The air around Oshiage Station carried the familiar churn of the city— brisk footsteps, the whir of escalators, and the constant, mechanical chime of departure announcements reverberating off steel and tile.
Beneath the looming shadow of the Tokyo Skytree, glass doors hissed open and shut as commuters streamed in and out with practiced rhythm, umbrellas tucked beneath arms, shoulder bags bouncing with each stride.
Neon signs flickered quietly above the flow of bodies, and the scent of roasted coffee drifted faintly from a kiosk nearby, blending with the faint hum of electronics and fabric brushing against fabric.
Rimuru walked ahead with a casual ease, head tilted back slightly to scan the hanging signage. His gait had a bounce to it, not so much from joy as from a lingering muscle memory— the place was familiar in a way that his body remembered better than his mind.
It wasn't nostalgia, exactly. More like a quiet fluency.
"Stay close to me, yeah? People walk fast here, and the last thing I want is to lose you to the crowd," Rimuru said over his shoulder, while glancing back just enough to catch Goblin Slayer's presence behind him— stiff, red eyes moving warily over the crowd like he was counting every potential threat.
The slime couldn't help but to smile faintly to himself, as he stepped aside to make space for a trio of teenagers in school uniforms, who brushed past them with a chorus of laughter.
They then moved toward a row of ticket kiosks built into the wall beneath a glowing metro map. The machines stood there like sentinels, blinking gently with touchscreens lit in pastel blues and greens, each interface running a polite script of instructions in half a dozen languages.
Goblin Slayer stopped in front of one of them, staring at the screen as if it might speak. "Is this… A computer too?"
Rimuru snorted. "Yeah. Basically." He answered, as he stepped up beside him to crack his knuckles before tapping the screen. "It's like a vending machine. But instead of drinks, you get subway tickets."
The slime then scrolled through the menus with practiced fingers, selecting English just to spare himself the kanji hunt, then tapped out the route with a rhythm that was part instinct and part memory.
"So. According to Google Maps—" Rimuru said, while pausing to shift to the side, in order to show the screen to the ashen-haired man, just enough to show the route diagram, "—we're starting here— Oshiage Station. We'll take the Hanzomon Line to Otemachi Station. From there, it's just a short walk to the Mitsubishi Building. That's where the Apple Store is."
Goblin Slayer's brow furrowed. "And we are purchasing… Passes for this?"
"Yup. Two tickets." Rimuru replied, before tapping in the fare amount, and the machine beeped cheerfully. "It's all distance-based. Tokyo's efficient but not free."
After the slime used the QR code on the screen to pay with his iPad— after having to fish it out of the duffel bag the ashen-haired man was carrying— the machine whirred before spitting out two slim, pale cards onto a silver tray.
Rimuru then scooped them up and handed one over. Goblin Slayer took it between gloved fingers like it might crumble.
"Don't lose it. You'll need it to get through the gates," the slime cautioned, while leaning in towards the man to place his tablet back into the unzipped duffel bag.
Zipping it up, Goblin Slayer nodded at Rimuru while slipping the card into his side pouch attached to his belt, like it was an important relic. "Understood."
The crowd shifted around them again, always moving, always somewhere to be. Rimuru exhaled softly and pointed to the stairway leading down to the platform.
"This way. Try not to look too overwhelmed."
Goblin Slayer's voice came quiet behind him. "I am not overwhelmed."
Rimuru smirked. "Sure you're not."
They soon made their way down toward the row of ticket gates, with the blinking arrows above each turnstile casting a soft glow across the polished floor. The air was cooler down there— filtered and dry, with a faint, metallic tang.
Rimuru slipped his ticket into the machine, waited for the mechanical beep , then stepped through as the gate panels folded open like obedient wings.
He glanced back to make sure Goblin Slayer followed.
"You put the card in there," Rimuru said, gesturing with a tilt of his chin. "Then just walk through. It'll spit it out on the other side— don't forget to grab it."
Goblin Slayer didn't speak at first. He simply observed the machine like he might observe a pressure plate— wary, but not hesitant.
He then slid the ticket into the slot, and as the machine gave its confirmation chirp, his eyes narrowed slightly at the way the gate responded, fluid and instant. He stepped through, caught the card as it popped back up, and looked down at it again before tucking it away.
"Not unlike a gate pass for a stronghold," the ashen-haired man muttered thoughtfully. "Only it grants access without a guard."
"That's Japan for you," Rimuru said with a light laugh, walking ahead toward the escalator. "All trust and automation."
They stepped onto the moving stairs, and the station yawned open below them like a stone throat— wide, clean tunnels lit with rows of sterile lights, tiled walls marked with maps and instructions. A muted voice over the intercom recited the incoming train schedule, while distant mechanical screeches echoed up the tunnel.
"Do you hear that?" Goblin Slayer asked, turning his head.
"Brakes. Trains. You'll get used to it," Rimuru replied. "Or not. I don't think anyone likes that sound, but after a while it becomes... Background noise."
