Chapter Text
~
They have been monitoring Makoto ever since that day… It's weird to stalk someone in their dorm room, but they don't seem to know what normal is.
And weirdly enough, he has the same power as them! Cool…. coolcoolcoolcoolcoolcool
“Ayeee Yuka-Tan.” Junpei says from the couch, slouching as usual. It was the main dorm room, so everyone was practically together.
Yukari sighs tiredly. “What now, Junpei?”
“I’ve been thinking… you know how we have that new dude on our team? I think we should be buying medicine.”
Yukari shakes her head. What is this buffoon saying?
“Medicine for what? No one here gets sick, Junpei. Do you need it?”
“Nah nah- I mean for battle! Better safe than sorry right? Like- with the dude unlocking his new power… it makes sense that stuff will happen more in battle. So? We get medicine."
This is the first time Junpei actually had a coherent thought. If anything, Yukari thought there were no thoughts at all.
“I mean, it's sort of a good idea… what made you think that?”
“Safety first, am I rite?”
And since when did this buffoon care about safety?
“Uhm, okay then. What do you want me to do about the medicine, though? It's evening and I'm tired.”
“Buy the medicine? There's a pharmacy in Paulownia Mall. A few steps up from the arcade.”
Yukari's memory is fuzzy, but she does piece something together. Was that why there was a medicinal smell wafting in the air? Cool, at least she knows why now.
"Eh... alright, let me get dressed into something better.”
“But you already look bette-”
“Shut it.”
~
Yukari doesn't switch out of her clothes out of spite.
~
Paulownia mall, same as ever. The same place she sees every day. Every day to school, and every day coming back to the dorm. It gets old really quickly.
It was a few nights after that incident on the train rails. That was enough to send Yukari into a scare, but it inspires her to get stronger; after discovering Makoto's new power, she wants to push herself further. A strong sense of resolve she has, if medicine works in battle, not only can she help herself, but also the team!
….
And Makoto.
She begins her trek down to Aohige Pharmacy. The crowd was minimal but loud, piled with the crashing fall of the fountain.
Yukari does little to acknowledge the passersby; she has one goal and wants to get back at the dorm asap. This is an inconvenience. Sort of a convenient inconvenience because it provides convenience in battle but an inconvenience to obtain. Damn medicine… damn Aohige pharmacy…
She goes into the bumass pharmacy and smells antiseptic.. Not one of her favourite scents, but anything for the medicine rite?
She enters…
CHA CHING!
The medicine is bought! Time to go back now. Hopefully a shady man in a suit doesn't get in her way. Old geezers are relentless.
With a small bag of medicine dangling from her hand, she ventures out.
Oh hot diggity dawg it is an old man in a crisp grey suit. He looked slightly chubby and his hair was combed, even after a day's work. Stupei can use this dudes hair gel… if he has any hair under that dumb cap.
Just standing right in front of the fountain... Best walk away from the dude. Well, she doesn't bother remembering, but the author is a happy fangirl.
He catches her eye, starting in a heavy voice with the signature accent of a salesman.
“Ah! Good evening, young lady.”
Oh god.
"...hello," Yukari says through gritted teeth. “May I help you?”
He clears his throat. "I'm recruiting people for an ad campaign, actually. Do I look familiar?”
Yukari scans the old dude's face. Hey, he does look kind of familiar. Has she seen him on TV?
Her brow furrows, mind searching to where she could have possibly seen his face.
…
Nah. She doesn't remember jack shi-
She interrupts his own thought.
“You look familiar, but I can't put my finger on it.”
That should make him shut up.
The man claps his hands.
“It is I, President Tanaka of Tanaka’s Amazing Commodities! You have seen me on TV. Unless you're living in the stone age.”
Now WHY would Tanaka say that to a girl like Yukari? She is the most up to date girl you can get!
“Uh huh… right.”
Tanaka shakes his head, dismissing Yukari's disinterest. “Anywho, I mentioned that I'm recruiting people for an ad campaign… and you HAVE that look! You’d be perfect.”
Yukari chuckles nervously. "I'm flattered, but no thank yo-”
“YOU CAN ALSO pay me 20k yen upfront! I just need to get back to my investors. Whaddaya say, little lady? Your dreams of becoming a model can come true."
Gross.
"...I'm okay, thank you though.”
“Are you sure? This is the opportunity of a lifeti-”
Yukari dips. She runs and runs…
Tanaka stares.
“Ah… I hate smart people…”
~
At the dorm…
She was only gone for a few minutes, the rest of the dorm greeted her before getting back to god knows what. Ikutski is on a laptop, Mitsuru is being Mitsuru, and Akihiko is probably downing some protein. Her favourite blue haired emo is nowhere to be seen…
But then there's a big ace defective on the couches.
“Oi, Junpei.” She waves the tiny shopping bag.
“Hey Yuka-tan, I was expecting you to take longer.”
“I ran back here.”
Junpei raised his eyebrows. “You? Running? You never struck me for athletic… you look good already. Are you looking after yourself more than usual?” He pauses with a cheeky smirk.
“Getting into shape?” Junpei wiggles his eyebrows. Gross…
Yukari knows better than telling this naive cherub about what happened at the mall.
“Yeah, uh- can never be healthier, right? Ah hah... haha..."