The supermarket ‘Kinjou’ is near my house.

It’s open twenty-four hours, so it’s convenient any time, a true ally to our household.

I’d been on guard, thinking she’d do something troublesome again, but so far Takatsuka-san walking beside me pushing the cart, showed no strange behavior.

“You come here often?”

“Yeah. It’s easy and cheap.”

“Then when I want to see you, I’ll wait here.”

“That’s creepy. Don’t stalk me.”

“Well, we haven’t exchanged contact info. Because you’re stubborn.”

Ever since we began eating behind the school, she kept asking about LINE, but I refused since I feared constant messages invading my privacy.

“If you weren’t so forceful, I might tell you.”

“Come now. We’re already that close, yet you won’t share LINE. How mysterious.”

“We’re not that close and we’re not dating.”

“Really? Timing difference only.”

“Please take this seriously.”

I held back a sigh and placed planned items into the cart.

I normally decide on purchases beforehand, yet she vanished and tossed random products into the cart like a child.

“Hayama-kun. Buy this.”

“We don’t eat cereal. Put it back.”

“How about this?”

“You just want CalorieMate.”

“And this?”

“Put that back… ”

When I took it, I froze.

She’d put contraceptives in the cart.

“How!? Where from!?”

“From the pharmacy aisle. Lovers should be safe. Think of my body.”

“I don’t need that!”

“So you prefer without? If you want, I don’t mind.”

She clung to my arm excitedly.

“I want you to feel good, so do as you like.”

“That’s too graphic!”

I shouted and shoppers stared.

My face burned.

“Stop interfering or go home!”

“Sorry. Shopping with you excites me.”

Excited is fine, but don’t cause trouble.

“Go return them!”

“Tch fine. Seeing you blush was enough.”

She returned them easily, clearly just teasing.

“…Now I need seasonings…”

Checking my phone list I pushed the cart.

“There but…”

The sauce I wanted was on the top shelf.

‘It’s usually lower…’

Maybe rearranged. Being short is inconvenient.

I stretched—

“You want that sauce? Wait.”

She easily grabbed it.

While reaching her chest pressed toward me and suddenly closer—

“Whoa.”

Through the hoodie, her chest pressed my face.

“Sorry. But it’s not unpleasant, right?”

“Was that on purpose?”

“Well. Here.”

“Thanks…”

I put the seasoning in the cart, feeling awkward.

She helped me reach it, so maybe she was being kind despite that.

“I still can’t tell if you’re good or bad.”

“What an odd thing. What’s bad about me?”

“…You’re serious?”

“Of course. I’m simply a girl in love.”

I couldn’t tell if she joked or not.

Tilting my head, I pushed the cart toward the checkout.