Sights and Smells Your Own Shrinkray Adventure chapter 5 by zikade

Knowing that the night was still young, you didn’t want to make any snap decisions before seeing all that Tokyo had to offer. Passing by the entrance to the red-light district, you walk past an electronics store, whose display featured all sorts of gadgets and gizmos. You smile to yourself, knowing that none of them could hold a candle to the shrink ray in your pocket. Various noises and smells greet you as you enter a new neighborhood.

Choice 4: The Metal Musicians

Thumping bass lines cause you to turn your head, and you see a grungy, dimly-lit building with a handwritten sign standing in the street. Girl Band Heavy Metal Night, it said, and the loud music seeping out from within told you that this was a live house. A trio of women stood outside the entrance, two of them with large instrument bags on their backs, and the third had a pair of drumsticks tucked into the belt of her cargo pants. From their camouflage jackets, chunky boots, and multicolored hair, there was no question that these girls were from one of the aforementioned girl bands, probably waiting for their turn to perform. They certainly looked the part with their spiky jewelry; hell, one girl even had dreadlocks. One of the girls drank from a can of beer, while the drummer puffed on a cigarette, the glow illuminating her dark lipstick and eyeliner before she dropped it onto the street and stomped it out under her boot. You wonder how they’d react to meeting the world’s smallest fan.

Choice 5: The Maid Cafe

The smell of greasy, fried food tickled your nose, and you turned to see a maid cafe, a gaudy neon sign illuminating the entrance. A woman dressed in a French maid outfit stood in the street, handing out fliers to passersby, most of whom looked about as interested to see her as they would to see their own in-laws. When she made eye contact with you, she smiled and handed you a flier. “Please come visit us!” she said in a sugary-sweet voice. As you reached out to accept the flimsy sheet of paper, you got a good look at her. The heavy makeup on her face couldn’t hide the lines around her mouth that told you that she was on the wrong side of thirty; however, she was still quite cute, with long, wavy hair reaching past her shoulders. You smile and nod at her as you walk past. Perhaps a tiny customer would brighten up her shift, unless you wanted to shrink yourself in the cafe and sneak into an unassuming woman’s meal.

Choice 6: The Anime Expo

Past the maid cafe, you can see a broad plaza in front of a large convention building. People dressed up as various anime and manga characters mingled around the area, and you could see everything from women dressed in simple school outfits to elaborate magical girl costumes. The interior of the convention hall was brightly lit, and even from the street, you can see rows of tables set up, piled high with merchandise. A mousy-looking woman with thick glasses and unkempt hair sat at a table, signing books for people who seemed rather excited to meet her. From being taken home with some girl’s merch to becoming a mangaka’s tiny assistant, there could be a cornucopia of choices to be had here.