Chapter 170: [The Price Of Health]
<<Okay then, let's split up and buy the ingredients…>>
<<Wait, wait, wait.>>
A cooking showdown with Angu Ogu.
The suggestion was made not to spoil the surprise with the ingredients, but we were stopped.
<<In America, if you let a child wander alone, you'll get reported. Technically, I'm Iroha's guardian.>>
<<Huh. Even someone my age is not okay?>>
<<It varies by state, but Iroha's age is safe. But you need to be aware of your appearance. After all, even a lady like me gets approached by the police quite often.>>
<<Oh, I see.>>
Regardless of being a lady or not, it's nobody's fault and unavoidable. But entrusting the Secret Service, Angu Ogu's bodyguards, with the role of guardians. Oh, I see.
<<Well then, let's buy various ingredients and any leftovers we can share with the Secret Service. Is that okay?>>
<<I'm not sure. I don't know either.>>
<<Oh, sounds good.>>
It seemed like they were listening to our conversation as we received a signal from the Secret Service personnel.
Once decided, we began tossing ingredients into the shopping cart.
<<Hehe, Iroha. You'll get to show them your stuff.>>
<<Right, because I can't make excuses if I lose at home, huh? Still, our lineups are quite different. So it might be tricky.>>
<<In the Asian section, they have some Japanese ingredients. ‘Shoyu' is popular here, and ‘tofu' is getting attention as a healthy food. I don't know if they have ‘miso,' though.>>
<<Really? With Ogu as the opponent, it's just the right handicap, I guess.>>
<<Hey!>>
<<We also want some fish, but it's tough. They have frozen shrimp and salmon fillets, but not much else. It's quite a contrast to the meat section.>>
<<There's a bunch of bread here.>>
<<How many of these are there? And there are so many varieties, but they all seem pretty simple.>>
<<True, there are differences in the makers and ingredients, but the shapes are relatively standard. Japanese pastries and ready-to-eat meals are just unique. Thanks to that, I ended up buying a lot of different things from convenience stores.>>
However, because the ingredients were so large, the cart wasn't filling up quickly! That's right, the cart itself was ridiculously huge.
<<Then, how about beverages?>>
<<What on earth is this!? The entire wall is filled with cola!>>
Not a metaphor, but cola stretched as far as the eye could see. This sight seemed like something you could only find here.
<<Even though they're Americans, they don't drink this much cola, do they?>>
<<But if it's too little, the stockers won't be able to keep up.>>
<<They drink it!?>>
<<Well, in America, it's like ‘drinking water.' I like the canned type, so I'll buy a few cases for now.>>
Naturally, it was in cases. In fact, they only sold it in cases.
As expected of the scale.
And Ango Ogu's description of it as ‘drinking water' was not just a metaphor, it seemed.
I went to look for ‘regular water' anyway…
<<But the cola is cheaper. What's going on!?>>
<<Oh, yeah, that's true. Japan has cheap water, so it probably feels that way.>>
Of course, it depends on the brand, but the water was ridiculously expensive.
Or rather, cola is too cheap compared to the cost of living.
But we can't just not buy it.
I tried to load it into the cart.
<<O-ogu, help me with this…>>
<<Ugh. I'm definitely getting Secret Service's help on the way back.>>
Water was only sold in dozens of bottles, so it was heavy. With strained efforts, Ango Ogu and I managed to lift it and load it into the cart.
<<American tap water can also be soft or drinkable in some places… I don't drink it either.>>
<<Well, if you get sick, it might be more expensive.>>
No doubt about that. Medical bills here are insanely high. Iroha, did you get overseas insurance in Japan?>>
<<Yeah, that's right.>>
I think that was the right choice. Even with insurance, medical costs are high, and not all hospitals accept it. Only those in partnership with the contracted insurance.
<<Huh, is that so!?>>
When your health is in the worst condition, and you finally make it to the hospital… just the thought of it is hell.
<<They say Americans don't like going to the hospital much, but I can understand why.>>
<<Actually, Japanese people go to the hospital for minor things too much. Let me give you these words, Iroha.>>
<<What is it?>>
<<The most expensive thing in America is ‘health'.>>
<<Oh, that makes a lot of sense.>>
After looking around, I noticed that the healthier products were more expensive. Things like vegetables and water. On the other hand, unhealthy foods are surprisingly cheap, like junk food and cola.
<<Let's be careful not to get sick. If you need an ambulance, who knows how much it'll cost?>>
<<It could be tens of thousands of dollars. So, be careful, okay?>>
I already have to see the doctor quite frequently. Emergency services are more expensive than regular visits in Japan, but the difference is significant.
<<Ingredients are about it. Now let's buy some everyday items…>>
Slippers, detergent, and a voltage converter were tossed into the cart.
Or rather, they actually sold it…
Walmarkets is amazing.
Just when I thought that was everything, I spotted something sold that would never be seen in Japan.
<<Ogu Ogu, look! They're selling guns!>>
I tugged at Ango Ogu's shirt hem and pointed at the showcase.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om