Time Inevitably Flows By Quickly
Today was my last day working at the grocery store. Of course, it wasn't much different just because it was the final one. The place was still hectic, leaving no room to savor the moment—I had to keep running around nonstop.
"That tiny little kid grew up so fast.... Travel safely, but come back every now and then to show your face, Ain."
"Sure thing, ma'am. Don't worry—I won't be so heartless as to never return to the Empire."
The only regulars who knew it was my last day would pat my shoulder in passing, murmuring something about how hard I'd worked. But even that was lost in the chaos; before long, I stopped thinking about it being the end at all.
Except....
Every time a farewell greeting rang out from a customer, there were shoulders that flinched. And behind the counter, calculating purchases for guests while her mind seemed fixed entirely on me, there was that hesitant figure fidgeting away.
"..., Thank you. Please..., visit Illeina's Grocery again."
Even the mechanical lines spat out to customers came slower than usual. She'd sneak a glance my way, our eyes would meet, and she'd jolt—whipping her head back around.
I'd stare blankly at the sight until it hit me: the parting was really here.
Finally, the last customers filed out, and the store's door clicked shut. We closed earlier than usual, and the jingle of coins mixed with Uncle's gravelly voice echoing through the shop.
My final payday.
Only then, as he tallied the month's sales, did Uncle's grumbling start up.
"No idea how much I've forked over to a beanpole like you all this time."
"Hmm, no clue how much I've raked in for a cheapskate like you either. What a shame. If I'd opened my own shop, it'd all be mine."
"Have you ever seen such a rude bastard?"
"What? I'm right, aren't I?"
It was our monthly ritual, this little spat between Uncle and me. These days, it felt wrong without it—especially since this was the last one.
"Ptooey. Here's your final paycheck. Eat up and scram."
"Don't worry. I'll eat well and head somewhere great."
"..., You maniac."
We bickered like that, then cracked smiles at each other.
The pouch he dropped into my hand was thicker and heavier than usual.
"Huh, it's heavy."
"It's your last one, so I threw in extra."
"Then let's see just how generous Uncle's 'extra' really is."
"...Hey, count it later or something. What's with doing it right in front of the guy who gave it to you, you punk?"
I licked my lips and dumped the pouch open to check the "generosity" of his bonus for my last day.
"...?"
I immediately tilted my head in confusion. It wasn't just full—the denominations were way higher.
My usual pay was a bit over 10,000 tera. This looked close to ten times that.
I looked up at him with a dazed expression, and he scratched his head sheepishly.
"Ahem, well.... You've worked hard all this time."
"100,000 tera...?"
"Hey, you money-grubbing ghost—how do you peg the amount without even checking...?"
"...."
This world didn't really have a concept of severance pay. Expecting extra when quitting was laughable; you were lucky not to get called a fool for it.
But Uncle, uncharacteristically, kept averting his eyes as he continued.
"It's so you don't skimp on gear or weapons 'cause you're broke and die a dog's death! Ahem, it'd be unfair if you croaked and blamed me!"
"...."
He tried to justify the bonus with that lame excuse.
"I'm never paying you again anyway, so I flexed a bit on the generosity you always yapped about! We've got better earners than you now—you're obsolete!"
"...."
He handed a fat pouch to the woman too, grinning.
"You did good, Ain."
"...Thanks, Uncle."
"Heh! Don't go getting teary now that you're all grown, you Crybaby."
That was why. Even as I tried to smile and say thanks for the finale, he pinned me with that damn nickname again.
It was definitely all his fault.
After teasing me about it for a good while, Uncle plopped a hand on Asha's head where she stood beside me.
"Asha, when you quit someday, I'll hook you up fat too. Way more than this worthless punk, obviously."
By now, the sight felt natural. Even without me in the picture, Asha's lips would curve up a bit.
She stared at the hand on her head, then nodded with a soft smile.
Anyway. Like I always say, he's a good guy.
Leaving the early wrap-up of the grocery saga behind, Asha and I headed out into the market street at Uncle's insistent shooing.
