III

Faith in humanity restored.

That was what Saiko thought when she watched an old man cleaning the broken glass shards in the alley. A mid-aged woman, maybe his daughter, was holding a cat whose left paw was bandaged.

Five points to the elderly.

She clutched at the bag in her hand and walked away.

She had to get home. Her brother was sick, so the shopping duty was hers today. She had to stop in the middle of a game just to run to the nearest shop – which was three whole blocks away – and buy milk, bread and other necessities. She also had to run by the pharmacy to get her brother's Cold Away.

She didn't mind going to the shop and helping her mom. Taking care of her brother made her feel responsible and important too, so it was nice too. It was just –

One shall not pause a game.

It wasn't fair. All she ever wanted was to sleep in and play video games in the comfortable, private zone of her room. Was it so bad? Every time she found some free time to lock herself up in her room, she was forced to go out.

Saiko your brother is sick, Saiko I'm not feeling so well, Saiko this, Saiko that…

Okay, she was in her room 6 days a week but what if she was supposed to come across the big prize on the 7th day? She couldn't risk it.

But here she was, walking down the street, doing housework for her mom and brother, being all responsible and grown up. Well, change wasn't always bad.

She got inside the pharmacy store and looked at the pharmacist. "I need a Cold Away," she said, standing two feet away from the counter. The pharmacist looked away from his previous customer, an elderly looking man, and bent over the counter to look closely at Saiko.

"You're that Yonebayashi girl, aren't you?" he said. She nodded. He tsked and pointed at her, looking at the old man again. "Her mom always buys things from me and she never gives me my money!" He looked at her again. "Kid, tell your mom there isn't any drugs for you until you pay for what you bought."

She dug inside her pockets and took out some money. "Is this enough?"

The pharmacist looked at the money and let out a small laugh. "That's enough? Do you know how much you owe me?"

"How much does she owe?" said the old man. The pharmacist looked at him. He thought for a second, then told him the money. Saiko wanted to complain, saying that it was too much, but the old man was quicker than her. He took out his wallet and put some money on the counter.

"I'll cover for her this time," he said with a smile. Then he turned towards her and put his wrinkly hand on her head. "But don't let it pile up this much again."

She nodded, feeling the warmness of a blush creeping around her cheeks. The man nodded approvingly and took a bag from the pharmacist. Saiko noticed the bandages.

"See you later," the man said. She couldn't make out the name the pharmacist called after him and was too embarrassed to ask.

The pharmacist pushed a Cold Away towards her. "Here," he said with a wide grin on his face. "You got lucky today."

She grabbed the drug and put it in the bag along with the money in her hands. She quickly got out of the store.

Kindness level: epic.