Ideal world...

.

.

.

.

[The Market.]

"With the paste coming around 680 and the prosthetics," he tapped on the screen a few times before turning it to show the customer. "Your total comes to 1,438.50 SC,"

"WHAT?!" His exclamation echoed, drawing curious glances from those inside the place. "B—but I already converted 4,000 dollars, and I received a total of 1,770 credits! It's already that much?!"

"I can't alter the prices, sir," Toru responded, unfazed by the outburst. "The paste alone does wonders for restoring one's teeth and even damaged gums. If only your cat had kept his lost teeth, you wouldn't need the prosthetics. And you did choose a high-quality one, fit for a cat," he added, a hint of reproach in his tone.

"My choice was influenced, alright." Jon glared down at Garfield, who, sensing his owner's irritation, seemed suddenly fascinated by the ceiling. With a resigned sigh, Jon took out the card he received from the ATM and swiped it through the card reader.

A beep sounded as the transaction was processed, eventually displaying an approval mark. Toru, maintaining his professional demeanor, offered no comment as he watched Jon stuff the items into a bag and forcefully grab Garfield by the scruff of his neck.

"Look, Jon—" Garfield started, his voice muffled.

"Not a word from you, Garfield. Thanks to you, our diet will be raisins for the month." Jon was annoyed as he stormed out of the Market, leaving a trail of bemused onlookers. 

A few seconds passed before Toru stood and walked a few paces. As Toru approached the exit, he noticed Yuko observing him discreetly from a distance. Despite his fatigue, he decided to engage with her directly. "Is there something you'd like to discuss with me, Komuro-sensei?" he asked, his voice even but perceptive.

"Was I too obvious?" Yuko replied with a wry smile, acknowledging her less-than-subtle observation.

"A bit," Toru said flatly. "There's also something I wanted to discuss," he added. "I prefer going back to our world to chat, if you don't mind."

Yuko paused, sensing the importance of the conversation Toru was hinting at. Her smile flickered, betraying her apprehension about the possible direction of their discussion. "Alright, sure," she finally agreed, masking her concern with a practiced smile.

Toru nodded curtly, "Hn," They both then made their way toward the portal leading to the zombie world, leaving Kazuhiro to manage the place with the remaining refugees taking camp at The Market.

He is the only one in the workforce to be in the Market again. He returned and stationed himself behind the cashier counter, taking the time to observe those around him. 

When they were managing the traversal process for those who transmigrated to the mayor's world, some of those who decided to stay left and are already coming back with a few supplies and futons to camp on the Market's cold ceramic floor.

"Um, Kazuhiro-sama," a voice interrupted his observations. He turned to see a woman accompanied by a young boy at the counter.

"Yes?" Kazuhiro replied, his attention now focused on the pair.

"My son would like to buy this, if that's fine," the woman said, as the boy shyly placed a flavored colored lollipop on the counter. It was one of the many varieties from the nearby snack display.

"That will be 1.90SC," Kazuhiro responded promptly after the item's details flashed on the register. "Will that be through a store card or physical credits?"

"A card is fine," the woman answered, pulling out a small digital card from her pocket. Kazuhiro gestured towards the card reader, which she then hovered her card over. The device beeped affirmatively, processing the transaction smoothly.

"All set," Kazuhiro announced, handing the lollipop back to the boy.

"Thank you," the woman said warmly, her appreciation evident. The boy echoed her thanks with a shy smile.

As they walked away, another approached this time a group. "Uh, where can we find extra pillows, and uh, blankets too." asked one of the teens, his voice slightly uncertain.

"Futons too!" another in the group chimed in eagerly, looking around expectantly.

Kazuhiro, poised and ready to assist, pulled out his device and launched the 'track' application. "Any specific size or comfortability?" he inquired, his fingers poised over the device to input their preferences.

"Uh..." the teen hesitated, looking uncertain. Before he could respond, another member of the group chimed in, "We'll take a look."