They then stepped off the escalator onto the platform, where a sparse cluster of passengers already waited: a businessman checking his smartwatch, a college student with headphones and a sketchpad, a middle-aged couple speaking in quiet, tired voices.
Rimuru leaned casually against one of the metal pillars, eyes scanning the display above the tracks. "Train'll be here in three minutes," he said. "Not bad."
Goblin Slayer stood beside him, a step apart, but within easy reach. His gaze moved across the space— eyes tracking exits, cameras, even the rhythm of pedestrian movement.
"How does all of this stay on schedule?" he asked after a pause. "There's so many people here, and they can't all be heading toward the same destination."
Rimuru tilted his head at the inquiry. "Honestly? Engineering, algorithms, and way too many unpaid overtime hours. Tokyo Metro runs like a war machine. Every second is accounted for."
The ashen-haired man was quiet for a long beat, then said, "That's impressive. From what I imagined, I thought operations here would be more chaotic."
"Oh yeah, they can be," the slime said, while watching the digital countdown tick. "Come morning rush hour? You'd think all of Tokyo is here."
"That sounds more akin to what I had in mind," Goblin Slayer said after a moment, "but then again, I suppose everyone eventually learns to move with the current— no matter where you're at. At the end of the day, it's just human nature."
Rimuru blinked. "That's… Surprisingly poetic."
"It was just an observation," the ashen-haired man said, but there was no edge to it.
The wind shifted around them— an oncoming rush of air pressing against the tunnel, announcing the arrival of the train.
Rimuru then proceeded to step forward instinctively, before raising a hand to shield his face from the gust. He then turned slightly, reaching out to gently touch Goblin Slayer's arm and guide him back a pace.
"Don't get too close to the edge," the slime said, more out of reflex than caution. His fingers lingered a second too long before he let go.
Goblin Slayer didn't pull away. His gaze dropped briefly to Rimuru's hand, then returned to the oncoming train. The moment passed like static— soft, electric, and unspoken.
The train rolled into the station with a smooth roar, its headlights cutting through the tunnel gloom. Doors slid open, and passengers spilled out. Rimuru navigated the tide expertly, stepping inside and nudging Goblin Slayer in after him.
They soon found a spot near the rear of the car, where a vertical pole offered some balance. Rimuru grabbed it without thinking; the ashen-haired man stood, steady as stone, even as the train jolted forward.
"You don't have to act like you're standing guard," Rimuru said, grinning sideways. "It's not like anyone can do jackshit to us, anyway— even if they tried."
"I figured we're safe enough," Goblin Slayer replied, "but even so, I'd prefer to stand though. It's easier to maneuver this bag, if I'm already standing."
"Fair enough."
And so they rode in silence for a minute. The train's motion was hypnotic— the whirring track, the occasional squeal of metal, the gentle rock of the car as it sped through tunnels carved into the city's underbelly.
Rimuru watched their reflections in the window. The glass caught the inside of the car more clearly than the blur of walls rushing by outside. In the reflection, he saw Goblin Slayer's crimson eyes— not looking out, but tilted slightly toward him.
Was it curiosity? Attention? He couldn't tell.
He then looked away. A subtle pulse of warmth crawled up the slime's neck— low and unwanted.
Rimuru shifted his weight, suddenly aware of how close they were. No one else in the car seemed to care. A girl across from them was filming a TikTok. A guy in a business suit had dozed off, head bobbing against the window.
Rimuru then cleared his throat suddenly. "H-Hey, Ren. You're doing pretty good, y'know. Assimilating, and all."
Goblin Slayer didn't look at him, but his voice was quieter now. "I'm trying my best."
Something about the way he said it— honest, even self-conscious— made the slime's chest tighten, inexplicably.
"As far as public transportation goes, you're doing better than I did," he said. "My first time on the subway, I panicked and got off three stops too early. Had to walk forty minutes in the rain."
"That sounds bothersome," Goblin Slayer said, then paused— his gaze still forward, voice a touch quieter. "… However, give yourself some credit: the only reason why I'm fitting in so well is because of you."
Rimuru blinked, the compliment slipping in like a breeze under a cracked door.
"Well, I mean… I am an excellent guide," he said, smiling faintly, while trying to play it off with lightness— even as something unfamiliar curled low in his chest. "B-But I didn't think you were the type to hand out gold stars like that."
"I am not," Goblin Slayer said simply. "But I believe in recognition, where it's due."
Rimuru glanced at him. The man was staring at the opposite wall of the train, as if this conversation was no more intimate than a weather report.
But there was something in his tone— quiet sincerity, no irony, no bravado. It tugged at something unsteady in the slime, something he couldn't quite name.
He then turned back toward the window before his thoughts wandered somewhere he didn't want them to.
"Well… I appreciate the vote of confidence."
