Paradise of Infinity

Chapter 3: The Souma Family (1)



Genta's post was in a Koban a few minutes away from the Shopping District. Koban, as Nik was explained, happened to be a small authoritative unit under the force called 'Police.' Nik was well-aware of the concept. Bribe-taking corrupt law enforcers that followed the will of the rich.

Only...

Not so much.

Nik was quite surprised by the welcome he received. He even knew one of the older officers present in the station going by the name of Shinto who was in the hospital yesterday with his partner. Genta went further ahead to teach Nik some basic customs of the nation to Nik. This station was merely two-storied with small empty space behind bars that should be reserved for law-breaking citizens or tourists. For a station employed with 10 officers, this was a small space and Nik sat down with an idle expression in the front space while Genta returned to the first floor to complete his unattended work.

Nik silently looked out, unaware of what to do. Well, he knew what to do. But as in the general purpose of it. What he didn't still understand was how he should live? His... extraterrestrial job demanded skills that Nik might have provided well if he was a girl but male escorts are always a rare sight. Nik believed that to be true even in this new world, the world he would be staying in from now on. The officer manning the first counter would glance at Nik every now and then.

Strangely, Nik's empty expression gazing out at the constantly moving pedestrians who would turn their heads in his direction attracted the young officer. It was silent and calm. The residential areas with quite a lot of patrolling had lower crime rates but they still existed.

"I'm coming in!"

A loud and bold voice broke the calm and an equally foreign and head-turning figure walked into the station. A tall and burly dark-skinned youth. Skin darker than Nik's and almost like a surface of chocolate candy. Trimmed head and his body covered in some sort of black uniform with white buttons. A bag slung on him from his shoulder to his waist and his large brown eyes looking at Nik curiously before turning to the officer and performing a salute: "No crimes to report, officer!"

"Yes, yes," the officer sighed and patted his forehead, "Rick, how many times do I need to tell you to just focus on studying? I cannot have you getting into trouble every now and then."

"Taking care of some pipsqueaks acting as delinquents is no trouble," Rick grinned and patted the back of his head.

"Anyway, who is he?" Rick walked over and looked at Nik and up and down.

"He's a foreigner. And amnesiac. So, stop being bothersome. We have real work here!"

Rick looked around and seeing the sheer emptiness, suspiciously glanced at the officer and smiled, "Yes. You're so busy!" He smiled before turning and looking at Nik, his words changing from what he had been hearing till now.

"Do you speak English?" He inquired and the officer called out unhappily, "It's Hindi. Only Genta-Senpai can communicate with him properly."

"Oh? That I don't know," Rick shrugged and walked away while waving his hand as he spoke loudly, "I'll come by tomorrow to report once again!"

"Don't!" The officer grunted in response.

"Sorry for him—" The officer looked at Nik only to see him already having his gaze following the pedestrians and sometimes interested and blushing young girls. Sighing softly, the officer took out his cellphone and lowered his head.

Nik grew more and more enamored by the same sight. The sun began to set and lights flickered open. A sight he was well familiar with but this world's applications were different. It was already a surety that even if he learns the language of this world, he wouldn't know a lot of things happening in this world.

"Come on, what are you looking so glum about?" A familiar voice broke Nik from his daze and he looked up to find a smiling Genta, "I made some calls. My cousin used to live with his college roommate around here. Although their space is small and possibly dirty... you can stay there for a few days."

"Can we go now?" Nik inquired with a hopeful expression. Dirty or not, at least, he needed a place to stay temporarily.

"Sure, let's go,"

They both left the station as Nik kept the path he took in mind. It was slowly turning dark and Genta walked calmly.

"There was a dark man in the station a few hours back. Does he live here, too?" Nik inquired curiously as Genta hummed.

"You mean Rick, huh. Pleasant fellow but becomes overexcited at times," Genta smiled, "He doesn't live nearby. But he has the habit of running around to the nearest Kobans and keep reporting crimes. He only has a part-time job. In fact, you both might be competitors. He is a worker in the Bookstore in the plaza near us."

Nik pursed his lips.

As they turned around the paved corner, Nik marveled at the residential build based on blocking systems marked with cemented walls carved with straight and uniform patterns that although confusing looked pleasant. Telephone poles were erected at corners and sometimes these telephone poles also accommodated trash bags where a stray cat or two attracted Nik's attention.

"Did you keep pets?" Genta inquired suddenly.

"I don't remember," Nik blinked before looking back at the particular white-furred and brown-spotted cat silently lying on the edge of the wall, "But the idea of pets... sounds pleasing."

