Salmon? - Hiroshi's Humanity Arc

“Dude, would you calm down?!”

“I can’t! I dunno what she wants!”

“Do you not know the woman at all? Do you ever talk about hobbies or interests or anything?!”

“No! It’s always just small talk!”

Tomokazu sighed as he looked at his colleague’s sorry state. They had been wandering around the city for the past half an hour. Hiroshi seemed to pick out a new set of clothes for himself in no time flat. However, when it came to getting something for Wisteria, the usually composed and hard-hearted man was at a crossroads.

“You are a disaster. How did you ever…never mind,” Tomokazu was about to mention Blossom, but he decided that it was still slightly too soon. “Get her something…unexpected.”

“What do you mean?” Hiroshi was sweating from head to toe, looking inside a shop window at expensive jewelry. “That’s only seven hundred and fifty Dexes, surely that would be worth it.” (Dexes is a currency in the world, and would be similar to the exchange of a European Euro).

“What I mean is, she will expect a ring, or chocolates, or flowers. Get her something new. That way, she knows that you took time to think about her gift, and not just picked it out haphazardly and rashly. You understand?” Tomokazu explained to Hiroshi, who had begun to calm down and stood away from the shop window.

“Yes, I get it. I think…I have an idea.”

Close by, Bibi and Wisteria were also looking in a shop window. However, they were looking at items much more…well…explicit.

“I bet that Hiroshi is a little pervert! I guarantee you he will like that one!” Bibi laughed, pointing at the tiny bikini in the window. Wisteria blushed. She could imagine herself in it, but she didn’t like what she saw in her mind at all.

“Well…um…uh…,” she replied, too shy to give a proper agreement or argument. Bibi rolled her eyes.

“I’m messing! Did you not see the way that he was with Blossom? Her body didn’t matter to him. It was all in her personality. Pick one that fits you nicely. Hiroshi won’t be looking anywhere but your face.”

“Y-You sure?”

“Yes, I’m positive. You have been staring at the shop window for the past thirty minutes. Just choose one that suits you and that you like, not thinking what !”

Bibi walked into the shop to choose one for herself. Wisteria didn’t know what to think. Why was she caring so much about what Hiroshi thought? Next month, their day out was going to the beach. Was Hiroshi going to find her body ugly or unsightly? She couldn’t imagine it. She didn’t want to either.

“Wisteria?”

Her face went to the color of a tomato. She knew that voice all too well. She began to panic. If Hiroshi was to find her staring at these revealing bathing suits…

“Y-Yeah?!” she yelped, her voice raising in pitch ever so slightly.

“I was just wondering if you and Bibi were ready to go shortly?” Hiroshi asked, a white trash bag in his hand. He looked into the shop window. Hiroshi’s face turned to the exact color of Wisteria’s. “Oh…um…”

“I haven’t chosen one yet. Can you give me a minute?” Wisteria asked politely. She had no idea why she felt so humiliated.

“Yes of course. Can I tell you one thing though? I think you would look good in all of them,” Hiroshi said with a smile. On the outside, he was cool, calm and collected.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

That was on the inside, and Kuro-Yami was getting his own headache from listening to Hiroshi struggle with his feelings for Wisteria.

"Can you shut up? I'm getting a headache!" Kuro-Yami piped up, going back to reading his newspaper.

Eventually, Wisteria plucked up enough courage. However, when she looked at the price tag of the one she wanted, her heart sank.

“Oh, I…don’t have enough.”

“Here, take this,” Hiroshi said, giving her the required amount.

“Oh no, Oshi! It’s alright!”

“Take it! It’s fine!”

“Nuh uh! I can’t pay you back!”

“I don’t care! Kage gave me this money anyway! It’s fine just take it…”

“Hey! It’s that monster! From the Tournament! Yes that's him! Freak!”

Hiroshi’s whole body froze. He could hear a young man’s voice from behind him. Wisteria turned to face the voice slowly. There were three teenagers, around the same age as them. They were wearing clothes that stood out, as if asking for trouble. Hiroshi hid his face. Wisteria’s mind was racing. Why was Hiroshi hiding from them? He could easily stand up for himself.

And yet, nothing.

No usual hatred or malice. He was scared. Scared to show them who or what he truly was. Wisteria, who usually got upset at scenarios like this, got angry.

Not just angry.

Pissed off.

“What the hell did you just say about my friend?” she growled, and the teenagers backed up slightly, their backs hitting against a wall. Hiroshi was surprised. He had never seen Wisteria lash out like this.

“Y-You do know who that is, don’t you, lady?” one of the boys yelled back. Wisteria wasn’t listening. She walked up to him and grabbed him by the collar. The other two boys ran off in fear.

“Don’t you ever call him that again. Do you understand me?!”

“Y-Yes madam!”

“Good. Tell anyone about this, I will find you, and I will do a lot worse than just pushing you against a wall. Now go away,” Wisteria grumbled, letting go of the teenager. She had no idea why she did that. She was never that aggressive usually.

“Thanks Wisteria, I appreciate it,” Hiroshi said, a small smile forming on his face. He was grateful for her. Maybe Kage was right. She was stronger than him. He just needed to do better. Eventually, Hiroshi and Wisteria came to an understanding and shared the money to buy her a swimsuit.

After they got back to Lightley, Wisteria went back home to get some rest. She was hardly in bed for a few minutes before there was a knock on the door. She got out of bed and opened the door, to see Hiroshi standing there with a clear, white bag.

“Oshi? What’s up?”

Hiroshi reached into his bag and pulled out a fresh salmon.

“What’s that, Hiroshi?” Wisteria asked, a confused look on her face. How the heck did he know that she loved salmon? That was like, her favorite dinner!

“For your dinner…with your parents…a present I suppose,” he forced himself to smile, and Wisteria smiled back and took the red fish from him.

“Thank you so much, Oshi. You…you’re such a good guy. Would you like to come in?” she stuttered with shyness.

"Nah it's fine. Have a good night," Hiroshi replied, and then Wisteria closed the door with a grin, and Hiroshi's smile immediately faded.

"You still don't know me at all, do you?" he asked the door, which gave no response.

Emptiness...is that what this was? He really wanted to go inside. Did he want her as a partner or not? Was he just too scared? He wasn't quite sure.

Blossom...