The train jolted slightly, and Rimuru shifted his weight, fingers still looped casually around the pole. Goblin Slayer continued to stand as if bolted to the floor, as always, but the slight movement nudged them closer again— hips brushing.
That time, Rimuru didn't move.
The touch wasn't intentional. It wasn't meaningful.
Except it was.
He felt the heat bloom in his chest again, subtle and traitorous.
He hated that.
Not Goblin Slayer. Just the way it made him feel— off-balance, unguarded. Like being fourteen again and realizing certain kinds of admiration came with landmines.
Rimuru suddenly cleared his throat, and then glanced up at the LED route map above the train doors. "Otemachi is the next stop… We'll transfer lines there, but it's on the same platform, so no running around the station."
"Understood," Goblin Slayer said. "And we will arrive near the Apple Store from there?"
"Yep. Mitsubishi Building. Pretty sleek place. Glass walls, marble floors, uncomfortable benches— feels like the lobby of a corporate hospital."
Goblin Slayer looked over at him then, just for a moment. "… You do not seem fond of it."
"I mean, I like shopping, just as much as the next guy," Rimuru said, while lifting his hands. "Just not the whole modern vibe— feels soulless. But you'll see what I mean."
As if on cue, the train began to slow, brakes hissing, with the tunnel lights blurring past the windows like streaks of lightning. The mechanical voice overhead chimed in again, announcing the next stop in Japanese and English.
"This is us," Rimuru said, while already getting up to move toward the door.
Goblin Slayer followed without question, tucking in behind him as the doors slid open. The rush of air carried a scent of ozone and machine oil.
They then proceeded to step onto the platform with the practiced efficiency of regular commuters, and the slime felt a flicker of quiet satisfaction as the ashen-haired man mirrored his pace almost perfectly. Walking side by side and weaving past other passengers, Rimuru stole a glance at the young man beside him— his gait, his awareness, the subtle way he adjusted course to avoid brushing against a passing shoulder.
"So… After we get our hands on an iPhone, and I get a prepaid card to use it without WiFi," Rimuru began, while stuffing his hands into his coat pockets. "I was thinking you and I can do a little shopping while we're there— start off by getting ourselves new outfits."
Goblin Slayer gave a short nod. "Just like how we planned."
"Yeah, exactly," Rimuru replied, while still keeping his eye on the ashen-haired man. "But why I brought that up is because I wanted to ask if you had a style of clothes in mind already."
Contemplating his response, Goblin Slayer took a moment to adjust the strap of their duffel bag on his shoulder, before finally replying, "Probably something dark, and practical. I'd have to see what's available first."
After their subway ride to Otemachi Station, the two males soon passed through the transfer gate— emerging into Mitsubishi Station's upper corridor.
The lighting there was warmer, the architecture cleaner— sleek lines, stone and chrome, a gentle echo in the air. Signs in English and Japanese hung above the concourse, pointing toward exits and shopping levels.
Rimuru led the way without pause, feet falling into step as they climbed the wide staircase up toward ground level.
Soon enough, they were there— stepping out into the open glass atrium of the Marunouchi Building. The city waited outside the windows, sun cutting through the urban grid in narrow beams. A clean, modern plaza spread out beyond the entrance, complete with planted trees in raised beds and businessmen drifting by in tailored suits.
Rimuru paused beside a column, tilting his head up.
"There it is." He pointed. "Apple Store's up ahead. See the glowing logo?"
Goblin Slayer followed his gesture. "I see it."
"Welcome to the church of overpriced electronics," Rimuru muttered, then added, under his breath, "and global brand loyalty."
He caught Goblin Slayer's eye for a second and smiled— wry, but genuine.
Something passed between them. No words. Just a silence that felt charged in a way that made Rimuru look away a little too quickly.
"Well… You ready for us to drop an unreasonable amount of money?" The slime asked.
"If that's what must be done," Goblin Slayer said, adjusting his posture with purpose.
They soon entered the Apple Store like two wanderers stepping into a temple of glass and light.
The ambient hum of calm electronic music drifted around them as display tables glowed softly beneath rows of spotlessly arranged products. Glass walls opened up to the bustling atrium outside, but inside, the world felt muted— refined, surgical in its precision.
A young woman with a pixie cut and a navy-blue Apple shirt approached, holding a company-issued iPad at her side. She gave a polite bow, smiling warmly.
"Irasshaimase. Nani ka o-sagashi desu ka?" She asked.
Rimuru returned the bow automatically. "Sumimasen," he said with practiced politeness, lifting his hand slightly toward Goblin Slayer. "Tomodachi wa eigo shika hanasemasen. Eigo de onegai shimasu."
"Of course," the woman said with a slight bow of her own. "No problem at all! How can I help you both today?"
Rimuru straightened, before sliding his hands into his coat pockets as casually as he could manage. "We're looking to buy an iPhone 16 Pro Max," he said. "Two-hundred and fifty-six gigabytes, if you've got it, in graphite."
