A Life Of A Nobody, But With Expeditions?!

G-Class, at last!

BZZZZ

The automatic doors gently hummed as it slide side ways. Stepping out of the building, the night ambience instantaneously covered my sense of hearing with my face clashing with the breeze, along with it is the smell of gasoline. The blaring lights in the light posts stretches as far as the corner of my eye, with the glaring headlights of the cars creating  astigmatisms in my vision.

"What a busy night, well it's only typical." I talked to myself with a huge grin plastered on my face. After taking in plenty of oxygen from the cold breeze that soothes my cheeks, I silently shouted, "WOOOHHH!".

My lone celebration was short lived as the echoes of my joy faded to the dark sky above. However, even with that melancholic-filled joy I'm still glad that I have now an official guild card. It's still rank G and I have to do a lot to get to the next rank, but I can't be picky now that I had used up my saved money.

"I didn't even aspire to be an explorer, so why am I expecting too much, heh." I scoffed at myself whilst staring at the small plastic card that proved and marks my journey to fill this boredom and end a repetitive cycle, but could also be a start of a new one.

Shortly, some people left the building too, they were also those who took the so-called "exam", but all we really had to do was wait 3 hours and watch another 2 hour long video of what to do and not. Most of us even slept only to wake up we were still half-way through.

 Well enough with this, I want to sleep early to get to Mount Akiha early.

With that remainder, I set out during the bustling  night of the city. I, along with the many people, crossed the roads. Even though I have crossed multiple pedestrian lanes, this time it felt like I was in Shibuya.

With earphones plugged in my ears blasting the same playlist like before, I walked without care. I let my mind float to the lands of creative imagination along with it mixed with my expectation and what I will do tomorrow at the labyrinth.

Will I encounter a novel creature? An item out of this world? Or unique architecture that defies the laws that we have believed to be true?

Those thoughts lingered as 5 songs have already passed, yet I am still far. At this moment, I regretted not using my bike today.

Eh, I reap what I sowed. No use crying over spilled milk as they say.

"Right, I should pass by a convenience store, I almost forgot."

Another 3 songs had passed as I hummed alongside the rhythm, the shining  storefront of the convenience store slowly became clearer as I got closer. For some reason, even with the earphones plugged, I could mentally hear the buzzing fluorescence of the storefront.

I could feel the cold surface of the stainless handle as I opened the door. Its temperature seems to be the same as outside, I thought it'd be hotter or colder in some way.

While I searched around the store, meticulously scrutinizing the shelves and the products it holds, I paused the playlist then unplugged the earphones.

I'm lacking in chocolate bars, cup noodles, and some junk food.

Before I went to the guild, I had to go to an ATM to withdraw the money my parents had sent yesterday night.

It's not much compared to what I had saved, but it'll do.

I thought whilst checking my wallet then taking out 1000 Yen .

"Yeah, this'll do for 2 days worth, or 4 with rationing. I can't even buy snacks." I sighed to pity myself. I wish I had more money to be at least flexible on my food than the same cup noodles again and again.

I had 3000 Yen, but I prefer to not waste more than 1500 Yen right now. Maybe, depending on tomorrow, I might invest in expeditions.

After purchasing 7 cup noodles, I was about to plug back my earphones and continue walking until a familiar face entered through the door.

"Oh? Good evening, Watanabe-san. Didn't expect you to be here." She said with a jolly tone and smile.

If I remember correctly, she was my classmate in some years, but we rarelt ever talk. This girl is Sumire, Suzuki. She's one of the honor students in our school and dubbed as part of the beautiful ones in our classroom.

To be fair, now that I got a good look on her face, she does deserve to have that title. Demurely lengthy black hair that reaches below her shoulders, her black eye pupils also have a huge circumference, and as I stare at her it wobbles gently like an egg yolk. Accompanied with her slightly puffed cheeks that look so soft you'd have the urge to pinch them. Her mouth too can unleash flashy expressions that can make you go along with her mood, what a scary weapon!

She's also slightly shorter than me so there's that random factor. Though I think she's more deserving in the cutest one in the room than part of the beauties, but that's subjective.

"Good evening, Sumire-san. I also didn't expect you to be here. What brings?" I greeted her then followed with a question to make the conversation less one sided.

"Ah, I was told my by mother to buy me some list of stuff here, you see. It's not much, to be honest." She says while checking and scrolling through the list on her phone.

"Hehhh..? So you live close here then?" I got curious and asked.

"I suppose? I don't really know what's close to you or me though, Ahahaha." Her giggling and laugh sounded so soothing that I went quiet for a second.

So this is what made her popular too, huh

"Well, I'll have to get going now. J haven't eaten dinner yet. Excuse me."
I said in tad bit hurry. My eyes have started to press down on its own before, amd now it's intensifying. I decided to stop the small talk and go home.

"Nhm, be careful."
"You too."

We both exchanged our goodbyes and put an end to our mere conversation, but it felt refreshing to talk to a classmate after so long.

And so, I began to walk back home with hope for tomorrow.