"Wait are you serious? That thing got in the house?!" Shinobu yelled, her voice was so loud that the whole neighborhood could probably hear it.
"Calm down Shinobu I got rid of it don't worry it's all under control." Douma reassured her trying to calm her down so they won't create a scene on other people's property early in the morning.
Both Mr and Mrs Isamu were watering the plants outside their home. They were glad to have Douma and Shinobu around, the alien creature had been taken care of and the sink won't be left unattended anymore. It's been that way for a few days which explains how the silverfish got in several times this week.
"When I heard you talking to Mr Isamu outside about what happened I got terrified in the bath. What if that creature comes back?"
"That silverfish was probably the only one roaming around Atami. We can't guarantee for sure but it seems the busier parts of Japan are their hunting grounds."
The weather wasn't as cold as yesterday the sky was brighter. If it's true that the Headquarters is nearby, they should get there by noon. Douma was thinking if he should fly there with Shinobu it's not like there were many people here.
"Let's take a walk I need to clear my mind," Shinobu said strolling away from the house. "There's a lot to uncover today and I don't wanna pass out again that was horrible."
Douma followed after Shinobu fanning himself. The birds were chirping a relaxing melody it reminded him of the peaceful times before the alien invasion. Every morning the birds would sit on the branches of the cherry blossom tree outside his shrine especially that white dove. It waits to greet him.
"Keiko Lotuses for sale! Buy two get one free!" Someone shouted from one of the houses.
"Huh Keiko Lotuses?" Shinobu looked around finding this person.
"Extra! Extra!"
The duo saw a man standing in the middle of the road holding a luminous lotus and a box full of them.
"Where did he get those lotuses I thought they were only found in Hasu Mountains?"
"Time to find out." Douma approached the man who clasped his hands together seeing a potential customer.
Shinobu watched as the man handed Douma the lotus and waited for what the blonde had to say. From his expression Shinobu could tell he was just as skeptical about these lotuses as she was.
"These are fakes."
Widening his eyes at Douma's statement, the man snatched the lotus from him and took a step back. "These are actual Keiko Lotuses who are you to say they're fake! Do you even know anything about Keiko Lotuses?"
"If you had done your research you would know Keiko Lotuses are only found in the Hasu Mountains. Have you been there before? Definitely not. This fragrance smells nothing like the Keiko Lotus." Douma's expression turned into a serious one. The man was now shaking and petrified.
"And the texture, it's obviously fabric with a layer of plastic underneath. How pathetic." Laughing mockingly, Douma covered the sly grin on his face with his golden fan, eyeing the scaredy cat down.
Shinobu stepped in and watched the man scurrying to his stall outside his house. There were other items for sale like old souvenirs and clothing.
"Let's see what else he's selling." She said to the blonde to which he nodded.
Once they got to the man's stall, he backed away and begged them not to report him. Douma narrowed his eyes at him while Shinobu smirked and giggled.
"If you don't stop selling these fakes we're definitely reporting you."
"Alright I'm sorry I know you're the two visitors who just got here. Please have mercy I was trying to grow actual lotuses but for some reason they won't grow. It's been a week I think the seeds are fake they don't look like actual ones either." The man pleaded.
Douma and Shinobu turned around and saw an empty garden with just soil. It seems the man was telling the truth this time.
"Where did you get those seeds?" Shinobu asked.
"From him." The man pointed at another stall selling similar items.
"Oh great another trickster." Furrowing her brow, Shinobu walked over to the stall, tiptoeing to see who was hiding or sitting behind it, only to be met with a very familiar face of someone she knew very well.
"Yushiro? You're the one selling those fake seeds?!" Shinobu yelled at the green-haired boy who got up in shock.
"Hey what's your problem I'm trying to work here!"
"Yeah you know what it is and I'm not letting you off that easily!"
"Ugh what are you doing here you're ruining my peace go away!"
From afar, Douma watched the two arguing with each other, Shinobu was now grabbing the collar of Yushiro's shirt while he was spitting insults at her. This was going to take a while. Douma decided to just step in and sort things out.
