Chapter 8: Turf Wars

[mp_npc]

Even though it was nearly 6pm, the sun was still relatively high in the sky compared to just the month prior. The days were getting longer and the air was getting warmer. With the heat brought energy--especially in the particular stretch where Teru had asked Mob to meet up. It was in the southeastern district of Seasoning City, an especially dense urban stretch near the freeway bordering on the industrial part of the city.

Factories and and their smokestacks were in the near distance. Workers in uniform were shuffling about with purpose, disappearing in and out of the narrow alleys that snaked through that part of town likes veins. The scent of street food was strong. There was one food stand that Teru asked Mob to wait near in particular, one with especially good yakitori. A gust of wind carried the delicious smokey glazed scent of it--along with laughter and jeers from one of the alleyways just behind Mob.

"Hey, ain't that a Salt uniform?" A boy jeered as his friends formed a loose-but-coordinated semi-circle behind Mob. Their own uniforms were a rusty red with enormously tacky gold buttons down the center.

Comments

[mp_npc]

The first of the trio came right up to Mob to inspect him and lick his finger. The next followed its sibling and circled around Mob curiously, while the third took a few shaking steps from behind the pallet but hesitated to come closer.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Um... sorry I don't have anything tasty for you." He suddenly wished that he had saved some of his yakitori.

[mp_npc]

The most outgoing kitten meowed questioningly--before it's fur was suddenly standing on end. It suddenly darted under the pallet with it's siblings and it's mother.

From one end of the alley passed a small gang of Miso thugs--followed by greater and greater numbers of delinquents. They were making their way down the street with intent--not noticing Mob in the side alley at all.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

It's those guys.

Mob peered out at them from behind a dumpster, trying to get a clearer picture of what they were doing.

[mp_npc]

"Boss Fuji thinks he's got him tagged!" One laughed to another. "The guy from Salt who took out Bean Sauce's leader yesterday!"

"Salt? No way, no goddamn way--"

"That's why he's got us out here, man! Word on the street is that--"

Their voices faded into the din of the street's noise as they continued their march.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Salt? Did they mean Salt Middle School?

Mob tried to tail them as inconspicuously as possible, which for him, was not inconspicuous at all. Whenever they stopped, he stopped too, nervously scrambling to figure out what was the inconspicuous thing to do.

[mp_npc]

"Oi! Kid!" An old man seated at a fruit stand barked at Mob as he tried to sneak by. He looked up from his deep hunch to motion for the boy to approach.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob immediately stiffened, but approached the man when he was beckoned; his every movement was unnaturally wooden.

"Yes?"

[mp_npc]

He motioned at the display of fruit before them. There were mango, biwa, strawberries, cherries, and melon.

"Here. Pick one," he said gruffly. It was less like an invitation and more like a stern command.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Um..." Mob reluctantly picked up a strawberry.

[mp_npc]

He grunted and nodded. "Sit. Enjoy it. On the house."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Thank you, but..." Mob nervously looked at the broad-shouldered student duo, watching as their forms began to disappear into the steady stream of pedestrians.

[mp_npc]

"I insist."

The old man rubbed his angular and sagging jaw. His gaze was scrutinizing but not unkind. "Look. I'll be direct with ya, kid. You look like you got a good heart. You don't need anything to do with them types." He gestured with his thumb after the Miso gang. "The delinquency lifestyle is nothing worth covetin'."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I'm not interested in becoming a delinquent." Mob took a bite of his strawberry. "Oh, this is good." What would Reigen tell him to say? "Thank you."

[mp_npc]

"Good. I seen a lot of young men in this neighborhood get caught up. Good young men. Me included...but that was a long time ago." He yawned and stretched his neck from side to side, small pops and cracks following each motion. "Now I sit here mindin' my fruit. It's a simple life, but I never lose sight of my responsibilities. We're all born into the world with responsibilities, and we take more on as we get older. Can't escape 'em, no matter what we think...Gah, now I'm ramblin'. Listen, kid. Your business is your own, but mind the things that are important. Ya hear?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Okay," Mob said in acknowledgement.

Responsibilities. Did he have any responsibilities? Sure, he had to go to school, make good grades, and go to work, but... was there anything else that he was expected to do?

"I should go now. Thank you again for the strawberry."

[mp_npc]

"Good, ain't they? Just came in season." The old man's furrowed features lit up with pride. "They're good for blood pressure and stress, too. You're never too young to worry about that. Come back for some whenever you need to clear your head."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I will. Thank you." And with that, Mob took one final bite of his strawberry and popped its top into the trash can.

With one final nod of gratitude to the man, Mob started walking back in the direction he was headed before; the duo were long gone now, but he still had other work to do. He wondered if Teru had any luck finding anything.

[mp_npc]

With the gang's passing, the streets were no more loud than usual. The crowds had barely thinned, even though the sky had begun to dim from blue to orange in the time that Mob and Teru had begun their patrol. The vendors even seemed more at ease as there were no delinquents in sight--a rare reprieve for those hours after school had gotten out. Some baristas were chatting about it as Mob passed, and then--

His phone began to vibrate.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob quickly flipped the phone open. "Teru? Is everything okay?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Shige--we've got trouble." Teru's voice was slightly unsteady from the effort of righting his breath.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"What's going on?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Your brother...I thought he didn't have psychic powers."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Ritsu? He has psychic powers?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"I ran into him," Teru said, still trying to catch his breath, "He definitely has them. He hit me with them--hard."