A Day With Shouko

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Tokyo, Japan,

Shibuya,

Samuel POV,

The Sun shone in the blue somewhat cloudy sky, it's rays not incredibly hot but rather a pleasant kind of warm and the city of Tokyo bustled with activity. Large numbers of people went about their days, some roamed aimlessly others with resolute faces, clear goals in their minds.

Amidst these masses, two teenagers could be seen walking down a street, the street itself was strangely empty and the sounds from their footsteps seemed to be close to nothing, drowned out by the moving of automobiles and other such vehicles.

Samuel looked around in mild curiosity, he was having a hard time keeping his gaze on the girl walking by his side. The girl in question, Shouko, was somewhat oblivious to his small dilemma and was all smiles.

Even if she'd been through this same place innumerable times, today made it all look different. Perhaps she was a little too happy but none could really blame her, Shouko hadn't had such a thing happen to her.

And walking so close, Samuel really was tall...

Samuel rubbed his chin in thought, observing his surroundings.

One might question, how was he living so casually after Echidna had made sure he could see all that shouldn't be seen? The answer to that was simple, he could switch his vision back and forth depending on necessity so right now, Samuel didn't see any of the spirits that walked the planet... and besides, even if he could. They weren't enough to unnerve someone like Samuel.

"What are you thinking about?" Shouko made an attempt at conversing, signing her question with her hands, for some reason, Samuel seemed to be aloof often.

In response, Samuel only smiled and waved off her worries, "I'm thinking about how school is a pain." He lightly chuckled near the end, hadn't even been there much and already found it annoying...

"Are you having troubles with studies?" Shouko asked in curiosity, that would be something unexpected... wait, was she judging him by his appearance?

"Depends, would you help me out if I was?" Samuel had an amused smile on his face, perhaps this was wrong of him.

Shouko's curious look turned to a confused one and then to a convicted one, she nodded seriously, "If you're alright with it, I'll try my best." Friends were to help each other out in such things right? It wasn't always about having fun, they had to support each other in their troubles too.

Samuel sighed at her serious response, he.... didn't know how to deal with someone so... innocent? No... Pure? He couldn't quite describe her with one word and that was somewhat astounding, Samuel was of the belief that he was a good judge of character.

'I don't blame you, I'm also fairly surprised.' Whether it was pleasant or worrying however, none except the Witch herself knew.

Shouko was slightly confused by his sighing but seeing him just laugh afterwards, she smiled too. He was a strange person...but, just as she'd thought, Samuel was by no means a bad person. At least not since she'd known him.

-x-X-x-

"Eggs, Baking Soda...Milk, Oil..."

Was Shouko trying to bake a cake or something?

Samuel pondered on what they'd bought, standing at the counter with a thoughtful expression. He was by no means a cook or something...but,

'But, there's nothing you can not do.'

No, it wasn't some kind of praise or pep talk, there was really nothing that he couldn't do so long as the methods were either shown to him or explained in a certain amount of detail.

Shouko was going through her handbag, wanting to pay for her groceries but stopped short, her eyes carried a hint of panic.

"You forgot..." Samuel smiled in silence, looking at Shouko slowly nodding, somewhat distraught, what was she going to do now? It was a wasted trip. Samuel had walked all this way with her and now they'd have to make the trip twice.. While she didn't necessarily mind, her friend would surely be inconvenienced.

The girl at the counter, looked at the teenagers standing in front of her with a strange expression on her face. She was working this job to make some pocket change and from time to time, there were strange customers but, seeing a young couple where one person was deaf was a new one, even for her. It was even more surprising that someone with an appearance like the guy's would even bother with a disabled person, hell even she had a small blush on her face just looking at him.

So yes, she was both confused and curious.

"I'm...sorry." Shouko lowered her gaze, sneaking glances at Samuel, she expected to be rebuked so, her surprise when he just smiled, patted her head and paid with his own money was noticeable.

The girl at the counter simply took the money, she was quite curious about this strange couple. Why was the deaf girl apologising for something like this?

"This is actually pretty common."

Since Samuel was gesturing with his hands, the third person there had no idea what he was saying to Shouko but seeing the girl's expressions change from confusion to smiles to realisation was a sight soothing for her own heart. As for trying to get the man's number? Nahh, she wasn't like that and clearly, there was something more to the relation between the two teenagers.

"Then... thank you." Shouko bowed gratefully, she would make sure to pay him back once they reached her home. She looked at Samuel in slight surprise and admiration, touching her head with confused eyes. Shouko was certain she'd never met a person like this...

Samuel nodded, "No problem." He knew that trying to dissuade her from that would probably end in complete failure..... Some part of him wanted to try though...

-x-X-x-

'Her common sense needs recalibration.'

"You live inside my head, how can you talk about what's common sense?"

'Oh my, you think of me that much?'

"Can it."

Samuel brushed off the witch, standing at the door to Shouko's home with a few bags in his hands, ones that he'd insisted on carrying and managed to convince Shouko to let him carry them. It was a tough battle indeed considering the girl had grown up to be fairly independent despite not showing it outwardly.

Though, it was strange that she didn't think much of entering her home, "Maybe she hasn't realised it yet?" Samuel muttered out, following behind her after locking the door and taking off his shoes.

"....?" He stopped short in the living room, having noticed a frail old woman sitting on a chair knitting something while a humming a calm tune, she had a short stature and was pretty cute... As in, the way old people were cute.

"Good morning." Samuel bowed politely, his tone was respectful albeit somewhat happy? It was really easy to figure out that she was a relative of Shouko's, probably her grandmother.. It wasn't like there'd be a random old lady there right?

"Who... are you, young man?" Ito Nishimiya, Shouko's grandmother, eyed the tall teenager that had walked in carrying multiple bags in curiosity and doubt. She'd noticed her granddaughter acting strangely... She even had a different hairstyle today..

"Are you the friend she's been on about since yesterday?"

"Grandm'a!"

Shouko was...embarrassed.

"I'm glad you think that though.." Samuel smiled teasingly, slightly happy, messing with her was fun... but, she was a good person overall as well.

"...." Shouko smiled at him with closed eyes, she too was happy with his words. It meant he accepted that they were friends and joyous about the fact as well.

"..." Ito felt like a third wheel.

Now wasn't the time for that though, Shouko, strong as she was, was also naive. She had to size up this young man and find out if he truly was as he appeared, if not, she'd throw him out of the house.

Samuel and Ito looked at each other in tacit understanding.

The silver haired teenager handed over the bags to Shouko before sitting down on the floor, near Ito.

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