The time reads 1:30 in the afternoon, Central Time.

  Chouko and Shortcake sit quietly in the car, parked in front of a... building. One that is situated off the side of the freeway, within the state of Tenessee. A busy, rustling, and bustling place.

  This is a "truck stop", an establishment for long drivers to stop and get food. Throughout the country, truck stops are and have been crucial to traveling motorists. At its core, they refuel the trucks and provide maintenance as necessary, hence "a stop for the truck." Furthermore, these places are also made to tune up and serve people, filling people's stomachs and giving them refreshments to make them fit for driving.

  Many called truck stops quaint and homely, with the best truck stops establishing a traditional feeling. However, in the dawn of the Artificial Revolution, the android-focused and cybernetic-centered economy demanded high delivery and traffic, with trucks becoming vital. Truck stops faced a problem of overcrowding, leading to a massive growth to meet demand. Over the years, these truck stops constructed more building space to accommodate more trucks, more elevators to lift more trucks into that building space, and more security to protect more trucks.

  Now, at the current moment, Chouko and Shortcake are looking at an utter monstrosity. A ten-foot-tall metallic jumble of metal and concrete. This building is illuminated with an eyesore of a light display. Neon color lines and laces the building infrastructure, with several driver androids and security androids stationed throughout the station. It's horrifyingly claustrophobic.

  The one saving grace is that the diner on the first floor is still... relatively okay. Only a few dozen people are inside the diner itself, compared to the seemingly hundreds being loaded into the building.

  This is mostly because the truck stop provides "food delivery" to the rest of the population choosing to stay in their vehicles, with androids systematically bringing food back up to the occupants. Every waiter and waitress android is dressed in a uniform of red polo shirts and beige khakis. The male ones have suave haircuts, and the female ones have their hair tied into ponytails.

  The delivery to her car is a service that Chouko has decided not to use. She is still very, very distraught about leaving behind evidence at the motel. Everything is burning right before her eyes, and she is listlessly in thought.

  "Is... uhm, is your shoulder alright...?" Shortcake quietly whispers, trying to break the uncomfortably awkward silence between them. Her hand gently holds her wrist, and she stares at Chouko in concern.

  "It's fine so far..." Chouko answers in full honesty. She has endured the bullet so far. Even though it is lodged right in her shoulder, Chouko just has a stiff shoulder. In the absence of a medical professional, it is best to keep the bullet inside.

  ... maybe it does not matter, though.

  It does not mean that she's safe or in the clear. A bullet in the shoulder is still a bullet in the body. A careless mistake is still a mistake all the same.

  Time and time again, Chouko faces a dreary and dead

  Shortcake frowns, seeing the emotion on Chouko's face. "Well, it's fine so far, you said! That... that's a good thing!"

  "... if you say so," Chouko responds. A deep sigh escapes her lips, and she holds a hand over her stomach. Her face visibly grimaces as she stares at this truck stop. "Shortcake, I fondly remember this one quote. I would like to run it by you."

  "Sure... what's the quote?" Shortcake asks.

  Chouko clears her throat. "It approximately goes like this, translated: 'Whatever happens to you has been waiting to happen since the beginning of time. The twining strands of fate wove both of them together: your own existence and the things that happen to you.'"

  Shortcake blinks a couple of times. "... that is profound."

  "Yes. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 10.5," Chouko explains, sighing and holding a hand to her shoulder. "I suppose that ideology is the one saving grace I still have. If I am meant to live, then I shall live. That is all."

  "Well... uhm... l... like the strands of fate," Shortcake immediately responds, worry on her face. "A... And I'll be with you when we go in... to, uhm, to help make sure whatever happens remains good and all, okay?"

  "..." Chouko sighs in defeat, feeling utterly dismayed about her current predicament. "I appreciate the thought. However, let it be known that I... I feel as if this will be my last meal for a while."

  "It... it won't be..." Shortcake mumbles. "I... I can just... I'll keep you safe... and—"

  "Shortcake, Shortcake..." Chouko interrupts, taking a moment to hold a hand to her face. She takes a calm, calm breath. Easing her nerves with a sigh. "... is it true that you derive taste from me eating food?"

  "Huh? Oh... uhm, yes," Shortcake responds. "B-But—"

  "Let's see if they have cake," Chouko tells Shortcake, opening the door and getting out of the car. "See if we can get you something sweet. Okay?"

  "..." Shortcake nods slowly. "O... okay..."

