Even though they might not be the latest styles or colors, any addition to the limited selection she had at the moment would be welcome. And who would see what she was wearing in Saitama, anyway, she thought as she drifted off to sleep.

In her dream, Michiko saw herself getting off the elevator on the tenth floor of the building where the Katmatsus' had their apartment. The hall seemed unusually dim and quiet.

She paused cautiously outside the door of the apartment, but there were no suspicious marks around the entry or any other signs of disturbance. She took out her keys and hurriedly unlocked the door.