"Here we are. Get out!"
In the parking lot near the Weekly Shonen Sunday branch office, Rita opened the car door and stepped out.
The weather was nice today, with the sunlight appearing and disappearing behind the clouds... The temperature was just right. Though Rita did not care about the temperature at all... Mashiro Shiina was with her, so this weather was undoubtedly ideal.
After watching Mashiro Shiina get out and close the door, Rita took out her keys... and locked the car remotely.
"Rita."
After getting out of the car... Mashiro Shiina called to Rita while carrying her things.
"What is it?"
"I'm thirsty."
Her reply was calm, as detached and unworldly as ever.
"All right, but I didn't bring any water. Hmm... There seems to be a vending machine up ahead. Let's go."
Rita glanced around and spotted a vending machine some ten meters away... Her eyes lit up, and she immediately led Mashiro Shiina over.
Vending machines like these were everywhere in Japan. Besides drinks, they also sold snacks, instant noodles, and all sorts of everyday necessities. After all, this was a fast-paced city where everything was designed for convenience.
"What do you want to drink?"
Holding Mashiro Shiina's hand, Rita walked up to the vending machine. It was stocked with drinks and water, with quite a variety...
"This..."
Mashiro Shiina looked over the selection, then raised her hand and pointed at a bottle of something Rita had never drunk before. There were all kinds of beverages nowadays; there was even a drink extracted directly from cow urine without anything else added. So no kind of drink was really surprising anymore.
Rita took out a coin and inserted it, selecting the unfamiliar drink Mashiro Shiina had pointed at. She bought herself a can of cola as well.