Kikyo woke early the next morning. She decided to look over the list Nagi had given her.

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Pajamas

Formal Outfit

Toiletries

IMPORTANT:

Cellphone. Don't forget! It's convenient and helpful for both you and me. Got it!?

Something you like. I can't really say much other than a house isn't a home til it's filled with things you enjoy, so find something fun.>>

“Nagi-san!” despite some of the terse wording, Kikyo could feel kindness oozing from the list.

“I won't let you down!” she said confidently. The mirror above the sink cracked.

“I won't be let down!” she said with forced vigor, and stepped outside, list in hand. A black cat stared at her from atop the rail that surrounded the apartments, and yawned.

“I'll be fine!” her voice shook. A sharp gust of wind snatched the list from her hand.

“Nooooo! Get back here!” she raced down the stairs, the slip of white still just visible, caught in the branches of a tree.

She reached said tree and peered up into its canopy.

“I guess I've gotta climb...” she said dejectedly, when another blast of wind shook the branches. Panicked she looked around, and didn't see the list, until she returned her gaze to where it had been. It was still there. She sighed with relief, and began her ascent. Had she been a regular human, she probably would have given up, but with stubborn will and sharpened nails she managed to scale the smooth trunk until she reached the branches. She took a short rest, and then snatched up the list. She leaped down from her perch and placed the list inside her clothes close to her chest.

“What are you doing so early in the morning?” came a familiar voice from behind.

“Wah!? N-Nagi-san...You startled me. You see the list-”

“Can it. I'm taking you with me.”

“Eh...Could it be that...You don't trust me?”

“I trust. That you'll lose that list and forget what was written on it. You're a misfortune magnet.”

That touched a sore spot. Kikyo herself would say there was no such thing as luck, or fortune, but to most who watched her from afar and knew how hard she tried and how successful she could be, what happened to and around her could only be described as unfortunate. Some of her friends in Makai had even suggested she had been cursed.

She puffed out her cheeks, but dutifully followed Nagi to the shopping district.

For the most part their errands went on unhindered, and Kikyo was soon the proud owner of several sets of nice, and socially acceptable, clothing, towels, and other essentials.

“Now it's your turn to do some of the thinking,” Nagi said suddenly, coming to a stop in front of a somewhat ramshackle looking electronics shop. Not a place an ordinary person would think to acquire a cell phone, but given Kikyo was no ordinary person she had no way of knowing that.

“Eh? Er, okay...” Kikyo replied hesitantly, and then pushed open the door. The interior was suspiciously dark, and yet the man behind the counter still wore sunglasses, was he blind? A grungy chime rang as she pushed open the door, and his head tilted slightly in her direction, but he didn't say a word.

“P-pardon the intrusion...” Kikyo said in nearly a whisper, suddenly overcome with nerves.

Trying to push those thoughts away, she took a look around. Old televisions and other electronics were on display, as well as remote control cars and planes, as well as some items Kikyo didn't recognize at all. Most of her knowledge of Earth's technology came from her education as a Major in the Overlord's army. She had never thought it would be useful knowledge since away missions to Earth were never openly talked about, and she herself had never bought into such rumors as there had been. Now however, she saw it as a great foresight of the Overlord. Towards the back of the store she heard music that seemed a little out of place in the gloomy atmosphere. She made her way towards it, and found what she assumed to be a gaming console.

She gingerly picked up the controller that was connected to it and began to hit buttons at random. Miraculously, she managed to start a game of some kind. It was a fighting game of some kind, with some more button mashing she found herself in a match against the A.I. Her fingers continued to spam inputs, and she managed to take down the computer player. A smile crept across her face, this felt like the first thing that had gone her way all day.

An hour later...

Nagi waited. And waited. And waited!

“How long is that girl going to take?” she grumbled, then threw open the shop door and marched up behind the game-focused Mazoku girl. The corner of her lip twitched into a half smile, but she forced it back down. It was nice to see Kikyo finally seeming to have adapted to something, but she didn't have all day to spend with her.

CHOP!

“Ow!” cried Kikyo rubbing her head.

“It's been an hour. Hurry up and buy your phone, I have things to do.”

“EH?! I-I'm so sorry!”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

She stood up quickly, making sure not to knock anything over, before making her way over to the counter, Nagi at her side. Nagi threw a look back at the television and game console.

“E-excuse me...I'd like to buy a cellphone...” Kikyo asked shyly, shuffling up to the counter where the large man in sunglasses sat.

He didn't look at her, but reached under the counter, and produced three small boxes. He took the lids off of each one with a single deft movement. The first box contained a shiny blue fliphone, likely only to be used as a phone and unlikely to put a great strain on the budget. The second box contained a touch screen phone, but judging by its size and number of small buttons, it was likely an older model. The last box contained a shiny nearly button-less device. It looked rather plain to Kikyo's eyes, but from her studies she gathered that meant it was likely the most advanced of its kind available presently.

Kikyo couldn't decide whether to go for affordability or utility, therefore in her mind there was only one path, the middle.

“I-I'd like this one please...”

