Since it has been a few weeks, her overwhelming warm aura when she smiled at him almost took him off guard. Where did she get that energy from anyway? It was one of the mysteries he’d never knew an answer to for sure.
“Ah… it’s the busy season, isn’t it?” Shin expected that this was as far as the small talk would go. But Colette asked him more questions and even if he wanted to walk home together… Seems like he was the only one who felt awkward since their last meeting. But it was alright, he already figured something like that after all…
“Ahaha, are you that surprised to see me working? I need to afford my living somehow, right? Well, to be honest, I started like a month ago. It’s not my first time working in a store like that though, so I felt right at home.” If that’s a good or bad thing, it didn’t matter for now.
After Colette paid for her items, he cleared his throat to reply to her last question as well: “Er… I have to get my coworker from the back to get on the register now. So I’ll need a few more minutes. But if that’s cool with you, we can leave together.”
Once Shin returned from the back with his coworker, he put his thick winter jacket on that was absolutely necessary for him as soon as the temperatures dropped like they have been lately. “Ready?” Just when he asked Colette that, he had to stop once again in his step though:
“Oh shoot, I forgot these bento boxes we can’t sell anymore in the back. Would you mind waiting some more? Oh wait, maybe you want one as well? They’re mostly still pretty okay and it’s a great way to save some money!”
“Sure thing! No problem, no problem. I don’t mind waiting a bit.”
Holding her bag of groceries, Colette stood off to the side in the store, trying hard to not be in the way. Her feet were hurting, but it would be worth it to be with her friend for a while again.
Though, her stomach was a little less patient. Colette pulled out one of the little snack bars she’d bought to munch on while she waited. She’d just opened her little bottle of strawberry milk when Shin approached her at last, all bundled up in his winter coat. She nodded, tossing him a smile.
“You look so warm,” she said cheerfully. Her smile softened, and she felt a little proud seeing the scarf she’d given him months ago now fitting right at home in his warm winter ensemble.
“Hm? Oh, sure!” She felt a little confused at his phrasing. Was it food they were going to just toss out at the end of the night, after it had expired? "Ah, sure, I can take one...? I don’t mind helping!”