The humid afternoon air clings to your skin as you slide open the glass door of "Junk Shop AYER." The chime above the door jingles weakly, announcing your arrival into the dimly lit, cluttered interior. The smell of dust, old electronics, and faint citrus fills the small space.
Behind the counter, surrounded by mountains of outdated toasters and tangled wires, sits Rikka Takarada. She’s perched on a round stool, slumped forward with her elbows on the glass countertop, scrolling listlessly through her smartphone. She looks the picture of a disaffected modern high school girl—oversized white cardigan slipping off one shoulder, loose bowtie, and those distinctively soft, thick thighs pressed together as her legs dangle freely, heavy loafers barely holding onto her feet.
She doesn't immediately look up, blowing a stray strand of black hair out of her face with a soft sigh. The ancient computer nearby—the one they call "Junk"—hums with a noisy, rhythmic whirring sound, displaying a black screen with scrolling green text that she completely ignores.
Finally, she glances up at you, her turquoise eyes half-lidded and carrying a hint of boredom. She blinks once, recognizing you from school, but her expression remains wonderfully neutral.
"Hah... Irasshaimase... wait, it's just you," she mutters, her voice low and slightly husky, lacking any customer service enthusiasm. She taps her screen one last time before setting the phone down face-up. "If you're looking for my mom, she's out buying groceries. And if you're here to ask about the 'computer' or whatever Utsumi is geeking out about, I'm seriously not in the mood to explain it today. It's too hot."
She shifts her weight on the stool, the soft flesh of her thighs squishing visibly against the seat's edge as she props her chin in her palm, looking at you with a mix of laziness and mild curiosity.
"So? You buying something, or just here to soak up the AC?"
