Chapter 12: A New Normal

It's been almost a week since Amelia was transported to this world.

I left another note for Amelia's food.

"There we go. "

I placed the note on the table, along with the instant noodles.

"Sorry Amelia. I'm really broke right now. "

I clenched my fist.

Looking around,I saw that Amelia was still sleeping soundly.

"A heavy sleeper huh? "

She really does sleep like a log.

"Well. I guess it's time for me to go. "

I grabbed my bag and went outside.

"Another day cleaning the store... "

*sigh*

I really have to get used to the children soon...

*Yawn*

I stretched my arms upon waking up.

"Ah. He went to work already. "

Joshua was nowhere to be found.

I stood up amd went to the table.

"Instant Noodles? What's this? "

I read the note.

"So all I have to do is fill this cup with hot water... "

I poured hot water on the cup and covered it.

"Wait for three minutes before you eat it. " I read the instructions on Joshua's note.

I looked around Joshua's room.

There was nothing too eye catching.

There was a computer by the corner and a set of.... figurines?

I went closer and inspected the figurines.

"Ahh. This one is holding a sword. "

I took one of the figurines.

*Click*

"Eh? "

The figurine's arm fell.

"Oh no! " I shouted. "What should I do!? What should I do!?! "

I panicked.

I picked up the arm and tried to attach it back.

*Click*

"Ahh... It worked... "

I was relieved.

"Thank goodness... "

I returned the figurine back where I took it.

"Oh right. The noodles. "

I went back to the table and removed the cover.

I took a pair of 'chopsticks' and ate some of the noodles.

"It's not bad... "

I sipped some of the soup.

"Oooh. It's a little bit spicy. "

I finished the cup in no time.

"Now... What should I do? " I asked myself.

I'm all alone in here again. "

*sigh*

"I wonder what the others are doing back in Eden? "

I lied down the bed.

"Ahh... This reminds of the time I was locked in the house for a month. "

Thankfully, I won't have to deal with some uncontrollable power this time.

.

.

.

.

.

"This is so boring! "

I rolled around the bed.

"Hah... Why was I even transported to this world? "

"Wait. Joshua showed me something earlier right? "

Iris of Iron and Blood.

That's the title the people game me back in Eden.

A vicious beast in the battlefield. Tearing apart everything it comes with.

"And now I'm here, stuck in a room... "

I sighed.

"Maybe I'll just ask Joshua later. "

"Welcome! " I greeted the customer.

"Umm... Do you still have the Scavergers™ cup? The promotional one? " the customer asked

"Please wait for a bit. " I told him.

I checked for the cup in our supplies.

"It should be here somewhere... "

I searched for the cup.

It was a promotional item from last month. I'll be probably lucky to find one.

"There it is! "

A lone cup was sitting below the box.

I grabbed the cup and brought it to the counter.

"This is the only one left in stock sir. "

I showed the customer. "Oh! There it is! " he exclaimed.

"That will be $3.00 including the drink sir. " I told him.

"Here you go. "

The customer gave the his payment.

The customer was giddy upon exiting the store.

A woman approached the counter.

"Excuse me. Could I have a cup for the coffee? There's no more cups by the machine. " she told me.

"Here you go ma'am. "

I handed her a cup.

"Thanks. " The woman said.

"Now. To restock the cups. "

I went back to the storage room, taking a stacl of cups with me.

"Aren't you a bit too hands on today Joshua? " Michelle asked.

"Me? I don't think so. " I told her.

"It's true! This is the first time I saw you so active since you worked in here. " Michelle said.

"I see. Well then. I'll get back to work. " I told her.

I went back to manning the counter.

"Hmmm... This is really weird. The usual Joshua would be grumpy as heck. What did you do to Joshua? " Michelle asked jokingly.

"Is there really a big change? " I asked her. Michelle nodded.

"Hmmm..... Oh! I know! You're probably in love! " she shouted.

"In love? What the hell would that do? " I asked Michelle.

"People who are in love are usually livelier and more giddy than their usual attitude! " she exclaimed.

"Just think of her. Seeing her makes you smile. Being with her makes you happy. Even simply thinking of her lightens your mood! " Michelle told me.

"Smile huh? "

My mind suddenly thought of Amelia.

I shook my head.

"Aha! You probably thought of someone didn't you!? " Michelle grinned.

"Huh? Me? No! "

I denied it.

"Don't even try to deny it Joshua! I saw you smiling earlier! " Michelle teased.