The employee's eyes lit up with practiced enthusiasm. "Absolutely— we should have that in stock. Are you setting it up for yourself or a family member?"
"For myself," Rimuru said smoothly.
"Great! I'll just need you to sign into your Apple ID so I can connect the device to your account," she said, before tapping the tablet in her hands and turning it toward him. "Do you already have an account with us?"
"Of course…" Rimuru trailed off, his tone a shade too casual as his eyes flicked to the screen, then briefly to Goblin Slayer. A quiet realization then swept across his face like a shadow behind glass.
"… Uh, before I sign in," Rimuru added lightly, "are you going to need to see my ID to, uh, verify I'm the account holder?"
The ashen-haired man then turned his head, just slightly, but Rimuru felt the weight of his stare— sharp, knowing.
The Apple employee smiled without hesitation. "Yes, we'll just need to check it briefly after you sign in. Just a standard verification step, nothing serious."
Rimuru nodded once, carefully. "Right. Of course. That's fine."
He then took the iPad with what looked like easy confidence, but his hand tensed around the edges, jaw tightening for the briefest moment.
"… Thanks," he said, and tapped at the screen with his free hand.
Goblin Slayer stepped closer, keeping his tone smooth, almost lazy. "Satoru," he said quietly, "did you remember to take your ID from the hotel?"
Rimuru didn't even look up. "Yeah, it's in my coat pocket," he said with a casual smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
He finished signing in with a few deft strokes— then slipped his hand into the inner lining of his coat, moving slowly. Goblin Slayer's gaze followed every motion.
Rimuru's breath caught. His smile twitched.
And then came a faint, stifled whimper— his jaw clenched too tightly, his brow furrowing with forced restraint. He soon pulled his hand out slowly, fingers wrapped around something thin and rectangular— his sleeve pulled down to conceal his thumb.
His voice, when he spoke, had taken on a high-pitched strain. "H-Here you go," he chirped, too brightly. "Sorry, it's kinda slippery…!"
The employee laughed and took what she thought was an ID, glancing at it with a quick scan. "Yeah, wow, it is slippery. Huh. Let me just… Okay, picture matches… And Satoru Mikami. Perfect."
Rimuru blinked— smile still plastered on his face. "Yeah, um… I-I think I might've spilled slime in my pocket earlier. Long story. C-Could I get that back now, please?!"
"Of course, Mikami-San," she said cheerfully, before handing it back to him without a second thought.
"T-Thanks," Rimuru said quickly, snatching it back with his high voice still intact.
The moment the ID was in his hand again, he swiftly stuffed it back into his coat pocket.
Hidden behind the fabric, the rectangle shimmered, pulsing once like faintly bio-luminescent jelly. The illusion of a printed card melted away— softening, morphing— and then, seamlessly, it flowed over his wrist like water, turning translucent cyan before reshaping into the missing flesh of his thumb.
He swallowed a gasp.
Air sucked in through his teeth as he drew his hand out again, the skin around the reformed digit pale and trembling. He then tucked it into the crook of his arm, nursing it instinctively.
The Apple employee glanced up, catching the motion. "Mikami-San? Are you okay?"
Rimuru grinned tightly. "P-Peachy," he said, voice still an octave too high.
She nodded, seemingly convinced, and turned the iPad back toward herself. "Alright, I've pulled up your account. You're all set. Just wait here a moment— I'll grab the phone from the back."
"S-Sure thing," Rimuru managed through his teeth, voice still teetering on that painful edge of cheer.
The moment she turned her back, he twisted away, biting down on a scream that clawed up his throat. He grabbed his thumb in both hands, bent at the knees, and began hopping in place silently— face contorted, eyes wide with pain.
" Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck…! " He mouthed furiously.
Goblin Slayer tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing as he watched Rimuru rock on his heels, gripping his thumb like he'd just slammed it in a car door. "… I thought you said you didn't have your old ID."
"I-I don't," Rimuru hissed, his voice tight and brittle with pain.
A faint furrow appeared between Goblin Slayer's brows. "Then what did you just give her?"
Rimuru turned his head slowly, eyes burning with indignation as he fixed the ashen-haired man with a glare so sharp it could've sliced through tempered glass. "My. Thumb," he seethed through clenched teeth.
Goblin Slayer blinked. "Your… Thumb?"
"Yes, my fucking thumb ," Rimuru snapped in a harsh whisper, still hunched slightly, cradling his hand. "I molded it into the shape of an ID while it was detached, okay…?!"
Goblin Slayer looked briefly down at Rimuru's hand, then back to his face, brow lowering further. "It didn't look like a thumb."
"Thanks," the slime deadpanned. "It wasn't fucking supposed to…!"
Rimuru then exhaled shakily and shifted his weight to his other leg, all while still holding his hand carefully against his ribs. "I restructured the exterior to resemble plastic and replicated a gloss texture with a moisture seal… The slime's semi-translucent when compressed— I even added the correct edge bevel to pass a casual inspection. Not easy to do while in EXCRUCIATING pain…!"
