The next morning began at 8:30 A.M. sharp. My list of odd jobs had expanded once again; today, I was heading to Mrs. Samuel's house to play the part of a mechanic. Who would have thought my skill set would stretch so far?
After a quick breakfast of last night's leftovers, I gathered my heavy tool kit and personal bag. I made sure the door was securely locked behind me—a non-negotiable habit—and stepped out into the day.
The main road was already bustling with the morning rush of working-class people. My first stop was the bakery, my daily ritual. It was the best in the area, not just for its cheap prices and great quality, but for Rose, the baker herself. The little bell on the door announced my entrance. She glanced up from behind the counter and noticed me immediately, a familiar smile gracing her features.
"The usual?" asked the blonde girl. She was dressed in a simple, flour-dusted apron over a normal dress. We'd gotten to know each other through the small talk of my daily visits. She had a mature, curvy figure and a very pretty face. Wait, why am I looking at her breasts? I mentally scolded myself, forcing my gaze upward.
"Yes, please," I said. Then, remembering the growing number of people in the alleyways, I added, "Oh, and can you make it a few extra sandwiches today?" They were so cheap and delicious that I didn't mind buying more.
"Oh, okay," she replied cheerfully before disappearing into the back storage room. Alone for a moment, I looked around the shop. It had come a long way from its early days as a third-rate bakery. Thanks to Rose's skill, it had quickly won over the neighborhood.
She returned with cartons to restock the display and then handed me a bag with my enlarged order. "Here you go, sir!" she said with her characteristic bright smile.
Even after over a year of seeing it, that smile was still dangerously cute. Charmed, as always, I found myself leaving her a tip. Aw, man, I thought, feeling a familiar fluster. I picked up the bag, said a quick goodbye, and turned to leave.
She gave a cheerful little jump and waved. "Bye!" The motion caused her body to sway, and my face grew slightly warm as I hurried out the door.
Sigh, that was... something else, I thought, catching my breath. Now, it was time for Mrs. Samuel's. On my way to the bus stop, I glanced toward the familiar alleyways. The same people I had fed yesterday were still huddled in the shadows. Hang in there, I thought. I'll be back soon.
The public bus was a cheap service I used for longer trips across the city. It was filled with working-class people and seniors. Some listened to music through headphones, others scrolled on their phones. I took a seat, and a moment later, a girl who looked about nineteen sat down beside me. She had long, silky black hair and wore a college uniform. I couldn't help but notice that her breasts were so large the buttons on her shirt were straining.
Many of the other passengers were staring at her. She seemed accustomed to it, ignoring them completely. I could feel the weight of jealous stares from people who wished they were in my seat.
The girl beside me suddenly spoke, her voice quiet. "Don't mind them," she said. "It's become normal for me. I obviously can't control the shape of my body, so I can't say anything. If you're bothered, you can move, you know."
Is she talking to me? I wondered. Why would anyone want to move away from someone so beautiful? "It's okay," I replied. "I'm used to it, too." After all, I got my own share of stares when distributing food in the alleys; it wasn't a new feeling.
She turned and stared directly at me. There was something intense about her gaze. As she moved, her breasts swayed gently, and I tried my hardest to keep my eyes locked on hers.
A smirk appeared on her face. "Heh, what's your name?" she asked.
She's asking for my name?! What is going on? This felt like a scene from a romance story. I told her, and a conversation sparked. She pocketed her phone, and we began talking about ordinary things, like where we were from.
Her name was Cherry. She was from the neighboring country of Draconis, a once-barren land of dragons eons ago, now ruled by humans. She had recently moved to Valoria for personal matters, and since she didn't elaborate, I didn't pry.
Soon, her stop arrived. She stood up, a smile still on her face, and held out her hand for a handshake. It would have been awkward to refuse. The moment our hands parted, the stares that had been on me shifted to the bus exit, following her as she walked away. Man, they are so weird, I thought, though I caught myself watching for a moment before I forced my eyes away.
My stop came not long after. I got off and walked the rest of the way to Mrs. Samuel's. The neighborhood was lively and a step above my own, with people walking pets, workers heading out, and friends chatting. I rarely saw anyone living in the alleyways here, which was a relief. I hate seeing people who have lost everything to the Void forced to live like that.
Mrs. Samuel answered the door after a few minutes. She was an adult woman wearing a comfortable dress. She welcomed me warmly, offered me a cold drink, and led me inside. Her house was spacious and filled with modern technology. She explained which machines needed repairing and then settled on her sofa with a laptop.
As I worked, I took a better look at her. She was very beautiful, with a strong, athletic body and visible muscles. I wondered what kind of training she did to stay in such shape.
Halfway through the job, I noticed a stack of dusty books in a nearby storage area. Their titles were: "Theories related to Void," "Study of Void," and "Mysteries of Void." I don't understand much about the Void, only that it's a dangerous phenomenon that has ended many lives. I don't even know when it first appeared; I'm just a regular citizen.
"Are you interested in those?" Mrs. Samuel's voice made me jump. I stood up quickly, panicked. Was she angry I'd been looking at her things?
"Haha, no need to panic," she laughed. "Those are old books I used to read. If you want them, you can keep them." She was still on the sofa, and as she shifted, her loose top slipped slightly, revealing a hint of cleavage.
"Oh, okay. Thank you," I said, quickly stowing the books in my bag. I'm not much of a reader, but more information about the Void couldn't be useless. She smiled and returned to her laptop.
By 3:50 P.M., I had finished. The problems weren't serious, but it's always better to fix something before it gets worse.
Mrs. Samuel stood up when she saw I was done. She took out her purse, paid me, and her face was bright and friendly. "You're a very reliable person. I suppose we'll be meeting frequently. Thanks for your service!"
She was so sweet she even began to bow in gratitude. The motion caused her loose clothing to gape again, showing her cleavage. I tried not to panic and quickly stopped her.
"Wait, ma'am, it was my job. You paid me for it. You don't have to go to such lengths," I said.
She looked slightly puzzled, then nodded in understanding.
I gathered my tool kits and was about to leave when the front door began to open. I nearly bumped into the person entering.
I took a good look at her. She was unique. An adult woman with a powerfully muscular body, even more defined than Mrs. Samuel's. Silky gold hair flowed freely around her, and she had sharp, piercing eyes. A large bow was strapped to her back.
Is she cosplaying? I wondered. It wasn't uncommon for people to imitate heroes and other perfect life forms.
"Oh, welcome back, Atlanta!" Mrs. Samuel said from behind me.
I glanced back at Mrs. Samuel, who was greeting this muscular woman. They had to be friends.
Seeing my puzzled expression, Mrs. Samuel laughed. "Haha, don't worry, she's not cosplaying. Don't you know about the past heroes?"
Past who? I looked at the muscular lady, Atlanta, completely lost.
Mrs. Samuel laughed again. "Oh yeah, sorry, sorry. I forgot you don't have much information about the Void. Well, don't forget to read those books I gave you. They're very important!"
I nodded and stepped aside to let Atlanta pass. She walked past me and immediately began a serious-sounding conversation with Mrs. Samuel. I didn't want to get involved in anything complicated, so I simply headed out, closing the door firmly behind me.