  With that, the two of them walk into the stop's diner.

  Apart from Chouko being very hungry, the only reason why Chouko and Shortcake are even entertaining this rest stop is because of how safeguarded it is. To reiterate, this is a heavily guarded rest stop with the security to protect hundreds. The androids are equipped with the weapons necessary to keep the place peaceful.

  Any attempts to kill Chouko in this crowded environment will be met with mass uproar, and the offending killer will be viciously shot. At least, in theory, but... it is a good deterrent. Only the mercenaries who are 100% confident in taking her out—or, too dumb and careless to even think about what to do about the security—will even try killing her. Android protection filters out the middlemen from attempting.

  The moment Chouko leaves the truck stop, that filter goes away, and it's free game. Open season. So it's best to make her way in and enjoy the protection for as long as she can. Chouko walks through the door with Shortcake and embraces the inside of the diner.

  One step in and it's a breath of fresh air, oddly enough. It is not obvious when looking from the outside, but the truck stop shares the sense of tradition it has carried for decades. It has a spacious interior with checkerboard floors and oakwood walls, plenty of chairs, and tables designed to keep things the same.

  There are only two things that take away from this seemingly perfect diner.

  The first is that the traditional look is only on the surface. After years of the Artificial Revolution finding its way into the diner, the establishment is lined with televisions and subtle neon lights that clash with the aesthetic. It feels eerily dissonant to see cyan lights lining the brown wooden walls, with "customized" color lightbulbs of all sorts hanging over every table.

  The second is that the line is outstandingly long. Chouko counts about a dozen people ahead of her before she can even receive any food, and the number is thrice as many before the end of the line. It appears to be a long line, with a mix of android and human cooks working themselves to the bone. The price of sustenance is about thirty minutes of patience.

  "... hmm," Chouko mumbles as she adjusts her sunglasses. "This certainly will be a while..."

  "Tell me about it..." Shortcake remarks, reaching out to hold Chouko's hand. "There's so many people..."

  Chouko holds Shortcake's hand as they stand, the two of them subject to the queue. They can only wait for the line to proceed, standing in place as the line flows and goes along.

  Waiting.

  Simply just waiting.

  "F... Father, is the line supposed to be this long?"

  Shortcake's eyes widen as she clenches Chouko's hand, looking to her side. Taking a moment to...

  ... see the faint silhouette of an old man holding her hand.

  Shortcake's hand feels the warm, gentle grasp of the man's hand. For a brief moment, she experiences confusion. Instead of Chouko, it is an old man. An old man with an X over his face, one that is still crossed out in some distorted visual.

  It does not take long before Shortcake identifies the old man as Chouko's... late father. The man that she saw a few hours ago; the man previously seen as a decayed corpse.

  It also doesn't take long for Shortcake to notice his other hand, holding a different child's hand. A child that Shortcake has also seen before. The android blinks at the red-eyed, black-haired child staring at the vast assortment of food and the long lines of eaters. The young child named Chouko, the one with a face Shortcake can see and identify.

  Shortcake's processors are handling this information as she stares at the visual, the hallucination. She's already identified these two as memories; these memories Chouko holds with a tight grip, playing right before the android's eyes as if they are truly there.

  For all Shortcake knows, Chouko is thinking about her father as they wait in line, reminding herself of how his hand feels. How... warm, how safe it is as they are surrounded by crowds.

  And his voice speaks...

  "... patience is a virtue, Chouko. Often, one must wait for the things they desire."

  "Yes, Father... I understand. I wish that the line would be a little bit quicker, though..."

  "Well..."

  Shortcake continues to listen before her eyes blink and flicker a few times. Involuntarily, the android refreshes her visual sensors and is brought out of this hallucination. Chouko's father is gone, and Chouko takes her place.

  Looking at Chouko, Shortcake can feel how melancholy she is. Shortcake has been feeling how sad and pensive Chouko has been, sharing in this negative emotion the best her artificial emotions can. Everything is weighing heavily on Chouko, especially with the memory of her father, and... and...

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  ... Shortcake takes a moment to squeeze Chouko's hand, to cling to it closely with a look of worry. She feels compelled to do so, to hold Chouko's hand and try to comfort her the best she can.

  "... hm?" Chouko asks, looking at Shortcake after a few seconds of a delayed reaction. "Yes...? What is it?"

