ㅤ ㅤAlthough unable to interact with anyone Reimi loved having people around. Being a sociable girl, always surrounded by friends at high school, it was natural for her to miss someone to talk to. Arnold was there, of course, but it was not the same thing. The guard dog saved her from a nervous breakdown, but he couldn't provide the same kind of entertainment — just as she knew he missed walking in the park and playing with other dogs. So, when they felt especially lonely, they engaged in their favorite activity: people watching.
ㅤ ㅤIt was really fortunate that the alley was surrounded by well-frequented stores. After so many years Reimi even knew the target audiences, the regular customers' faces, sometimes their names. Arisugawa Soba Shop for example, she always saw whole families going to eat there, especially on holidays. Kisara Drugstore had been visited by the same elderly people for years, usually at the beginning of the month, and she was always sad when one of them died. Owson Convenience Store was where groups of teenagers tried to buy alcohol illegally, it was fun to observe their stupid plans.
ㅤ ㅤBut that girl was not part of the landscape. A new face was always a world of possibilities, and one of Reimi's amusements was trying to guess things about them. Standing at the entrance to the alley, without her dog, she watched the other with interest. ❝ Arnold, check it out! It’s a new face, isn’t it? ❞ She didn't care about the loud tone, since no one there would be able to hear or see her — as usual. ❝ She looks lost. ❞ This time the comment was made for herself, pink eyes following the stranger's every move. ❝ Nice clothes, though. ❞ There was no reason to be afraid, but she rarely made disparaging comments about passers-by anyway.
