"I can't really find any that I like." Shintaro looked at what would typically be a more than good enough selection for most people.
"Aren't all of these new?"
"I kind of want something different, though. My previous one was a mechanical. I want one of those that have a more satisfying click. The ones that make you feel good just typing on them."
"Oh, I've seen those. On YouTube. Those compact ones that sound like if your brain was a keyboard. But they go for tens of thousands of yen, custom."
"Those are nice too, but I want a bigger one. Older would be nice, actually."
"Ask the employees then, I ain't Google."
"No, you're more like Bin-
"Can I help you?" A man in his forties asked very dully. He had short, grey hair and wore a blue t-shirt—the shop's uniform.
"Um... Yeah. D-do you have any IBM keyboards?" He struggled to maintain eye contact.
"Well, we do have some very similar ones. They're right over here if you could follow me...."
"No, I mean- I would like a vintage IBM keyboard."
The employee gave him a weird look as if looking to see if he was serious. "I could check to see if we can order one if you'd like? But we'd need you to pay in advance for that. Would that be fine with you?"
"Yeah."
The man walked them over to a nearby computer for employees to find a list of vintage IBMs that Shintaro could select from. He chose the '1984 Model F, Clicky' in Mint Condition.
"This one goes for fifty thousand yen. Is that okay?" The man gave him a skeptical look.
"HELL NO!" yelled Ene. Thankfully, Shintaro was the only one who could hear her right now. "This bastard finna scam us!"
"Here's my credit card."
"We're going to starve! What are we gonna do!? I'll have to stream as a V-Tuber if we're going to make a living!"
"This will arrive in one week, at the earliest." The man said, and suddenly Ene went quiet.
"Guess I'll have to come back to pick it up when it arrives, then," Shintaro said and gave a bashful smile while very obviously trying to avoid Ene's dumbfounded gaze.
"I see... Thenwe look forward to your next visit. Sir." The man said, suddenly verypolite. With his hands, one above the other held against his torso- he gaveShintaro a bow. He must have thought Shintaro was just window-shopping and thenjust attention-grabbing before.
YOU ARE READING
LOST TIME MEMORY Vol. 1
Teen FictionFor two whole years, Shintaro Kisaragi has been shut inside his room. He's been entertained only by an artificial blue girl on his monitor and haunted by the dreams of his past trauma. On August 14th, he finally gathers the courage to step outside...
