'Ho, ho, ho. Take care. Take care of yourself.

He sees the goatman's wife off to the store and bows his head in a faltering manner.
...... really. Business is not really my thing.

Recently, the number of customers is gradually increasing.
I don't need to tell you why. ......
I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.
...... Why don't you just buy the medicine?
Well, I suppose this is an extravagant concern.

If you're not sure what you're looking for, you can always ask your doctor.
...... It's also difficult to hire someone to be a salesperson.
You need a person who is knowledgeable about medicines, who can react flexibly based on their own judgment, and most importantly, who we can care for. ............

'There's only one such person in the world ......'.

But that one person is never going to be my salesman.
Well, ...... if that person were to come to my store, I would ask him to become the owner instead of a vendor. ......

'Hahaha ...... that's impossible'.

He's not going to choose us.
On the contrary, ............

'He might forget about us ...... even today.'

My chest tightened up .......

...... Haha. It's really funny ............ that we still have such maidenly feelings. ...... It's funny, really. ......

'............I hate it'.

I looked around for my friend Dusty, but I couldn't find her anywhere. ...... Oh, maybe it's because I had a customer earlier. ......

I took off my glasses and plopped down on the counter.

I can't ............ do anything ...... wrong today.

'I'm closing up for the day.

When I muttered this, the voice of that man replayed in my brain, "No, you're closed every day.

You're very sick,......, and even your imagination is focused on him,.............

'Stupid ......, it's doing great business. I've had two customers come in today and I'm at the end of my rope.

'You're not strong enough.

...... He sounds just like him in his little snarky way. You're a great reenactor, my imagination.

'Oh, I wish someone good-natured and dependable would marry me off~'
In my hometown, the act of forcing such a bad debt on someone can be charged with fraud.
'Who's a bad debt? Who's the bad debtor? If you do your job right, it's not hard to see.
'You only spend about six minutes a year doing it right.
'Six minutes?Are you trying to make me die of overwork?
'...... Can't you even last six minutes? And don't die, just for doing your job.

You're right. ......
Oh ...... that's nice. It's always fun to talk to him, delusional or not.

...... If we can talk like this, fantasy or not, ............ we might be okay.
Even if he forgets me, ......

Yeah.
Even if he doesn't come to this store anymore, it's just ...... back to the old days.
There's nothing wrong with that.

"Hey, ......, you delusional person.
'Who's the one with the daily delusions?
'I am!
'I'm the one!' 'You can't say that with confidence, .......'

...... You're thinking of something stupid, I am.
What is this conversation?
You can't do this with anyone else.

I guess I'm ...... special. ......

I guess so. ......
So, at least ......

'I'm a little depressed right now. ...... Are you trying to comfort me?

It wouldn't hurt to indulge in a little delusion.

Since he's not here anyway, ............ he may never come here again, ......

'............. It's ...... really ............ a little hard .......'

I hope you're lying.
I've become so weak myself.
And the reality that he'll soon forget me.

I may not be able to say this as someone who abandoned my home and ran away from everyone, but ......
I'm afraid that I'm going to lose my place in the world. ............ I'm really scared.

'Ahoy......Makusa's Ahoy......Our Ahoy............'

But the stupidest one is ...... him, who is almost losing his memory of us because of the parasite of demon grass.

'Ahoy ............ big ahoy ............ ahoy tits... ...'
'That's the first rant I've ever heard, isn't it?

He sounded dumbfounded, annoyed--

'...... eh'.



A soft, gentle touch falls on my head.
I'm not sure what to do, but I'd like to know what you think.

............ delusional ......?

Look up and look around you.
There is no one in the store,.......
I can't see anyone.

'What the ............ heck, there's no one there after all. That's great, my imagination. I thought it would only affect my hearing.

I thought it was just hearing.

When I was thinking that, the hand that was stroking my head was getting stronger and ...... started to squeeze my skull as hard as it could.

I'll be back.
'Put on your glasses. What?
'What the hell!What the hell?You're affecting my sense of touch too much, delusional man!

I'm sure you're not the only one with a headache from too much paranoia. ...... I'm finally at the end of my rope. ............ I've always been at the end of my rope!
......

I'm not sure what to say.
I'm not sure what to say.

Suddenly, the world becomes clear.
The glasses jumped on my face by themselves.

What the hell?
Is my imagination starting to exert physical influence?

"Now, turn around.

I followed the voice of my delusion and turned around to find ...... him standing there.

'............'.
'Do you understand?
'......My delusion finally reached my vision. ............'
'Accept reality.'
'Ahh!'

A smack on the forehead.

