Retribution

The Kindness of a Stranger (Chapter 4)

The street that we've landed on is one I know well. Kacchan and I would spend a lot of time here as it was close to the most popular shopping center in Musutafu. As such, the crowds are always horrendous, today being even worse than I remember.

Sako almost continually disappears into and out of the crowd. He weaves in and out, undetectable. I try to catch up, but he moves with such grace and experience that he has to wait for me at the next stop light.

I almost ask where we're going, but before I can, Sako leads us into this second-hand clothing shop. I look at him confused, but he just shrugs at me.

"Sorry," he says nonchalantly, "this is all I have money for right now."

My cheeks heat up as I realize. Guilt quickly follows. "W-wait! I— you don't need to buy me clothes!" I quickly stammer out as we weave around clothing racks to find the youth section.

Sako ignores me and flips through rows of shirts as I stand awkwardly to the side. Sako holds a small shirt with stars against my chest before putting it back on the rack.

With nothing to do, I look around the little shop. It couldn't have been much bigger than my classroom with a couple changing rooms and the check-out counter in a separate alcove at the front. As a kid, my mom would take me to retail and second-hand stores just like this when money was tight. We would always buy three or four new outfits for the start of the new school year. Kacchan would always brag about his brand-new clothes. I'm sure he didn't know at the time that we couldn't afford them, but it still hurt, even as a kid. That stopped once we got to junior high.

I miss those days. It was so much simpler.

Sako holds up two more shirts. One is a faded shade of green with paw prints across it, and the other is white with the word "Panda" written across it and a little cartoon panda poking out of the chest pocket. When he indicates that it's my choice, I grab the white "Panda" shirt and the gray sweatpants he must have gotten earlier. We go up to pay — I said I would pay him back once I found my backpack — and then I go to the back to change. I feel so much better as I stuff my wet school uniform into the sales bag.

After getting clothes, Sako leads me down the crowded street once again. We cross into an alleyway to reach a less crowded street before shuffling into a small ramen place. The inside is cozy, with traditional Japanese paintings and memorabilia. There's a small sushi bar to the left side, and tall tables to the right with booths in the middle. There are only about seven other customers, but the building is still alive with noise and a sense of comfort.

"Atsuhiro! To what do I owe this spectacular visit?" A large man with burgundy, shoulder-length hair and a five o'clock shadow framing almost comically large lips appears from the back of the bar. He walks up to Sako and nearly devours him with his large frame. "I'm so glad to see you!" he bellows into the hug.

"Kenji-chan... please le– let me go..." Sako strains before the woman — I realize my mistake when I get another look at her — lets him out of her bear hug.

Sako huffs and gasps. Once he regains himself, he takes a look around the small restaurant. "It seems like the shop is doing better," he mentions while gesturing around the shop.

Kenji sighs. "Yes, we've grown our customer base, so on busy days, we nearly reached capacity. But, we've had some trouble hiring experienced workers."

She looks off towards two young girls bringing out food. They seem very friendly while they chat with the customers, but on the way back to the kitchen, the shorter of the two drops a glass.

Kenji watches them scramble with a concerned gaze. "I love these girls, but for most of them, this is their first job. I'd like to be able to leave my baby in experienced hands."