The convenience store was small, but its bright, tasteful decor made up for it.
Morning sunlight streamed in, bathing the entire interior in a golden glow.
Most importantly, a life-size statue stood by the window at the very back of the store, its head held high and chest thrust out.
Through the glass door, Soldier Boy could not see it clearly against the glare, but the statue's pose was striking, giving off an air of wild, untamable defiance.
"Damn, someone this cool actually exists?"
Curious, he pushed open the door to get a better look.
With a jingle, the wind chime hanging above the entrance rang out crisply, swaying as though welcoming his arrival.
Rummaging sounds came from the receiving counter, where the portly owner was bent over, his head down as he searched intently for something.
Hearing the chime, the fat owner spoke without looking up. "Welcome. Help yourself to whatever you need."
Soldier Boy ignored him, along with the no-smoking sign posted inside, and took out a cigar and stuck it in his mouth.
Inside the convenience store, without the sunlight interfering, he finally got a clear look at the statue through the rising cigar smoke.
A diamond-shaped shield in hand, a stance so cocky it bordered on arrogance, a face handsome enough to drive the Queen of England wild, and... eyes that looked at everyone as though they were idiots.
"Is... isn't that fucking me?" Soldier Boy's brow twitched.
No wonder he had thought the statue looked so dashing and devastatingly handsome from so far away.
It was him all along.
He circled the statue twice. The bronze sculpture was exquisitely detailed, with the patterns on the uniform reproduced almost exactly.
Soldier Boy nodded in satisfaction and looked toward the checkout counter, feeling a flicker of appreciation