As Our Hands Touch

"Oh no, these bougie places," Nao-chan insisted, "it's all the same cream, yours is just way overpriced. I actually watched a special on it a couple months back--"

Apparently the French imported ones at the all natural store near the complex was diluted with water. And Naoki had in fact watched such a documentary.

It had been well out of her way to come to a small little local shop that resembled gas stations in abandoned strip malls. Better resembling a tense, possibly knife wielder neighborhood in the evening hours. The sun had just set making the sky a navy blue and weak streetlights turn on.

Inside, with just a singular dead-eyed old man on the counter, Kita didn't dare release her grip on her large knit bag.

In a rushed click-click of her pastel pink flats Kita came upon the baking ingredients, reaching up to collect the milk box shaped package of thick cream for their dessert.

Along with almonds and chocolate chips.

Holding them in her arms.

She took a deep breath, 'hello sir I'm Kita Shizue, just this please and thank you very much.'

'Just this please and thank you very much.'

'I'm Shizue Kita, just this please and thank you very much.'

'I'm Shizue Kita...'

She diverted for the red bag of chili flavored chips and some chocolate panda cookies.

Shizue struggled to hold all of it up, but if she put some in her bag certainly they may think she was stealing.

She jolted, dropping her snacks when hearing a voice.

"Small world," Naoki chirped with a wide smile on her face.

Shizue took in the cap over her wild hair, her athletic shorts and a bulking, oversized hoodie. "So what brings a glitzy stranger like you down to these parts?"

She cautiously looked up, sure that she looked a mess. Having gotten in the dullest and unassuming clothes in her wardrobe, which in all fairness there was plenty. The only reason she chose a particularly ugly brown shade of dress was the lack of brand tag.

"Like you said," Shizue replied, holding up the ingredients, "getting the quality product. Shizue had long stopped trying to keep composure.

"Of-- of course," Naoki agreed, but then in a smaller voice, "can't believe though, you actually came all the way out here."

Shizue stood erect, shoulders tensing, unsure exactly what Fuwa was getting at. "I said I would."

"Yes you did," Fuwa agreed, kneeling down to get the dropped bag.

She never bothered to try putting up that polite, courteous cover around her anymore.

What with Fuwa's tendency to fluster her often without knowing.

Or so she said.

"I umm, I guess I didn't think you would ac--"

Their hands touched reaching for the chips.

The chocolate chips spilled out from her hands at that moment.

Only Shizue couldn't too much find it in herself to care.

Eventually Naoki shot back up with the snacks, smiling in that same casual manner with her heart utterly open and confident.

Fuwa nudged her shoulder as they came to the counter together to pay up for everything.

Naoki had apparently been picking up the cabbage, kimchi, and seasonings for dinner that night.

As Kita flicked out her credit card the older man replied, "cash only ma'am."

Her face seared red as Naoki comforted her, pulling out a two thousand yen note.