The one who was there was definitely not ...... supposed to be here, it was ...... him.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing.How long have you been ...... in this place?
'No, we've been having a conversation!
'I was having a conversation with you and my imagination!Don't you dare interrupt my conversation!
'Wow, ......, you're getting really unreasonably angry with me right now.

Did you hear that?
I'm not sure what to do.

Aah!
Oh, no!

'Come on, you!You're tired, right?There's a drug that can seriously damage your brain right now, take it.
'Who would take such a poison?

There are things you want to forget, after all, you're human!

............ No, there are more things I don't want you to forget.

Well, you know, ......'.

He taps me on the head and sits down in the chair behind the counter.

'It's because of this that people supplement their fantasies.

And then, with that ...... cheating face that you sometimes see, the one that is so indescribably gentle and ...... all-encompassing, you say something like this.

It's probably not going to happen.

............ Idiot.
I'm sure you'll be able to take responsibility if I cry ...... for saying that.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's had this problem. ......The truth is, I've had fantasies of having myself come to my home, so I'm not too happy to hear that it's not going to happen. ......... ...I'll just thank you for your thoughtfulness in trying to cheer me up.

'Then, as I was fantasizing earlier, "I'm horny as hell and I'm thinking, 'Hey, you've got great tits, let me squeeze them! You're not going to be able to make that happen, are you?
'I'm already horny from the very first 'horny'!
'Show me your round-bottomed flask!
'I won't!What kind of old man are you?
'My Yakken is drawing powder!
'I don't have a part of me that moves that fast!
'I'm going to all bloom you tonight!
'Shut up already, you!

...... hahaha.
Oh, that's so cool. ......

I wonder...
Why does it make me feel so calm?

'I don't know, let me make you some tea.
'Oh, do me a favor and leave the weird medicine in your hand here, will you?
'Don't worry. It's not like it's any kind of weird medicine.
'What kind of medicine?
'The kind that puts you into a deep sleep for about three days.
'Isn't that a strange medicine?
'It's just a drug that will put you into a deep sleep where you'll never wake up no matter what they do to you, no matter how much and how wet they make you.
'What are you doing, man?



...... what do you do ......?
It's obvious.

Even if you forget me, you have to make sure that I never forget you. Sleep with your warmth in ............ your bed.
You can use your arm pillow or something.

It's ...... stupid, isn't it, me?
I've been thinking about doing that. Well, I don't think you know that.

'...... Oh no. I'm getting horny. I'll go make some tea.
'Don't leave any disturbing remarks, .......'

Leaving him with a twitching face, we entered the back ...... of the store, a residential space that no one was allowed to enter.

From here on out, no one but me is allowed in.

'......The smell of spices.

For what it's worth, the smell of home is comforting.

I doubt I'll ever return to that town again.

I was so immersed, so immersed, so immersed in my drug research that I ...... failed.
Because of my inherent shyness and tediousness, I neglected to do my due diligence.

We've been surrounded by enemies.

Enemies who want to destroy us.
Enemies who want to use us.
Enemies who deny our very existence.

There was no place for us in a city full of enemies.

We were hailed as the geniuses of the century, we were feted, we were used ...... and we were used ............

But still.
But even in a town like that, you still miss it.
The reason why I buy spices like this that have nothing to do with medicine is ...... probably because of the Baokurian blood that flows through my body.

I can't let anyone see me like this.
The truth is, ...... is a weak woman who doesn't know where she belongs and is desperately clinging to her past and present, using them interchangeably. I don't want anyone to know that.

And they also don't want to know that you're a woman who can't clean.

The deeper we go, the more we lose our footing.
And he'll take it home with him. ...... Hmm.

'No, that's not true.

I can't help but laugh at my own stupid imagination.

The genius of the century must be defective as a woman.
She can't clean.
She can't cook.
I can't dress up nicely, I can't be kind to my husband, I can't do anything.

The only thing I can do is to have stupid conversations with him so that he doesn't get bored every day.

'...... Who would choose such a woman?

I'll be tired in five minutes.
You'll be tired in five minutes.
What man can stand ...... a lifetime of that?

I wouldn't.
I'd probably run away ............ and never come back.

That's ...... true.

No one would come to a place like this ...... if they didn't have something to do.

'Oh no. I'm sighing.

He threw away the tea he had made with a sigh and made it again.
They'll think I can't even make a good cup of tea.
I can do this much.

I don't know. I'm done wallowing in my own stupid fantasies.

Let's enjoy this special time, which may be our last.

...... is a powerful plant that is imbued with magical powers.
It's not something that people can just psychologically control.