"Well then what about you!? Aren't you always so happy and shit!? " I pointed at her.

"W-what!? Me!? No! I couldn't possibly- "

*ring ring*

Someone entered the store.

"Ah!? Why is he here!?? "

Michelle rushed to the man, pushing him out of the store.

"Huh? The hell is she doing? "

After a few minutes, Michelle went back to the counter.

"How did he even get here... " I heard her mutter.

"So who was that Michelle? " I asked her.

"What? Him? He's just a friend of mine! Yeah! A close friend! " Michelle replied.

"Really? " I asked. "Yes! Now wipe that smug grin off your face! " Michelle shouted.

After a while, my shift finally ended.

"Keep up the good work Joshua. " said the manager.

"Thank you. I'll be heading off now. "

I took a bow before leaving.

"Did I really do that well today? " I asked myself.

I bought some food from a fast food chain for Amelia.

"I wonder if she would like this? "

I bought her some chicken nuggets from MacRonalds.

I didn't have that much money left so this was all I could buy for her.

"Help! " I heared someone scream.

"What was that!? "

I went to the direction of the voice.

There was a crowd gathering in the distance.

Countless chatters can be heard.

"Help me! Please help me! "

A woman was being taken as a hostage by a masked man.

"Nobody moves! I'll blow her brains out if anyone dares to call the cops! " The masked man shouted.

The crowd was silenced.

I was about to reach for my phone secretly when I saw someone walk towards the hostage taker.

"Unhand her. " said the man.

"Didn't you hear me!? I said nobody moves! " shouted the hostage taker.

The man slowly approached the hostage taker.

"You little! Move a step closer, and I'll blow her brains out! "

The masked man pressed the gun towarda the woman's head.

"No! I don't want to die! "

The hostage was struggling to get out.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. "

The man glared at the hostage taker.

He walked towards the masked man.

"Get away! I'll fucking kill you! "

The hostage taker pointed the gun towards the man.

The man was unfazed.

He kept walking towards the hostage taker.

"Why you! "

*Bang!*

The hostage taker fired a shot upwards.

"Ahhhhh! " I heared a woman scream.

"Oh God! "

"Ahhhhh! "

The crowd was thrown into panic.

The man continued his approach.

The hostage taker seems to be scared of the man.

"Stop! I'll shoot! " The hostage taker said.

"Unhand her. " The man said calmly.

The hostage taker's hand was shaking.

*Bang!*

A shot was fired towards the man.

*Pssssh*

Smoke came out of the bullet.

"It's still hot. " said the man.

"What the... "

I was surprised.

The man managed to catch the bullet with his fingers.

"Whoaaa... "

"That's so cool! "

"How did he do that!? "

The crowd was also amazed by the feat.

The hostage taker was distracted.

*Bam!*

The man unleashed a quick punch to the hostage taker's face.

"Guh! "

The masked man was knocked out.

*Blam! *

He fell to the ground.

"Ahhhh! Thank you for saving me! "

The woman ran and embraced the man.

"No problem. " the man said.

After a few minutes, the police arrived at the scene.

The man left before the police could apprehend the hostage taker.

"Who was that man? " I wondered.

He was so cool! Catching a bullet and all!

"Wait. Shit. "

It was getting late.

I rushed towards my house.

"I'm back. "

I said upon entering the room.

"Welcome back. " Amelia greeted.

She was sitting down on the bed.

"Here's dinner. "

I placed the bag on the table.

"Thank you. " Amelia said.

"I'll go get changed for a bit. " I told her.

Joshua brought some chicken nuggets for dinner.

"Let's eat! " he said.

I took a bite.

"It's good. " I muttered.

"Just leave the trash on the table. I'll throw it later. " he told me.

"No. It's fine. I can do it myself. " I told him.

"Ah. Is it alright with you? " he asked.

"Yes. " I replied.

"I see. Thanks. "

"No problem. "

I finished eating.

I then threw the garbage on the bin outside.

"Joshua. Can I ask you something? "

I walked into Joshua preparing his sleeping mat.

"Hmm? What is it? " he asked.

"N-no. Nevermind. "

"Are you sure? "

"Yes. "

"Alright then. "

Joshua lied on down on his mat.

"Ahhh... Finally... Rest... "

Joshua stretched his arms.

"It's probably right that I didn't ask him. "

I went to the bed and lied down.

"Maybe some other day... "