Ten minutes later.

Grocery bags all packed and apron away, the chimera hurriedly put on his shoes. Hearing a loud splash as he moved off towards the tram stop, the hyena's eyebrows twitched. Weren't these kids lips blue by now? They were going to play in that pool all day weren't they? And, then his neighbor would beg him to cook them some snacks every once in awhile. No way, not happening! He remembered when he had to babysit those obnoxious little brats during the last summer of high school. He bets they're still wicked today! Mother's eyes soon on him, the pesky sentence was ready to roll itself out there.

"Siorc, welcome back!" the neighbor mother said. "Stop by and make some scones sometime!"

[I won't have time for that, sorry. I'm starting my odd jobs business next week.] Slow sliding text across his tablet practically screamed.

"Oh, that's a shame, my boys have some really big sweet tooths," his neighbor said, disappointment evident in her voice. "They started telling me they want to learn how to cook."

[I'll think about it.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

Timer ticking down, the hyena had begun running. Oh great, this woman had wasted so much time! The tram would be here any minute now! Lady calling after him that she'd pay him big if he came over, he could feel the pebble of consideration plop on in. Well, if it was a job, maybe. Had to make enough money to open that restaurant after all!

Paying for the tram fare, the food enthusiast waited. Rocking his feet, the chimera let out a sigh. It had been such a long time time since he had been to Marghera market. They had finally gotten specialized chimera meat. He had recalled how many other chimeras who lived in Italy had been asking for that. What took them so long to include it? Maybe this was a good sign that things were finally changing for the better for chimeras here.

Tram chugging in, the chimera stepped on. Machine stamping the ticket, he seated himself towards the back. Multiple humans on board, he placed his bag on the seat next to him. Maybe no one would stare at him today. His hyena tail wasn't out, right? No reason for anyone to gawk at him. Vehicle pulling out of the station he removed his phone from his pocket.

Flipping through the anonymous blog post again, the college graduate checked the archive. Multiple posts from a couple years prior speaking about hauntings across the world, the hyena's knees buckled at multiple entries about America. This little issue was happening there too? Unreal. Why hadn't he heard anything about it until now?

Comment still left unanswered, the hyena clicked off the webpage. It's not like continuing to stare at this thing would magically have them answer. Who knows if they're even still checking their blog! Probably not. They probably have a partner and kids to worry about. Why would they still be here updating this little thing? There were better things to get himself caught up into.

Cruising Souper Recipes, the food enthusiast's mouth practically watered at the sight laid out in front of him. Woah, meaty penne? He ought to try and make that for dinner tonight! Americans didn't know how to make their pasta good at all! Putting nothing but the blandest canned sauce one could ever imagine! The United Flop of America, the worst place in the world for food. Unseasoned, uninteresting, bland. He'll show those pathetic lot what real food looks like when his restaurant is famous!

"We have reached Marghera," the automated announcement said in Italian. It then repeated such in English.

Multiple people barreling off all at once, the hyena returned his phone to his back pocket. It's time to get out of here. Taking a deep breath, the chimera's bags rumbled from behind him. It was time for some super mega cultured shopping! Maybe there would be some tasty free samples along the way!

Multiple streets crossed, a market named Mega in all capital letters had soon graced the young adult's vision. Sweet, sweet, Supermarceto Mega, how he missed them! All they had back in Chicago near his school was Costco, and all those boring as ever stores that barely had any options for cultural cuisine to cook! There hadn't been a single Italian market anywhere, let alone any others! What a sorry little country the United Flop of America was.

Dropping a one euro coin into the shopping cart, the chimera wheeled in. Here goes, it's time for some fun! Steering the little cruiser in, he practically skipped through the isles. What was on sale today? Please have some good fresh fish. Heading down the pasta aisle first, he studied the selections in a careful manner.

Plopping down four boxes of different pastas, the chimera gazed at the grocery list on his phone. Would that be enough to last a week or two? Maybe not. Putting down penne, he examined the little list. Should he go for pancake mix next? Maybe he should, that sounded like a good idea, didn't it? What aisle was that?

Going down the breakfast ingredients aisle, the chimera swore he could hear a familiar giggle. Was Yinlong here shopping today? Man, it had been such a long time since he had seen him. He had graduated two years before he did. Did he open his little noodle joint yet? He sure hoped so. But, he didn't have time to catch up right now, this list wasn't getting any shorter!

