Escape from Sunshine City

*Based on True Events*

“Irasshaimase…Hai Kudasai…”

The eerie and repetitive greeting of the Japanese store clerks reached Berri’s ears, she nervously shifting from foot to foot as Swede looked over the wall diagram. “Have any ideas…?” She peeked over Swede’s shoulder in an attempt to decipher the map.

Swede shrugged and glanced back. “No clue…we’re completely lost.”

“Lovely…” Berri stared out the useless glass exit and mentally shot herself in the face. After all, it WAS her idea to come there. Sunshine City was a multi-leveled mall, renowned for its numerous floors and countless stores. Though Berri hated shopping, she had never been to Ikebukuro or the infamous “Sunshine City” and decided a trip with S.S., Lip Ring, and Swede would be a worthwhile adventure.

Well I got my worthwhile… The beginning of the trip had been safe enough. The group had arrived at the mock 34th street (which had nothing on Ikebukuro) and descended down a set of three escalators into Sunshine City. Though Berri was openly skeptical of shopping districts and spending money, she found herself entranced by the Japanese pastries and food stores galore. She had ignored the first hum of “Irasshaimase” because at the time she didn’t quite realize what it would mean for the group.

The third wave of Irasshaimase led the girls to a nail salon where they charged 1575en (about $15) for acrylic nails. Berri almost ran into a seat right then and there until she saw the fine print. Mainly the 1575en per nail. It added up to a sum so implausible Berri laughed herself away from the shop clerk. She found it strange that her parting words were also “Irasshaimase”…

The girls wandered past a cat themed theme park and bear stuffing locations, all the while being bombarded by “irasshaimase” from every direction, whether they were entering a store or just simply walking past. Upon the 40th case of the “mase’s” Berri knew something was up. She understood she was in a different country but the clerks weren’t bothering to address the people anymore, it was a saying by rote.

Clearly she had walked into the IraV1 Outbreak. And Sunshine City, being a self-contained City, would be a challenge to escape from.

Lip Ring pointed to their destination. “We’re trying to get here,” She pointed to the far side of the map. “We’ve tried this way and it’s a dead end so that leaves North, East, and West. Three more ways…”

“Why don’t we split up..?” suggested Berri weakly. It was a stupid idea, she was damn well aware of that. But college students traveling aboard weren’t supposed to stumble upon consumerist outbreaks and she refused to believe she had.

The group stared at her with narrowed eyes, each mentally communicating the obvious thought. She clearly wants to die first.

Swede broke the accusatory silence first. “How about we don’t do that and head to the exit. Ready?”

The other girls nodded with hesitation. S.S. exhaled and opened up the glass doors back into the hustle and bustle of Sunshine City. Irrashaimase immediately accosted their ears from all directions, the girls sprinting down the crowded hall of the taken consumers. Dodging past the Victorian dressed slaves to the City and the poor boyfriends dragged into shopping hell by their infected girlfriends, the group burst into the Japanese equivalent of Urban Outfitters.

Silence.

The girls came to a slow and treaded cautiously through the new area. Berri hesitated to continue further, she spotting a quirky outfit, just her type...she almost started to turn when she received a sharp nudge from Lip Ring.

“Don’t stop, you’ll get their attention.”

Too late.

“IrraSHAImaseeeeee….!!” Dragged out a shopping clerk immediately from nowhere.

Berri quickly turned in the opposite direction but the damage had been done. The clerk had noticed potentially prey and she would be damned if she didn’t get it. S.S. and Swede ran to an upward bound escalator and Berri started to follow. Lip Ring yanked her back and shouted up to the girls. “That’s the wrong way..!”

S.S. and Swede stared between each other as they rapidly gained distance away from safe haven. S.S. called down to Lip Ring. “How do we get back??”

“…I don’t know.” Responded Lip Ring ruefully.

S.S. and Swede shared one more look before disappearing out of Berri and Lip Ring’s viewpoint.

“Oh…shit.” Berri rolled her eyes and shook her head, aware again, that this was her fault. She and Lip Ring ran out of the store before the clerk could be a problem. Looking Lip Ring up and down, she arched a brow. “So…you know how to get out then?”

Lip Ring brushed her hair out of her face. “I have an idea…”

“We should just get out and wait for them and…” Berri trailed off.

“Rose flavored smoke break?” finished Lip Ring.

“Hai kudasai..!” The words left Berri’s mouth before she had time to stop the poisonous phrase. She slapped her hands over her mouth, knowing she couldn’t take back the damning response.

Lip Ring widened her eyes and took a step back. “You’re infected?!”

“I-”

“When? How?!”

Berri exhaled and begrudgingly extended her right hand. Opening her palm she revealed an aged bronze key styled necklace. She lowered her gaze to the floor. “…I didn’t want to, I didn’t, but I have a thing for key shaped ANYTHING. And it was only 310en…I didn’t know how to break it to the others.”

“Well…” Lip Ring widened her eyes before shrugging. “…I have a thing for key necklaces to, I understand that. But that’s no excuse..!” She moved to swat the item out of Berri’s hand.

Berri retracted the necklace from Lip Ring’s range. She grabbed the multiple trinkets attached to Lip Ring’s cell phone and pulled it from her pocket in an attempt to gain collateral. However, in the process, she also pulled out three plastic lip rings of various colors, each still in their package. The two friends shared a moment of stunned silence, the reality of the situation hitting Berri. She arched a brow. “It seems I’m not the only impulse spender-”

“My Phone…” Lip Ring crossed her arms and gave her the look, which was on par in wickedness in terms of the walk.

Berri tossed Lip Ring’s phone back to her and tapped her forehead in thought. “Okay…so it’s in OUR best interest to get the hell out of here as quickly as possible before we buy the mall.”

“True…but we should wait for Swede and S.S. or they’ll never escape…” commented Lip Ring.

“We don’t even know where they are-” It was just then Berri’s phone rang. The bubbly N.A.S.A song caught the attention of everyone formerly hypnotized by the shiny store lights, an invisible neon arrow now pointing to the compulsive spending duo. Berri immediately silenced her phone but couldn’t help unconsciously rolling her eyes at the trouble it caused. “Fuck me…”

*End Tale…seriously*

So if anything, this entry teaches us that being based on true events doesn’t make a story entirely true. Granted, this DID almost happen scene-for-scene and we did get lost in Sunshine City while trying to find the right way out. But it was a lot less undead vibe and probably a lot more hustle and bustle and irasshaimase which is a constant phrase said in varying tones by everyone in any place where you buy items.

It drove me insane enough where I decided to write a short story about it and even THEN, it feels pretty accurate. Because for foreigners, by the time you’re leaving the mall all you will know is Irasshaimase, Hai Kudasai, and a lightened wallet…

Until my next adventure,
~Berri