He'd shoved money into my hand with orders to treat her to something tasty.
I was grateful for all the thoughtfulness, of course.
"Larva."
"..., Let's eat something else."
But this pointless bit about buying her treats? Not thrilled.
Her words led to her smiling and dragging me to the larva stall anyway.
"I work hard at exercises I hate, so you eat the larva you hate."
I sighed at the inevitability of larva right up to the end.
"Asha, at least today let's eat something else tasty...?"
Wait a sec.
I said I hate larva, right?
"Asha, don't tell me... you knew I hate larva...?"
"Yeah, you'd have to be an idiot not to. Come on, let's go."
Shit. The cunning witch was right here.
"You... you sly.... No, please spare me. I hate larva. Something else... anything else."
"Ain, just give up and enjoy it already. When supplies run out on the road, you'll have to grill larva anyway. Better adapt by eating it every day before we leave, right?"
"..., Even if rations run dry, I won't eat larva."
My travelogue wouldn't include starving to larva.
But Asha just beamed through my denial, gripping my hand tight and not letting go.
"Ain, I'm begging like this—really won't eat it? You promised to do whatever I want till we leave."
"...."
I had no comeback, so our first steps toward the market led straight to the roasting larva stand.
Two larva shoved into my mouth later.
"Tasty, right?"
"..., Tastes bad."
I answered honestly now.
"Then have two more."
"...."
Tasty or not, larva kept coming.
I'm stuffed.
With an unpleasant fullness, my lips were pouty in a rare sulk.
She looked up with a mischievous smile, amused.
"Ain, you mad?"
"..., No."
"Looks like you're mad I fed you so much larva."
"...."
We'd walked a ways, and suddenly we were in a quiet park, not the market.
She stopped, stepped right in front of me, tilting her head to study my face.
"Hmm, turns out teasing you too much makes you pout."
"I'm not pouting."
"But you said before—if lips stick out, you're pouting."
"...."
She never forgot my words, and she wasn't the clueless kid anymore.
She stared at my face a while, then grinned wide, lifting a hand to gently press my lips.
"No more for today."
"Sounds like tomorrow's on the menu to me."
"Yep. Wanna torment you a bit till we leave. You'll put up with it since you're going anyway."
She didn't hide it anymore—straight-up declaring her pre-departure torment.
And that made it bittersweet and funny, drawing a chuckle from me.
"Pfft..., Revenge, huh?"
"Yeah, my little revenge."
It was like venting piled-up feelings—a petty tantrum, really. As gray behavior, it was minor, and I'd built that pile myself.
So maybe I should be grateful she's releasing it this mildly and go along.
"Guess I have to take it then."
"Brace yourself. A handful of larva every day."
"Cut it to one less?"
"Hmm, that offends me—so adding one to the handful."
"...."
She seemed dead serious about the revenge, which was a little scary.
Anyway, our steps slowed as we reached the park.
The sun dipped low, purple twilight welcoming us.
Standing on the fresh grass, silently gazing at the sky, she inched closer bit by bit.
"Ain."
She called to me as I looked up, gently slipping her hand from mine—now so naturally intertwined.
I lowered my gaze toward her voice.
"My gift."
She beamed, holding up two identical bracelets, sunset haloing her like a glow, making her shine beautifully.
"They say if they break naturally—not forced—the wish comes true."
She took my hand, slipped one bracelet on, and softly covered it with hers.
"One's mine, one's yours."
No ash swirled.
Not like that alley two years ago.
"So don't take it off till it breaks on its own. I won't either."
Her voice didn't tremble; her eyes fixed solely on me.
With a poignant gaze, smiling lips.
Emotions tangled, indefinable.
She looked up at me, expressing them naturally.
"..., Promise."
She hugged me tight, whispering it.
I replied.
"Yeah, a promise."
I gripped the bracelet she'd placed on my hand.
The purple sky darkened further.
We quietly watched it.
Time passed.
Finally, the moment arrived.