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You play along. It wouldn't hurt, you think, even with the metric shit-ton of black pepper and other burnt additions you can't quite identify.

Dramatically, you bow your head and accept the bowl with two hands like a starving orphan, "Sorry, sorry, thank you O' Generous One. I've been starving for so long I almost didn't recognize that it was food right in front of me."

Eiko rolls her eyes at you, but she smiles a little more genuinely. You take the chopsticks from the counter and dig into the noodles without hesitation. You've gotta sell it after all.

The first thing that enters your mouth is the bits of black on the top, that you now realize is black pepper, sliced tamarind, and what should have been a sunny-side egg. It tastes as bad as it looks, the smoldery texture from being pan-fried too long coating your mouth and throat, your eyes almost watering. You swallow it down like a champ. The noodles themselves are a bit soft and overcooked, yet feels relieving in comparison.

Outwardly, you overtly exaggerate, punctuating the slurps with "Mmm" sounds and the approving nod of your head. Eiko watches on. Not fully calling your bluff.

You do finish the bowl. You don't waste food no matter how bad it is. Although you have tried to teach Eiko how to cook, it never quite sticks. And she's expressed before how she'll just partner with someone that can... Good luck to that person on anniversaries.

Eiko takes the now empty bowl from you, a satisfied glint in her eye now that the exchange is complete. You're half convinced that what she wanted was to confine you to the bathroom for the rest of the day.



You cross your arms and lean on the counter, "So, are there any other surprise acts of generosity for the day?"

Eiko hums and gestures in the air vaguely, "Maaybe. Aren't you busy today?"

You squint at her. "I've got work, yeah."

"I thought so. I hope it's not a long shift."

You know her words for what it is. But you can beat around this bush too. "It might. You know how it is at the grocery store. Every mom needs the cereal that just so happened to be out of stock."

Eiko feigns polite interest, "Oh, really?"

"Yeah. They always talk real nice at first until you tell them you won't check the back. Then suddenly it's as if I stabbed their firstborn. Veins popping and everything. They practically fling me through the backdoor like a ragdoll."

"No way."

"Yes way. By the time they find my body at the end of the shift it's already been picked clean. Who knows. Maybe I'll have an exciting day today and the receipt paper will run out so I can refill it."

"Really? They let you do that all by yourself?"

"Yup, they stopped watching me about two days ago."

Eiko's eyebrows raise, "Oh wow. Should we throw a party?"

"Maybe we should. You can pay for it, since you're so generous, right?"

You both stare at each other. Neither one wanting to relent. Eventually, Eiko concedes, miming you now as she crosses her arms. She did learn from you.

"I need a favor."

You run a little victory lap in your head, tone coy, "You? Asking me for something? I don't think I heard you right."

Eiko stares, looks away, looks back, then doubles down, seeming embarassed, "I told some friends that I could get some weed. Happy?"

Ah, good old mildly illegal fun. Sucks when you're not 21 yet.

"And you think I just have some?"

"I know you're a dealer. I'm not stupid."

Well... she's not quite right. And she's not quite wrong either. You haven't told your family about your side hustle as a matter of, well, they would be against it immediately.. The friends that do know are either in the business or don't want to be involved at all.

You give a slow nod. "How much? And what kind?" You can just stop by the dispensary on your way back from work.

"Well.. I'd say around..." she gestures, her hands forming a vague oval-shape, "A pound. A pound of... blunts.

You stare, the imagery of Eiko bringing that lifetime supply to a group of soft-faced freshmen is vivid. You put a hand over your mouth to suppress a laugh, "You don--don't-- don't know how much you need. Do you?"

She flusters, "It--It's a big party. A lot of people!" You grab onto the counter for support as the laugh busts out.



You don't know how long you take to calm down. Eiko fizzles with embarrassment.

"Okay, okay, anything else, kid?"

Her mouth scrunches like she just ate a lemon, mind battling out whatever pieces of her pride she's willing to give away, "And alcohol. Enough for shots."

"Enough for shots?"

"Enough for shots." She repeats.

"What kind?"

"Of good alcohol."

You have a feeling if you laugh again that she'll pelt you with the nearest object... Has she always been this sheltered? You had your first drink as a kid, but maybe your parents learned better after that. "So... I take it you want to impress these people? Is this your first college party? Or what you read online on the first link?"

Eiko glares at you now then sighs and throws her hands up, "Yes! Fine! There's someone I like there and I want to impress her!"

You pause at the admission. Ohoho. Oh mann, have you finally achieved it? Are you going to become a sibling wingman?

"You don't need to send everyone into a coma to impress someone, y'know. Take it from someone that isn't single."

Eiko huffs, "Like I care about everyone else. The party's tonight and I have a plan, okay, I was going to show up with ##%%# and #***++* about 15-20 minutes late. We would've pre-gamed, obviously, but I would still be sober enough to recognize my surroundings. I'd scope out the main areas then wait for a break in the music to announce that I brought the good stuff. Everyone reacts. I take out the bag from my bag and ##%%# will take the alcohol out from his- since he has a mini freezer in his. I'm assuming they would already have the shot glasses there, but I'd have some extra just in case--" she pauses when she sees that she's starting to lose you.

"OKAY, wise guy, what else could I do?"

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