"Shinobu you know this guy?"
"Yeah these freshmen just don't know when to quit!" The purple-haired girl responded still holding onto the collar of Yushiro's shirt. He was wearing a kimono over his white-buttoned up shirt with blue hakama pants.
"Oh so you guys are from the same school. Hi there I'm Douma nice to meet you Yushiro."
The teen stared at Douma for a while. A mischievous smile started forming on his face.
"Looks like Shinobu has a boyfriend! Hahaha!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
Raising his hands up, Douma stepped away from the two who were going at it again.
When he turned around he saw the man arranging the items at his stall with a sad expression. Douma felt sorry for him he was trying to make a living during these difficult times. An idea sparked in Douma's mind, one that would help both the man and Yushiro with their sales instead of competing with each other everyday.
"That kid... I'm never buying from Yushiro ever again." He mumbled.
"Sir I have something for you." Douma held out a bag of seeds to the man. With his magic he got Oga Lotus flower seeds, a gift for the man since he had been wanting to grow lotuses to sell.
"Is this for me?"
"Brother what's all the ruckus out here?" Another voice said.
The man greeted the woman who was his sister. She was helping him with the stall.
"These are Oga Lotus seeds. You'll see them in your garden in no time." Douma stood there as the man took the bag from him and bowed.
"Thank you I'll take good care of them."
While Douma was explaining to the man and his sister about merging businesses with Yushiro. The argument was still ongoing at the other side.
"Scamming people isn't cool Yushiro what were you thinking?"
"Hey let go off me ugly!"
"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?"
"I SAID UGLY!"
"GRRRRRRR!"
"Ugly ugly ugly ugly ugly!" Yushiro went on, making Shinobu's blood pressure rise.
Grabbing Yushiro's collar once again, Shinobu threw him towards the fence with a lot of force.
"Ow that hurts."
"MEDDLING SCUMBAG YOU'RE NO DIFFERENT FROM A BAG OF TRASH!" Shinobu stomped away from the stall leaving Yushiro on the ground in a giddy state.
"Hey Shinobu there you are. We've decided that Atami will now have one souvenir store located in this neighborhood isn't that great?" Douma tried to make it sound like as if Yushiro was compatible for this, Shinobu's blood pressure started rising again.
"Remind Yushiro about the refund." She urged the young founder.
"Yeah I will. Where is he anyway-
"I HEARD EVERYTHING!!!" The green-haired boy ran towards them displeased by everyone's decision.
Shinobu stopped Yushiro from creating another scene. "The money Yushiro."
"What are you talking about- oh."
All four of them narrowed their eyes at the teen who smiled awkwardly at them and took out some cash from his pocket.
"I'm sorry I won't do it again." Yushiro gave the cash to the man fearfully.
"It's alright." The man patted Yushiro on the head to cheer him up. "Let's start a new chapter son."
Yushiro looked up at the man and his sister with a hope in his eyes, after everything he did they were willing to give him a chance? How could he betray this trust he'd been trying to earn as much as he could since daily operations including school have stopped. Yushiro was going to fulfill his dreams the right way.
"Yeah let's do this!" Yushiro cheered.
Douma and Shinobu smiled at the three of them. Who would've thought they'd be able to get along in just a day? Most businesses couldn't.
"Be good OK?" Shinobu said to Yushiro.
"You bet I will!" He replied with much confidence.
The duo took their leave from there saying their goodbyes. It was time to leave Atami and find the Headquarters. Before that they had to see the Isamu couple back at their place they told them they were making their leave today. The old couple were really nice people.
"Leaving so soon?" Mrs Isamu asked her tone of voice made them feel guilty.
"Yeah we have some important things to settle." Douma replied.
"We'll come back and visit sometime. Thank you for everything Mr and Mrs Isamu!" Shinobu was certain they would cross paths with the old couple again, here or another place.
Bidding farewell, both Douma and Shinobu left the forest of Atami and found themselves on the same dirt road they were on the day before. The next part of their journey had started sooner than they expected.