  "N... Nothing," Shortcake responds, reaching over to hold her hand with both of hers. The silicone material sandwiches and squishes lightly against Chouko's hand, as Shortcake gives a cheerful smile to Chouko, "The... the food they serve here. All of it looks very good from here."

  Chouko blinks at Shortcake a couple of times. "... I agree. It is sufficient enough."

  "Yeah..." Shortcake noises. "I... I just wish that the line would be a little quicker, so we can get "

  ...

  Shortcake has unknowingly just quoted Charles Ashford.

  Chouko stares at Shortcake for a few moments, eyes squinted. Those words immediately catch her attention, making her feel... something. Something different from her passive despair.

  Once again, old memories arise, and Chouko begins to speak...

  "... patience... is a vir—"

  "Heeeeey~! Mind if I cut in front of you two?"

  Chouko is immediately interrupted. Chouko's eyes suddenly widen as she looks over her shoulder at this voice, staring at the woman asking to cut.

  She is a slightly gigantic, fair-skinned woman standing about one head taller than Chouko, her blue eyes gazing happily at the two. This woman has brown hair about the length of just her shoulders. Dressed in overly casual wear, this woman wears a white t-shirt with black shoulders and sleeves, gray jeans over white sneakers, and black sunglasses over her forehead.

  To their knowledge, this is an energetically grinning stranger coming out of nowhere and approaching them from the side of the line.

  "... I would mind," Chouko remarks, rolling her eyes. "It is not proper etiquette to—"

  "Aww, pretty please?" the woman interrupts and asks, hands on her hips as she leans forward with a grin. She stares eye to eye with Chouko with an earnest, pleading smile. "I ain't gonna be long or anything. My pops and I just got here and we're mighty hungry. Getting a plate for me and him."

  "Well, I don't really think we can let you—" Shortcake begins to respond, about to decline this woman's request to cut. It is best to politely say no and tell her she should wait like everyone else.

  However, Shortcake immediately stops once she feels her hand being gripped, looking at Chouko. As if Chouko disagrees.

  Chouko stares at this woman in silence, her head feeling the echoes of that word:

  Pops.

  ...

  Chouko then reluctantly sighs. "Fine. You are cutting behind me, at most," Chouko tells the woman. "My friend and I have also just arrived. So, go consult someone else ahead if you want any further than that."

  "Nah, behind ya's perfect," the woman remarks, warmly smiling and giving a thumbs up. "Thank ya kindly!"

  "You are welcome..." Chouko remarks, looking back forward. Looking away from this woman and staring back ahead.

  "Uhm... yeah, not a problem..." Shortcake calls out after, keeping a pink eye on this woman.

  For the next few minutes, the line continues to move. Chouko is still holding Shortcake's hand as she stares forward, keeping her attention on the front of the line itself. She is a little wary of this woman, but she's cautious about everyone. Everyone around her is a possible threat, in one way or another. So she just keeps her cool and keeps this unease to herself as the line moves. Best not to draw attention to herself.

  Just... keep calm. Blend in as you always have...

  ...

  ... okay.

  Chouko thinks long and hard about it. What has her panicked is that she is recorded. Her presence, her bloodied presence is on camera back at that motel.

  The main source of concern is the unknown. It's what gives her strength, really... being unknown. When one does not know Chouko's face, one does not feel fear or caution. The fact that she was previously unknown and unseen gave her an edge. Now that people know of her, however... now that people are on the hunt for her, her pursuers are unknown and she is at a severe disadvantage. She doesn't know when or where they will strike, just that they will.

  This line exemplifies this feeling, this metaphor. There is a line of people for the food, for the promise of reward for patience. Chouko has spent years being the patient mercenary, she knows how they work. They bide their time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and capitalize. It's all a matter of when.

  Chouko is a part of that line... or, she was. She's out of the line, lost without her messenger to guide her. That thought appears again, that all these years have been wasted because of one single slip-up. Now she's lost, simply grabbing a plate and having meat being served to her. Sausages and bacon...

  Tch. The next course of action if she wants to survive past this meal is—

  "Hey, hey hey hey! What are you, vegan?"

  Chouko blinks. She looks back at the line cutter with a raised eyebrow. "... what?"

  "Askin' if you're vegan!" the woman repeats, glaring at Chouko. One hand holding a plate, the other on her hip. "Yes or no?"

