The Future Will Change

At a crafts shop in the Vanhoover Shopping District…

Keiji was busy buying materials for his personal and professional projects. Yarn, needles, hooks, and his own sewing machine so he could practice more even when he was away from class.

“Let’s see…ah. Yup. This is exactly what I need,” Keiji muttered to himself. The quiet nature of the craft shop resulted in his voice coming out a bit louder than expected since the carpet beneath his shoes absorbed most of the sound as he glanced through each shelf.

Moments later, an elderly woman would call out to him from nearby. Since Keiji was a routine customer at this store for the last few months, she instantly recognized him.

“Ah, Mr. Ketsuki, dear. How are you today?” the short woman wearing a modest yellow sundress called out to him with a pair of glasses on her face. Her eyes were seemingly shut but she could see through them despite how they appeared to others. She pushed her four-legged, two-wheeled walker along the floor until she finally reached the vampboy. “...looking for more materials to make dolls? Oh no…that’s a sewing machine! Ah, you’re looking to make quilts and blankets?”

Keiji’s face lit up with a smile upon seeing her. “Oh. Hello Mrs. Motif. How are you today? Did you take your medicine? I don’t want you falling out on the job now.”

The shopkeeper and owner of this store. Her name was Gabrielle Motif. “Oh you. Of course you’re always reminding me of such a thing. But I’m grateful for it. You always keep me on my toes, young man.”

“Well if you weren’t, you’d be in a wheelchair,” Keiji joked, which caused the older lady to chuckle along with him. “But seriously, take it easy, okay? If you need anything, then please let me know.”

During his time there as a customer, Keiji would often assist Motif by helping her move various boxes and other heavy objects from storage and for customers that needed large items. In fact, there were many times where she’d specifically dial Keiji’s phone just to ask for him specifically.

“Of course I will,” Motif replied as she pointed at his arms, then his legs, “You’ve built up quite a lot of muscle over these past few months, hm? Just how are you so strong?”

‘Well I’m not even human for one thing,’ he thought to himself, then spoke aloud, “Well…I just mostly work out and keep myself healthy. Exercise too.”

And yet, the older woman would immediately poke a hole through his words. “Oh you. You’re like a young little superhero from those comic books my grandson loves.”

Keiji let out a nervous chuckle, “Ha…well, I guess? Anyway, I gotta--”

Just then, his phone started to buzz in his pocket. Keiji picked it up and saw that Silver Spoon was the one calling him. He glanced at Motif and spoke up, “Oh. Excuse me. It’s a call from my girl.”

“Take your time, dear,” Motif replied as she stepped away for a moment to take her place at the register, “I’ll ring you up when you’re ready.”

“Thank you.” Keiji then answered his phone, “Hello?”

On the other end, Silver Spoon could be heard, “Hey you. So I’m sure you heard about the attacks that have been going on, yeah? Well, my and Tiara’s moms have agreed to let us use my family’s beach house to stay in until things die down while we attend uni.”

“Oh. Alright, that makes sense,” Keiji shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t mind the water anyway. How far is it?”

“We’ll show you when it’s time. Don’t want anyone overhearing you,” Spoon warned him, “How’s everything going with you today, Keiji?”

“I’m good,” he replied as he glanced at the items in his cart, “Just getting some stuff for my projects. I’m thinking of making some models out of yarn but I’m not sure where to start. Maybe embroidery…”

“...man, your patience is unflappable,” Spoon commented in response, “I don’t really have the wherewithal to deal with threading needles. I’d rather just slap on a sweater and call it a day, ya feel?”

“Hmph,” he scoffed in response, “You simply lack the understanding of quality crochet, dahling,” he replied with an exaggerated flamboyant tone. “The fabric on our backs are easily the most important things we have.”

Spoon giggled. “Okay now you just sound like Rarity. Surprised you haven’t taken lessons from her. Think she’ll show up at uni as a teacher?”

“Hope so. It’d be fun to learn from an expert.”

As the two continued to talk, Motif heard a heavy knocking from the front door of the store. “Hm?” The shopkeeper went outside and called out, “Now what in the dickens is going on out here?"

As soon as she got outside, she was met with a rather aggressive-looking group of what appeared to be young gangsters in facemasks. Some of them held baseball bats...

"Pay up, granny. Your time's up."