Anomaly x RWBY.
Characters: Senji Muramasa, Hana Muramasa, Himari Muramasa, and Pyrrha Nikos.
Translation: Word (Microsoft), there are probably errors in the masculine and feminine pronouns.
In Another World (One-Shot)
The supermarket wasn't particularly crowded that afternoon. The soft ambient melody mingled with the sound of cash registers and the murmur of casual conversations. Pyrrha Nikos, with her trademark reddish hair pulled back in a ponytail, waited patiently in line as a young man her age scanned her purchases.
Senji Muramasa, in his clerk's uniform and sunglasses that hid his eerie black sclera eyes and white pupils, deftly moved the goods through the code reader. His expression remained neutral, distant, as the items piled up next to the box.
"A box of cereal..." he murmured in a low voice as he picked it up. He looked at the illustration on the packaging: a young redhead dressed in golden armor, smiling radiantly like the product's mascot. He looked up for a moment, then looked at Pyrrha.
"Oh... It's you."
Pyrrha mentally prepared himself for what would come next: excessive praise, requests for autographs or some typical talk that always ended up revolving around his fame. However, the next sentence took her by surprise.
"I never understood why this cereal is so popular. A lot of people buy it... Is it because it tastes good or because there's your face on the box?"
Pyrrha blinked, bewildered. "Ehm... I think both."
Senji nodded, as if that explanation made all the sense in the world. He ran the box back through the reader and continued scanning the rest of the products. "I've never tried it," he said without giving it much thought. "Maybe I should sometime."
The Mistral champion could not help but let out a slight laugh. It was strange. There was no pretense in his words; He did not seem to be impressed by their presence, nor did he intend to take advantage of the situation. For Pyrrha, accustomed to people approaching her with ulterior motives or knowing every detail of her career, this indifferent teenager turned out to be... refreshing.
"Maybe you should," Pyrrha replied with a genuine smile.
Senji finished scanning the purchases and announced the total. Pyrrha paid, picked up her bags, and before leaving, looked at him once more.
"Have a nice day."
"So do you," Senji replied without taking his eyes off the next purchase.
As she walked away, Pyrrha couldn't help but crack another smile. Perhaps, for an instant, she had felt what it was like to just be a normal girl.
[•••]
The next day at the supermarket started like any other for Senji Muramasa. In his work uniform and the same sunglasses that hid his unsettling eyes, he spent his time arranging products on the shelves. It was a simple routine, but in this strange world—where everything was filled with screens, bright lights, and machines she barely understood—she found it strangely comforting.
As he placed soup cans in place, a familiar voice could be heard behind him.
"Senji-nii!"
Senji sighed lightly as he recognized the voice. She turned her head to see her cousins, Hana and Himari Muramasa, pushing a shopping cart full of dinner ingredients. Both wore casual clothes, something they still didn't quite get used to after leaving their traditional kimonos behind.
"Why do they have to shout so much?" Senji asked in a slightly dry tone, though with no ill intentions.
"Because you didn't look at us the first time," Hana replied, placing her hands on her waist.
Himari, calmer, approached the shelf in front of Senji and began to compare products. "We are shopping for dinner. Do you want anything special?"
"Whatever you prepare will be fine," Senji replied, returning to his task. "But don't forget the rice. Yesterday it was almost not enough."
"Yes, yes." Himari waved her hand, as if that was a minor detail.
Senji looked at them out of the corner of his eye. Although they had managed to adapt to this new world, their cousins' expressions were still a mixture of curiosity and caution. The cars that whizzed through the streets, the screens that projected news and advertisements with moving images... All this was overwhelming to them. For someone who had grown up in a time when gunpowder weapons were the most advanced thing they knew, this world felt almost like magic.
"Are you still not used to this place?" asked Senji, noticing Hana staring at a vending machine that showed a three-dimensional image promoting energy drinks.
"It's not that..." Hana murmured, still looking at the projection. "It's just that... all of this... It's so unreal."
"The important thing is that we continue to work to support ourselves," Senji interrupted, resuming his task. "It doesn't matter how weird this world is. As long as we can eat and have a roof, the rest is secondary."
"Sure, always so cold..." Hana commented quietly, rolling her eyes.
"You should learn from Senji-nii," Himari said, smiling slightly. "He focuses on what matters."
"Ugh... now you are on his side."
Senji ignored their complaints and finished arranging the last cans. As he stood up, he felt a slight smile creep across his face. Despite the difficulties, the three of them were still together. That, in this very different world, was enough to keep me going.
[•••]
Senji Muramasa finished his shift at exactly 2 p.m. After hanging his uniform in the locker and changing into his casual clothes — a dark, long-sleeved shirt and simple pants — he left the supermarket adjusting his sunglasses. It was part of his daily routine: work, some food, and then spending the rest of the day in relative calm.
The streets were lively, with people walking from one side to the other and the bustle of the city. Senji moved forward unhurriedly, his hands in his pockets and his mind wandering.
It was then that he saw her.
Pyrrha Nikos was a few meters away, surrounded by a small group of people. Some asked for autographs, others rushed to take photos with her. Pyrrha kept her smile polite, although her eyes showed the fatigue of repeating that scene over and over again.
When their eyes met, Pyrrha raised her hand to greet him.