Kazuhiro nodded and completed the selection on his device. Instantly, multiple transparent digital trails materialized on the floor, glowing softly as each went it's separate ways, guiding them to the requested aisles. 

Kazuhiro took a few steps to accompany them to assist with the appraisal, but before they ventured, he announced, "If anyone wishes to come and search for items, this is the right time." His suggestion aimed to make the shopping process more efficient, potentially reducing the back-and-forth within the expansive venue.

Overhearing his invitation, a few decided to join the group as they, too, needed other necessities.

.

.

In the dimly lit corner of the Market, a group of teens huddled together, their expressions a mix of boredom and frustration. The air was filled with the echo of their discontent.

"Seriously, what's taking him so long?" complained one teen, his back against the cold, hard wall.

"Who do you mean exactly? That kid, or that monster?" another questioned, he glanced sideways at his companion.

"Both, honestly. Can't sleep against this hard floor and I'm just tired of waiting to return to a normal life," the first teen sighed heavily, his gaze fixed on the distant aisles of the Market.

"That's enough from you two," interjected a different teen, more composed than the rest. "All it takes is patience. I'm sure he's coming to get us."

"Look who's talking," retorted another member of the group, his tone dripped with skepticism. "Aren't you a bit too optimistic? He might have ditched us, you know? Wouldn't it be suspicious enough to transport a large group of people to his world?" He nestled deeper into the futon they had brought from their world

"Cozy, aren't you? Dipshit," muttered the first teen, eyeing the makeshift bedding with a mix of envy and irritation. 

"Jealous?" The teen in the futon adjusted his glasses and smirked, his posture relaxed despite the group's tension.

"Is that how you're—"

"Enough!" bellowed a man nearby, effectively silencing the teens' quarrel. His intervention brought a sudden stillness to their corner, and the teens turned their attention towards him. Once he moved away, they quickly resumed their hushed discussions.

"Just think about it," the teen in the futon whispered, eager to sway his peers' opinions. "This place connects to a lot of worlds, which means high fantasy worlds exist and will appear."

"Hah? There are fantasy worlds, though. Don't tell me you're too chicken to even step further into them because of their danger level," another retorted softly, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Not that kind of fantasy, you dolt." he continued, the reflection of his glasses hid his eyes. "I'm talking about worlds where big titted elves exist, or—or, a world where only women live and—"

His rambling was abruptly cut off by a hard tug at his hair from a teenage girl sitting next to him. "Okay, that's enough, you freak," she interjected, her tone laced with disgust.

"Owowowow," the teen winced, trying to keep his pained moans hushed so as not to draw more attention. "Tsk, I'm just saying, that's one heck of an ideal world."

"As if we've ever asked," the girl shot back as she let go, her glare sharp enough to end the conversation. Her disapproval was palpable, making it clear that speculative fantasies were the last thing on her mind amidst the uncertainty of their situation in the Market.

"Tsk," The boy who had been fantasizing about other worlds winced under her glare, "Women," 

"""Women.""" an echo of agreement murmuring amongst the group.

"WHY THE HECK ARE YOU ON HIS SIDE?! DIDN'T YOU ALL SAY YOU WANTED A NORMAL LIFE?!" she shouted, her voice carrying across the nearby spaces, disturbing the quiet of others who were trying to rest.

"No need to shout, Ume-chan," a nearby woman soothed, trying to comfort her child back to sleep amidst the sudden uproar.

"""How careless.""" the boys muttered and shook their heads.

"I'll gut you—" Ume whispered fiercely, her fists clenched, but before she could continue, the distinctive beep of the door opening interrupted her.

Three individuals and a yellow rat-like creature entered, looking around, baffled. "Huh, so it led us back here again," one of them remarked.

"Pika," the creature added.

"Boooo, there are guys in that world," the fantasizing boy called out from his futon, making no effort to get up as he prepared to sleep.

Misty surveyed the crowd of refugees. "I don't remember others being here last time," she remarked, eyeing the people around.

"You, boy!" a man suddenly called out, pointing towards Ash. His interest seemed piqued by the weird animal. "Which world are you from?"

