Chapter 3: Nina vs. The Convenience Store
The next morning, Yuuto woke up to find Nina crouched by the window, staring at the bustling street below like an explorer discovering a new world. She was muttering to herself, her breath fogging up the glass.
"What are you doing?" Yuuto asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Spying on the commoners," Nina replied, her eyes still glued to the scene outside. "Look at them, scurrying around with their little devices and strange clothes. It's fascinating."
"They're just going to work," Yuuto said. "It's called having a job. Something you should consider if you want to stop eating my ramen."
Nina turned to him with a scandalized look. "A queen does not work! A queen delegates."
Yuuto sighed. "First of all, you're not a queen. Second, we're going to the convenience store today, remember? It's time you learn how the modern world works."
Nina perked up at the mention of the store. "Ah, yes! The place with snacks and treasures! Lead the way, peasant!"
Yuuto resisted the urge to throw a pillow at her. Instead, he got dressed and prepared himself for what he knew would be a long, long day.
---
Welcome to Chaos
The moment they stepped into the convenience store, Yuuto regretted bringing Nina along. Her eyes widened as she took in the brightly lit aisles, the rows of snacks, and the cool hum of the refrigerators.
"It's like a palace!" she whispered, clutching his sleeve. "But where are the guards? The sentries? Surely such a grand place requires protection!"
"It's not a palace," Yuuto said, prying her hand off his arm. "It's a convenience store. People come here to buy stuff."
Nina wandered off, poking at everything she saw. She spent a solid five minutes staring at the slushie machine, mesmerized by the swirling colors. Then she grabbed a bag of potato chips, held it up like a sacred relic, and declared, "I claim this in the name of Queen Nina!"
"You can't just claim things," Yuuto said, snatching the chips from her. "You have to pay for them."
Nina frowned. "But I don't have this… 'yen' you speak of."
"That's why I'm paying," Yuuto said. "So maybe don't grab everything in sight."
But it was too late. Nina had already darted off to another aisle, where she was inspecting a pack of instant noodles. "What is this? A weapon? A shield? It's so lightweight!"
"It's food," Yuuto said, pulling her away before she could start opening the packages. "Put it back."
"But it says 'instant,'" Nina protested. "Surely it has magical properties! Does it cook itself? Does it summon a feast with a single word?"
"No, it doesn't," Yuuto said, dragging her toward the cashier. "We're leaving before you get us banned from this place."
---
The Cashier Incident
As they approached the counter, Nina froze. Her eyes locked onto the cashier, a bored-looking teenager chewing gum and scrolling on his phone.
"Who is this?" Nina whispered, leaning close to Yuuto. "A high-ranking official? A merchant lord? He looks powerful."
"That's the cashier," Yuuto said. "He's here to take our money, not overthrow kingdoms."
Nina wasn't convinced. She straightened her posture, puffed out her chest, and addressed the cashier with regal authority. "Greetings, noble guardian of the store! I am Queen Nina, and I request an audience with your leader."
The cashier blinked at her, then turned to Yuuto. "Your sister?"
"Not even close," Yuuto muttered, pulling Nina back. "Ignore her. She's… not from around here."
The cashier shrugged and rang up their items. Nina watched intently, her eyes lighting up as the scanner beeped. "What sorcery is this? He's using a glowing device to assess the value of our goods!"
"It's a barcode scanner," Yuuto said. "And stop acting like you've never seen technology before."
"But I haven't!" Nina whispered. "This is incredible! Your era is truly advanced."
When the cashier gave Yuuto the total, Nina stepped forward and held out her shiny rock. "Will this suffice?"
The cashier stared at the rock, then at Yuuto. "Is she serious?"
"She thinks it's currency," Yuuto said, pulling Nina away before she could embarrass herself further. He handed over some yen, grabbed the bag of snacks, and practically dragged her out of the store.
---
The Consequences of Sugar
Back at the apartment, Nina sat cross-legged on the floor, tearing into a pack of candy with the enthusiasm of a child on Halloween. Yuuto watched in horror as she devoured one piece after another.
"You might want to slow down," he warned. "That's pure sugar."
"It's delicious!" Nina said, her mouth full of candy. "Your era's food is amazing! No wonder your people are so happy."
Yuuto snorted. "Yeah, sure. We're all thrilled to be drowning in debt and working overtime."
Nina ignored him and popped another piece of candy into her mouth. Within minutes, the sugar hit her system. She started bouncing in her seat, her eyes wide with energy.
"Yuuto!" she exclaimed. "I feel… invincible! Let's go conquer something!"
"You're not conquering anything," Yuuto said, trying to wrestle the candy away from her. "You're staying right here until you calm down."
But Nina was already on her feet, darting around the apartment like a hyperactive squirrel. She picked up random objects, declared them to be ancient artifacts, and then set them down in completely different places.
"This!" she said, holding up a TV remote. "This must be the Scepter of Control! It grants its wielder ultimate power!"
"Don't touch that," Yuuto said, snatching it away.
"And this!" Nina said, grabbing a lamp. "This must be the Beacon of Light! It shall guide us to victory!"
"Put that down before you break it!" Yuuto shouted.
By the time Nina finally crashed from her sugar high, the apartment looked like a tornado had passed through it. Yuuto surveyed the damage with a resigned sigh.
"Next time," he muttered, "you're getting sugar-free candy."
Nina, sprawled out on the couch with a content smile, gave him a thumbs-up. "Worth it."
---
Late-Night Reflections
After cleaning up the mess, Yuuto sat down next to Nina. She was half-asleep, mumbling about magical scepters and ancient kingdoms. Despite all the chaos, he found himself smiling.
Life with Nina was unpredictable, exhausting, and utterly ridiculous. But it was also… kind of fun.
As he watched her doze off, he wondered what tomorrow would bring. More chaos, probably. But for the first time in a long time, he didn't mind.
---
End of Chapter 3