''Nnnn... Gah. The manager should be back soon.''

I stretch my arms out wide and place my eyes on the digital-clock on the counter.

This shop provides a variety of things ranging from small expendable supplies to specialized metal parts at bargain price, Junk Shop Heibon.

I was attracted by the subtleness of the store name and I started working here; I wonder how long it's been... Anyway, it was a long time ago.

''...Hm? A message, huh.''

I was spacing out and had my elbow on the counter when the Coil on my arm rang.

A Coil is something like a mobile phone, but it's much more-convenient than just that.

Phone calls, messages, payments, identification, and of course watching TV can all be done with this one machine.

''Let's see...''

''Captive Princess?''

Is is a new kind of advertisement? The adult kind, maybe.

It'll probably continue like ''Please help me, I'm troubled by my aching body'', or something.

Delete...

''Geh!''

As I was handling my Coil, something slammed into my waist.

I fall from the chain and something heavy lands on my back.

Three giggling voices. The culprits had to be...

X : ''Aoba's opeeen!''

Y: ''Open like a book!''

Z: ''You're so uncool!''

Aoba:''...Why...you...braaaaats!''

The Evil brat siblings finally appeared.

The eldest son, Kio, the second son, Nao, and the eldest daughter, Mio.

A group of annoying neighborhood kids who only come here to go on wild rampages.

Aoba: ''I've told you guys so many times, this isn't a playground! Can't you kids learn anything?''

Nao: ''Ahh! Aoba's looking at a pervy e-mail!''

Kio: ''Eh!?''

Mio: ''No way!''

Nao raises his voice after looking at my Coil over my shoulder, and the remaining two hear it and lean all over me.

I-I'm gonna suffocate...

Aoba: ''G-Get off me, stupid...''

Nao: ''Pervy e-mail! Pervy e-mail! Aoba's a pervert! Pervert!''ù

Mio: ''Grown-ups are dirty!''

Kio: ''Nu-uh! It's some message about buying bad stuff! 'Cuz this shop is sketchy!''

Nao: ''Sketchyyy! Sketchyyy!''

Mio: ''This shop really does suck!''

Aoba: ''Ugh... Guh.''

Kio: ''All right! Let's arrest the pervy, dirty, and sketchy Aoba!''

Mio: '' Let's do it!''

Nao: ''Arreeeest!''

Aoba: ''Guh, ugh... Get off already, you braaaaaaaaats!!''

Nao, Kio, Mio: '' Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!!!''

I jolt up, legs wobbling, trying to shake them off.

They don't care if I say they're childish. There's no way those kids would give up just like that.

Nao: ''Hey, hey, that thing on top of the shelf, what's it used for?''

Kio: ''It's probably a tool to beat someone up!''

Mio: ''Scaaary! Boys are savages!''

Their attention had already moved on to other things...

Aoba: ''You guys... Geh!''

I was shocked when I looked at my Coil. At some point it had started to display a completion screen.

Oh yeah, I had a feeling I heard a strange sound from it a while ago...

Maybe I accidentally pushed a button when I was messing with the kids.

I hope I didn't download some strange program...

Aoba: ''Aaah, come on, this is horrible...''

As I stand there confused, the retro bell on the front door rings.

H : ''Phew, today's delivery destination was somewhat far.''

The store manager, Haga - san, who had gone out for a delivery, was back.

Haga: ''I'm sorry for being late, Aoba-ku...''

Haga-san's smiling face droops when he sees the evil brats.

Considering the damage they caused to the shop, well, it's a natural reaction.

Haga: ''...Oh, you kids, hello. You're here.''

Nao: ''Kio, take that dooown.''

Kio: ''Wait a sec. Here we... Hiya!''

Mio: ''Kio's shorter than I thought!''

Kio: ''What'd you say!?''

Haga: ''H-Hey kids, it's dangerous to play inside the shop. You might get hurt.''

Haga-san warns in confusion. But the brats aren't listening.

Kio: ''Just an inch...! Eih!''

Haga: ''K-Kids...''

Kio: ''Aaagh! You're so noisy!''

Nao: ''Shut up baldyyy!''

Kio: ''...Ah.''

Mio: ''Ah.''

Aoba: ''Ah.''

...Oh boy, he said it.

The air around Haga-san Freezes.

Haga: ''...You children playing there. Excuse me for asking, but...''

Haga: ''What was that just now...?''

Haga: ''Come on, please try saying it one more time. The first syllable was.. ba?''

Nao: ''Ba...''

Haga: ''Ba?''

Nao: ''Ba... Ba... Ba-Bad, this is bad, my stomach hurts, so- I-I'm going hooome!''

Kio: ''Yeah, let's go home!''

Mio: ''Let's go!''

The evil brats run out of the store at full speed.

Haga: ''...Ba...? What was the continuation of ba... What happened to the ba...?''

Aoba: ''Ah that's right boss! Yes, yes, listen to this!''

I start talking in a hurry to the mumbling Haga-san.

Aoba: ''There've been more orders for the S series of A parts again!''

Haga: ''...Parts?''

Aoba: ''Yes! Wow,just like we expected! It's just like you said! it's a 50% increase in sales from last month!''

Haga: ''Is that... so.''

Aoba: ''Yes it is! It's increasing! The sales are doubling!''

Haga: ''Sales.. doubling!''

Haga: ''Well, well, that's good to hear.''

Haga: ''If they are selling so well, we should increase the stock a little.''

After Haga-san listens to my good news, he finally returns to normal.

What a relief... That was dangerous.

Haga-san is so outrageous that once he snaps, he begin to act violently...

When he returned to his usual state, he pushed up his glasses, raised his eyebrows, and laughed.