We first went to the City Square and ate some street foods like a delicious takoyaki from a stand here and those amazing ice cream crepe from one of those ice cream crepe trucks.
We even took pictures from a mascot of a ramen shop that's advertising in the streets. It was a cute red cat with a blue tip on its tail. It's also wearing a large round bell, but it's just there for design.
Our next stop is this small anime store that I didn't know existed in a small alley in the City Square. Juwan told us that this place has been here ever since he moved here and that he buys here whenever he has money. Right now, we're the only people here and the manager who is behind the cash register.
"This place is awesome!" Hanzo seems excited. "I didn't know that this place existed."
"Yeah," Juwan was browsing through the figurines and action figures of different anime characters. "I was walking down the street when I was a poster on the ground, saying that this place is open. At that time, this shop was like, newly opened, around three days after opening, I think."
"Ahh, so you were like, their first customer?" I asked. I'm browsing through the section of the blade and wow, there are a lot of different blades here. Ranging to throwables like shurikens, kunai, throwing knives, to wield-types like a katana, long sword, and even a replica of the Excalibur, which looks real. I touched the tip of the kunai, and it was pointy, I almost pierced my finger.
Juwan picked up a muscled action figure with a color scheme of yellow, red, and blue. "You could say that."
"Yeah, if it wasn't for this guy, my shop wouldn't have customers," The manager, who looks like he's in his early thirties, said.
"Oh, guys, by the way, this is Toshi," He points at the manager. "He's the who started and runs this store."
Toshi smiles and waves. "Nice to meet you guys!"
Hanzo and I introduced ourselves. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Toshi!" We both said as we bow.
He waved a hand at us. "What's with the formality? Just call me Toshi!"
I laugh. "Okay, Toshi."
As Juwan and Hanzo geek out about their favorite superhero anime, I was browsing through the collection of manga next to the counter. The genres don't seem to be arranged in order "Hmmm, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Romance, Paranormal"
I began to read off genres that don't seem familiar to me. "Shounen, Shoujo, Seinen, Shounen-ai, Shoujo-ai, Slice of Life, Yaoi, Yuri, Ecchi, Harem, He-"
"Hey there, looking for a read?" Toshi loudly interrupted my browsing, but in a friendly manner.
"Oh, not really," I replied. "I'm not really into manga or anime, but maybe I should try one."
"Hmm," He grabbed a manga from the Shoujo section. "Try reading this."
"Hmm?" I took the manga and in the cover is a pink and sparkly background with five girls in fireman outfits of different colors, striking different poses, and some of them have disproportionate… features….
I read the title of the manga. "Shoujo Fire Squad…."
"Yeah," Toshi says. "They are a group of girls who are firewomen who use their abilities to take out fire, rescue civilians, and take out the bad guys."
"Interesting.." Yes, the plot was…. interesting. I've never heard of a concept like this before.
"This manga has it all!" Toshi adds. "Action, drama, romance, a hint of mystery, and for a plus, cute girls with big-"
"Personalities!" Juwan approaches us. "Which we know is important in doing their duties and responsibilities as firewomen."
He has a hand in the back of his head. "By the way, Hanzo is calling you."
"Oh, okay," I gave the manga back to Toshi. "Thanks for the recommendation!"
As I walk away, I hear them talk.
"Jeez, Toshi," Juwan says in a slightly high tone as if he was scolding someone. "Stop corrupting the mind of every customer who enters here that's not that much into manga and anime! Control yourself, man!"
Toshi let out a peal of nervous laughter. "Sorry, I got pretty excited."
"This is why you have fewer customers than before, Toshi."
Ahh, I knew it was something dirty. Well, I don't mind. Though I think I will look into that manga because the concept is interesting and probably unique.
"Ah, Kazu," Hanzo got up looking from a basket full of training card packs. "I found these!"
He showed me a pack of training cards that I loved so much since I was in elementary.
"Beast Pockets!" I took the pack from Hanzo's hand. "This is the limited edition pack with legendary beast cards! I've been searching for these since high school!"
Hanzo laughs. "I knew you would love it. That's like, the only anime you've ever watched."
"I have watched every single episode from 1998 up to the latest season."
I was still amazed at the card pack. This pack is limited time only and there are legendary SSR beast cards there. I don't know how there are still that exist even though these came out like, two years ago.
"You know what, since you tagged along, I'll buy that card as a treat for you."
I looked at Hanzo, feeling like one of those anime characters where their eyes sparkle or something. "Really?"
"Sure!"
I hugged him tightly. "Thank you thank you thank you so much!"
"You're we-lco-me…" I quickly let go of him because he was unable to breathe.
"Sorry." I chuckle.
He laughs, a hand behind his head.
As I look at the pack of cards, I felt a presence somewhere around this area. I don't know why, but this presence feels uncomfortable. That sense is emitting from the window of the store as if someone was watching us, but there was nothing.
Hanzo places a hand on my shoulder. "Kazu, you alright?"
I slightly shake my head, trying to remove the unease I was feeling. "Oh, yeah! I'm fine."
"Okay, if you say so…" Hanzo continues to look for merch.
I continue to admire the card pack, trying to shake off the feeling of unease.