Marvel: The Foundation

The following days turned into a sort of ritual for the three friends. They would meet up at the vending machine after work or class, each putting in a 100-yen coin, eager to see what bizarre or wonderful item would drop into the tray. The randomness was almost intoxicating—each day was a new surprise, a new oddity to explore.

One day, Yuki got a packet of candy that seemed normal at first. They were small, jelly-like candies, bright and colorful. But when she bit into one, it fizzed and popped in her mouth, making her giggle at the sensation. The flavor was indescribable, shifting between sweet and tart, with hints of citrus and berry.

The next day, Hiro received a bright red scarf, the fabric softer than anything he had ever touched before. Mika got an elegant little hand mirror, the frame made of an iridescent material that seemed to shift colors with each angle. Every item was unique, and many of them seemed valuable—too valuable for a simple 100-yen vending machine.

It wasn't always just trinkets or snacks. Once, Yuki received a shiny blue fruit, one she had never seen before. The skin felt almost waxy, and when she sliced into it back home, it revealed a vibrant green pulp inside. The taste was incredibly sweet, but also tangy, like a mix between a pineapple and a grape. Yuki couldn't help but marvel at how otherworldly it felt.

On another evening, Hiro got something truly unexpected—a small electronic device that resembled an old handheld game console. The screen lit up with a pixelated scene of a cute character jumping over obstacles, and Hiro's eyes lit up with excitement as he pressed the buttons, controlling the character. He laughed, showing it to Yuki and Mika. "I feel like a kid again! This is amazing."

The randomness continued—Mika ended up with a beautiful silk dress that fit her perfectly, while Yuki received a high-quality makeup palette that looked like it belonged in a department store. Hiro, despite the soy sauce-flavored ice cream experience, got a bright yellow fruit juice that glowed faintly, its flavor so delightful that he insisted it was the best drink he'd ever had.

As the weeks passed, Yuki couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease amidst the excitement. The vending machine's offerings were far too unpredictable, too valuable, and sometimes too strange to be just some odd novelty. Yet the allure of the machine kept drawing her back. It was almost as if it had a personality—an unknowable mind that enjoyed toying with them, offering gifts both wondrous and bizarre.

One evening, they gathered as usual. Yuki placed her coin into the slot and pressed the button. The machine hummed, then dispensed something with a thunk. She reached in, her hand coming into contact with something cold and metallic.

When she pulled it out, her eyes widened—it was a set of car keys. They dangled from her fingers, heavy and real, with a small key fob attached. The fob bore a symbol she had never seen before—a stylized bird with wings spread wide.

"What the…" Yuki whispered, staring at the keys.

Mika and Hiro crowded around her, their eyes wide. "Are those… car keys?" Hiro asked incredulously.

Yuki nodded, her heart pounding. She glanced around the alley, almost expecting to see a car parked nearby, but there was nothing. The machine stood there, as innocuous as ever, its quiet hum filling the silence.

"Do you think there's a car somewhere?" Mika asked, her eyes shining with curiosity. "Maybe it's nearby. Should we look for it?"

Yuki hesitated. Something about the keys felt different. They were heavy in her hand, the symbol on the fob strange and unfamiliar. She couldn't shake the feeling that the vending machine was playing a deeper game—one they didn't fully understand.

"Maybe we should leave it for now," Yuki said, her voice soft. "This is getting a bit… much. I mean, it's fun, but car keys? What if we're getting involved in something we shouldn't be?"

Mika frowned, but nodded. Hiro shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, it is getting kind of weird. But we could make some serious money off this stuff if we wanted to. I mean, who knows what else we could get out of it?"

Yuki glanced back at the vending machine, the glow of its buttons reflecting in her eyes. She had to admit—there was a thrill in it all. The mystery, the wonder, the unpredictability. But it was also unsettling, a reminder that they were playing with something beyond their understanding.

As they walked away, Yuki couldn't help but glance back at the machine, wondering what it was, who—or what—had placed it there, and why it chose her, Mika, and Hiro to be its recipients.

She still wasn't sure if she should stop.

Yet, while Yuki grew unsure of what to think, Hiro only got more excited. He was certain they had stumbled onto some kind of tressure, and he was determined to make it his own.

He didn't even care about who was filling it up, all he cared about was getting all the good stuff. So the day after, he went there early, brining with him a few bags and a large amount of 100 yen coins, ready to empty the machine for everything valuable before someone else got it first.

Hiro approached the vending machine with a determined gleam in his eyes. The alley was still and empty, the faint glow of the vending machine casting long shadows on the walls. He carried two bags slung over his shoulder, each filled with coins. His heart thudded with anticipation—he was ready to capitalize on this strange treasure trove.

He dropped the first coin into the slot, the familiar whirring sound filling the air, followed by a metallic clunk as the machine dispensed an item. Hiro reached in, pulling out a small packet of seaweed-flavored crackers. He barely spared it a glance, tossing it into one of the bags and quickly inserting another coin.

The machine dispensed a soft plush toy, a tiny fox with oversized eyes and a stitched-on smile. Hiro tossed it aside as well, his focus unwavering. He kept feeding coins into the machine, intent on finding something more valuable.

With each coin, a new item appeared—some mundane, like candy bars and colorful drinks, but others were more unusual. A pair of leather gloves, soft and perfectly fitted, a notebook with thick parchment pages bound in what looked like real leather, a silk tie adorned with intricate embroidery. Hiro stuffed each item into his bags, muttering under his breath, "Come on, come on... give me something good."

After what felt like an eternity, Hiro placed yet another coin into the slot, and the machine emitted a louder click, followed by a heavier thunk. He bent down, his eyes widening as he retrieved the object. It was a small, ornate box, the surface polished to a shine with delicate carvings decorating its exterior.

Hiro's heart skipped a beat. He examined the box, noting the intricate craftsmanship. It had weight to it—this wasn't some cheap trinket. Carefully, he pried it open. Inside, there was a shimmering necklace—delicate silver chain with a single, brilliant blue gemstone that caught the light in a way that seemed almost ethereal.

He grinned, his heart pounding. This was it—something truly valuable. He turned the necklace over in his hands, feeling the smooth, cold surface of the gemstone. It was unlike anything he'd seen before, the craftsmanship flawless. He could sell this for a fortune—maybe even enough to change his life.

He stuffed the box into his bag, practically shaking with excitement. He wasn't done yet. He continued to feed coins into the machine, his bags slowly filling with a mix of valuable items and strange, seemingly mundane objects.

Hours passed, and Hiro found himself sitting on the ground, surrounded by an eclectic pile of items—a collection that ranged from priceless to bizarre. There were old coins with symbols he couldn't recognize, a crystal that seemed to glow faintly when he held it, and even a sealed glass jar containing what looked like some kind of exotic spice.

Hiro felt a rush of exhilaration mixed with exhaustion. He had emptied nearly all of his coins, and the machine still stood there, as enigmatic as ever, its dull hum almost mocking him.

He had expected it to hold maybe a few dozen items at most, depending on the size, yet here he was, more then a hundred coins later, with piles of stuff so large there was no way they should have fit inside the machine.

He wanted to continue, but he already had more stuff then he could carry, and he was all out of 100 yen coins, haven't expected that he would need that many.

Hw wasn't stupid, he knew something strange was going on here. Yet he also knew that he had no doubt made a huge profit with the things he had gotten out. Two small bags filled with random tech, some new, some old, though still new, brand out of the box.

"Now… how do I sell this stuff?" He couldn't help but question as he realized he hadn't thought that far ahead.