"Mm?", Yugito Nii was slightly stunned by his words; obviously she hadn't expected Aoba to take the initiative and invite her shopping.
'This… doesn't this just make it a date?'
Thinking that, Yugito felt her ears heat up, "I don't want to go shopping alone with you."
"What if I absolutely drag you along anyway?", Aoba pressed.
Yugito nervously rubbed her golden hair, "If… if you insist on inviting me, then I guess it's not impossible to accompany you for a bit."
A smile involuntarily lifted at the corner of Aoba's mouth. Mostly because her half-rejecting, half-accepting manner was genuinely amusing.
"Then let's go," Yugito, still acting tsundere, suddenly felt her hand being warmly enveloped.
Aoba's hand was hot like a stove; without warning he took her hand and led her toward the shopping street.
"What are you doing!", Yugito's body tensed instantly.
"There are a lot of people around here. I'm afraid you're not familiar with the place and might get lost," Aoba said nonchalantly.
"I'm a ninja, how could I possibly get lost in a place like this?", Yugito tried to shake her hand free, but it was no use.
"Let go," Yugito said, a little embarrassed and indignant.
"I'll let go after we find somewhere to eat," Aoba answered.
Yugito pouted, face flushed, "Then don't squeeze randomly!"
"Squeezing a little won't kill anyone," Aoba grinned.
"Pervert."
Yugito muttered softly.
The distance wasn't long, and after a while the two stopped speaking.
At first Yugito resisted, but after walking for a while she slowly grew used to it.
"Boss, one dorayaki please."
Aoba led her to a dorayaki stall and asked the owner for one dorayaki.
"Why only one?", Yugito asked curiously.
"I don't like sweets."
Aoba replied. This shop's dorayaki were all sweet, but the red bean filling was highly praised, must taste pretty good.
"Then why did you come to this shop if you don't like sweets?", Yugito had question marks all over her face. Isn't shopping for places you like? Why buy something you don't like?
Aoba squeezed her hand again, "I remember you like dorayaki, right?"
Yugito blinked, "How did you know?"
Aoba smiled, "Because I've been observing you for a while."
"W-what?"
"You pervert!", Yugito exclaimed in surprise and disgust, but her flushed pretty face betrayed her. It wasn't convincing at all.
To outsiders it didn't look like disgust; it looked like the playful banter of a young couple.
They clearly looked like an extremely lovey-dovey pair, handsome boy, pretty girl.
Even the dorayaki seller was smiling like an aunt watching them.
But Yugito seemed a little overwhelmed; she tried to pull her hand free from Aoba's grip, but it was futile and she could only glare at him.
"Your dorayaki," The owner handed over the prepared dorayaki with a smile.
"Th-thank you," Yugito, cheeks red, reached out to take it. Then realized her right hand was still in Aoba's hand.
"Want me to let go?", Aoba tilted his head and asked.
Their eyes met for an instant; she quickly averted her gaze, face a little flushed, hesitated, and mumbled softly, "Whatever." Then she reached out with her left hand to take it.
A hint of amusement crossed Aoba's face. After she accepted the dorayaki, he continued holding her hand and walked on.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Yugito was completely passively pulled through the crowd.
Unconsciously her heart raced and she felt a little thrill.
She hadn't had an experience like this before. Not even with girls, let alone holding hands with a boy. Samui and Mabui were serious people and restrained; they were rarely free to play, so opportunities were scarce.
Neon light and drifting crowds, street food aromas thick enough to seep into the heart.
Her head felt a little dizzy. There were so many people; her palms were hot, and warmth ran along her arm into her heart, circulating through her whole body.
"This is tasty too," Aoba pulled Yugito to queue at a small stall.
"And that one! There's a long line over there too."
At first Aoba had been the one pulling Yugito from stall to stall; soon the roles reversed, and Yugito tugged him around instead. After all, Aoba was paying for everything; Yugito had little income now.
The money she spent came from missions she'd worked hard to save. Spending even a little mattered, so freeloading off Aoba felt more comfortable.
Yugito seemed to throw everything else out of her head and behaved like a teenage girl in love, hand in hand with Aoba.
The difference was she didn't act clingy like other girls; she was brash, only occasionally showing shyness. But Aoba seemed to read her heart, her tough act was useless.
"Aoba, this one, this one—"
"I can't carry any more," Faced with Yugito's enthusiastic buying, Aoba stopped her. He was already loaded with snacks.
Originally he had been dragging her hand and wandering; now it was completely reversed. Yugito kept pulling him and he couldn't find a chance to let go.
He felt like he'd been turned into a pack mule.
This was totally upside-down.
"This…", Yugito looked at Aoba, whose hands were already full, then at their joined hands. Her neck to her cheeks even behind the ears had a faint blush.
"Then… let's find a place to eat these first."
Though flushed, she didn't choose to separate their hands.
"Aren't you supposed to meet Samui and the others? It's almost noon break," Aoba reminded her.
"Huh? Already?", Yugito looked up at the sun in surprise and realized it really was close to noon. She'd gotten lost in the fun.
"Then do you want to—"
"Aoba?"
Just as she was about to ask whether Aoba wanted to keep hanging out, a clear, surprised female voice cut her off.
"Ino, Sakura?"
Aoba also looked surprised at the two girls waving at him not far away.
Ino and Sakura quickly ran over.
"Yugito, Samui and the others are probably on lunch break. You should go find them," Aoba said to Yugito.
"What?", Yugito froze, her palm suddenly empty as Aoba walked over to Ino.
For some reason, she suddenly felt very uncomfortable.