I'm a pharmacist.
I know there's no such thing as miracles.
When you're in a bad place, you can't do anything.

'Even if I forget, ...... I'll never forget. I'm not going to forget. ......'

For the first time in my life, it was me who thought, 'I don't want to lose it.

My hometown, my family, my memorabilia, my nostalgic scenery, all my money and goods, my familiar tools of business, they will all be gone when they are gone, and I can't help losing them.
But ............ I just can't ............

I don't want to lose the only one who is special to me. ......

'............, Akan'.

I let go of the tray with the tea once.
The pungent taste is transferred.

'What the hell,......,' he said.

Lately, my tear glands seem to be getting clogged up.
You need to get a grip. You'll be thought of as a badly behaved woman.

............ What the hell? I said this lousy gag, so don't laugh at me. ......
You should be laughing like an idiot. ............ Why are you almost crying?

'............ I can't. You can't show your face like this.'



If they see you like this, they'll really get tired of you and think you're a pain in the ass, and never come back. ............

What?
I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure you'll be able to do it.

What the hell. I don't know. ......
I don't understand. ......


'...... You're an idiot. You know what I mean.


When I denied myself, when I denied myself and I didn't know myself anymore,......, my mouth spilled out the words that I thought were probably my true feelings.


'I don't want to be forgotten. ...... From now on, we can continue to talk ...... together like we have in the past, and talk ......... about stupid things. ...I want to have a crush on you ............ on my own, of course.


What the hell is this? ......

I'm not sure if that means I'm a woman too.
I thought I had nothing to do with love and romance. ......

Oh, God!I'm so angry!
I put a love-love aura in your tea!

'I love you so much, ahoy!

...... There we go.
All right, let's go!

You leave the kitchen, walk through the spice lined hallway, and come to the store.
--and.

'After you eat, drink the water cold. Take your time, okay?'

He's serving a customer.
He carefully teaches some little kid how to take his medicine, pats him on the head, and sends him on his way.

'Oh. You're late. I had a customer, so I sold him some medicine.'
'You're looking good. I wish you worked here.'

I joke about it, with a hint of wishful thinking.

'I'm expensive.
'Well, I guess I'll just have to pay with my body.
'......, you're going to have a lot of debt, aren't you?
'Oh, I'm the one who's getting paid, huh?

It's a hard world we live in.
Well, no man would be happy to have that kind of relationship with me.

'Here, manager, let's have some tea.
'When I become the manager of this store, I'll make it mandatory for all employees to wear mini-skirts and bikinis on top.
'Yeah, I've never seen ...... my own mini-skirt bikini.'
'Am I going to have to wear that too?
'The manager is one of your employees, isn't he?
'...... You're an a**h*le. That's why they're so smart.

He grumbles and sits down on a chair in front of the counter.
I put the tea on the table that doubles as a workbench and sit on the chair behind the counter.

The distance between us is less than two meters.
It's a good distance.

'Hmm, this tea is really good.
'Phew!

You say after taking a sip.
That's why I'm so horny.

Because ......, you know?
I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you get through the day. ............ Well, I guess it doesn't matter, but ...... ...... I'm a little embarrassed.

'Have you ...... lost the strength to drink tea?
'No, a**h*le!I've just been in a bit of a weird, no, erotic, ...... place.'
'Why did you rephrase that?Why did you rephrase that?

I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed.

Oh, God!
Why should I be so excited just because someone said the tea was good?
You really should get over yourself. Tea, tea.
Just put the leaves in and pour hot water!
A monkey can do that.

I don't want any praise for that. ......

I always wonder how your tea tastes. It's smoky and crisp.'

Maybe it's because of the large amount of spices on display.
The air in the place must be like that already, I guess.

'I like it, I like it. Your tea.
'What?

...... This man is ............

You don't know how much that one word can kill. ............

He turns his head away, turns his head away, and says a series of words to diffuse the enemy's attack.

'Well, well, I guess we all have at least one skill. But other than that, I'm like a defective woman who can't do anything~ hahaha. What would you do?What would you do if you ate only tea for dinner every day?Your stomach would be full and you'd be masturbating every night.Oh, I see. I guess I like that kind of play too... I guess my mania is hair removal... Who's the girl with all the hair?My hat is off to you, my hat is off to you!



If you say stupid words and diminish their killing power even a little, they will shoot you in an instant.
Well, it's really tiring to deal with an unaware man.

'What's wrong with you?

Go to ............?

'It doesn't matter if you can't cook or clean, it's nothing to worry about. It's just a matter of being able to do it. If you treat people as defective because of that, then you are the one with a defective brain or heart.

