"Uhhh, a bunch of the guys were telling me that there was a store that wouldn't sell to them and the owner was giving them a lot of lip. So they wanted to rough up the owner a bit, and I stepped in before anything happened. Turns out she only sells to people who know - and I mean know their drink."

He shrugs lets out an exasperated sigh.

"Most of the guys will drink about anything alcoholic so long as it's strong and there's a lot of it. Very quantity over quality, and she hates that." He holds up the sake box. "You noticed how her store isn't as big as the others? Just the way she likes it. She knows every spirit in her store and how it'll be before it's good, so if she says this is good as a gift - I believe her, no questions asked."

He hopes she does like him more than just a paying customer. Alcohol has, and always will be, his only vice and non-violent catharsis in this place and back home. Having a good source is a godsend.

"But enough about Fumiko-san. Let's mosey over to that bookstore and loosen that old tengu's beak."