"Hello, Senji!"
Several people turned around at the sound of her, some surprised that the Mistral champion was greeting someone directly.
Senji paused for a moment. With the same indifference as always, he raised his hand in greeting and replied with a calm:
"Hello."
Without adding anything else, he resumed his journey without giving too much importance to the curious glances that fell on him.
"Who was that?" he heard someone ask behind him.
"I don't know... but it seems that he doesn't even care who Pyrrha Nikos is," another voice replied, incredulous.
Soon after, Senji arrived at a small food outlet located on an inconspicuous street corner. The scent of spices and freshly cooked food greeted him as soon as he walked through the door.
"Senji-nii!" exclaimed Hana from the other end of the premises, with a big smile. He was wearing a white apron and holding an order book.
"Welcome," Himari greeted with a slight bow, maintaining a more formal attitude.
"What's on today's menu?" asked Senji, taking a seat at a table near the window.
"Today there is beef stew or udon with tempura," Hana replied animatedly.
"Udon," Senji decided without much thought.
"A good choice," Himari commented, writing it down in his notebook before heading to the kitchen.
While Hana went to wait on another table, Senji leaned on the chair and closed his eyes briefly. This world was still strange, but simple moments like these made him feel like things were... Fine, for now.
[•••]
Night had fallen on the city, and in the large apartment that the three of them shared, the atmosphere was quiet. The place, although expensive, was worth every coin they invested in it. Three rooms with their own bathrooms kept the peace between them, and the spacious furnished living room offered a comfortable retreat after long days of work.
Senji, already changed into his home clothes—a gray T-shirt and sweatpants—was sitting on the couch with the remote in his hand. The TV projected images of intense fighting, with Pyrrha Nikos at the center of the action. Moving with grace and precision, the Mistral champion defeated her opponents one after another with a mixture of skill and impeccable strategy.
"Curious about the cereal girl?" asked Hana from the kitchen doorway, a sneer on her face.
"She's more than just a 'cereal girl,'" Hinari said, sitting next to her cousin on the couch. "That girl fights like a pro. Look at her, she barely has time to breathe and still remains in control."
Senji nodded slightly. "I didn't expect him to be so skilled. I saw her today surrounded by people... she looked exhausted, but here she seems like someone completely different."
"Did you go get her?" joked Hana, setting down a tray of teacups on the coffee table.
"We met by chance," Senji replied without changing his indifferent tone. "And I have no reason to approach someone famous."
Himari settled better on the sofa and took one of the cups. "Well, I guess it's not bad to know more about this world... At the end of the day, we've been surviving without really understanding what's outside of our work and this house."
"Ugh, don't even remind me..." Hana growled, dropping her back to the back of the chair. "Trying to understand all this gives me a headache. I can barely use the microwave without feeling like I'm going to set off some death trap."
Senji let out a brief nasal laugh. "I don't blame you."
For several minutes, the three watched in silence the recording of Pyrrha Nikos defending her championship title. It was admirable, yes, but for them it was also a small sample of what exists in this world, very different from the time when they lived with Oda Nobunaga.
"I suppose we are not that different," Senji muttered suddenly.
"Huh?" asked Himari.
"Pyrrha... it also carries a heavy load," he explained. "People who admire her, people who watch her... It seems that she just keeps going because she has no other choice."
Hana folded her arms. "I guess that sounds familiar."
"Too much," Himari agreed.
Silence took over the place again, but this time it was a comfortable silence. The three of them knew that this world still had a lot of things to discover, but at least they were doing it together.
[•••]
The next morning, Pyrrha Nikos walked to the supermarket with the intention of doing some quick shopping. She didn't expect to meet the red-haired boy she'd met days ago again. To his surprise, there he was, leaving the establishment in casual clothes instead of his work uniform.
"Senji?" called Pyrrha upon recognizing him.
Senji stopped and looked over his shoulder at her. "Hm?"
"Are you done your shift yet?" she asked, curious. "It's very early..." Pyrrha checked her watch. It was just 10:15 in the morning.
Senji let out a slight sigh. "No... I was fired."
"What?" Pyrrha frowned, surprised. "How so?"
The young man shrugged indifferently. "A naughty boy ran out, bumped into me, and threw my sunglasses at me."
Pyrrha blinked, confused. "Was that enough to get you fired?"
Senji looked away, uncomfortable. I wasn't going to mention the important detail: that some customers had seen his eyes... those disturbing eyes of black sclera and white pupils. The boy's crying at the sight of his face had attracted the attention of everyone in the place. The mother had taken the little boy in her arms, walking away with a mixture of fear and nervousness. They had not taken long to complain to the manager.
"It was nothing," he finally said, downplaying it. "Anyway, I was already thinking about quitting soon."
Pyrrha wasn't convinced, but she didn't want to pressure him. "Well... and now what will you do?"
"I will go visit my cousins," Senji replied. "They're working at a food place not far from here."
"Ah... I see." Pyrrha cracked a small smile. "I hope you have a good day, then."
"I will try," Senji replied before turning to continue on his way.
Pyrrha stared at him walking away, a strange sense of worry in her chest. There was something else to that story, something he hadn't meant to say. But for some reason, I was confident that this boy would know how to move forward.