Shopping With Takebayashi

"Then, goodbye, Nakano-kun."

Takebayashi's intentions were clear, she wanted to separate.

"Um, goodbye, Takebayashi-san." Akira waved his hand.

Just as Takebayashi had walked a few steps, a man 'accidentally' bumped into her.

"Ouch, I'm sorry."

The man ignored her and continued walking at a fast pace.

Akira watched this with a faint smile. When the man passed by, his hands moved quickly without anyone realizing.

"Takebayashi-san, wait a moment."

"What's wrong, Nakano-kun?"

"Be more careful next time."

Akira stretched his hand holding the woman's wallet forward.

"That's... My wallet?"

Takebayashi immediately checked the contents of her bag, and did not find her wallet.

"I'm sure I didn't drop it..."

"This is not your carelessness, but the act of a pickpocket."

"Could it be the man just now?"

Hearing Akira's instructions, Takebayashi immediately thought of the man who bumped into her a moment ago. Then she took her wallet and thanked him.

"Thank you, Nakano-kun. Thanks to you, my wallet is safe. Wait a minute..."

She felt like she was missing something, after thinking for a moment, she realized what she was missing.

"If my wallet was stolen, then how can my wallet be with you?"

"The answer is simple, I stole your wallet from that pickpocket."

Akira shrugged, it seemed like it was just a trivial matter.

"You make it sound like it's easy. Not everyone can do that, okay? Anyway, thanks again for returning my wallet. It seems, I owe you a favor, Nakano-kun."

Akira's favorable impression in Takebayashi's mind increased several points after this incident.

"Well, then I'm going shopping." Akira said.

"Wait, Nakano-kun. If... If you don't mind, would you accompany me shopping. I was worried that the pickpocket would look for me after realizing my wallet wasn't with him."

Takebayashi's face flushed slightly, this was the first time she took the initiative to invite someone of the opposite sex to go together, even if it was just to accompany her shopping.

"That makes sense." Akira nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Nakano-kun." Takebayashi smiled gently.

"Stop thanking me. Takebayashi-san has said that so many times that my ears hurt."

"Awful~, Nakano-kun doesn't appreciate my gratitude."

Changing the topic, Akira cleared his throat and asked: "Ahem, so what do we want to buy first?"

"Can I see your shopping list?"

"Of course."

Receiving the shopping list, Takebayashi read it quickly.

"Hmm... These are the ingredients for cooking curry rice. Yosh, the menu for dinner tonight is curry rice."

She didn't want to bother Akira accompanying her around buying groceries, so she chose to cook the same food.

Akira is not stupid. He knew Takebayashi's intentions, but he didn't say anything. After all, the sun would soon be setting, he didn't want to be late coming home just because he accompanied a girl he had only known for less than an hour.

"Nakano-kun knows a stall that sells these ingredients?"

"I don't know."

Akira answered honestly.

This is Tokai City, not Tokyo City. Even though he remembered the topography because of the quest for the Jewel of Four Souls, that didn't mean he knew everything.

He only remembered the location of the museum and temple in Tokai City, he didn't care about the rest.

"Then, let me lead. I often shop in this shopping district." Takebayashi offers a suggestion.

"Sure, why not?" Akira nodded his head.

Then the two of them started shopping. After only walking for 3 minutes, the two of them stopped at a stall selling potatoes.

"Welcome. Please choose, these are potatoes from Okinawa. These potatoes have thin skin and soft flesh. It is very suitable for cooking various dishes such as Nikujaga, curry rice, and potato salad."

The stall owner is very enthusiastic about serving customers.

Akira and Takebayashi received plastic bags from the stall owner.

Takebayashi glanced at him selecting the potatoes, then clapped his hands.

"What is it?" Akira asked confused.

"Is this Nakano-kun's first time shopping for vegetables?"

"Not really. Sometimes I accompany my older sister. So what?"

"You chose poor quality potatoes."

Taking a potato from Akira's plastic, Takebayashi took out the contents of the plastic.

"Try comparing your choice of potatoes and mine. My potatoes have clean skin and no wounds or abrasions, have a round or oval shape, a firm and dense texture, are bright yellow in color, and good potatoes are usually medium sized."

"Potatoes that are too large or too small usually don't taste as good."

Listening to Takebayashi's explanation, Akira fell silent. He didn't expect that just choosing potatoes had so many prerequisites.

"Wow, you are very knowledgeable miss. Young man, your girlfriend will be a good wife and housewife in the future. It's rare for women these days to be able to cook, let alone know this much. Don't let her go, or you will regret it."

The stall owner praised Takebayashi, then advised Akira with a nostalgic expression. Maybe he missed a good girl in his youth.

"Ah, I'm not his girlfriend. W-We're just friends."

Hearing that, Takebayashi's face was as red as an apple.

"Is that so? What a shame, you should try harder, young man." The stall owner winked at Akira.

The more Takebayashi heard, the more embarrassed she felt. She speeded up choosing potatoes without daring to glance at Akira again.

In contrast to her shy reaction, Akira would not blush just because of this.

This time, he chose potatoes according to her advice.

After weighing the potatoes, and paying the bill, the two left the stall full and moved on to the next stall.

"Hey, Takebayashi-san, do you have a boyfriend?"

"Hah? Why is Nakano-kun asking this suddenly?"

"Just curious. If it bothers you, forget it."

After a moment of silence, Takebayashi smiled wryly and shook her head.

"I don't have a boyfriend. What about Nakano-kun himself, do you have a girlfriend?"

"No. I'm still single."

Akira technically wasn't lying. Indeed, many girls like him, but they are not in an official relationship. Even so, he has been in bed with several women.

Takebayashi nodded and didn't know what she was thinking.

Next, the two of them visited a stall selling chicken, carrots, curry spices, garlic and onions.

Even after purchasing all the necessary ingredients, the pickpocket didn't come looking for Takebayashi.

At the entrance to the shopping district, Takebayashi dared to ask:

"Nakano-kun, let's exchange emails. I want to thank you for returning my wallet."

"Sure."

Taking out his cell phone, Akira exchanged emails with her.

"Bye Bye, Nakano-kun."

"Um. Goodbye, Takebayashi-san."

They both said goodbye and took different roads.