Goblin Slayer stared at him for a moment longer. "… You can do that?"
Rimuru let out a puff of air—more laugh than exhale, more exasperation than pride. "Not anymore," he muttered, before sucking in a slow, recomposing breath. His hand twitched again, and he flexed the fingers, half-tender, half-experimental. "God, that hurt like a bitch... I'm never doing that again unless we're cornered in an alley and there's a gun to your head."
There was a beat. Then Goblin Slayer nodded once. "Thank you," he said quietly. "For doing that for us. You didn't have to."
Rimuru went still.
A light warmth flared up beneath his cheeks, one he felt betray him almost immediately. He hated how quickly it came, how easily those words made something soften inside his chest. His eyes flicked away before Goblin Slayer could see the full flush bloom.
'I'm not gay,' Rimuru thought viciously, like he could beat the heat in his face down with sheer willpower. 'I'm not gay. Not gay. Not gay.'
"Pssh," the slime said, waving his hand a little too fast— trying to sound nonchalant and failing by just a hair. "Don't get all sentimental on me now— not in front of all these display cases."
Goblin Slayer said nothing, though he tilted his head in quiet acknowledgement.
"… Hey Ren," the slime said suddenly, grabbing at the nearest distraction like a life preserver. "Did you see that Starbucks when we came up from the subway? Right at the escalator?"
The ashen-haired man blinked at the abrupt shift in topic. "I… Did?"
"Yeah, it's crazy; there's seriously one on, like, every corner," Rimuru said, voice lifting as he pushed energy into his tone, gesturing vaguely toward the glass railings nearby. "I swear, it doesn't matter where you go in Tokyo— you could throw a rock and hit a Starbucks."
He yapped on with mock outrage, animated gestures and half-serious indignation in his tone— partially for the fun of it, mostly to cover up the embers still glowing too warm inside his chest.
Goblin Slayer watched him for a moment, quiet as always, before his eyes shifted slightly— back to Rimuru's still-tucked hand, and then to his expression.
But he said nothing.
And the slime, pretending not to notice, just kept talking.
"I mean, there was one back by that museum we passed the other day, right across the street from another two. It's like they breed. They're like pigeons, but with espresso."
Not long after Rimuru's yap session had come to its conclusion, the two of them were soon escorted over to a setup table by the Apple employee, who had returned from the back room with a small white box cradled in her hands like a precious artifact.
"Here it is— your iPhone 16 Pro Max in graphite, two-hundred and fifty-six gigabytes," she announced, before placing the box gently on the table. The overhead lights glinted off the sleek packaging.
Rimuru offered a polite bow. "Arigatō gozaimasu," he said.
Goblin Slayer echoed, a bit stiffly but with earnest effort: "Arigatō gozaimasu." The slime then caught his eye and gave him a warm, impressed smile.
The employee offered them matching bows. "You're both very welcome," she said in soft, practiced English. "Now then, let's begin by settling the payment. I can process Apple Pay right here on my iPad." She said, as she tapped her screen, swiped through the interface, and then looked to Rimuru.
"Ready whenever you are," she prompted.
The slime cleared his throat, before replying in his best impression of his favorite Star Trek character, "Make it so."
Being too young to understand the reference he made, the employee proceeded to perform a few swift, practiced taps— neither fumbling nor rushed— before selecting Apple Pay, and confirming the total of ¥174,800. She then turned the screen of the iPad back toward Rimuru. "All set. Your account has been charged."
She then detached a tiny thermal printer from the back of the iPad dock. It whirred to life, a thin branch of receipt paper emerging before she tore it off neatly. "Here's your receipt, Mikami‑San," she said, before pressing it into his hands with a gentle bow.
"Thanks," Rimuru said, as he took the slip with one hand, before slipping it into his coat pocket.
"You're welcome," she replied, before tucking the printer away. "Now, let's fire up the phone," she said, while lifting the iPhone 16 Pro Max from its cradle, pressing and holding the side button until the screen glowed with the Apple logo, and then placing it, upright, on the table. "I'll use the store's secure network to get you online immediately."
She proceeded to then tap a series of gestures on her iPad, and then on the phone— linking the device to the store's private Wi‑Fi. A tiny Wi‑Fi icon then appeared at the top of the phone's screen.
"Connected," she said cheerfully. "First, select your language."
"English," Rimuru said, tapping the screen.
"Region?" She prompted.
"Japan."
Together, all three of them watched the setup wheel spin patiently.
"Great," she continued. "Now, let's install the latest update so you have the newest features."
"… Like right now?" Rimuru hesitated. "Do we need to? I mean, doesn't that take like… An hour to do?"
"Perhaps a decade or so ago it did, Mikami-San. But now, it'll only take a couple of minutes," she assured him with a smile. "And many features work better after the update: security patches, bug fixes, new emojis."