What ...... are you doing?
Why are you a little angry?

'Well, I'm just saying that ...... men want that from women, don't they?
'So I'm a defective man?I don't have any muscles, my strength is weak, and I'm afraid of the streets at night.
'That's not true. No one is looking for that kind of thing in me. ......'
'Neither do you.'
'............What?'

He still stares at me with a slightly unhappy look in his eyes.
But the tone of his voice is somewhat caring and ticklish, tickling my eardrums.

'It's okay for you to be you. No one is going to ask you to cook or clean anything.
'......, that's right. I'm not needed by anyone. ......'
'You're going to be angry.'
'............'.

It was a rather serious ......
I couldn't say anything anymore.

He slowly stood up and approached me.
His face is ...... a little scary .............

He put his hand on the counter and leaned forward to look into my face.
Surrounded by the wall, the counter, and him,......, there is no escape.

I'm not sure what you're talking about, ignoring my need for you.

You need me. ......?

'I hate it when people say bad things about things I like. Even if it's you.'

Do you like ...... us, ......?

'You're fine the way you are. Don't make me say it again.

My ............ are you sure you want to do this?

Slowly, his face slips away, and he turns his back to me and returns to his chair behind the counter.

'...... I'm grateful, you know.

You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of these in the market. ......

...... You're not good.
It's really bad. It's evil.

............My heart has been completely pierced. ......

I'm about to cry.

I'm not sure what to say.You're in love with me, aren't you!You're in love with me!I know, I know!I can't complain about your looks and style, so I guess I can't help it. If you want, I'll go out with you!

Oh no!
What are you talking about?
What are you talking about? You're too busy for that!

'...... No, that's fine. ......'
'What's with that pissy face?I'm not sure what to do.

Thank God!
That turned out to be a good laugh.

But that's annoying, isn't it?

'I think I want to stay like this for a while longer.

You lie down on the table, relax your body, and say something like that.

Stay as you are: ............
That's true.
I like this distance from myself a lot too.
You can talk about anything you want, you don't have to talk about anything you don't want, it's just you and me.

'Oh, ......, I like it here. It's so relaxing. ......'
'............'

You don't even look at me, you're all covered up and you say things like that.
Stupid ...... thing you just said was a critical hit.

'Tea's gone. I'll get you another cup.'
'Hmm~. Please...'

Maybe it's because you've been rushing around all morning, but you seem to have gone into full relaxation mode.
Just as well.
...... I can't look at his face right now.

I took his teacup and headed back to the living space.

I want to stay in the present. ......



So don't forget about ...... me.
It's pretty hard not to be called by your ............ name, even if you've said so many things.

Oh, ...... that reminds me, I haven't called you by your name.
I'm not sure what to do.

But ...... now, I kind of feel like calling you .............

'............Yashiro'.

What a name!
I'm too embarrassed to call you by your name now!
The best I can do is whisper it in a low voice that you can't hear at all!
Now, stop being an idiot and let's go make some tea!

And when I stepped out...


'Hmm?What's up, Regina?'


--What the hell?

Why did you hear that?
And ...... why are you remembering my name at this time!

'............!

Oh no.
I thought it was a lie that you cry when you're happy, but ............ it's true!

...... I can't let you see my face like this!

I don't want to do this today!I don't think I can make a good cup of tea anymore!

Putting the teacup on the counter, the relaxed palm ............ forced him to stand and pushed him out the door.

'Hey!I'm not sure what you're talking about.
'We're closed for the day!
'It's still early afternoon!
'It's always midnight in my heart!
'It sounds like it's obscene time all year round, when you say that!
'Ah, let's close the store and do something indecent!
'You should learn to be a girl!

Hmph.
What are you talking about!

'I'm sorry. I have someone who says, 'You're fine just the way you are!

and pushes him out and shuts the door quickly.

"Hey, Regina!

Leaning against the door, you listen to his voice.

"Regina!

...... one more time. Did you call me by my name just one more time?

"...... d*mn.

Then the voice trails off.
...... I guess it's not enough to just think it.

"Regina.
I'll be back.
I'll be back.
'............ Hello, there.'

The sound of footsteps fading away.
I'm not sure what to do, but I'm going to do it.

It's ...... not good.
I'm really ...... too evil.

The last thing you want to do is whisper your name. ............ You're going to fall in love with her.

'...... This is not good. I can't look at you for a while. ............'

I hid my red hot face with my hands and crouched down alone in the store where his scent lingered faintly.

Oh, ...... God. I'm on my last legs.