"Oh? Why? I can tell you that many kids nowadays have these... stupid rallies. Freedom of animals. Preventing animal cruelty... tch, made the price of meat soar, I tell you."

Nik looked at Genta before shrugging, "I don't remember reasons for liking pets. Maybe I have one and I don't even know about it."

"Then I pray you to recall everything quickly," Genta smiled, "For your pet."

"I guess," Nik mumbled and sighed when Genta and Nik were attracted by a beautiful figure appearing from the opposite corner. Genta's expression changed slightly and he whispered, "Don't look at her. Just keep walking..."

Nik did what Genta said. Until now, the man has only proved himself trustable and caring enough. No reason to not listen to his advice now.

Although Nik wanted to gaze at the beautiful woman a little longer, he turned his gaze silently and walked past her.

'Hmm?'

The woman held a small shopping bag in her hand and she finally glanced back. Instead of walking her way, she turned around and observed both Genta and Nik from behind before her eyes grew dazzled.

Her steps grew quicker as she skipped and called out, "Ara, Genta-san, it's been a long time. How is your cousin? I heard that Kaya has opened a cute little bakery."

Genta's steps paused and he mumbled, "She'd be fine away from you..." before plastering a smile over his face and turning around, "Souma-san, it's all been well. How are you?"

"Ah, they're doing great. I cannot ask for anything else," She glanced at Nik for a moment before smiling at him.

'I bet you can,' Genta groaned inwardly. This would be a hard escape. And even if he is guaranteed to leave, Nik next to him... might not.

"I see, it is great. Anyway, I'm on duty right now, and Souma-san must be eager to prepare for dinner as well."

Nik glanced at the two. Genta was... certainly caring but not worthy of description. A man. But the woman. She took Nik's breath away because he was simply trained like this for maximum 'satisfaction.'

The woman's fair face was framed with raven locks and a pair of honey-gold eyes, the first Nik was even seeing in his life. Supported by the bridge of her nose was a pair of red-rimmed glasses and a small beauty mark near the lower corner of her plump lips. Body as ravishing and curvaceous as Yuuko Amano Nik met this morning. This woman wore a pair of white trousers that stuck close to her legs with a pair of black sandals displaying her feet. Her body, meanwhile, was covered by a white buttoned sweater with the top two extremely large buttons opened and revealing a wide-necked brown-colored top.

"Oh, you know how delivery services are these days. I might just try something foreign today," she tilted her head and looked at Nik once again. "Hello, my family name is Souma and my mother named me Mitsuko. How are you?"

Seeing the distinct lack of reply despite the extremely responsive expression on the youth's face, Mitsuko couldn't help but look curious.

"Um, Souma-san. He doesn't speak English. And he's currently going through..." Genta sighed and gave a simple explanation while refraining from divulging as much information as possible.

The more she heard, the greater the desire in Mitsuko's eyes grew. Even with a communication barrier, Nik understood the intent behind Mitsuko's gaze and pursed his lips. Words were often not needed when conveying lust and desire and truly, a good pump with such a beautiful and willing woman sounded great. But Nik was only settling in and wanted to focus on the task at hand before anything else. He even needed to fully understand his limits because this was a new body and the previous surgeries would no longer be present. He simply cannot easily stick it in with his extensive sex education.

"So... you are looking for a place for... Nik's stay and are going to make him spend an entire night in a dirty apartment? And without anyone to look after the poor boy?"

It took great willpower from Genta's side to not roll his eyes. His smile turned a bit strained and both of them looked like individuals fighting over custody of someone else but being extremely civilized about it.

"He will not be alone—"

"Please, Genta-san, I know that place. Yes, the landlady is quite caring but this is a small community. And she is still sad about her recent loss. The world truly takes away the best. But, sending Nik there isn't right, too. How about I let him stay at my place? My husband is out for another company trip and we have quite a bit of space, too. And, we aren't that far from your post. If there's any problem, I will call you right away."

Genta glanced at Nik. In the end, this was a good offer nonetheless and he decided to translate everything in simpler terms and explain everything to Nik.

In the end, he couldn't help but add in a whisper, "There are some things inappropriate to discuss. So make the decision carefully... it's nothing too bad... but, well, it's about how others will think of you."

"Ara, Genta-san, I cannot understand Hindi but I can translate it with my smartphone. You aren't badmouthing me, right?" Mitsuko smiled kindly and chuckled.