Being reminded of how old he actually was for the second time since talking to her, the slime blew out a breath of mock exasperation. "Fine, fine— do your thing then, I guess."
The phone chirped and began downloading. While they waited, the employee began laying out the Lightning cable, documentation, and SIM tool in neat rows. Rimuru and Goblin Slayer watched, with the ashen-haired man's red eyes flicking between the white accessory cable and the employee's efficient motions.
After the update was installed, the phone rebooted. The screen glowed again.
"WiFi confirmation?" She asked more so as a statement than a question, before taking the liberty to tap "Yes" without confirmation. "Now for the passcode." She said, before handing Rimuru the phone. "We recommend at least six digits."
Goblin Slayer leaned forward, inspecting the number pad. Rimuru put a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder. "Pay attention to what I'm about to press."
The slime tapped his chosen six digits— ones he would never forget— before tapping again to confirm.
"Passcode set," the employee said. "Next, Face ID. Please position your face inside the circle and slowly rotate your head."
Rimuru complied, and two swift scans later, the phone announced, "Face ID is ready."
"Perfect," the employee said. "Would you like to restore from an iCloud backup, or set it up as a new iPhone?"
"New," Rimuru said.
"Got it." She replied, before tapping the iPhone's screen— after the slime had set it back down on the table. "Please enter your Apple ID credentials."
Rimuru then took the device back, before typing in his email and password— relying on Face ID to autofill whenever possible.
While the sign‑in processed, she nudged the conversation back to Goblin Slayer. "And your friend— would he like his own iPhone today?"
Rimuru's eyes flicked to the ashen-haired man, whose posture remained calm but attentive. "He's… He's never used a smartphone before," he began, "and he can't read these numerals."
The employee laughed softly, a warm, genuine sound. "That's all right. iPhone has amazing accessibility features: 'VoiceOver' will read out the numbers, and dictation lets you speak your messages. He can learn quickly."
Rimuru arched a brow. "But he's basically illiterate— does that really work?"
"Absolutely," she assured him. "And if he'd prefer something simpler, we have the iPhone SE. It's more affordable, compact, and perfect for first‑time users."
"But… It's an extra expense," the slime argued— sounding reluctant.
She gave him an understanding smile. "I understand budgets. That's why prepaid plans exist— and trade‑in credit too, if you have an old device."
He opened his mouth to reflexively say no, the words half-formed on his tongue— then stopped. His hand drifted to Goblin Slayer's shoulder strap, fingers brushing against the thick olive canvas. The duffel bag rustled as he tapped it.
"Actually… Yeah. Maybe." Rimuru exhaled, almost reluctantly. "We got something we could trade in."
The Apple employee perked up. "Great! What kind of device?"
The slime then tugged on the strap gently. "Hold still a sec."
Goblin Slayer obeyed without question, steady as Rimuru reached across him and unzipped the main pocket.
His arm disappeared into the bag up to the elbow, rifling past bundled charging cables, protein bars, and whatever odds and ends they'd gathered since landing in Tokyo.
After a moment, Rimuru withdrew the iPad. "You cool with us trading this in, Ren?" He asked quietly.
Goblin Slayer shrugged, as he looked back at the slime's yellow-eyed gaze. "It was yours to begin with."
"That's not what I asked."
A pause. Then, a small nod. "If you're fine with it, then I am."
That was answer enough.
Rimuru then handed the iPad over to the employee, who smiled and stepped away with it to check eligibility.
As the employee disappeared into the back room with his old iPad in tow, Rimuru took a small breath, then slipped his own brand-new iPhone 16 Pro Max back into the inner pocket of his coat.
The slime then turned slightly toward Goblin Slayer, who stood with the same unreadable calm, thumb loosely hooked in his jeans pocket, as if the sterile gleam of the Apple Store didn't faze him at all.
He looked almost out of place there— an angel dropped into a tech showroom— but if he was uncomfortable, he wasn't showing it.
"… You know—" Rimuru said, tilting his head toward him, "— once this is set up, we'll need to get SIM cards. Or prepaid plans, technically."
The ashen-haired man then looked at him, puzzled. "What does that mean?"
"It's like... Uh..." Rimuru trailed off, while scratching the side of his head— searching for the right metaphor. "Okay, imagine the phone's a really nice sword. All polished, well-balanced, super high-end. But unless it's got the right scabbard— like, the proper gear— it can't be used to its fullest potential. Sure, you still can wave it around, but it becomes a hindrance if you don't have something to connect it to."
Goblin Slayer blinked— visibly trying to make sense of the slime's metaphorical explanation. "So the scabbard is-?"
"-The SIM card. It gives your phone access to a network so it can make calls, send messages, go online without Wi-Fi. Right now, our phones are basically expensive paperweights unless we're near a hotspot."
Using what he learned from the slime's previous explanations of what an iPad was, on top of what he had observed since stepping foot into the Apple Store, the ashen-haired man nodded slowly as he put the pieces together in his mind. "I see… And we'll need to buy those too?"
