief glance at Muriel, who seemed oblivious to the bizarre nature of her purchases.

“Oh, it looked new and quite exotic,” Muriel said with a casual, almost nonchalant air. “Might as well try it out.” She added, her smile unwavering as if she was discussing a regular piece of fruit rather than a damn fucking weapon!

Asahi mentally braced himself for more surprises as he delved back into the bag. ‘Still more to go, and I bet the next one won’t be ordinary either.’ he thought, unable to shake off the eerie feeling of a fruit labeled with ‘devil’ in its name.

Reaching in again, he pulled out what appeared to be a perfectly ordinary cauliflower. ‘Finally, something normal.’ he thought with a slight sense of relief. It looked just like any cauliflower one might find in a typical grocery store, no unusual colors, no strange aura emanating from it, just a simple vegetable.

With a more relaxed demeanor, he placed the cauliflower under the scanner. The familiar beep sounded again, but this time he expected to see nothing out of the ordinary. The scanner worked its usual magic, reading the item’s information.

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Item: Orgasmic cauliflower. (Food wars)

Description:

True to its name, this cauliflower offers an intensely pleasurable taste experience. The flavor is so potent that it can melt one’s clothes off, but the effect triggers only when prepared correctly.

Quantity: x1

Total: 140 SC

Xxxx

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Muriel, noticing Asahi’s silence and stillness, voiced her concern. “Is there anything wrong, young man?” she asked, her tone laced with genuine worry since Asahi stood still for a whole minute with a blank expression on his face.

Asahi, still reeling from the absurdity of the items, quickly thought of a way to navigate the situation. He put on a polite, yet slightly strained smile. “Actually, upon checking, it seems that all the items you’ve selected have already been reserved by a high-status customer.” He explained, improvising a solution.

He continued, hoping to offer a viable alternative. “So, how about I help you find similar ingredients that suit your needs? I’ll assist you in scanning the items too, just to make sure none of them are reserved as well.” Asahi’s offer was genuine, albeit a cover to avoid any further surprises from Muriel’s eclectic selection.

Muriel, looking a bit puzzled but accepting the situation, nodded in agreement. “That would be most kind of you, dear.” She said, her voice carrying a tone of appreciation.

Muriel then turned to courage as she instructed with a firm yet gentle tone . “Stay here, Courage, and don’t cause any more trouble,” Asahi then led Muriel back into the aisles, determined to help her find more conventional alternatives to her original choices.

+POV End.+

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Meanwhile with Akemi, having completed the scanning of the cat’s items, watched as the system tallied up the total. The screen before her displayed the final amount due.

“Alright, your total comes to this.” Akemi announced, turning the screen slightly so the cat could see. She wasn’t entirely sure how the cat would handle the payment, but if there was one thing she had learned in the Market, it was to expect the unexpected.

The cat pulled out a wallet from its pocket, but when it opened to pay, the wallet itself seemed to come alive and coughed on its own.

A small puff of dust escaped from the it, followed by a lone moth fluttering out, adding the display of its emptiness. The scene was so absurd that it seemed straight out of a cartoon.

The cat gave a sheepish smile to the scene, meanwhile Akemi watched the spectacle, her face betraying no surprise.

With a deadpan expression, Akemi voiced the obvious conclusion. “So, you’re broke?” she asked, her tone flat.

The cat nods, and the absurdity of the situation was not lost on her, and she replied with a hint of resignation, “Then there’s nothing we can do.”

At her words, the cat’s sulked and only for a moment did it receive an idea, judging by the sudden appearance of the light bulb above its head. Akemi couldn’t help but stare as her brows furrowed at the phenomenon, her thoughts echoing the surreal nature of the moment. ‘Where in the world of cartoon logic did you come from?’ 

To her further astonishment, the cat pulled out a hat from its pocket and strode out the door. Its actions suggested it had a plan, although what that plan entailed was anyone’s guess. Akemi watched the retreating figure. She let out a mental sigh, still processing the series of events that had just unfolded.

Holding the small box that the cat had left behind. Uncertain, Akemi looked towards Kazuhiro. “What should I do with this?” she asked. She was unsure whether to leave it at the counter or make the effort to return it to its original place.

Kazuhiro, observing the situation, provided a solution. “You can leave it here. It will return to its rightful place on its own.” He assured her. His response was based on his observation of the bag Muriel had left on the counter, which had now vanished, presumably having been transported back to its original location within the Market.

Akemi nodded, relieved by his answer. She placed the box carefully on the counter.

Only a moment had passed when the teenager who had entered the Market earlier returned, his demeanor still marked by a certain dullness. This time, however, he approached Akemi with a purpose, carrying two large bags of chips in his arms.

Akemi observed the teen with a discerning eye. “Oh, you seem new here. Maybe you came in when we were away.” She said.

The teenager offered a nonchalant shrug, his guard seemingly lowered a bit as he opened up. “Probably. I needed some time to clear my head. I’m slowly starting to accept that this place might actually be real.” He glanced at the bags of chips in his hands, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes. “Found these on the way. Haven’t seen them being produced in a while, probably 10 years or so.”

“Ah, nice.” Then Akemi’s casual yet inquisitive tone filled the space as she scanned the items. “So, which world are you from? What’s the date there? Is it magical or not? Yada Yada. Love to hear about it.” She asked, her curiosity evident in her tone as she continued with the checkout process.