  "Wh... n... no," Chouko answers, visibly confused. "Why does—"

  "Well, if you ain't, then don't just skimp on the meat here!" the woman remarks, hand on the counter as she stares at the guy behind the counter. "Give her some more, dude, get this plate stacked!"

  Uh.

  After that remark, Chouko watches as the person behind the counter adds more sausages and bacon strips to the plates. A plentiful amount of meat occupies the left side of the plate.

  Something about this feels... off.

  "How about you?" the brown-haired woman asks, looking at Shortcake. "Vegan?"

  "O... Oh, uhm, no, I just... don't like meat all that well..." Shortcake answers.

  "Ah, alright! Haha. Okay, I see, I see!" the woman remarks, before nudging Shortcake's plate along and staring at the meat guy. "Well, then, you know the drill, meat me up!"

  ... Chouko just stares and watches this woman get a surplus amount of meat for both plates. Plenty of bacon and sausages, as well as the other meats they serve here. "I... suppose you know your way around these kinds of places?"

  "Oh, yeah!" the woman answers, mouth slightly salivating at the piles upon piles of meat being given to her. "I frequent these kinda joints. You get your money's worth from the meat than anything else. Gotta make the most of it, y'know, before it's a bunch of random crappy fast food burger places."

  "Ah. I see."

  Hm.

  This woman counts as the unknown.

  Chouko ponders on the... danger... of this woman, from all angles.

  On one hand, this could simply be good intentions. It isn't rare for someone of her type to act boastful, to act prideful, and to act informative. All of which, in ways as if she knows everything about truck stop diners. On the other hand, it is possible that—by overwhelming her with these... plates—there's an ulterior motive of confusing Chouko enough to pay for more food, possibly hers out of entitlement. "I helped you get all that food, so maybe I should get mine paid for too!" she'll probably say.

  But... hypothetically, what if offering her this much food is a far more malicious ploy; a deceptive trick connected to the Underworld?

  What if the food, specifically the bacon and sausages, is dangerous? What if the food service here has people prepared to give her tainted food? It's a common ploy for food to be poisoned with chemical substances lacing the food. If not lethal, it possibly could induce drowsiness and render her unconscious. The fact that she's being offered more meat is a red flag. A cautionary sign that the meat may be risky.

  Something to keep in mind...

  Chouko begins to carry her plate along, Shortcake following behind her. The next options seem to be a little limited, where there's an assortment of things classified as not meat. And unlike the meat, the vegetables do not look appetizing. The salad seems dreary, the bread seems crusty, and the fries are burnt. Overall—

  "Mmmh! Aight. Mashed potatoes and corn, now!" exclaims the brown-haired woman. "Let's get you loaded up!"

  "Huh?" Chouko noises, looking back at this woman. "Wait, why—?"

  "C'mon, first the meat, now this? Okay, listen up, real talk," the woman begins to lecture, hand on the counter and patting it actively as Chouko's plate is being filled. "Mashed potatoes and corn are the best things 'bout these places, plus the mac and cheese. Gotta get yourself all wet and creamy, y'know?"

  "All—" Chouko squints her eyes in disbelief at that wording. Wet and creamy. For a moment, her calm face breaks and she feels an ounce of disgust and repulsion. "W... What?"

  "C'mon, wet, cheesy, mac-y, whatever this food here's described as," the woman remarks, tapping the edge of the plate with her finger. "Bottom line is, we're getting you lots! C'mon, more for the plate!"

  ... hm. Unintentionally vulgar.

  But... smart. Chouko watches as more food is involuntarily put on her plate, and immediately notices a contrast between what is on her plate and the rest of the menu. As this woman suggested... it's vibrant, it's juicy, it's... edible. The mashed potatoes seem fluffy, the corn is fresh and bright, and the mac and cheese is delectably "cheesy".

  It appears this diner has a "secret menu", in the sense that it separates the good food from the rest. If Chouko, theoretically, orders a salad, then the salad will be far fresher than what is being presented to her.

  If this woman falls in line with the prideful "know a lot about truck stop diners" category, this is quite the evidence for it. Obviously, the second category of "getting a free meal" has a lot of weight too. The fresh salad is reserved for those who know of the menu, for those who are willing to... pay more for this menu.

  The chance that it's the third category of food poisoning, though, becomes more of a hazard. The meat is publicly available, while this stuff is being provided. They can lace it with substances far more easily...

  ... hm. Chouko especially watches as this woman fills Shortcake's plate up, making up for the lack of meat by requesting the rest of the plate be filled with pure yellow and white. Then, she does the same for specifically one plate of hers while skipping it for a different plate.

