Ren turned to the shopkeeper.
"How much is the food they took worth?"
The shopkeeper blinked. Confused. "What?"
"The food. Rice, bread, canned goods, instant ramen. All of it. How much?"
"I—I don't know exactly—" The old man's confusion was genuine. "Maybe ¥5,000? But why does it—"
Ren pulled out his wallet.
Leather. Worn. A gift from Kaito three years ago for his middle school graduation. He opened it. Counted quickly.
¥3,000.
Supposed to last two weeks. Rent money. Food money. Emergency money.
Not enough.
He looked at Shiinchiro.
Shiin stared back. Understanding flickered. Then certainty.
"I've got..." Shiinchiro pulled out his own wallet. Checked. "¥2,500."
They looked at each other.
Together: ¥5,500.
Just barely enough.
Ren held the money out to the shopkeeper. "We'll pay for it."
**Silence crashed down.**
Takuya: "...What?"
Shopkeeper: "You're—you're paying? For *them*?"
"Yeah."
