In Adachi District, outside the fresh market in Kita-Senju, the smell of fish filled the air. It offended the noses of those who disliked it.
Few girls could tolerate the smell of a marketplace.
But Hojo Shouko was accustomed to the various smells wafting through the air: the fishy scent, vegetables, meat, and the odor of sweat emanating from the summer crowd.
It might seem odd at first, but once accustomed to it, the smell ceased to provoke unpleasant feelings; instead, the marketplace felt lively.
The cleanliness of the market was passable at the start, but as more people arrived, the roads and storefronts began to look a bit dirty and disordered.
In such an environment, Hojo Shouko stood out remarkably, her skin pale as scallions, wearing a green dress that exuded a youthful vibe.
Her chest had developed more fully than some adults' had.
And that small mouth of hers, so clever when it came to haggling, left a deep impression on the market vendors.