"What? "Ash, caught off-guard by the direct question, stuttered for a moment before replying, "Uh, well, it's a world filled with Pokémon."

"Pokémon?" A whisper ran through the crowd,

"Wasn't that world labeled as number 9?"

"Is that chubby mouse a Pokémon?" another voice questioned, pointing at Pikachu.

The crowd's murmurs grew louder, their intrigue evident.

"Wah~ so cute," cooed a woman as she stepped forward, extending her hand towards Pikachu. Reacting quickly, Pikachu scurried up, climbing to the safety of Ash's shoulder. Ash adjusted his cap, giving Pikachu a reassuring pat while trying to manage the crowd's growing fascination with his electric friend.

"Wait, did you all come from different worlds, too?" Brock questioned as he raised a brow at the group.

A solemn nod from one of the refugees confirmed their collective plight. "One world, yes. Due to a plague, we chose to seek shelter here."

"A plague?" Ash repeated, his eyebrows knitting together as he sought more information.

Misty's eyes widened as she connected the dots. "Wait a second, you mean the kind of plague where humans turn into monsters?" She recalled the dire descriptions she'd heard from Toru about his world, which had also suffered under such a terrifying condition.

The refugee nodded gravely. "Yes, that sort of plague. It's unfortunate, but we'll rest here until an ideal world shows up where we can migrate."

Intrigued by the concept, Brock leaned in. "Is it possible to travel to other worlds from here?"

"Yes, it is possible," confirmed another refugee,

"Hm." Brock hummed thoughtfuly, serious, and then his expression suddenly changed, and with an outburst, he celebrated. "LUCKY! My chances of finding a soul mate just increased! How—"

"Read the room, you idiot. Can't you think of anything else?" Misty's irritation was immediate, and she quickly reined in his enthusiasm by tugging sharply on his ear. Her tone was sharp, a clear reminder of the gravity of their situation amidst Brock's lighthearted daydreams.

Along with Brock's pained moans, Kazuhiro and the others returned from the aisles, drawing eyes to them and seeing that they had brought supplies and items.

Kazuhiro went and stationed himself behind the counter, prepared for the transaction. His focus was undeterred by the rising chatter among the refugees. His attention was focused on the exchange.

A man noticed their arrival as he approached them. His expression soured as he witnessed the items. "You know we've sent you guys to bring the necessities." his displeasure was evident as he confiscated a board game from their grasp. "This," He emphasized as he waved the board game dismissively. His fingers tightening around the edges, "We don't need this."

One of the teens tried to counter, "Come on, old man. It's just to entertain ourselves. We don't know when he'll come." 

"He's right, Inou-san, time does differ—" another ventured, only to be cut off as Inou's scowl deepened.

"Don't talk back to me," Inou snapped, his voice firm and commanding. "We're returning this. We don't want to waste any more money on things that aren't essential." He grumbled as he snatched a few unnecessary items from them. He gestured towards the aisles with a sweep of his arm. "If you want to have fun, explore the place; it's big enough to keep you busy." With that, he deposited the board game and a few other non-essential items on an unattended counter, indicating for them to be returned.

The teens' protests died down as Inoue's authority imposed silence. "That's enough, anymore and we won't pay for your travels," he declared, his finality sending a ripple of resignation through the group.

As the man returned to the group and sat with his back against the wall. A fellow refugee, a man of similar age to Inou, chimed in beside him with a softer tone, "Don't you think you went overboard there?"

"They should know better than to waste on unnecessary things," Inou responded curtly,

Having observed the exchange, a middle-aged woman in their group added her voice to the conversation. "They are still young, you know? What you said was not appropriate, Inou-san," she admonished gently, hoping to temper his harsh approach with a reminder of compassion.

Inou remained firm on his actions. "It's precisely because they are young that they need to learn discipline," he argued, his voice stern but not without concern. We're not here on a holiday. Every SC counts, and frivolous expenses won't help us sustain ourselves long-term."

