These crowds could get pretty tough around the holidays, huh? Not everyone celebrated, yet on this side of the globe it was one of the more commercial holidays. But, man, what were all these people doing out? Didn't they all have somewhere to be? Because he certainly did!
Okay, so maybe he was running a little bit late. That was okay, right? They didn't have anywhere they needed to be until that night, they'd just arranged to spend the entire day together. And it wasn't like it was a few hours into their time – she'd forgive him, right? He had a good reason!
Well, he thought he had a good reason. Yesterday he'd thought he had everything he needed and stuffed it all in a little sling he'd been issued a long time ago, including a little something special. ...But on the way to where he needed to be he'd seen pumpkins amongst other things set out and it struck him different today. They absolutely needed those. Of course this didn't entirely go as planned; it ended up with him caught with last-minute buyers and trying to get through crowds of people there for other items in order to get to, and snag a couple that looked good.
That didn't exactly go as planned either. On the brighter side of things it meant he was looking elsewhere while travelling toward his destination and managed to grab a bright, round pumpkin about the size of his chest. When he did show up he had it under his left arm against his hip to keep his right hand free, and walked toward the spot they were supposed to meet. "Aerith?"