Slowly turning around to face the manly voice, he creeped out at the idea of who it could be.
"What a loser!" The person commented with a chuckle. "Only 1,154,160.00 yen?" He asked Hakai as he broke out into a burst of taunting laughter.
"Hachiman!" Hakai screamed into his face with an upset expression. "What's wrong with that?" Hakai asked Hachiman with an annoyed expression while ignoring him and turning to face the machine. "I didn't ask for your opinion, jerk. Leave me alone." Hakai demanded as he clicked the get-cash option.
"It's unusual for the Heavens to switch to such methods, but it's more efficient for us," Hachiman added his unwanted opinion.
"I just told you I don't wanna hear your opinion," Hakai said as he pulled out his money.
"Oh, come on, Hakai, we've known each other for long now," Hachiman said as he tossed his arm around his shoulder.
"Don't care and don't have the time to chat," Hakai replied, irritated as he placed his card inside his pocket. "I'm leaving." He added as he picked out his new weapon. Then, putting it onto his shoulder, he walked into the distance.
"Hakai, wait." Hachiman chased after him as he forgot to get cash himself.
"Whatever you wanna taunt me with, I don't wanna hear it." He said as he faced him while pouting.
"Don't pout at me!" Hachiman retaliated with a pouting face himself.
"You-" Hakai said as he walked off.
"Hakai, uhh," Hachiman uttered as he walked behind him.
After a while on the walk, Hachiman reached out again, but this time with sincerity in his tone. "I heard what happened to Amaterasu." Again, Hachiman caught Hakai off guard. "I'm sorry for what occurred to Amaterasu. I'm sorry for my arrogance to choose the rules over her," Hachiman added with sadness in his tone. "It's just these rules are like a commandment for us." Hachiman spouted as Hakai lowered his head. "I know it's something you hate to follow, but for me-" Hachiman tried proving his case and his loyalty to the rules.
"It's okay, Hachi." Hakai cut him short, not wanting to drag this out for too long. "She's doing fine, though her memories are gone, and her age is different. Ama-Chan is still Ama-Chan." Hakai added to reassure him.
"I see, thank the heavens." Hachiman puffed out a breath of relief.
"Yeah," Hakai replied. "Why are you following still anyways?" Hakai asked, irritated by his presence.
"Where are you going?" Hachiman asked him with a curious look.
"The clothing store," Hakai informed him while looking ahead again.
"Well, that settles it." Hachiman decided the outcome of the problem.
"Settles what, exactly?" Hakai yelled at him.
"You need clothes, and I'm sure you hate shopping while everything is closed down and paying for something when no one is there." Hachiman read his mind. "I know how much you want a human to notice you, and people will take to your lesser presence with me around," Hachiman said with a genius expression.
"Conclusion, I need you there for humans to see me," Hakai said while looking away. "You win this one, but I'll get you the next time," Hakai said while blushing. "Thank you." He said while still looking in the opposite direction.
"Hmm, my win this time!" Hachiman spouted a taunt to break the tension.
***
"Ohh, I love this hoodie!"
"These jeans too."
"This lucky cat charm too!"
"I want these socks!"
"Wow, these shoes look comfortable!"
Hakai ran around the store, pointing things out for Hachiman.
"Buying things with this much ease sure feels nice!" Hakai said as they waited in line.
"Right, loser!" Hachiman said as he displayed a thumbs up.
"Loser? You're the loser!" Hakai fought back.
"Well, I just won today." Hachiman showed off.
"That-" Hakai tried fighting until the two heard.
"Next in line." The cashier was sure that the lady was next, but suddenly he noticed the pair as Hachiman raised his hand.
"Yes, coming." He screamed while walking up to the register.
"Will that be it for you today?" The cashier asked the pair. Hakai was confused if the cashier had noticed him or not. "Sir, will that be it?" He asked once again until Hachiman tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, dummy, he's talking to you." he lightly informed Hakai.
"Y-Yes, sir, that will be it," Hakai babbled.
"Thank you, come again." The cashier saw them off with a slight bow.
"Hmm, thank you so much, so much!" Hakai said while bowing down and walking away.
"Have a goodnight!" The cashier shouted off as the door behind them closed.
"Wow, I just spoke to a human!" Hakai screamed next to Hachiman.
"Feels nice, doesn't it?" Hachiman added with a smile while walking together.
"Absolutely!" Hakai shouted with joy.
"Well, at this rate, you will be able to go anywhere your heart desires one day." Hachiman comforted his rival while taking off into the distance. "If you need any shelter tonight, you know the drill!" Hachiman said to Hakai while walking away.
"Yeah-" Hakai uttered under his breath with a smile.
***
While in a dark alley, he changed into his new outfit and placed the other clothes away in the store's bag he had just received.
"Wow, looks nice!" He said with a smile. "Feels incredible!" He said while feelings all over himself. Then, he looked up and caught a weird glimpse of a girl walking past the ally. She resembled Mai so much that he grabbed his stuff and chased after her quickly. "It can't be Mai-San, right?" He asked himself while coming out of the alley to look for her. However, the back of her head resembled Mai's, so he ran after her. Catching up, he jumped in front of her. However, she just walked past him without a realization. "Not Mai." He said, downed.
This encounter encouraged him to visit her. But, for him, it was the dream that came true—a human who took to his presence. "I have to see her." He shouted to himself as he leaped atop a building.