"Yeah. Prepaid cards. No contracts, just load a certain amount of data and minutes, and you're good. Rakuten Mobile's a good option— they've got a storefront nearby, in Ginza. Pretty straightforward process."
Goblin Slayer glanced toward the direction of the store's opening. "Are you sure you're fine with paying for that too?"
Rimuru shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Kinda have to be. And hey, think of it this way: all of the money that's in my account isn't even technically mine right now— we're on Ken's Yen."
Goblin Slayer let out a soft breath, something like a scoff— but not unkind. A half-smirk curled at the corner of his lips. "True."
Rimuru playfully rolled his eyes at him. "Yeah, well, don't get used to me playing sugar daddy— eventually, we'll need to get more money at the rate we're going."
"I have no expectations, nor are you obligated to do anything for me," Goblin Slayer stated more as a reassurance than anything spiteful— his voice growing quieter, as he then asked the slime, "How far is it?"
"To Ginza?"
The ashen-haired man gave a single nod.
Rimuru then reached back into his coat, pulled out his iPhone, and tapped the screen. The haptic buzz beneath his fingertips was still a novelty. He brought up Google Maps, typed in ' Rakuten Mobile Ginza ,' and watched the little blue dot snap into place.
"From here? Not far at all. We're at the Mitsubishi Building, right across from Tokyo Station. Rakuten's shop is in Ginza— it's just under two kilometers away, give or take. About a twenty-minute walk if we don't stop."
Goblin Slayer nodded, absorbing that with the same calm precision he always applied to logistics. Rimuru could practically see him filing the information away.
"But first," the slime added, while pocketing his phone again, "let's check out the rest of this place. The Mitsubishi Building's got some surprisingly good stuff tucked inside— restaurants, cafés, and a couple design stores that are worth peeking into. After that, I wanna hit a few spots in Marunouchi Plaza."
"Alright… But what's Marunouchi Plaza?" Goblin Slayer asked.
"Oh— right." Rimuru straightened a little, as his tone grew more animated. "It's this really nice commercial district. Kinda upscale, but not in a tacky way. You've got a bunch of office buildings, department stores, high-end cafés. Fancy suit guys everywhere."
The young man blinked slowly, processing that.
"There's also some good menswear stores I wanna hit up," the slime continued, while beginning to tick them off on his fingers. "United Arrows, Ships, maybe even a peek inside Tomorrowland if we're feeling reckless. You could honestly pull off half the stuff they sell there— you've got the face for it."
He caught himself.
"I-I mean, proportion-wise! Everything's made for tall guys with sharp features and an athletic build— like y-you!"
Goblin Slayer didn't reply to that directly, but the corner of his mouth tilted again— just slightly.
The slime then cleared his throat and pushed ahead. "Anyway, after that, we can set up our SIM cards, and then we should probably head over to Hotel Toranomon Hills to check in. Drop our stuff off, get showered, maybe chill for an hour or two."
Rimuru shifted his weight and leaned in a little, just enough to nudge the ashen-haired man with an elbow. "Then, I'm taking you out tonight!"
Goblin Slayer turned toward him slightly— curiosity visible in the subtle crease of his brow. "Where to?"
"You'll see," Rimuru said, smiling— unable to stop the small flicker of excitement in his voice. "But you'll like it. I promise."
"You're being vague."
"It's part of the fun," the slime said. "C'mon, when's the last time someone planned a surprise for you that didn't involve imminent death?"
Goblin Slayer didn't answer right away, but his gaze softened— not in expression so much as in presence, as if the wall between them had briefly thinned.
"Alright," he said finally. "I'll just have to wait and see, won't I?"
Rimuru looked away before he could stare too long at that face— those eyes, those lashes, the impossible stillness that came with him.
He swallowed hard and glanced toward the back of the store, where the employee soon came walking back toward them with the same quiet grace she'd carried from the start; the aged iPad now gone, replaced by a slim, unopened box in her hands.
She held it delicately, as though any carelessness might disturb the symmetry of the contents within.
"This is the iPhone SE," she said gently. "Midnight, sixty-four gigabytes. Your trade-in credit has been applied, and the remaining balance is settled."
She then placed the box on the table, before unsealing the top with a thumb along the paper tab, and revealing the device nestled inside.
Its surface gleamed softly under the recessed lighting, unobtrusive and almost modest beside the flagship model Rimuru had just bought.
"If you're ready, I'll begin the setup."
"Yes, please," the slime replied, and watched as she powered the phone on with practiced efficiency.
Goblin Slayer stood beside him, silent but watchful.
The Apple employee then linked the device to the store's secure Wi-Fi, her movements swift and economical as they were previously.
"Language?"
"English," Rimuru answered for him.
"Region?"
"Japan."
Once that was confirmed, she asked, "Will we be linking this to your Apple ID as well, Mikami-San?"
Rimuru hesitated, just for a moment. Then: "Nah. He'll need his own."
