KOWLOON GENERIC ROMANCE (九龍ジェネリックロマンス)

So refreshing!

I love these new eyedrops from Hebinuma Pharmaceutical!

FORTUNE

FORTUNE ROOM 8

Ah?

Good morning, Kujirai!

It's said Generic Terra

can back up human being's memories,

making even eternal youth and immortality possible.

While using advanced tech safely,

its construction continues to this day.

Out here, in this clothing store,

Generic Terra merch has been flying off the shelves, right?

I can't keep 'em in stock.

Especially the shirts with Gene Terra, the mascot.

This brilliant government-funded project

is drawing attention from nations around the world.

You might say the story of Generic Terra

is like a romance for all humankind.

Rumor is, it's being run by some big private-sector

pharmaceutical company, right?

What was it called?

Uh, Hebinuma?

WONG LOI REALTY COMPANY RENTAL • SALES • EVALUATION

Good morning, Mr. Lee.

And good morning to you, Kujirai.

You're coming in a bit later than usual, aren't you?

Better hurry up and clock in as soon as you can,

or you're gonna be late like "you-know-who."

Right.

- - Kujirai!

-Move! -

KUDO KUJIRAI

- -

Man, that was a close one.

LATE

Here you go.

I've got the new listings for today, Kudo.

Oh, thanks.

What is it?

For some reason, I didn't get

to clock in on time.

- Hmm. - I was marked late.

This spot opened up again, huh?

Guess the interior must need work.

Y'know, I think cutting in line is pretty immature.

TUNG TAU VILLAGE TOWER

And I was just about to--

All right! All right!

Your lunch is on me, okay?

But, I still don't quite understand it, Kudo.

The Second Kowloon isn't a very comfortable place to live,

yet the number of residents never seems to decline.

Maybe they don't have anywhere else to go?

Yeah, well, I love Kowloon just the way it is.

What's this place?

Oh, it opened about a week ago.

I saw their flyer and wanted to give it a try.

Everything looks so good.

Uh, let's go to the usual spot.

What?

TINTIN EATERY

Thanks for waiting!

-I'm digging in... Ah? -Hm.

What's the matter with you?

I wanted to have lunch at the other place.

You idiot!

Don't you sense the incredible "rightness"

in this plump, boiled little dumpling

that's floating gently in golden broth?

Well, don't you?

My prescription feels like it's been off

this entire day.

Weird, maybe your vision's getting worse then.

Hm? Hey, wait a minute!

Are those Hebinuma eyedrops?

Huh?

EYEDROPS

Yes, they are.

Not too long ago, the son took over that company.

And, I doubt I'll ever be able to trust 'em now.

You know that guy.

That shady-looking director of the Hebinuma Beauty Center!

Anyway, if you want to get rid of your eye strain

just massage a few pressure points!

Lemme do this! Watch!

N-no!

'Cause you're just gonna grab my head

and then press in as hard as you can!

I mean, although we're both hominids,

gorillas like you are a totally different species.

Stop looking guilty

while you're clearly insulting me!

And here's your water spinach.

Enjoy!

Oh, by the way,

about Room 205 in Sai Joeng Tower.

What's up?

It hasn't had a tenant for six months now.

That place gets the afternoon sun's heat

with no AC.

Only an oddball would live there.

That...and the interior's pretty old-looking, too.

But if there was a fresh coat of paint on the walls,

it might look better.

Hey, uh, Kudo, that door on the apartment

down on Naam Daang Street, you fixed it, right?

Yeah.

Here In Kowloon, everything's old.

The landlords don't want us calling up the maintenance guy

about each little problem.

That said.

I want to make sure all the tenants

are as comfortable as possible.

We've got time before we have to head back.

You want to go get some tea?

But only if you're up for it, that is.

Nah, you should probably go to an optometrist.

Sucks to have the wrong prescription, right?

Uh?

You silly goose.

And we can have tea some other time, okay?

-Twenty-twenty vision, huh? -Apparently.

I just had a full check-up and I see better

in both eyes now.

Well, now, isn't that something!

The no-glasses look suits you.

And wouldn't you agree, Kudo?

No, not really. I still prefer 'em on.

Hm.

Huh?

We're gonna be punished for building things like that.

What's that supposed to mean?

Are you against Generic Terra for some reason?

Obviously!

They wanted to create a fake Earth,

and they're using our tax money to do it.

Hey, uh, you got a light?

I wonder how long that place'll stay open.

Huh? What place?

That little Hawaiian spot I wanted to try out.

I'm not sure why it happens, but new stores

seem to close down pretty quickly in Kowloon.

That's an easy one.

It's all about nostalgia around this place.

A flickering streetlight.

A moldy back alley.

Noisy neighbors.

Don't they all seem familiar to you,

even if you can't quite explain it?