NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Cream Buns
(Saiki steps into the supermarket, wanting a quick dessert. His goal? The cream-filled buns he's been craving all day. The store is busy, but Saiki effortlessly navigates through the crowd, avoiding people's thoughts and small talk.)
Saiki (thinking): I'll grab the buns and be out of here in less than three minutes. This day won't be completely ruined.
(He heads to the bakery section, scanning the shelves, and finds exactly what he's looking for: a pack of cream-filled buns. Grabbing them quickly, he heads to the checkout.)
Saiki (thinking): Perfect. No distractions. No unnecessary struggles. This is going smoother than expected.
(At the checkout, the cashier rings up his items.)
Cashier (smiling): "Oh, these buns are popular! Enjoy!"
(Saiki gives a silent nod, grabs the bag, and teleports home to avoid any more human interaction.)
(At home, Saiki finally sits down at the table, ready to enjoy his well-deserved snack. He opens the package of buns, expecting to see the familiar, delicious cream-filled goodness inside.)
Saiki (thinking): Time to finally relax. This should hit the spot.
(He pulls one of the buns apart and pauses. There's no filling. Confused, he grabs another bun, only to find it's also hollow.)
Saiki (thinking): What? No cream?
(He inspects the package more closely, squinting at the small print. There it is: *"DIY Filling Required."* There's even an instruction booklet inside the package, detailing how to make your own filling.)
Saiki (thinking): You've got to be kidding me.
(Annoyed, he reads the instructions, which explain the process of making the cream from scratch and how to fill the buns yourself.)
Saiki (thinking): This wasn't part of the plan. Who buys a filled bun expecting to *make* the filling?
(He throws the booklet down and stares at the empty bun. All his anticipation for an easy, delicious snack has turned into frustration.)
Saiki (thinking): I just wanted a quick snack, not an afternoon baking project.
(He throws the entire pack away, but his hunger gets the better of him. He sighs deeply, knowing he's stuck with this extra task.)
Saiki (thinking): Good grief.
(He reluctantly gets up to start making the filling, silently cursing the supermarket for turning a simple craving into a frustrating ordeal.)