Her questions seemed to catch the teen off guard, sparking a look of confusion. “World?” he muttered, almost to himself,

Akemi, noticing his bewildered reaction, decided to elaborate, hoping to clarify her question. “Yeah, you know, like different realities. For example, me, my brother, and this cute kid we met came from a world overrun by zombies. Bleugh, those things,” she explained, briefly mimicking a zombie’s stagger and groan for effect.

The teen looked at her, still confused. The idea of multiple worlds, each with its own set of rules and realities, was a lot to take in, especially for someone who had just stepped in.

“You’re saying this place, connects different worlds?” he asked, his voice a blend of skepticism and curiosity.

“Exactly,” Akemi replied with a nod. “The place is kind of a crossroads for all sorts of places. You never know who or what you’ll run into here. Part of it's charm.”

He lets out a small, resigned sigh, still processing the barrage of new information. Although he still harbored some doubts, he chose to give Akemi’s explanation a certain degree of credence by glancing at the weird pink dog, which was uncomfortable against his lifeless gaze. The Market’s uniqueness was beginning to make a strange kind of sense to him. "I guess I can buy into that for now. So, how much do I owe for these?” he asked, shifting the conversation back to the transaction at hand.

Akemi glanced at the register screen, which she showed him the displayed screen of the total amount due for his purchase. “That’ll be 1.40 SC.” She replied, as these were basic, no unusual properties to them.

 “How much is that in yen?” he inquired, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar term ‘SC.’

Kazuhiro chose to answer. “There is an ATM right over there where you can convert your money,” he pointed towards the machine. “It can convert your currency into store credits, either as a physical currency or as a virtual balance in your account.”

Still processing this new aspect of the Market’s operation. He walked over to the ATM, observing the simple yet intuitive interface. A sign next to a slot read ‘Place currency here,’ indicating where to insert the money for conversion.

With only 500 yen in his possession, he hesitantly placed the banknote in the designated space. The ATM whirred to life, processing the conversion. The screen displayed the conversion rate and the equivalent amount in store credits he would receive.

Then screen presented with a final choice: whether he wanted his converted store credits in cash or stored virtually. After a moment’s consideration, he opted for the virtual option. The machine hummed briefly, processing his decision, and then dispensed a sleek, jade green card from its slot.

He examining the card closely. Its surface was more than just a solid color; it had a reflective quality that displayed his new balance. As he tilted the card against the light, the numbers 1.64 SC appeared, floating on its surface like a hologram. The amount was modest, but the technology behind the card was impressive.

Akemi, seeing him return with the card, gave him a nod of acknowledgment. “All set?” she asked, ready to assist him further if needed.

With the card in hand, Akemi chose to add as she turned the card reader to face him. “Hover it over the card reader.” she instructed,

After performing what was instructed. The scanner emitted a soft beep, recognizing the card. The transaction processed seamlessly, deducting the cost of his purchase from his account. The screen on the counter updated to show his new balance: a mere 0.24 SC remaining.

 Akemi confirmed with a smild. “Done."

“Right, Thanks.” He said despite his gloomy appearance, he was thankful for the help provided.

Just as the teenager was about to step away, his belongings in hand and ready to leave, a sudden sound halted his movement.

The entrance of the Market chimed as a new appearance came through the door, drawing the attention of those present. The teen's eyes widened in sheer disbelief at the sight, while Akemi’s jaw dropped. Kazuhiro, maintained his usual demeanor, though his attention was fully on the new arrival.

Courage on the other hand stayed quiet this time instead of screaming, his eyes comically bulged at the unbelievable scene in front him.

The newcomer, seemingly unfazed by the impact of their appearances, looked around with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. “Dadgum! Didn’t know this rundown old garage had a whole big store in ‘em!” the thing chuckled, clearly impressed by the expansive place.

The newcomer then turned its gaze towards the others in front, a hint of intrigue in its eyes. “Y’all look strange, never seen your kind before.” It remarked, its eyes narrowing as it took in the sight of those around.

Overwhelmed by the day’s events and now this sudden appearance, the teen reached his limit. “I have to go and rest, my head hurts.” He muttered, more to himself than anyone else. He turned and hurried out of the Market, eager for a respite from the continuous surprises.

The visitor, observing the teen’s hasty exit, called out in a nonchalant tone, “Fine rest to you, weird stranger.” The response was met with a grunt from the teen, then without missing a beat, the figure shifted its focus back to Kazuhiro and Akemi.

Clang! The sound of a mop hitting the ground diverted attention momentarily to Toru, who was approaching the scene. He paused, taking in the sight of the visitor and the reactions of his colleagues. A sigh of resignation left him, as he then brought a hand up to his forehead in a facepalm gesture.

“It’s our first day and with each visit, it gets even more abnormal than the last.” he muttered to himself, his tone was of slight irritation. Kazuhiro picked up what Toru had said, while Akemi still has her jaw dropped, dazed at the situation.

The sound of a thud echoed through the Market as Asahi, now back with Muriel, had his hands let go of the heavy bag and hardly hit the floor. His expression mirrored that of his sister as he took in the scene before him.

Muriel, seemingly unfazed by the extraordinary sight, commented cheerfully, “My, such nice costumes today.” Her casual remark contrasted sharply with the astonishment of the others.

Kazuhiro’s attention was firmly on the new and unusual visitor. Standing before them was a rusty old looking tow truck, with uncanny features.

“Shoot~, I’m guessin’ y’all haven’t heard of me,” the tow truck said, his voice tinged with a light hearted, friendly tone. “The name’s Mater, Like Tah Mater, but without the Tah.”

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