I had a day off from work, so took another sojourn into Melbourne as is often my want. I had a vague plan formed of going to the Happy Town Kpop store to buy some Twice cards and to drop off the manga I borrowed at the Melbourne Library, which is still under reconstruction. This would have been an obvious route if my train went directly to Flinders St Station, but it went through the tunnel (as they do before midday) and so I ended up at Central Station. Because of its proximity, I thought I might sashay through the State Library BECAUSE I LOVE IT, but some strange impulse stilled me when I approached the escalators going up. Instead, I went around them with a new-formed plan to head down to the Elizabeth St exit and go to my favourite art gallery/shop, a place called Outre. It was a decisive moment, a quantum moment you might say. Sometimes I just like to mix up my plans and let fate take control. The first thing I encountered on this new path was an interesting window display in an Asian supermarket at the station. It was a shelf of Sailor Moon soft drink cans, including some other manga-themed cans below. It was very cool and I was tempted to go in and make a purchase, but was content with just taking a photo. Then, heading down towards the exit, past the food court, I saw a Japanese eatery that was selling yakisoba takeaway and onigiri, amongst other tasty morsels. I bought a couple of yummy onigiri rice balls (with tuna) for a lunch snack. I didn’t look real hard, so it’s possible they also had my favourite – taiyaki (with Premium Custard). I will take a closer look next time.
The Outre gallery on Elizabeth Street is one of my favourite stores in Melbourne. It has a show room on the ground floor and another one on the mezzanine at the back. The art is very pop culture-focused, with that artist Shag’s work prominently displayed. I noticed they’ve gone in big time with Japanese manga-inspired works since last time I was there. I approve. There was a series of large prints featuring the EVAs from Neon Genesis Evangelion. So much good stuff. A feast for the eyes – and ears (they had a pretty cool indie rock playlist). Feeling expansive, I bought three Japanese art books from the store there.
Then I headed down to Bourke Street and took a tram up to Happy Town. I discovered they’ve moved from their upstairs location to downstairs next to the food court. This new space is great, with extra room for what looks like a popup cafe setup where fans can celebrate their stan’s birthdays. I think one was going on when I arrived, for some boy band artist, with themed food being sold. I’ll have to come when one of my Twice girls has a birthday. Speaking of which, I did buy some Twice cards, though there was only a small selection. I was prepared to pay big to fill in my collection, which I had photographed on my phone for easy reference.
Next up it was the Toka Exchange store on Bourke where I bought a beautiful Rei Evangelion figurine and a School Idol surprise box. The three guys who sit at the counter in this store are amusingly solicitous. One of them came over to me and said the prices for the larger items could be negotiable (something I already knew). I could feel their eyes on me 
all the time, taking note when I just touched an item or lingered on a particular display. They were probably doing the old retailer’s Jedi Mind Trick – ‘you will buy our merchandise…’ Considering I did buy something, maybe it worked. But I like to think I had some agency in it. After that it was time for a coffee and my onigiri, which I enjoyed on a bench on Swanston. The onigiri tasted better than my memory of it from the combini stores where I bought them in Japan. Then I went to Dymocks books on Collins and bought volume 5 of the Yashahime manga. They also had those Star Wars From a Certain Point of View books, that I mentioned in an earlier Diary entry, but I didn’t buy. Figured I’d bought enough, and we have copies of those books in our library. It can wait. I then dropped off my borrowed manga at the Melbourne Library, which is still closed.
I finished reading my Maison Ikkoku Vol 2 manga on the train. It was more dysfunctional dating, but amazing story telling. I feel sorry for Godai’s girlfriend, who he’s stringing along whilst making goo-goo eyes at Kyoko. But his prospects look dim: rival suitor Coach Mitaka has promised to wait three years for Kyoko to be ‘ready’ to re-marry. Godai has upped that to five, but will he even care by then? The course of true love never runs smooth in a Rumiko manga.
At home, unpacking my School Idol surprise box, I got Honoka, Muse’s leader, in a swim suit. Kawaii!