The "ring" of the Taco Bell bell had never sounded so much like a funeral toll.
Dave didn't even yell. He just pointed at the door with a shaking hand. In his other hand, he held two small, grease-stained envelopes.
"The insurance won't cover the lobby speakers," Dave whispered, his voice cracking. "And I have to explain to Corporate why there is a 'structural indentation' in the drywall in the shape of a Burrito Supreme. Get out. Don't come back. Don't even 'Live Mas' in my parking lot."
Rebecca and Carrie trudged out into the cool night air, their hair smelling like a mix of deep-fryer oil and broken dreams. Rebecca opened her envelope.
"After the deductions for 'property damage' and the 'unauthorized projectile' fee..." Rebecca’s shoulders slumped. "We have forty credits."
"Forty?!" Carrie wailed, her boots scuffing the pavement. "Becca, that’s not a Sinon! That’s not even a Rimuru keychain! That’s just... that’s just a six-pack of tacos and a bus pass!"
The Walk of Shame
They walked past Hobby-Horizon. The lights were dimmed, but the security spotlights still illuminated the Grails. The Sun Goddess Sinon looked down at them with what Carrie swore was pity. The Demon Lord Rimuru seemed to ripple one last time before the display lights timed out for the night.
"We failed, Rimuru," Rebecca whispered, her forehead touching the cold glass. "The tech was too expensive. The tacos were too tempting."
"And I'm still hungry," Carrie groaned, her stomach letting out a roar that rivaled her sonic blasts.
They reached their apartment, the silence of the hallway mocking their empty hands. Rebecca unlocked the door and they collapsed onto the sofa in a heap of polyester and defeat.
The Small Victory
"Well," Rebecca said, staring at the ceiling. "At least we still have the apartment. And we don't have to wear those visors anymore. My forehead was starting to break out."
"Wait," Carrie said, sitting up suddenly. She reached into the deep pocket of her hoodie. "I forgot. Before Dave kicked us out, I saw these in the 'Damaged/Discarded' bin near the register. He said they were 'unsalvageable' because the packaging was crushed during your... uh... burrito-defense maneuver."
She pulled out two small items.
One was a tiny, chibi-style Sinon keychain, her sniper rifle slightly bent. The other was a small, translucent Rimuru phone charm, with a tiny air bubble trapped inside the blue plastic.
Rebecca’s eyes widened. She took the tiny Rimuru, holding it up to the light. "It’s... it’s not the 1/4 scale statue."
"No," Carrie smiled, clipping the bent Sinon to her hero-belt. "But it fits in our pockets. And it didn't cost us the rent."
The Ending Note
Rebecca looked at the tiny slime, then at her roommate. Despite the grease, the firing, and the lack of a giant statue, she felt a strange sense of peace.
"Carrie?"
"Yeah, Becca?"
"I’m still not buying you Taco Bell for at least a month."
"Fair," Carrie laughed, leaning her head on Rebecca's shoulder. "But we still have forty credits. Want to order a pizza and watch the Slime OVA?"
"Only if I get to choose the toppings," Rebecca said, finally cracking a smile. "And no 'Tactical Pepperoni' jokes."
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