Pancake and toaster pastry mixes on sale, the food enthusiast could not resist tossing multiple into the cart. The more the merrier, right? Of course. Tick box checked off, he readied himself for the next course of action. Maybe he should buy some rice and some other grains. How he missed making the fruity rice dishes in the dorms right about now!

Flavored rice practically flooding the container, the hyena broke into a sweat. How many euros did this ring up to right about now? He needed to spend moderately. If he spent the entire remaining balance, Pira would definitely make him pay the bill! But, he supposed he deserved that. Better put some pancake mix boxes back.

Loads of fruits and veggies and meats almost swimming at the bottom, the hyena gazed at the price of steak. Yikes, forty euros for a pack of four each? Maybe he should have texted Pira to ask them how much they buy. Shrugging, he moved on. It would be fine, surely. He'll just pay this month's grocery card bill, that's all!

Announcer crying out that chimera meat is eighty percent off, the chimera rushed the cart towards the noise. What was this, some blue cart deal special? Oh, goodness, he had to scoop that up right now! Wheels spinning faster than a bicycle, two vehicles soon collided. Voice screaming hey, his hands soon got sticky. Oh, great, he shouldn't have gotten so excited.

"I said hey, purple, watch where you're going!" a familiar voice cried. "What's the rush?! It's not like chimera meat's going to sell out." But another cart soon slammed into the other. "Does anyone watch where they're going in this store?"

"Sorry, I didn't see you two there!" a high pitched nervous voice cried. It then changed full course. "Huh, Siorc, is that you? It's been awhile."

'Wait, Siorc?!" a third voice cried. "Really?"

"Siorc or not, he should watch where he's going!" the familiar voice shouted.

"Wren, don't be such a stick in the mud!" the third voice cried.

Complaining in the corner had been a tall young adult bird woman with long dark brown hair pulled into a large ponytail that went down to about her rear. Hawk wings seated behind her, she adorned a dark blue suit. Wren was the same angry person she always was, huh? She and her roommate Dove graduated a year before him. He would have thought going back to Italy would cool her temper a bit, guess not. Brown eyes matching her locks exactly, he studied his other friend.

Standing beside her had been a shorter young adult bird woman with long shadowy light black hair that went down to about her backside pulled into a ponytail. Teal eyes practically glowing with a ton of makeup, she wore a striped turquoise and pink shirt knotted beside her waist. Falcon wings behind her, he held back the urge to sigh. Dove never changed, huh? Same energic little battery as always.

Pushing their cart back in the corner had been a slightly taller human appearing panda chimera with short silver hair pulled into a small side ponytail on the right side going to about their waist. Pink eyes almost lighting up their face, their buttoned down red cheongsam had been quite short. Black shorts beneath it, he nodded. Yinlong got back in touch with their masculine side, he sees. Good for them. Tablet out in front of him, he scribbled away.

[Sorry for bumping into you like that. How are you doing Wren, Dove? It's been awhile since we last spoke.] Slow sliding text across his tablet greeted.

"You're still using that thing, huh?" Wren asked, sighing. "I thought by now you'd be more comfortable talking. Oh, well. I'm doing fine. Thinking about going out for sushi tomorrow. You can come if you want."

"They opened a new sushi place in town here!" Dove cried. "Yinlong, you can come too, if you'd like!" She then turned towards Siorc. "And, I'm doing peachy, Siorc, thanks for asking. We're going shopping, and then we're catching a flick!"

"Don't get the wrong idea, by the way!" Wren cried. "It's not like we want to invite you, or anything!"

Wren being her same prickly self, the hyena let out a sigh. She was the same as always, wasn't she? Always quick to pretend she didn't mean what she said. But, he knew deep down that they were just a tough nut to crack. Maybe he could take them up on that sushi dinner catchup. He missed the times he go out for some during Highschool.

[I'll come, if you're fine with that.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said. He then scribbled away some more. [So, how are you doing, Yinlong? Did you open up that little noodle spot?]

"I did, but a lot of people seem nervous and don't want to come," Yinlong said, sighing. "People are saying they're being haunted by some noodle ghost when they come here. I don't know if they just don't want to tell me the truth, or they just want to make up an excuse to stop eating there. It kind of hurts, honestly." They sighed as they said such. "But, sure, I'm not doing anything tomorrow. I could have Jiaolong drive you if you want! I don't know why, but seems to miss you for some reason."

