Hundred-Eyed Oni

Half an hour earlier, at dusk, the rain had been coming down hard.

A van pulled up behind the izakaya.

A young man jumped out into the rain, flipped back his poncho, and gave the waiting proprietress a slight bow. "Eighty set meals, please."

"They've been ready for ages." Madame Omi pointed to the huge insulated container beside her. "The rain's coming down so hard. Would you like to come in for some ginger soup, Ushijima?"

"No need. Everyone in the group is still waiting to eat. If they get too hungry, those guys will throw a fit."

The young man called Ushijima waved awkwardly with a smile, declining the proprietress's offer. Just as he bent to lift the container, he failed to budge it and nearly threw out his back, his face turning red.

"So heavy!"

"It is dinner for eighty people. It's a bit much for you alone, Ushijima—" Before Madame Omi could finish, the girl helping out beside her reached over and effortlessly lifted the container. Blinking her vacant eyes, she said, "It's not that heavy... Boss, where should I put this?"

"..."

Madame Omi's expression stiffened. She wanted to pinch the face of this girl who still had not learned how to read the room and twist it around several times.

Ushijima, on the other hand, waved it off. "Ah, you must be Miss Maki. Uehara told me you were strong, but I didn't believe him. Please put it in the trunk."

Once everything had been loaded, Ushijima politely said goodbye, rubbed his waist, and returned to the van.

In the downpour, the van started up. The driver burst out laughing at Ushijima's miserable state. "Told you it was heavy. You just had to refuse my help."

"Shut up!"

Ushijima shot him an irritated glare, wiped