He had just bought his. Now he had to save him.

Ryō grabbed his hand. “Then I’m watching every episode until you’re free.”

In the neon-lit back alleys of Shinjuku’s shadow market, Ryō scanned holographic pods labeled Companion Class – Level 5 . He wasn’t looking for a pet or a robot. He was looking for him .

Which roughly means: “Series ‘I Bought My Friend’ – Episode 1, translated from Japanese – ‘Doush e’ video.”

Ryō turned off his phone. Not everyone deserved a friend.

If so, here’s a short story based on that title and premise: