Chapter 48

CONVENIENT STORE

Mika : (looking at the shelves)

Shinn : Found it!

Mika turned to Shinn and saw Shinn  was holding 5 packets of potatoes.

Mika : Are you even using your brain?

Shinn : Wait,what? I thought Oka-san wants potatoes?

.................

Mika : …Oka-san?Hah?

Shinn : Your mother?

Mika : …WHY ARE YOU CALLING HER OKA-SAN THEN?

Shinn ignored Mika and put all the potatoes in the trolley and pushed it.Mika quickly took out 3 packets of potatoes and Shinn stopped her.

Mika : What?

Shinn : Why are you taking them?

Mika : What are you thinking?Potato party?Have you ever cook before?

Shinn : ….Too many?

Mika ignored Shinn and went to put the extra potatoes back to the original place.

Shinn : Will two packets be enough?

Mika : Shut up.Keep moving.And why the heck are you wearing your shades indoor and it’s night.Stop acting as if you are one of those visual kei artist.You are not even Yoshiki.

Shinn : (grinning) Well,I am scared people would recognize me that’s why.

Mika: Then why the heck did you offer to tag along (annoyed)

Shinn : I have never been on a groceries shop before(looking at the trolley)

Mika : Hmmph,whatever it is.Find double cream please.It’s for the desserts.and be fast,you don’t have all night.

Shinn : We do have all night.(laughing)

Mika swiftly picked the leek from the trolley and smacked Shinn’s head really hard.

Mika : Idiot.(walked away)

Mika went to the seafood section to find the ingredients for their hot pot .Shinn pushed the trolly towards  Mika after getting two boxes of double cream and stood beside her.

Shinn : What are you staring at?

Mika : (looking at all the meat)

Shinn : just take them already

Mika : Damn it Shinn,shut up.I am choosing which is fresh.

Shinn : you can tell?

Mika : You cant tell?

Shinn : You can?

Mika : Of course you can you idiot.

Shinn : I don’t see any difference.

Shinn picked two packets of red meat and look at them.

Shinn : See no difference?

Mika : I don’t think you had ever cook before don’t you?

Shinn : Besides instant ramen.No.

Mika : Would you please observe? Look at the packaging.The packaging date and the expiry date and the color of the meat,the water content and press the meat to check if it still edible.

Shinn quickly did everything Mika said and Mika just stared at him being so focused on doing that.

Mika quickly picked two packets of red meat and left Shinn at the spot.Shinn was still focusing on checking on the red meat and when he is finally done he looked up to see no one infront of him.

Shinn : Where the heck did she go?!

Mika : *waving from behind.Better walk faster if you don’t want to be lost .

Shinn : Have you--

Mika : I did.Lets go back.Stop spacing out you idiot.

CASHIER

Mika : Why in the world do we have to buy all these for you (annoyed)

Shinn : Oka-san is so kind to invite me over for dinner(grinning)

Mika : Shut up.I am never cooking for you.

Shinn : Really,you can cook?

Mika : Looks who’s talking.You cant even differentiate red meat and meat.And flour and sugar.(laughed)

Cashier : (accidentally laughed)

Shinn : (cough) Alright,you win Mika.

PRESENT

HARUNA & MIKA’S ROOM

Mika : And why am I remembering everything now…(sigh)

Mika went to the window and look outside.

Mika : It feels good to be here though

AYA’S SHOP

Takeru and Aya was busy dealing with the customers while the two other part timers were busy cooking in the kitchen . Mika was outside leaning on her bike ,looking at the snowy ground and enjoying the fresh evening air.Her usual habit whenever Aya is busy,sitting outside just enjoying the beautiful view outside the shop.

Mika : I guess Aya is right then..

Mika went inside and sat at the counter top facing Aya

Aya : You want anything ?Ramen?Miso soup? Soba?

Mika : No no,its okay.Im not hungry,yet (laughed)

Aya : (looking at Mika) How come your face looks different?

Mika : Different?

Aya quickly stopped doing her work and went to Mika and sat infront of her

Aya : Your face looks ….wait a second…

Mika : What?

Aya : I know this kind of expression…

Mika : What?

Aya : You figured it all out right?

Mika burst out laughing when Aya said that and she cant stop smiling when Aya looked at her with a puzzled face

Mika : I was gonna tell you,that your advice is taken.

Aya : You mean a copyright of your advice?(laughing)

Mika : You can say that.

Aya : Finally…

Mika :I kept thinking about them last night and I almost forgot to sleep when I finally realized it is already 4 in the morning.

Aya : No wonder you woke up early,you didn’t sleep!?

Mika : I didn’t,that is why I went out for jog this morning.To think.

Aya : So..are you gonna go back?

Mika : not yet.I didn’t get to spend enough time with you yet.

Aya : Why don’t we go out for a walk?

Mika : Why not?

Aya : I’ll tell Takeru!Wait here.

ODERA’S RESIDENCE

Haruna : I quit my job

Caroline whom was playing with the chair suddenly trip and fell face down on the carpeted floor as Haruna after Haruna said that

Caroline : What?Wait,are you serious--Ouch ouch,my shoulder ouch.(rubbing her shoulders)

Haruna : Yes,couldn’t concentrate on working while Mika is missing.

Caroline :”Missing” indeed.

Haruna : Well,for them yes.

Caroline : how did you manage to know about this?

Haruna : You mean about knowing where Mika went to?

Caroline : (nodding)

Haruna : Before she left,she told that I knew where she was going .It kept bugging me not knowing what she meant until I saw this!

Caroline : What what?What?

Haruna took our a photo from her drawer and showed it to Caroline

Caroline : Isnt this the time when we went to Osaka?

Haruna : To visit Mika when she went to college.

Caroline : This photo was taken at the ramen shop right?

Haruna : yes,And this short haired girl is Aya,her room mate.And that is Takeru her boyfriend.

Caroline  : And this --

Haruna : is where Mika went to.

Caroline : AYa’s shop!

Haruna :I remembered when Mika called everytime she is so pissed off back in college,and everytime she called,she would be with Aya at the ramen shop.

Caroline : Are you sure?

Haruna : More than sure,she told me she can only count on Aya when she was in Osaka.And I remembered Mika telling me if one day she would want to run away from here,she will go to Osaka to meet Aya.

Caroline : Are we gonna tell Shinn and Hiiro about this?

Haruna :… What do you think?