Yinlong mentioned their brother missed him, the chimera broke into a sweat. Is that so, huh? He didn't know why, but that man had always been oddly super interested in him. Well, oh well, free ride, why miss that opportunity? It beat paying for the tram. Announcement bell for the chimera meat sale crying out only ten minutes left, everyone was off to the races.

Grabbing the specialized meat, the chimera hurried to the dessert aisle. Grabbing ingredients for scones, he headed off towards self check out. Finding multiple digital coupons ready to fire up, the hyena scanned the multiple codes into the device. Watching the number shrink to around two hundred seventy euros, he puffed a sigh of relief. Maybe he should go on that American Extreme Couponer show, he'd win, guaranteed.

Everything bagged and ready to go, the hyena prepared himself to head for the evening tram. Man, grocery shopping sure was a long and tedious process. Maybe next time he should ask someone to go with him to cut the time in half. But, as he prepared himself to head for the station, he could feel a tug on his sleeve.

"Wait, Siorc!" Yinlong cried. "You have a lot of groceries, right? Let my brother take you home!"

Nodding, the hyena followed the leader. Window pulled downward, a tall silver haired panda man with a small braid on the side of his head peered through the pane. Pink eyes almost sparkling, his buttoned red shirt matched his kin almost exactly. Warm smile appearing on his face, he waved for a moment. Why had Jiaolong always looked like he was longing for something whenever he locked eyes with him?

"Oh, goodness, your friend's come back home, Yinlong?" Jiaolong asked.

"Yes, you didn't hear? He was the valedictorian this year!" Yinlong cried. "The school livestreamed the ceremony and everything!" His two index fingers then touched. "Is it okay if you drive him home?"

"Of course, Yinlong, fine by me," Jiaolong said. "Don't want to waste your euros on the tram back home, now do we?"

Opening the tram door, the hyena buckled in. He could never fathom Yinlong's brother. He was always looking at him. But, maybe he was imagining it, right, of course he was. Surely, he had a partner or something. Friend asking if he could take them to the sushi restaurant tomorrow, approval had come faster than a lightning bolt.

Reaching home after about ten minutes, assistance had been offered to bring the groceries in. Declining such with a headshake, the hyena reached for the housekeys. Bidding farewell, he twisted the knob. Smelling a meaty scent in the air, the young adult groaned. Did someone order takeout after he went to the trouble of getting the groceries? Come on, now!

Deigr and Coiote wolfing down sweet and sour pork like they were vacuum cleaners, the chimera paid them no mind. Who cares about them anyway, they're going to complain about the food he bought like they did whenever mother went to the market. Whatever, not his problem, they can go steal their boyfriend's food from their fridges! Opening up the insulated bag, eyes wandered towards him.

"Finally, you're back," Deigr complained. "How long does it take you to buy groceries? You're lucky no one else is home yet!" She then gagged. "Gross, how could you buy that brand of barilla? You should be ashamed of yourself!"

"And how come you bought so much meat for?" Coiote complained. "You know, being a flexitarian is in right now! Buy less meat!"

Duo complaining, the chimera rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. How dare these two think they can order him around! They're always crashing at their boyfriend's houses anyway! And, hello, hyena chimeras can't become flexitarian. Meat was an essential part of their diet! But, oh well, their problem if they got stomach problems trying to slim down and eat more vegetables than meat!

[Why do you care? You two practically live with your boyfriends!] Slow sliding text across the tablet cried.

"We still live here!" Deigr cried. "You should have just stayed in Chicago instead of coming back here. We could have sold your room then!"

"Yeah, that's right!" Coiote cried.

Tuning them out, the chimera quickly put the groceries away. Ugh, these two, always picking on him. Why couldn't they just move in with their boyfriends? If they ever gave him a niece of nephew consider the ribbon severed because he would never talk to them, mark his unsaid words words! Hearing slippers plopping in, a yawn entered the room.

"Can you all stop yelling, please? You woke me up," Strix said, yawning.

"Shut up, night owl, go back to sleep!" Deigr cried.

"With pleasure," Strix said, turning around. "Stop yelling."

Returning to his room, the chimera read manga until he dozed off. Man, his sisters were so annoying.