The man nodded, and retrieved another device from below the counter, as well as a tiny chip. Then he pulled out some papers and started to hand them to Kikyo.

“I'll help with that,” interjected Nagi, “There's a lot you wouldn't know how to answer, watch closely and remember for the future. Take notes on the back of the list if you have to,” she whispered.

With that, Nagi helped Kikyo fill out the cellular service contract.

“Th-thank you!” Kikyo said, first to Nagi, then to the man.

“Pleasure doin' business,” was his short resonant reply.

Kikyo began to walk away, when Nagi spoke up.

“We'll take the S4ND 7 and a TV too,” she threw a rare smile at Kikyo, “that should give your room some flare, and take care of that last item on the list, eh?”

Kikyo's eyes brimmed with happy tears, but she didn't let them spill, she nodded an energetic reply.

Soon they were on their way back to the apartments.

“Let's stop for lunch first, all you've had since you came here has been sweets, right?”

Kikyo wanted to make an excuse for herself, but in truth the larger part of her haul from the previous day was sugar based. She then took another mental step back and realized she would get to see even more new potentially delicious things.

“That's right! I'd love to!” she replied cheerily, before remembering the various things they had to carry.

“What are we going to do with all of this?”

Nagi smiled, “Hoh? You're thinking ahead! But there's no need to worry.”

She led her to spot in between two buildings, there lining the walls of the wide path were sets of lockers with coin locks.

“We'll put what fits in here, and take the rest with us and come back to retrieve them after we've finished our meal.”

“Got it!” Kikyo replied with a sharp salute. She attempted to figure out the lock, but it fought back.

Nagi taught her how to use the locks and then they were off to the restaurant Nagi had in mind.

It was another somewhat shabby looking building, with a neon sign that seemed to be on its last legs, flickering on and off. However, the aroma even from the outside was heavenly. Nagi gave Kikyo a smug smile.

“Not many people know about this place, and those who do tend to keep it to themselves, so count yourself lucky for once.”

Kikyo swallowed, before replying with a nod. She could barely imagine what kind of cuisine lay beyond the rusted hinges.

Nagi led her inside, like the electronics shop, the interior was dimly lit and a little cluttered. That said, an irresistible aroma permeated the air. Nagi led Kikyo to an empty table in the back corner of the restaurant. There was only one other customer inside and they didn't even look up from their meal.

A few moments after they sad down, a young woman in an apron came to the table.

“What'll you have today Kumi-san?” she said in a friendly tone.

“I'll have my usual beef stew,” Nagi replied and then gestured towards Kikyo, “And let's set her up with the daily special.”

The woman in the apron smiled, “Right away, it'll be out soon.”

After she had walked away, Kikyo asked Nagi.

“Who's that?”

“An old friend. Tomonuma Toko,” a mischievous grin crawled across Nagi's face, “She's the second best cook I know, after her father.”

“Her father?”

“The head chef of this restaurant!”

“Ooooh!” crowed Kikyo, “A family run restaurant huh? That sounds so nice!”

Moments later Tomonuma-san returned with their food, but immediately Kikyo noticed something odd.

Nagi was given a single, though sizable, bowl. Kikyo however, soon found herself surrounded by various dishes. Everything looked and smelled delicious, but she seriously doubted she could finish it all.

Nagi clasped her hands and gave thanks, Kikyo quickly copied her, and was with a nod of approval.

“D-do you really think I can finish all of this?” she asked Nagi.

“Ask that after you've actually tried it. In some ways, this place is more dangerous than a battlefield.”

Kikyo gulped and gingerly tucked in.

Immediately her mouth was filled with flavor, potent but not too strong. In fact, it was almost addictive, leaving her wanting more.

Was this what Nagi meant?

Nagi meanwhile watched her with an amused grin. She finished her bowl of stew long before Kikyo finished her last plate.

For a moment after finishing Kikyo felt nothing but satisfaction, a dazed smile on her lips. Then she began to realize how tight her belly felt. She looked down only to realize where she would normally see her legs, a round object the same color as her shirt was there instead. She shook her head, clearing out the clouds that were trying to blind her to the obvious. That wasn't some object, it was her shirt over her distended middle.

Kikyo's cheeks flushed, she'd had some embarrassing moments in her time, but never had she felt so gluttonous.

Nagi looked smug, “I told you, this place is dangerous.”

Kikyo didn't want to give her the satisfaction, so despite the burning in her cheeks and ears, she replied, “It was delicious! I-I could go for more even!”

Nagi showed surprise, then chuckled.

“Hoh? Fine, I'll take you again sometime. Maybe you'll be able to pick out something for yourself now.”

Kikyo, feeling satisfied that she had won, in her own mind, stood up. Or at least, she attempted to. Her balance was thrown off by her swollen midsection, she threw out a hand and caught herself with the wall.

“Oof...”

“Easy now!”

With Tomonuma-san's help they gathered their things and left the restaurant. Kikyo felt the contents of her belly sway with every step, so instead she tried to focus on the items she was carrying. Nagi led them back to the lockers, and soon they were on their way back to the apartment complex. Nagi helped her put the things they had bought away, and then Kikyo gave into the urge to sleep.