For the uninitiated, the day after thanksgiving in America is a little thing called “Black Friday.” For one day, gladiatorial combat becomes legal as long as it’s over a Tv marked down ten percent. After all, to the common American a human life is worth less than a cheap product. Naturally this would attract monsters who are good with business sense and like to save money whenever they can. Unfortunately, rules have been put in place over the years to limit the amount of casualties caused by Black Friday.

You? This was your first. You figured it would be an interesting experience and if it was as bad as people claimed you would have an excuse to never go again. Behind you was a Tanuki who looked to be out of her element. While you had no doubt in your mind that this seemingly innocent woman could very well buy her way out of anything, you didn’t expect someone like her to partake in the rituals of the common folk, if anything you expected her to be counting the bills she earned from this night alone.

After an hour of waiting in line one of the store workers exits the building and walks to the front of the line before announcing that the store is closing due to having sold out. Apparently a group of (literal) goblin cleaned it out. While you don’t really care about this the tanuki girl behind you is clearly ticked off. As you turn to leave the line you hear her call out. You’ve heard tales of tanuki’s having natural charm which is why they’re so good in business. So, when your legs become petrified and ignore your brain’s plea to move, you can only assume everything else you’ve heard about tanuki are true as well.

She stops right next to you and places a hand on your shoulder before leaning in so that her mouth is almost grazing your ear.

“I missed out on some good deals tonight but I’m not going home empty handed, you understand?”

All you can do is nod.

The script

Character reference