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“When you had said you had an idea for today, I was not expecting this,” Oda said, standing in front of an antique store next to Ango. “I didn’t know we even had an antique shop in Yokohama.”
“I come here when I have some free time. I haven’t stopped by here in a while.” Ango responded back, opening the door to the shop and holding it open for Oda, a ring echoing out from the bell, signaling the two new customers coming in.
Oda nodded a thank you to Ango, and entered the store. He was met with an organized chaos, a welcoming aura filled with the smell of wood and dust. In front of him were various different glass cabinets, each of varying shapes and sizes stocked with trinkets. The walls were filled with mismatched light fixtures, ranging from stained glass to chandeliers, the empty spaces between the lights covered with several, colorful types of art. To the left of the door was the cashiers desk, and in the back right corner of the store was a set of wooden stairs, leading to a second floor of the store. The clerk sitting behind the cash register had picked their head up at the sound of the bell, and welcomed the two in.
“Let me know if you need anything” the employee said to the two men, and then returned back to the newspaper they were reading prior to the two entering.
“Thank you.” Oda replied back to the clerk. “Is this where you got that painting in your living room?”
Ango had already started to make his way through the store, his eyes sweeping through each display they had, his attention primarily on the items they held. “Hm? Oh, right. I found it here a few months ago, and after touching it, I was sold.” He paused in front of a table with ceramic art plates on it.
“Touched it?” Oda was confused. Ango might have meant that the painting itself was touching, not that he had touched it. “Like, physically touched it?”
Ango walked further into the store as Oda replied. Oda was trailing behind him, taking in his surroundings. The store was filled to the brim with so many little things, he wouldn’t know where to start looking. They both stopped in front of another display case, this one showing off assorted green-tinted glass.
“Yes, touched it. Did you know the reason this glass has this greenish color is because it’s made with uranium? It glows under the ultraviolet light they have in the case.”
“I didn’t know that. It’s a nice color.” Oda stepped away from his friend, who was currently preoccupied with barely-radioactive glass. He turned around, only to be surrounded by more glassware, this kind not glowing green. Further back in the store was another display, this one filled with many types of jewelry. He approached it, glancing over the necklaces and bracelets that were being shown off. Next to this display was a small table, almost tucked away in the corner. Oda took a few steps towards it, the hidden table piqued his interest.
Atop this table was an open box, lined with purple velvet. Multiple pocket watches were stored here, each one with a price tag tied on with thread. He picked one up, feeling its weight as he turned it over in his hand. It was still working, the second hand moving with a faint click. He looked at the watch on his wrist, comparing the time between the two, and to his surprise the pocket watch matched up.
“Did you find something?” Ango’s voice came from behind him.
“Pocket watches.”
Ango was now at his side, and he hummed while looking at the watch in Oda’s hands. “It works. Most antique watches need to be fixed.”
“The time is right as well.”
“Do you mind if I see it really quick?” Oda stuck his hand holding the watch out to him, and he took it. “This is what I meant when I said I had touched the painting.”
Ango’s ability, Discourse on Decadence, lets him see the memories left on items. This was one of the main reasons he enjoyed coming to antique stores, it was like his own library filled with stories that only he could see. He looked at the pocket watch in his hands, and let his ability work its magic. He was able to see the memories attached to this pocket watch, flicking through his mind like a slideshow. He felt a familiar cold wave pass by him, each time he activated his ability it always seemed to give him the chills. Once he had glimpsed into the history of the watch, he passed it back to Oda.
Oda was watching him, a perplexed look on his face. He took the watch back from Ango, and looked it over again.
“I use my ability on the antiques here, they’re much more meaningful when you know the history to them. My painting, for example, I was able to see the creative process behind it. I took a look at what was attached to that watch just now.” Ango explained. “That’s why I like coming here.”
“So what’s hiding in this watch?” Oda asked, the corners of his mouth rising into a smile.
“It was passed down through a few generations of men in a family, the fathers would give the watch as a gift to their son when they became an adult. The last owner didn’t have a son, which must be how it ended up here. They were all good men though, and great fathers.”
Oda looked at the price tag hanging off the watch, reading it as 1185 Yen. “I think I’ll buy it then. I might have you look at other things in here, it’s interesting getting to know the past of the items here.”
Ango smiled at him in response. “I’ll look at whatever you’d like for me too.”