  There's a lot that can be said. There's too much to consider. Chouko simply must be careful.

  ... finally, there's a part of the counter dedicated to drinks. Behind the counter, there are several glass cups and trays, as well as a drink dispenser. Water, various brands of soda, some fruit juice and such. A coffee pot is also present, but the pot seems empty. Maybe it's isolated to special order.

  Chouko assumes this is the reason why the line is being held up. One person handles the drinks for the line of people. It takes time to fill the cups at once. The line is slow because of this person, because of this part of the food line.

  "... going to say anything about the drinks, next?" Chouko asks, looking at the woman.

  The woman shakes her head. "Nah, nah, that one ain't my choice. I ain't too much of a drinker."

  In other words, the woman doesn't care about the drinks, the drinks are negligible for her, or she's already carried out her plan by filling their plates with this food.

  "Hm." Chouko nods and just looks forward to the server. "... two glasses of cold water, please. No ice."

  "Hmm, hmmm... hmm! I'll have iced water and some cold cola!" the tall woman requests.

  The person behind the counter nods and goes to get the drinks.

  "Cold cola?" Shortcake asks, looking at the woman with a raised eyebrow.

  "Ah, yeah, I'm a soda drinker," the tall woman remarks. "I know it's bad for me, but I can't get enough of it, y'know? Tastes so freakin' good to sip that stuff."

  "Y... Yes, just... is cola not usually cold?" Shortcake follows up, tilting her head.

  "Cold Cola is the brand," Chouko answers.

  "... huh?" Shortcake asks.

  Chouko lets out an idle sigh as she waits for the drinks. "It's the name of the soda brand, a recent one that became popular once the other brands went bankrupt. When one asks for a 'Cold Cola', it is for that one drink coming out of the red dispenser there."

  "Oh! That explains it!" the woman exclaims. "I just like to specify it, to make sure they give me the cold stuff! So it's, like, actually called Cold Cola?"

  "Yes," Chouko answers. "If you were to say any other types of cola, you'd be asking for those alternative sodas they serve."

  "M... Makes sense..." Shortcake mumbles lightly.

  "Dang... you sure know your stuff 'bout cola, then! Haha!" remarks the woman.

  Chouko... just nods and moves along once she and Shortcake are given two trays to support the plates of food they have. Glasses of pure water are promptly given to the two, as they move on.

  Chouko looks closely at the water, noting how pure and clean it is. By requesting the cups to be iceless, Chouko finds it easier to examine the water for any discolorations. With none in sight, Chouko just sighs idly as they end up at the cash register.

  Staring at the person behind it, Chouko gives a calm look and prepares to pay for the food. However, they seem to be waiting for... the woman. The one that's been talking with them this whole time.

  It appears the cashier is under the impression that this woman is with them. Chouko will need to inform the cashier that she's ready to pay for...

  "..."

  ... hmm.

  "... ah, sorry!" the woman calls out as she walks over. "I'm not with them, could you split the bill? I got my own—"

  Chouko clears her throat to interrupt. "Actually... you are with us. I'll cover the entire thing. All four plates on my coin," she tells the woman as she takes her phone out.

  This prompts the brown-haired woman to gasp, staring at Chouko in shock. "Oh! Wait, you sure? I don't mind paying."

  "It's quite alright. Consider it thanks for, well, showing us the ropes..." Chouko responds as her phone is scanned. The cost isn't that much for her...

  "Well, how nice of you, thank ya! I appreciate it a lot!" the tall woman energetically exclaims, grinning widely.

  "No worries. Do you mind if I join you?" Chouko asks, smiling at this woman. "You're responsible for our food, I would enjoy eating with you... ah, sorry, I never asked for your name. You are?"

  "Oh! Right, haha, forgot to go about the names..." the woman responds, slightly bowing before picking up her two trays with one hand each. "I'm Yumi. Yumi Popovic. Call me just Yumi, though!"

  "Pleased to meet you. I'm Diane," Chouko promptly lies, pocketing the phone and picking up her plate. "Diane Smith."

  "A-And I'm, uh, Roxie... Roxie Jones," Shortcake answers as well, picking hers up in response. Her arms look shaky as she's holding the weight of the food, visibly antsy about the possibility of dropping all this food by accident.

  "Oooh. Well, nice to meet you two!"