She gave a small nod. "Understood. Please provide the email address you'd like to use."
Rimuru took the phone and tapped it in himself— quietly grateful that the ashen-haired man couldn't read it.
The slime then glanced up and saw the aforementioned man watching him, not suspicious— just curious.
"You're setting something up for me?" He asked, voice low and steady.
"Yeah, just making the account for you," Rimuru replied, feigning a casual shrug. "We can change it later if you want."
The employee paused to confirm. "Email created: 'RenTempest2025.' It's available."
Rimuru didn't dare to look at him, after the young woman had announced what he had written aloud.
She prompted the password next, to which the slime then typed that in too— choosing something simple, but secure. Goblin Slayer said nothing, though his gaze never left the screen.
The employee then enabled VoiceOver, adjusted contrast and font scaling, and turned on Siri dictation. "With these settings, the phone will read aloud everything he touches. And he can respond with voice commands alone."
She then held the device toward Goblin Slayer— offering it to him. "Please, go ahead and try it out for yourself, Tempest-San."
Goblin Slayer arched a brow at that, before reaching out slowly and resting one finger on the screen.
"Messages. Button," Siri announced through the speakers of his iPhone SE.
His eyes widened slightly, brows knitting— not in fear, but fascination.
"… It talks on its own," he murmured.
"Yeah, just like how she said it would," Rimuru grinned. "And if you don't like the voice, we can change it later. There's even a British one that sounds like a Bond villain."
Though he didn't understand the reference, the ashen-haired still gave a soft snort through his nose— more breath than laugh, but the intent was there.
"Would you like me to disable the keyboard for now?" The employee offered. "He can always re-enable it later."
"Yeah," Rimuru nodded, before nudging Goblin Slayer. "Go ahead and give it back to her, Ren."
"Sounds good," Goblin Slayer replied, before complying as he handed her back the device.
She then proceeded to finalize the settings— confirming everything aloud. "Setup is complete. No screen time restrictions. Dictation on. Location off. Recovery email linked to your account, Mikami-San."
Then, as if sensing the end of the transaction approaching, she offered a small, warm bow. "Is there anything else I can assist you with today?"
Rimuru shook his head. "No, I think we're good."
"Thank you again," she said to both of them— first to the slime, then to the ashen-haired man. "I hope your first iPhone brings you good experiences."
She then disappeared back into the flow of staff like a leaf caught in a stream— not a single step wasted.
The moment she was gone, Goblin Slayer held the phone in both hands, thumbs resting against the sides. His expression was unreadable again— thoughtful, distant, but not uncomfortable.
Rimuru crossed his arms, shifting his weight slightly. "So, Ren… What do you think?"
"It's smaller than I expected," Goblin Slayer said after a beat, "but it fits well in my hand."
"Heh! Yeah, that's what she said," the slime muttered under his breath, then immediately winced. "God. Sorry. I didn't know where that came from— just a stupid reflex, I guess."
Goblin Slayer arched a brow but didn't comment.
Rimuru then reached up with one hand to scratch the back of his neck. "Anyway, you'll get used to it fast. You've got a good memory. Once you get the hang of voice commands and that little robot voice, you'll be texting people in no time. Or like… Yelling at Siri to play Enka ballads. Or whatever it is guys like you get into."
Goblin Slayer's lips twitched, just faintly. "I don't know what an Enka is."
"Don't worry," Rimuru said. "You'll probably hate it. Most people do."
They continued to stand there in the hush of fluorescent light and reflective glass, the hum of the store around them just white noise.
The slime's mind then wandered back to the name he chose for the ashen-haired man— ' RenTempest2025 .'
"… You should keep the last name."
Goblin Slayer looked over.
Rimuru quickly added, "I mean, for now. You'll need a last name anyway, right? If we ever have to fill out paperwork or register a card or something. Can't exactly get by with just 'Ren'— know what I mean?"
There was a pause. Not long, not awkward. Just enough to leave a hollow echo in the slime's chest.
"… I don't mind using it," Goblin Slayer finally replied.
Rimuru shrugged, a little too casually. "Cool. Then, uh… Yeah. 'Ren Tempest' it is."
He then felt something warm crawling up his throat— something unspoken— but he forced it down, swallowed hard.
Tried not to look too long at the young man beside him.
Tried not to think about how Goblin Slayer looked with that soft overhead light playing against his lashes, or the way his lips barely moved when he spoke, or how the phone in his hand was now tethered— however loosely— to him .
And to him only.
' It's nothing. '
' It means nothing. '
And if Rimuru repeated that enough times, maybe it would start to feel true.
"… Come on," he said at last, nodding toward the exit. "Let's get out of here before I accidentally buy us both Apple Watches out of peer pressure."
Goblin Slayer proceeded to then follow him without hesitation, the phone still in his hand.
And Rimuru, walking just a step ahead, pretended he didn't keep glancing back over his shoulder at him.