Hayashi Corridor

The sun was barely over the horizon as reishi and shima walked home. It was as if the sun and moon were clashing as the sun began to set and the moon began to rise, The two spirits of the great star and celestial rock were now about to swap places while the people of the city were about to swap mindsets.

Reishi and shima were walking down the Hayashi corridor which was a collection of roads and avenues that lead to the richer areas of the city where the two girls lived.

Reishi: Nice of you to walk me home, shima.

Reishi said to her friend.

Shima: It's no problem. I just want you to be safe.

Reishi: "Just want me to be safe?"

Shima: N-Not like that! You're a valuable research partner is all.

Shima blushed.

Shima: -Plus I don't want you walking alone with that "Pathfinder" creep running around wildly.

Reishi: Right….

Reishi Nervously looked around herself as she and shima walked down the corridor which leads to the affluent neighborhood Where they lived.

*Woosh*
A cold gust of wind blew through the corridor as reishi and shima walked through. The cold felt like ashes on their skin, The cold was almost licking their skin with them walking through this devilish corridor.

Shima: Brr, it's getting cold out here.

Reishi: Maybe we should get closer for warmth?

Shima: C-C-Closer For W-Warmth? W-Were not kids, You know!

Shima exclaimed.

Reishi: I was only teasing you shima...

Shima: Baka!

Reishi: Still though, Isn't it abnormal for it to be this cold in the summer? It was just temperate about an hour ago….

Shima: Yeah. it's probably due to the effects of climate change. Even though we've sort of reversed it by now, The long lasting effects will still be with us.

Shima stated with a grim face.

Reishi: Humanity definitely needs to find a new path forward.

?: Did someone say "Path?"

Reishi and shima heard a voice come from above.

On top of one of the buildings came a lone scream, Like that of a wolf. A guy with a long red cape,Machete and a cheap mask. He posturing like an actor on stage.

Reishi: Oh no….

Pathfinder: Oh Yes!

The pathfinder leapt from the building and landed onto the street. It didn't even seem to faze him how far he had leapt….

Shima: I-Is that the pathfinder?

Shima asked with enamored eyes.

Pathfinder: Yes! I am!

The pathfinder did a pose reminiscent of a certain manga character. He then eyed shima and reishi, With him looking at shima intently.

Pathfinder: It looks like Two lovely ladies are walking alone in darkness! How dangerous!

Reishi: Please, Leave us alone! We don't want anything to do with you.

Pathfinder: -But it's dangerous for the two of you to be out here in these streets!

Shima: What's dangerous is a masked man with a machete extorting two girls like us!

Shima angrily exclaimed. The pathfinder pointed his machete at her threateningly.

Pathfinder: it's not extortion. It's protection.

He corrected.

Pathfinder: I'm going to protect you ladies from all the dangerous thugs that lurk these streets.

Shima: Nice try, But were in one of the wealthiest parts of the cities. The crime rate here is pretty low.

Pathfinder: Unless the crime rate is 0:1000, You still need protection!

The guy smugly protested.

Pathfinder: But in order to effectively "protect" you I need a donation of 10000 Yen.

Shima: "Donation." More like "Extortion."

Shima snarled.

Pathfinder: Do you have a problem with me, madam?

Shima: YOU ARE LITERALLY TRYING TO ROB US!

She yelled.

Pathfinder: It's not robbery. It's an exchange of services.

Reishi: You are such a sleazebag.

Pathfinder: Name-calling won't get us anywhere. My price still stands. 10000 yen for you to pass and for my protection.

Reishi: (10000!? That's double than last time…)

Pathfinder: Chop-Chop! I don't have all day.

Reishi stunned in fear. She certainly didn't have 10000 yen and didn't want to give up the birthday money her parents had gifted her.

Shima: Reishi…..

Shima whispered.

Reishi: Huh?

Shima: I have 5000 yen on me. I think you do too. So if we pool it together…

Reishi: I don't want to give up my birthday money, Shima!

Shima: You won't have too. I have a plan.

Shima exclaimed.

Reishi: Your "Plans." Have gone bad before...

Shima: Hey! ! Don't you dare doubt my abilities! I'm a genius, You know!

Shima pouted.

Shima: Just give me the money and I'll take care of the rest. Trust me.

Reishi: Ok…

Reishi pulled the 5000 yen from out of her wallet. Shima did the same and pulled out 5000 more.

Pathfinder: Nice. Now just had it over to me…..

Shima: Right.

Shima walked over to the pathfinder. Slowly and surely she began to inch towards him, Before she was finally face to face with the masked man. She had Both her 5000 yen and reishi's 5000 yen in her hands. The pathfinder held out his right hand in hubris. But just as shima was about to put the cash in his hands-

Shima: Hiyah!

Shima Quickly kicked the masked man in his shins! The pathfinder let a girlish shriek and fell down right on his face! The pain of his

Shima: Reishi, Run!

Reishi: R-Right!

Reishi and shima ran down the corridor and went into the safety of the suburbs where it would be difficult for the pathfinder to find them.