The Shibuya, Oddties that is Japan! and the encounter.(continue'd)
“So, what is it that you wanted to purchase?” Ken asked to his companion who was busy looking around the busy street of Shibuya. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and it had been pleasure coming out to the Shibuya, with Wallace when he was much more awake. A bunch of people walked right by two boys, most of them secretly turning heads to steel a look at the blond and the bishonen.
"Well I wanted to get some books, but you got most of them for me" His eyes focused on the signs around him, though he could understand the language almost fluently...reading was another issue. "I guess we should get some pencils and stuff, I'm sure you might need some too right?
Ken scratched his head. “You sure it’ll suffice? It’s true I could use some stationary since the new semester’s coming up, but if it was just for pencil… coming out all the way seems a little bit of waste.” He blushed as a waves of KO-gal passed by them, a good lot of them shouting “Yoo-hoo” or “Oh wow, it’s a foreigner~” or plain giggling. The street was packed and a good number of smokers were visible, just good ol’ plain sight of Shibuya.
"You're right, sorry Ken. Is there anything you need? I just need some paper, binders and stationary. I can't read the signs so I'm really lost here." Wallace was feeling really uncomfortable; it was hard to keep track of the conversation with Ken while people around them talked about them...he was good at speaking Japanese but not good enough to handle all the noise around him.
“Oh no, You don’t need to feel sorry. I do enjoy coming out to Shibuya, and I think it’ll be a good experience for you to be here too so…” Ken reached and grabbed Wallace’s elbow. “It might be a little easier to keep track of each other this way.” He smiled, looking at Wallace. Receiving a tissue from a person handing them out, Ken thanked him lightly and turned to Wallace. “So where should we go?”
Wallace looked around, "Let’s try that store there" It had the look of the corner stores back home, but of course in Japan who could be sure...for all he knew he was heading into a porn store...which might lead to an awkward moment between himself and his roommate.
Ken grinned. “I guess we could start with the candies.” Looking at the plain sign of the store, Ken smiled. “And afterwards I’ll guide you into a big mall. So we won’t get lost in this largest shopping district in Tokyo.” Ken winked, pulling Wallace to the direction he’s pointed out.
A sparkle lit Wallace's eyes "A big mall? That’s something I haven't seen...reminds me of home and candy!?" The day kept getting better by the second.
Ken nodded, his face too brightening up at his companion’s cheery face. “It’ll be a lot easier moving around, not to mention easier to find where things are located. In the meantime, if you find anything strange don’t hesitate to ask.” A girl passed by as they’ve entered the shop, licking a penis shaped candy. Ken blinked. Oh… I totally forgot about that.
Wallace's face turned white as a ghost,
"Wh-wh-WHAT IS THAT!" Pointing to the candy in the passer Byers hands, completely disregarding any rules of etiquette.
As the girl shot the boy weird look and walked way, still enjoying the candy, Ken started to explain. “Every first Sunday of April, we have this festival called Kanamara Matsuri. In a nutshell, it’s celebration of felicity. You’ll see a lot of people eating genital shaped candies.” Ken shook his head. “Perhaps not the best first encounter with our Matsuri (festival) s, but it’s a great fun. If you’d like we could stop by at the Kawasaki Shrine, and experience the full thing.” He paused and looked at Wallace’s white face. “Or maybe not.” He sweat-dropped. “Is there no such tradition in your country?”
“We have April fools...we play tricks on people. I can't believe how open this culture can be" Wallace glanced at another passerbyer carrying the familiar phallic candy.
"Is that strawberry? I mean- this is weird!"
“Strawberry?” It was now Ken’s turn to blink. “You mean the fruit?”
"Uh..y- no-er I mean the flavo- nevermind!" The blondes head crashed into his palm.
"If you want you can get one yourself." Ken blinked, and continued walking in. "Or if that's uncomfortable, how about this one?" He grabbed a boob shaped candy.
He backed away. "Your too excited about this. Can we just go already" Wallace turned his beat red face.
"I'm…excited?" Ken blinked and wondered what he did wrong. He walked to match Wallace's pace. "Um... Wallace san, I think there's a bit of misunderstanding." He attempted conversation. "There are more normal candies, like pocky here." He grabbed a box and handed it to Wallace.
"...everything looks phallic to me, my outlook on candy is ruined...." He whined.
Ken scratched his head. “I’m really not sure how it is like in America, but things shaped like sex-organs are really common here.” He smiled awkwardly. “It’s strange, because I heard Americans are more open about sex?” He put the pocky down and walked out of the store, bowing apologetically to the shop clerk. "If you'd like some other sweet, we could visit a cake shop on the way back." Ken flashed a smile.
"Cakes pretty good! I can go for cake...lets make it a square cake so it doesn't look like anything" He laughed.
‘I guess the rumour wasn’t true.’ Noting how flustered Wallace looked, Ken led the way to the mall. He kept a mental note to keep Wallace away from boob shaped scarves or anything of the sort, since he looked ‘highly uncomfortable’. Sure, on subject on sex in itself he could imagine himself being flustered as well, but seeing another act so… vividly in just mare merchandise has made Ken smile. ‘Or maybe I should buy him a scarf as a souviniour.’ He shook his head vigorously shaking away the evil thought in his head. 'Naah. That's not what Nippon should be remembered for.’
Wallace gave a quick glare at Ken who was smiling to himself.
"What is it?"
"Oh nothing..." Ken shook his head, his grin expanding. "This way, otherwise you might get picked up by Ko-gals." Ken laughed.
"Well hurry!" Wallace pushed on Ken's back, rushing him.
“Hai hai.” Ken laughed and guided Wallace to the huge skyscraper. “Let’s go.” He pulled Wallace in. “I heard from an online friend of mine, that in Canada malls are built more horizontal than vertical. Is it like that in America too?”
"ya, ya it is....I'm getting hit with culture shock bad right now, I hope you know that" Wallace nervously laughed.
Ken ran his hand through his hair. “Trust me. This isn’t all that’s there to Japan. You’ll see loads of interesting things.” He pointed out a shop nearby. “See that’s a pyjamas shop.” On the display they had a huge adult sized bunny suit along a normal one.
.
Wallace laughed, "Well that’s funny I must admit."
The soccer player looked at him questioningly. “It’s funny? Well… Some people really do like animal suit, though I admit that I myself isn’t one.”
"If I saw you in a bunny suit, I'd never let you live it down...speaking of which, maybe we should try it on" He grinned.
"Only if I get to engrave you in the bunny suit in my cell phone." Ken grinned too, matching the devilishness. "Then I'll e-mail it to everyone. Deal?"
"fine, fine... if you wanna be mean about it. What else is there around here?"
"Hey, it's only fair. I did state I don't like it myself." Grinning, he pointed at a neat blue sign. "There's the stationary shop. Let's get the necessity shopping done first, so we can leisurely walk around after." He guided Wallace towards the stationary section. The lady at the counter greeted them with a smile, and a friendly "Irashaimase."
He nodded, and followed Ken's knowledgeable lead.
“What kind of notebook and binder are you looking for?” Moving to the rack where the piles of colourful notebooks were stacked, Ken turned his head to Wallace.
“I like hard covers, preferably green and brown..." He began to sort through the folders.