Unlike people, there were barely any stars tonight. The rusted bench creaked every time I leaned on it. My beaten face rested on my hand.
My posture dropped with an annoyed sigh, soreness running through my arms.
The sling bad that had files I spent sleepless nights on were now muddied on the ground.
But that doesn't matter. Because, who gives a damn! I'm no working man. Well, not anymore.
Father always said that losing your job would be a devastating and life shattering thing. Yet here I am...
Broke and lonely!
I laughed like a madman which made the passerby give nervous glances. My expression crumbled like paper. Aren't you all perfect with your perfect lives.
Tsk. My watch ticked as no other sound came after my laugh. This crocodile watch looked at me with it's uncomfortably seductive eyes. Given by my father after a promotion. A joke of a gift. I could have pawned it. But I didn't.
Well, at least it did it's job.
"1 am..." I lowly chuckled, remembering what day it was.
"Happy 23rd birthday, Rie" I whispered.
When was the last time someone said that?
No point remembering.
Crickets chirped between the blades of grass, no more footsteps of busy sleep deprived office workers or loud chattering of drunk teens.
Bet they were scared off.
That's for the better.
I'd rather be seen as a madman than someone's dog.
My teeth tasted like blood before I spat on the ground. Those punches were no joke.
When I raised my head, I got a glimpse of a pond that had an unusual glow.
Well, wishing well or magic pond, it wouldn't hurt to try.
The coins I tried reaching for stubbornly hid deep into my pockets. Even my money could smell my bad financial decisions.
'Be financially responsible, Rie'
Hell, with prices these days, even eating 3 meals a day is a bad financial decision.
My finger brushed against a coin which plastered a smile on me.
My arms mimicked a shooting stance, readying to shoot. I exhaled. Think of jebron Lames or whatever that guy's name was. Like a basketball player in his prime.
Nothing but net.
I missed.
But it still miraculously rolled to the water.
I smirked in disbelief.
Guess that's all my life's luck.
And what better way to celebrate it than with a high-five to my face. I grunted a whiny complaint before peeking through the gaps between my fingers. I saw my hungry shoes that had open jaws.
I knew it was dumb.
But I made a wish.
The same wish I said last year and the year before that.
Aren't I sad?
Insane too it seemed.
Insane that I heard a grunt in the water.
"Which idiot incel threw that coin?"
I looked from side to side but saw no one. That voice sounded a like my boss. What a drag... Even when I'm unemployed, his nagging still haunts me.
The voice gurgled, "Throwing away money won't make your dreams come true, idiotic baboon"
Harsh. But just like his.
Same tone and everything.
"Yes, boss, dreams do not come true. Just because you worked hard, doesn't mean you'll succeed, right?" I replied.
I hope he dies a gruesome death someday!
A glint of red made ripples in the water which spooked some of the critters.
"...You can hear me?" Someone or something asked.
My face stiffened. That reply felt like it came from somewhere. I would have stayed on my ass but it was already uncomfortable so investigating didn't sound bad.
I saw three things. Two were in the blue while one was out of it. First, a random stick that had a caterpillar on it. Second, some golden brown leaves that floated. And lastly, a red fish that could fit in my pocket.
Didn't know their species lived here.
Probably someone's lost pet.
I smiled at it as I usually do when I see animals. Well, ones that don't look like they'll suck my soul out. "Hello, little guy, aren't you far from home?"
My blood stopped. The hairs of my neck stood. The fish's face, distorted, cracked and warped like reality falling into itself.
It stopped swimming, it's face misted together a face that shouldn't be. Like it forgot what it looked like.
It stared at me dead in the eyes that pulsed red. Skin dry even though submerged. And a string of words came through it's full set of teeth,
"Brat..."
Eh... Ehh?!
I stepped back.
Did this fish just... No. It didn't.
Any sane man would walk away and say, "Not today Satan"
But—where the hell did that attire come from?!
Not only did it grow a full and we'll groomed mustache. But unlike a moment ago, it's scales were now covered up by it's black, red lined, tailored suit. Specifically made for it's size!
I wiped my eyes like windshields.
I'm high right now. Yes. That's it. That office party was just an excuse to get high at work, huh?
