Even through my splitting headache, which threatened to split my brain in two like a .44 magnum, still, it couldn't hurt to ask some basic questions, even if to just blend in.

"Where am I?" I asked, rubbing the back of my neck.

Yukari spoke up "You're on our school ship the Zuikaku, we found you laid down on your side on our practice grounds comatose, then you shouted some sort of battle cry. Something about love."

"We almost ran you over… we didn't though." Mako said, clearly bored.

"Well thanks miss, I really appreciate you… not putting me out of my misery, haha!" I said cheerfully, hoping to lift the silence. The worried, empathetic stares the anglerfish crew gave me tells me I failed.

"Well, the doctors said you could leave in a few minutes, we will be taking our leave soon, as we will be returning to class. Your forehead might even heal quickly." Hana said, breaking the silence.

I put my hand up to my forehead and felt around for a bit, it felt put back together, not entirely solid, but certainly sturdy enough for daily living. The question now is: What now?

"You'll find your wallet, phone, and other belongings on the table beside you." Hana continued.

Well obviously I'm homeless, so that's unfortunate. Maybe I can work at the Sunkus Miho passes by every morning, see if they're hiring.

"Alongside that…" Well, alongside what? "We found a photo… and a shell casing…" Oh… Oh.

The girls had all different looks now, of suspicion, of empathetic understanding, Miho held the most stark expression, one that spoke more than words ever could, it felt as if she knew the truth, or at least, some of it. Eventually however they broke their stares, saying their goodbyes as the nurse came by and ushered them out of their room.

The nurse did a number of tests on me, and when all was said and done I found myself dismissed, with nothing but the clothes on my back and the things in my pocket. And of course, that photo. So here I am, standing outside the school, the school day finished an hour ago, and I don't have a place to stay. I imagine to myself that a ship at sea gets rather cold at this time of season. Now that I think about it, I don't really know where any of these people live. I should probably be looking for a place to sleep.

A cool, salty breeze washes over me. It's cold, harsh, but the sun, still beating down on me, keeps me in good spirits. So I began walking. To where? I don't know, I have foreign cash and a bullet casing in my wallet, I have the picture of the girl I love in my inner pocket, a phone that's a few years ahead of this world, and I have nowhere to go.

After some walking, I found myself in front of a Sunkus store, with a poster saying that they're clearly hiring. I resolve to enter the store. I should probably be questioning why and how I can read and understand perfect japanese. I guess .44 magnum really does wonders for learning another language. Sweet.

The distinct jingle of your average Japanese store greets me. I crack a grin, Heh, Every day's great at your Sunkus!

"Hey kid, I saw you staring at the poster outside, you in it for the job?" I'm snapped out of my musings by a man in his late 20s, black hair stubble, he wore your average red and blue Sunkus uniform, and a cap of the Sunkus brand.

"Yes sir, I was looking for a job here, after…" Dontsayisekaidontsayisekai "moving here, my parents didn't exactly spring for me and I don't have a place to be." To be fair, my parents were split, Dad was divorced, my Mother never remarried. I wonder how they are.

"Well kid you're just in luck, a position just opened up and his apartment is surprisingly still open." Oh, well that's oddly nice of him.

"What's your name kid? Mine's Arasaka Howa"

Well, nothing to gain by lying. "It's Taurus, Taurus N. Colt."

He laughed aloud "Hah! Like the gun companies, what's in the middle name?"

"Nathaniel."
He begins laughing again, and slaps me on the back. Owie. And begins to lead me into the backrooms of the Sunkus, ooh boy, time to get to work.

…

Fuck. This Job Sucks! I'm stuck manning this cashier, watching the hotdogs roll endlessly in one of those hotdog heating machines, constantly spinning its cylinders. And I look up to see a dead store on the security cameras, with the occasional old lady or younger kid entering the store.

Thinking about it now, shouldn't it be the time when Oorai H.S. ends for the day? Looking at the clock it's 7 minutes past 3, 15:07. Maybe Saori & Co. (heh) are walking back home… While I'm stuck here, working behind the register like an adult. Wowie Taurus, you're such an adult, like the time you totally handled all that bullying like an adult- Nope. Not thinking about my past, I am a new man, one not burdened by the mistake of blowing a hole in his brain. Right?

The distinct jingle of the Sunkus store alerts me to the presence of a new customer, great, more old ladies and cradle snatchers. I sigh loudly, and prepare to-

"Uh… Hello! I was wondering if I could…" Come face to face with a certain redheaded lady, in her classic Oorai uniform, with her tank crew in tow, it's the-

"Whole damn squad…" I blurt out Like a dumbass.

"Ehh?" Yukari said, clearly confused, and possibly offended. FUCK. DAMAGE CONTROL DAMAGE CONTRO-

I bow my head in shame, "Sorry, I wasn't thinking clearly, I was thinking about a video I watched a while ago and just blurted it out, apologies."

Yukari's expression changes to one of understanding, then changes into her usual cheery mood "Oh, well that's okay, I get like that sometimes." Oh well that's nice.

Mako's expression goes from neutral to suspicious. "Hey, aren't you that guy we saw in the nurse's office?"

I put my hand behind my neck and laugh, and crack a grin, "Haha yeah, that's me, the .44 eating doofus Taurus, how can I help you?"

Saori held a conflicted expression and spoke up first, "Well we were looking for some mirin, do you know where that might be?" I walked out from behind the counter and led Saori to the mirin, thank God Arasaka gave me a basic orientation to the job.

Let's just hope that my shift is finished soon…