"Haha, I wouldn't dare. Who would badmouth you, Souma-san?" Genta waved his hand in a hurry.

"Can you cook?" Nik glanced at Genta and inquired.

"Well, I live alone so that is a necessary skill set. But, I'm on a nightshift and..." Genta sighed and listed his duties.

"Can we... meet again later? If I have any doubts?" Nik inquired curiously and Genta gave a wide smile while patting his back.

"Now, don't be so melodramatic. I might have exaggerated it a bit. Anyway, you remember the way to Koban, right? If you remember anything, you find me. In a few days, I will check-up on your condition and don't be late for your job."

Genta was the first person he could communicate with. Being melodramatic was an understatement of what Nik felt.

"Um, Souma-san, I found him a place to work so he can understand his surroundings more. I can't be with him all the time, after all. Do you know about Amano Bookstores?"

"The one by the Shopping District?" Mitsuko inquired.

Genta nodded and explained about the job and Mitsuko agreed in helping Nik reach the store more conveniently.

With a final sigh, Genta added, "Always remember... protection is the key..."

With that he left, leaving Nik alone with Mitsuko.

Mitsuko and Nik glanced at each other. Silently, she shuffled through her belongings and took out the box of curiosity that everyone seemed interested in within pedestrians. Mobile phones, or smartphones, Genta called them, Nik remembered.

With a hum, Mitsuko tapped the screen with her thumb until a mechanical voice echoed from the device itself.

"One of my daughters studies language. I hope she knows a little about Hindi," said the device, and Nik glanced at Mitsuko and nodded calmly. He was more interested in hot food rather than communicating with someone else.

With a wide smile, she turned around and led Nik silently while there seemed to be an enticing sway in her waist that kept on pulling Nik's attention. This kind of walk... he actually knew it. Got him the best tips. Every time.

His lips twitched and he scratched his cheek awkwardly.

'Should I tell her to pump her waist a little in her strut? I only found this after a year or two but it's a game-changer...' Nik thought silently. With discipline routed in him, Nik followed the strut for a while to see if he still had it in this new body.

The result?

It was up and beyond!

The flexibility was simply unreal!

But he didn't keep at it. He stopped at the first weird stare he received from one of the older ladies walking past Mitsuko.

Speaking of the woman, she didn't try too hard. In fact, her entire charm lied in how natural she was at everything. Even enticing strut. The road grew a bit confusing due to uniformity which made Nik focus on remembering the road and paths taken. Soon, before the sun completely set, Mitsuko stood in front of a large residence. Every residence seemed unnecessarily large to Nik but he realized that this was simply the difference in origin. Even in his world, there were too many cultures that he was unaware of, much less a new world.

It was a green rooftop residence with two stories and unlike Yuuko Amano's residence that could be entered through a storefront, Mitsuko's home seemed to have a proper fence and entrance that led to a stones footpath with a large unattended paved space with the marks of tires but no vehicle present. To the left extended a small front yard that took a turn and would act like a backyard from the side of the house.

"This is my home. Do you like it?"

The mechanical voice spoke for Mitsuko once again and Nik glanced at her hand holding the smartphone. Pointing at the smartphone, he couldn't help but point at himself and Mitsuko seemed to have understood as she tapped at it a few times once again before keeping the thumb pressed and she extended her arm towards Nik.

Glancing at the smartphone, Nik gave Mitsuko a confused stare before she pointed at her lips with a smile and then pointed back at Nik.

Realization flickered in Nik and brought his face closer to the device, still doubtful of its efficiency but still speaking up. His words weren't understood at first but the words of the smartphone made it quite clear.

"It's a beautiful house. Once again, thank you for helping me."

Mitsuko turned around and opened the door before speaking loudly.

"I'm back!"

Saying that, she kept the shopping back on the raised floor leading to the narrow hall with three doors on either side already visible while she took off her sandals. Nik followed her movements, now already knowing that boots, shoes, and the likes need to be removed before entering one's residence. Honestly, he felt that this custom would prove useless in a more dusty areas or unkempt regions, but he liked it anyway.

Nik took his shoes off and seeing that Mitsuko placed her sandals on a shelf next to the entrance, he looked at it for a moment before placing his shoes next to it.

"Mom~ What's for dinner!"

A young voice filled the hallway and Nik looked towards the source, finding another set of honey-gold eyes peeking out from one of the rooms' entrances. The owner of these eyes seemed startled at the presence of a stranger as Mitsuko giggled softly.

"We'll be enjoying foreign dinner tonight~!"


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