第２８５堀：どこかで見たことがある日常 (Part2)
The debate with Tori and the others has been quite heated, centered on the inherent dangers of late-night operations and the security concerns involved.
Personally, I’m in the "pro" camp. Work often drags on into the late hours, and unlike the Boss and his inner circle, I can’t just conjure things out of thin air with DP. Having a place where I can buy supplies at any hour is a godsend. Of course, if we’re talking about late-night security, it’s obvious that we monsters would have to be the ones dispatched to handle it. After all, there are plenty of us with much better night vision than the average human.
"Oh, it's open. It's actually open."
Spread out before me is Super Ratz, the largest store in Weed. It boasts a massive selection, impeccable service, and is a reliable ally to every housewife in town. Naturally, it’s also a convenient spot for single guys like me to easily grab a bento for a meal.
There are a few people around, though it’s far less crowded than the evening rush. Still, Ratz’s intuition was spot on—people are definitely showing up, so moving the opening time earlier was clearly the right call. I head straight into Super Ratz and make a beeline for the bento section. I’ll grab some rice balls or sandwiches for breakfast, a bento for lunch, and get today’s meals sorted. My office only has tea, and it’s become a habit of mine to bring pre-bought bentos and keep them chilled there.
"Right, now for the drinks."
After picking out my breakfast and lunch, I move to the beverage aisle. Living alone, I just don’t have the energy to prep drinks to take with me. I don’t have a family to support, so my wallet has a bit of breathing room, and buying drinks is my standard routine. Of course, to save money—and because I don't want to run out immediately—I mostly stick to the liter-sized tea bottles. I buy them and finish them off in a few days. Occasionally, I’ll fill a plastic bottle with a drink to take with me, but that’s rare.
"Oh. If it isn't Steve."
"Yes?"
Just as I’m making my selection in the drink aisle, I’m suddenly addressed. I turn toward the voice to find Ratz standing there—the owner of Super Ratz, the commercial representative, the Boss’s wife, and a mother of one.
"What are you doing here so early in the morning?"
I mean, this is usually the time she’d be having a leisurely breakfast with the Boss and the others.
"Oh, I’m planning to launch a new product, so I finished breakfast quickly and headed over here. Of course, I’m still head-over-heels for my dear husband. I made sure to give Schans a proper goodbye, too."
"…I see."
Ratz is sharp when it comes to calculations and business, but she is absolutely smitten with the Boss. Even after having a child, that hasn’t changed a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I think Schans is adorable, but listening to Ratz talk makes me feel like I’m about to turn into a sugar-production machine.
…Wait? Did she say something strange just now?
"A new product?"
"Yes! A new product!!"
She sets down the box she was carrying, pulls out the contents, and thrusts them right in front of me. While the plastic bottles themselves were ordered via DP, the packaging looks a bit amateurish.
"Did you guys make these yourselves?"
"Exactly! We borrowed the technology from your hometown, but aside from the bottles, everything else was produced in-house. It’s a completely original product!"
"Whoa."
That’s impressive. This slightly awkward paper packaging must have been designed by someone in Weed on a computer. However, my intuition—which never misses a beat—kicks in. A completely new product. That’s fine, but the liquid inside is a translucent green. My danger sensors are screaming at me!
"…What flavor is that, exactly?"
I ask, feeling a bit apprehensive.
"Hmm, well, it’s green, so it’s cucumber flavor! And it’s carbonated, too!"
"…I, see."
That was all I could manage to say. Any way you slice it, this is a landmine of a product. A carbonated cucumber drink. It’s basically the apocalypse in a bottle.
"You know, just adding a little lemon can really change the flavor of water, right? We used that as a reference, took some of the vegetables John has been growing, and experimented with all sorts of things. It’s a healthy beverage!"
So that vegetarian is the culprit behind this!! I have to do something. If they stock landmines like this, the reputation of Super Ratz will be dragged through the mud.
"Actually, we started selling them the day before yesterday, and they’ve been so popular that we can’t keep up with production! I’m currently delivering the batches I managed to produce myself."
"Excuse me?"
What did she just say? They’re selling? I must have misheard her. Yeah, that’s it.
"You said they’re selling…?"
"Yes, they are! Well, I suppose there’s the novelty factor, but since the contents are genuinely just vegetables—and we’ve categorized them by vegetable type—they’ve become especially popular with women who are conscious about their health and beauty."
"Ah, I see."
Since they aren't just mimicking the flavor but using actual vegetable juice, it’s the real deal, and that’s why it’s popular in that demographic. Women are truly a force to be reckoned with.
"So, won't you buy some? They’ll be gone before you know it."
"Oh? Well, if you put it that way…"