Title: Just shopping…
Notes: Based more on the manga, than the anime series. Since the characters are more mature and well-rounded, as compared to the anime series. Takes place approximately over a year after Ruu and Wannya left earth.
Summary: Too much sweetness can get to you. That's why she likes it bittersweet.
"Shopping?"
Miyu jumped slightly, nearly dropping her shopping basket. Turning around sharply (too sharply), she came face-to-face with Kanata. And literally, face-to-face. Miyu blushed at the inhumane close proximity they had.
Kanata only smirked.
The blonde pulled herself away from him upon seeing him smirk. 'Cocky little –' She frowned at him and straightened herself. "Of course," she simpered. "What else would I do here?"
Kanata shrugged and picked up his own (already filled) blue shopping basket. "How should I know?"
Miyu made a face before turning back to the task at hand. Looking down at her shopping list, she tried to find the next item. 'Pot noodles,' thought the blonde, while looking up and trying to find the specific brand of instant ramen her mother wanted. She sighed when she felt eyes burning into the back of her head. "Don't you have somewhere else to go?"
Kanata smirked and shrugged nonchalantly. "No,"
Looking over her shoulder, she eyed him skeptically. "Aren't you going to pay for those?" She looked at his shopping basket briefly.
"Later,"
Hanging her head in defeat, she obviously wont loose him anytime soon. Turning back to the shelf filled with instant ramen, she smiled upon spotting the Pot Noodles. Grabbing four cups, she dumped them into her basket.
"Where to next?" asked Kanata, as they walked out of the 'Noodle' aisle.
Miyu looked up from her list, and eyed him yet again questioningly. "Are you following me?"
The brown haired teen shrugged and adjusted his hold on his basket. "I figured you might need some help,"
Miyu stared at him, once again trying to figure him out (which obviously, she was constantly failing at.) before smiling at him. "Okay. Thanks,"
They entered the condiments aisle and Miyu quickly spotted Kikkoman soy sauce on the top shelf. Walking up to the shelf, she reached out and tried to grab one of the bottles. To no use. She was too damn short. 'Why am I so short!'
"Here,"
He leaned over her, just a bit, brushing up against her shoulder and her hand and grabbed the bottle. Standing right behind her (and in her personal space, if she might add), he handed her the bottle.
Once again blushing, Miyu took it and placed it in her basket. She sidestepped him rather quickly and thanked him. "Thank you,"
Kanata blinked at her sudden movement (and perhaps, change of body proximity) and nodded. "No problem," He then grinned playfully and patted her head. "You're just too short,"
Frowning, she swatted his hand away. "Will you cut it out with the head patting!" she snapped. With a huff, she grabbed her basket. "I'm not a dog for Kami's sake!" And with that, she stomped out of the aisle.
With a hand stuffed into his pocket, Kanata watched her round the corner and disappear into the next aisle. "Cute," he mumbled, before picking up his basket and following her.
After passing several aisles with no sign of Miyu, he finally found her entering the candy aisle. "Hey," he called out, picking up his pace and quickly following her. He faintly wondered if she was angry at the 'short' comment he made.
"Which one do you like better?" asked Miyu suddenly, holding up two packs of Pocky. Chocolate and Strawberry.
Kanata stood next to her and scratched his head, surprised at her question. "Chocolate," he shrugged. He watched her nod her head and dump the red Pocky box into her basket. (1)
Miyu moved down the aisle, ready to head over to the cash register when something caught her eye. Rather, a black box. Smiling to herself, she placed her basket on the ground and picked up the box.
"Bitter chocolate?"
Miyu looked up from staring at the Dars Bitter Chocolate (2) box and stared at Kanata. "Yeah?" she raised an eyebrow, as if challenging him to say something remotely offending towards her choice of confection. ('If he so much says something about getting fat—')
"I though you liked cakes," he said, while plucking the box from her hands. He stared at the inscription before dropping it into her basket. He picked up her basket – much to her surprise (and perhaps, his own.)
Miyu blinked, trying to register what just happened. She watched him slowly walk out of the aisle. With the faintest hint of a blush, the blonde hurried alongside him. "Hey," she pouted. "I didn't say I liked cakes. You did," (3)
He cast her a sideway glance. "That I did. I still like 'em,"
Miyu blushed at the insinuation (well, she assumed anyway). "Well," she began, somewhat flustered. They neared on of the registers. "I happen to like bitter chocolate," She smiled slightly. "Dars is the best bittersweet chocolate around,"
Kanata shrugged.
Miyu frowned and wrinkled her nose. "I sound just like you and your obsession with ice cream,"
"I'm not that bad," frowned Kanata, while he placed his and Miyu's basket on the ground. He shoved hers in front of his own, making her come first.
Miyu looked over her shoulder and gave him a wry look. "You're kidding right?"
Kanata shrugged. He lightly pushed her forward, as the line started to move. "Move it,"
The blonde stuck her tongue out and with her foot, shoved her basket forward. "Don't push me,"
Kanata in turn, did the mature thing to do, and returned the favor by sticking out his own tongue out briefly. "Hn," His gaze landed on the Dars box. "So," he began, his gaze switching to the back of Miyu's head. "Does that mean you don't like cakes anymore?"
Miyu picked up her basket, as it was now her turn, and began to place her items on the conveyor belt. "I like cakes," she answered. She looked at him briefly before continuing. "But, I guess, too much sweets can get to you. So I like things bittersweet at times," She smiled.
Kanata smiled. Moving forward, he picked out the last item out of her basket. Dars Bitter Chocolate. "I guess," he said, placing the box onto the conveyor belt. "I could try bitter chocolate once in a while as well,"
Footnotes:
1. red Pocky box – Pocky is a popular snack in Japan. Pocky is an unsalted pretzels stick that is coated with chocolate (or any other flavor that is now available on the market.). It's rather yummy.
2. Dars Bitter Chocolate – It's an actual brand. What's there to explain? Well, it's bitter chocolate. It costs a 1.25 dollars, which would be around 120 yen. If the exchange rate is right.
3. "I didn't say I liked cakes. You did," – reference to "Cinnamon". I'm not sure if I'm planning to always have the stories interconnected with each other. Please bear in mind that these are one shots and can stand on their own. So future stories may be different in nature, setting, character age and whatnots.
Author's Note: I should remind all of you that Miyu's favorite snack is Custard Purin, which is a type of flan of some sorts.