Niragi

I was casually standing against the wall while the other board members were discussing vigorously. There was something with a lack of food and some people from the Beach apparently were worried. Hatter wanted us to solve the problem so people wouldn't start considering to run away.

I thought that was a dumb idea. No one would even think about leaving. Everyone knew the rules: traitors will be killed on the spot. Even though the thought of shooting some people made me smile, I didn't want this problem to escalate. It would upset Aguni.

So I waited for the others to think about a solution and tell me what I had to do. While waiting, I frequently glanced in Chishiya's direction to gauge his reactions. This man was so inscrutable...

Chishiya

'Let's just split in groups and all take a car to different supermarkets further away from us. There will probably be more food left than in this environnement,' An suggested.

'That's a good idea,' Hatter nodded approvingly. 'Make groups and leave after breakfast to make sure y'all are back before sunset.' He stood up and clapped in his hands. 'Let's do this!'

Me and Kuina made eye contact to reassure each other that we were a team. 'We'll go to the supermarket south of the big bridge,' I said quickly. We stood up and left the building to go to the weapon building for some usabilities.

'We can ask Usagi and Arisu to join us as well. You remember, those new members? I talked with Usagi last night and she seemed capable,' Kuina smiled.

'Okay for me,' I nodded. It was actually a good idea to bring them along for once. That way, I could see if they could be of any value for our plan to escape. 'I'll make a run for some bags and the carkeys. Go search those two. We meet in the main hall in ten minutes,' I instructed her and I took a right around the corner.

Fifteen minutes later, I was sitting next to Kuina, looking out of the window. I was happy to be able to leave the Beach for something else than a game for once. Kuina was driving and chatting downright with the two strangers in the backseat. They were reminiscing about the 'real world' and telling each other about their past day-to-day habits. About small things their family members did that made them happy. I was trying to imagine such a thing for myself, but couldn't think of anything. My parents were always working, so I didn't have a lot of memories with them...

'Chishiya, can you check the map once again?' Kuina asked.

'Okay. Let's see... It should be around the next corner to the left,' I said calm.

'Oh, oh! I know this place! It's so close to the game shop I always went to with Chota and Karube! Let's take a look there, too!' Arisu said full of enthousiasm.

'Bah, gaming is so not for girls! Go with Chishiya. Me and Usagi will shop for food,' Kuina said with a twisted face while parking the car on the sidewalk.

Before I could protest, Arisu patted me on my shoulder and smiled at me through the car mirror: 'Yeah! We'll meet you here in an hour!'

I stepped out of the car and looked up at a cloudless sky. 'If something happens, just yell our names and we'll be there,' I reassured the two women before splitting up.

'So, what was your occupation before all of this happened?' Arisu asked me.

I wasn't really fond of small talk, but I gave it to him. 'I was a med student,' I said.

'Cool! You must be very smart! I just graduated high school but searching for a job made me so unmotivated that I lost myself a bit in gaming and in my friends...' Arisu frowned and seemed lost in thoughts.

I was glad he didn't ask any more questions until we arrived.

'Here it is! Oh my God! It looks exactly the same as I remember!' Arisu said while I picked the lock. We entered the small shop and I looked around.
Arisu sprinted to the game section and I walked up behind the counter.

'I was thinking about bringing a gift for Usagi. Do you think she would like this?' Arisu asked while holding a yellow Pokémon plushee in front of me.

'I... Have no idea,' I laughed.

'I think it's perfect! Don't you need to search something for Kuina? You two are friends, aren't you?' Arisu asked while putting away the plushee.
'Uh...' I never gave a gift to anyone, but Arisu's enthousiasm was contagious and I looked around. I took a blue Pokémon plushee and carefully put it away. After all I could consider Kuina as a friend by now: she was always there for me and knew how to treat me, when to shut up and when to leave. And we had this ruse going on as well.

'I'm going to look for a boardgame to play together with others. After that, we can leave,' Arisu said.

I sat on the counter when my eyes landed on a pair of the newest earbuds. I slipped off of the counter and grabbed them to see if they'd fit my IPod. They did! I smiled. Finally I could listen to my music again. What a great day!

'Let's go!' Arisu said while holding the door for me.

'So how long do you know each other?' Arisu asked on our way back. He meant Kuina and me.

'Uh... We've known each other since my fifth game. It was her first, but she impressed me with her knowledge of martial arts,' I smiled while thinking about my first encounter with Kuina. I was glad she was there at the time, because we were in a spades game what meant we were physically challenged. I don't remember the details of the game, but I do remember she saved my life back there. After I was able to return the favor, we always had each others back. She at least learned me something about friendship. Something I didn't know anything about before entering the Borderlands.

'Hi Arisuuuu, Chishiyaaa!' I heard from a distance. Kuina and Usagi were already waiting for us and yelled our names simultaniously. Kuina was so good at making friends.

Arisu hugged Usagi and directly packed out the plushee to show her the present he got her. She laughed and hugged it tight. 'Thanks!' she said while petting it.

'Let's go home now,' Kuina said and Arisu beckoned towards her with his eyes.

I remembered and grabbed the plushee I got for Kuina from my backpack. 'I got you something, too,' I whispered blushing and held the toy in front of Kuina's face.

Her eyes got bigger. 'I loved Pokémon as a kid! Thank you so much, Chishiya!' She didn't hug me like Usagi did to Arisu since she knew I didn't like that. I smiled at her and we got inside the car.

The women showed us what they found: nine packs of instant noodles, seventeen small bags of chips, three sixpacks of water and a little bag of cherry candies.

'I'm going to keep these for myself, if you guys don't mind,' Kuina said about the cherries.

'You can have them,' Usagi said and we all agreed. We drove back to the Beach while the sun was setting.
I looked at it while listening music through my newest earbuds. It really was a good day.

[End of chapter eight]

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Hii! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and are looking forward to reading more! This chapter was a bit more relaxed, but the next one is going to be very exciting... Comments and votes are appreciated!

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