I scoffed and decided to turn away from the Looney Tunes character. I could squeeze a coin or two from this scandal.
But, before I could fully break my gaze on it, it asked, "Little guy...?"
A voice that was laced with something that clenched my spine and snapped me in place.
"I'll execute you without a notice, ugly brat. Correct yourself!" It barked the command at me that struck a cord.
"So-sorry, Mr.—" My words came first before my thoughts could. But wait. "What was I even about to do? Like hell I'm apologizing to some fish!"
"You'll regret that, fool—"
"Regret it? What are you going to do, call Aquaman?" I barked back at it, a thing I've never done before to anyone. Especially not to some talking fish.
"Bite your tongue now or I'll make it bleed!" It retaliated.
I leaned forward with a smug look.
"Try me—"
My words suddenly cut short as the breeze blew through my thin worn down uniform. A low whisper of a blade being unsheathed sang to my ears.
"Shikuko, you sick bastard..." The voice said, like a generic bag guy that had sharp eyes and a tragic backstory.
"Damn it, he's already feral" the fish said, gritting it's teeth.
My stiff neck cracked as I turned to face the voice.
A cat. A fucking cat standing on its two legs like a man.
Not just any cat—this one had a black tailored suit as well, a sweet silver watch, and a katana that blazed with green flames.
What drugs did they stick in those muffins?
I should probably sell that shit.
Swoosh!
A line of light passed by me, only an inch away from vertically opening my guts. The pond was halved and sent to soak my clothes.
"Give me a moment"
I said with a smile, a frog hopping off my head.
And a moment it did not give.
The cat guy held his blade in a stance that would assure my head to drop. His eyes pierced a sharp green, not to me, but the fish beside me.
The one who smelt like dry seafood at a bad restaurant. Water droplets stopped in place which carried him mid-air, faint red around his fin.
"If you want to live," he said as he sent the red slash of energy towards the cat guy's feet, creating an eruption of dust.
"Then, put me in your damn pockets—Now!"
Excuse me what?!
If I'm already seeing all of this.
Then what's the damn point of logic!
You know what, drugs in my system, fuck it!
We ball!
Without any more hesitation, I grabbed the fish and shoved him in my pants.
A leg forward. With calves tensed to propel. I fucking ran.
The cat guy shook his head, waving his paws to clear the smoke. But, unfortunately for him, we were already gone.
****
Sweat dribbled down my entire body as it throbbed. But I didn't stop.
Thankfully, I got a hold of a delivery truck before the driver noticed and kicked us off which left us here.
Spare change and candy I didn't pick up rattled inside my pockets. Shikoku felt heavier inside my pocket, like he's been working overtime.
The streets were relentless on my already shaven shoes. A daunting wall of earth beside us where shadows covered it's head.
I somehow covered a good amount of distance from that bizarre thing. Because of all that running, I hadn't noticed that the sky was literally pink again. Again as I meant it was black before and while we were on the truck.
"What are you and why the fuck is the sky pink?!" I shouted with ecstatic thrill. I have lived a fully mundane life and now I'm here running with a magical fish in my pants.
"That doesn't matter right now, brat... Just get me out of here" he answered with muffled noises, clearly uncomfortable with the tight space of the pocket.
"And to where?!" I asked, being that the closest town here would be a couple more miles. And I'd have to resort to crawling if I wanted to get there.
"Raijo Shrine" he said, his voice deep with scratch in his tone. "There you'll be safer..."
Raijo Shrine... Wait, that place!
I stopped my pathetic jog. My breath burned my throat after each exhale which tasted like blood.
"Hey—hey?! What are you stopping for?"
"Where..." Gasp. Gasp. Gasp. "Where the fuck is that?!"
The fish's expression pivoted from calm to my boss on a bad Monday.
"What do you mean where is that? You can't be serious. It's a well-known across the country. Don't you know your history?!"
"Nope! Not in my whole damn life!"
I never did pay attention in school.
Not like I needed to.
Boom!
Our attention shifted behind where an explosion scattered pieces of the street towards us.
But that didn't matter.
Because it surely didn't block the view.
Of the tailored suit cat on a—fucking motorcycle!
"SHIKUKO!!! HOW DARE YOU SLEEP WITH MY SISTER!!!"