"We can always get more to trade with. Our world is by far gone at this point, and we can use anything to replace it with credits."

"And put our lives at risk just to gather things from that world? I thought you'd know better, Toshio." Inoue leaned his head back against the wall as his eyes watched the ongoing transactions.

Each scan culminated in a resonant beep as Kazuhiro efficiently handled the transactions. He swiveled the screen towards the customers, revealing the amount due. "Your total comes to 820 SC," he announced, his voice steady and professional.

The teenager, visibly drained and not in the mood for small talk, mechanically swiped a card belonging to one of the elders. The machine emitted a confirming beep, signaling the successful completion of the transaction.

"All set, you can go," Kazuhiro declared, nodding to indicate everything was in order. The group gathered the purchased items, distributing them among the other members who needed them,

Kazuhiro watched as another approached, this time a familiar face as they slammed both hands on the counter and looked up, with imaginary stars around them. "Sir! One ticket to a women only world, please!" Brock voiced.

"My guy," From a distance, the glasses-wearing teen couldn't resist chiming in. throwing a supportive thumbs up to Brock's cultured intuition.

Misty's frustration was palpable as a visible tick mark appeared on her temple. She was on the verge of scolding Brock for his antics when Kazuhiro calmly intervened.

"Although, the travel is managed by our workers and with the visitor's world permissions. I myself don't know which world is that." He then pointed towards a sleek, digital kiosk in the corner of the room. "You might want to browse the available worlds using that terminal over there," he suggested. "If you need assistance, one of those in here can help you navigate the options as they were familiar with the device beforehand." 

(AN: Changed the appearance to kiosk rather than just a 'screen')

The trio looked at the machine indicated and approached with a hint of curiosity shimmering in their eyes. As they neared, a voice suddenly chimed in from behind, causing them to jump slightly.

"Need some help?" A lively girl appeared, leaning over their shoulders with a mischievous grin that momentarily caught them off guard.

Regaining their composure, Ash responded with a hesitant, "S—sure."

"Cool, I'll help you out, if you let me pet your cute companion there," she proposed, eyeing Pikachu with evident delight.

Ash turned towards Pikachu, who vigorously shook his head, clearly not in favor of the idea.

"I don't think Pikachu would want that," Ash said apologetically.

She sighed but quickly recovered her enthusiasm. "Well, I tried." Either way, she began to explain how to navigate the machine, guiding them through the process of accessing information about various worlds. The list that unfolded before them was both astonishing and overwhelming.

"Do such worlds even exist?" Misty murmured, her hand hovered over her mouth in disbelief.

"No wonder they knew a bit about Pokémon," Ash remarked, his eyes wide as he scrolled through the entries, pausing at world number 9, which detailed their own world. It felt surreal to see their home described in an interdimensional catalog.

"Yeah, what do you think, Brock?" Misty turned around to solicit Brock's opinion, only to find that he had wandered off the moment their backs were turned. "Brock?" She called out again.

.

.

Brock squatted down to eye level with the teen. With a perfectly straight face, he asked earnestly, "What are these elves? Are they cute?"

The teen, equally serious, adjusted his glasses, the reflection hiding his eyes as he replied, "You'd be surprised." He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially, "I've got materials. You can choose between safe for work or... the opposite."

"Hm, what's the difference?" Brock inquired, genuinely intrigued by the teen's cryptic offer.

Before the conversation could progress any further, Misty and Ume intervened. With a swift motion, they each grabbed one of the boys by the ear, pulling them up to their feet.

"That's enough, Brock," Misty scolded, her tone firm but tinged with exasperation.

"Horny bastard," Ume muttered under her breath, her grip tightening just enough to make her point clear.

The sudden beep at the entrance of the Market silenced the group, drawing their attention to a rather unexpected sight. The scene was so abruptly surreal that even Brock and the teen paused mid-tug, their complaints about being dragged away forgotten.

One of the refugees couldn't help but mutter in bewilderment, "Penguins?"

"Just Smile and wave boys, smile and wave..."

.

.

.

.