Too Close for Comfort Pt. 2

I stood in the fresh produce section, arms crossed, staring intently at a pile of tomatoes like they held the secrets of the universe.

What am I even looking for? Firmness? Ripeness? A mystical glow that indicated divine approval? I have no idea. All I know is that grocery shopping seems a lot easier when I'm not the one actually doing it.

I picked up a tomato, gave it a once-over, and gently squeezed it.

Okay, cool. It's very... tomato-like in a way. Round, red, and just a tiny bit squishy. That has to count for something, right?

Just as I was debating whether I should just buy random stuff and hope for the best, a shopping cart rolled up beside me, knocking into my leg.

"Move it, Aikami!"

Lana grinned at me from behind the handle, her cart already half-full with an assortment of snacks, instant ramen, and... Is that a ten-pack of chocolate pudding?

"Sheesh, you look like a lost puppy," she teased, plucking a tomato from the pile and tossing it into the cart without hesitation. "What, don't know how to pick vegetables?"

"Not all of us have experience in raiding supermarkets, Lana," I scoffed.

"Pfft. It's common sense! Look." She grabbed an apple, gave it a dramatic inspection, then nodded as if she were some fruit connoisseur. "This one's good. No bruises. Shiny. Got that nice apple-y vibe."

"Apple-y vibe. Right. Astute observation. Very scientific. Didn't know I was in the presence of this generation's Einstein."

Before Lana could launch into another lecture on the art of grocery shopping, Chloe appeared beside us, carefully placing a tray of raw chicken into the cart.

"It's okay, Aikami," she reassured. "You don't have to worry too much about picking the perfect ingredients. Just buy what you like, and I'll cook something good with it!"

Without thinking, I grabbed onto Chloe's hands.

"You're a true saint, Chloe," I said, reveling in the fact that I've found a true goddess.

At first, she was flustered. "Eh?! O-oh... Um...! Then, shriveled up, turning away with a subtle smile. "Hehe... Thanks, Aikami. I appreciate that."

Meanwhile, Lana squinted at Chloe, then at the chicken. "Huh. How come you get to pick actual ingredients while I get side-eyed for snacks?"

"Because Chloe isn't using our grocery trip as an excuse to hoard enough pudding to last a whole apocalypse," I shot back.

Lana gasped, clutching her chest. "I am not!"

Before I could argue further, a soft chuckle came from behind me.

Alice strolled up, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold with clear amusement. Then, with a knowing smile, she plucked an onion from the display, holding it up between her fingers.

"Such a strange case you are, Aikami," she mused, tilting her head. "Tell me—would you say this onion is good or bad?"

I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated.

That onion... is just an onion. How am I supposed to tell if it's good or bad? Is there some secret technique I never learned? At this point, it's a fifty-fifty. I just have to guess and hope I don't make a fool of myself.

"...It's good."

Wait—what was that? That wasn't me. I didn't say that. It was... a voice. A voice inside my head. And now, it's telling me to—

"It's good," I repeated aloud, almost automatically.

Alice's lips curled into a smirk. "Oh? Such confidence. And you're right—it is a good onion. Almost perfect, in fact. Do you know why?"

Again, that voice echoed in my mind. "Because it was me."

"What?" I blurted out.

Alice blinked. "What do you mean, 'what'? It shouldn't be that hard to tell… unless, of course, you merely guessed."

"No, I wasn't talking to you," I said quickly, looking around. "I meant—whoever just spoke in my head."

Lana narrowed her eyes. "...In your head?"

Before I could answer, a lively voice chimed in from beyond the shelves. "Oops! Looks like I've been caught red-handed!"

A woman abruptly emerged from the next aisle, stepping toward us with a skip in her stride. Her dark brown hair, tinged with hints of crimson, cascaded down her back in gentle waves. She was a little taller than me, and as she leaned in slightly, her sharp gray eyes locked onto mine with an almost playful curiosity.

"Hello, dear," she greeted warmly, her voice rich with kindness. "It's an absolute pleasure to finally meet the Fates' one and only."

"O-one and only?!" Chloe sputtered, her face turning red. "Demeter! It's not like that!"

Demeter simply chuckled, waving off Chloe's flustered denial. "Oh, sweetheart, you're not fooling anyone." She sighed wistfully, clasping her hands together. "Ah~ What a sight. I never thought I'd live to see something so precious. And I suppose I have you to thank, young man."

There was something about her presence—like the warmth of the sun after a long winter, gentle yet undeniable. Just standing near her made me feel strangely at ease, as if I were wrapped in a soft embrace.

"If I may ask..." she continued sweetly. "What's your name, dear?"

"I… It's Aikami Enzou, ma'am," I said, straightening up instinctively under her gaze.

"Aikami Enzou. What a lovely name. Decently handsome too." She tilted her head, studying me for a beat before her lips curled into something a touch more mischievous. "Now tell me… what do you think of our beloved Fates?"

"D-Demeter!" Lana sputtered.

"Ah-ah!" Demeter wagged a finger, her smirk unwavering. "Let me hear the young man's answer first."

What do I think about them? It should be easy to say. After all, I've had plenty to grumble about since meeting them.

They're chaotic, eccentric, and overly domineering. One moment, they acted like my self-appointed guides to the unknown, and the next, they're a daily part of my life.

But at the core of it all, they're just... people.

They're beautiful, so captivating that whenever I found myself looking at them, it was hard to look away. The way they laughed always caught me off guard, like hearing a melody so familiar yet impossible to forget. Their kindness rubbed off on me in ways I never thought possible, wearing down my reluctance little by little.

They always tried to include me, no matter how much I resisted. And before I knew it... I started enjoying it.

To me… the way I think of them…

Demeter rested her hand on my shoulder, pulling me away from my thoughts. She smiled gently as if she'd already known everything.

"Heh. As expected of the one who walks hand in hand with our beloved Fates."

"W-wha…?" I stammered, blinking.

"Wait. Aikami didn't even say anything," Alice pointed out, crossing her arms.

"Oh, he didn't need to, sweetheart," Demeter winked, her voice light with amusement. "I saw what I needed to see."

Alice opened her mouth to retort but hesitated, her sharp gaze flickering toward me with an uncharacteristic uncertainty. She wasn't the only one. Chloe and Lana were both looking at me strangely.

Demeter chuckled, brushing her fingers through her long, crimson-tinted hair. "Haha~ I'm sorry for teasing so much, sweethearts. It's just… nice. Seeing you three like this."

She turned, walking away with the same graceful ease with which she arrived. But just before she disappeared behind the corner, she glanced back at me one last time.

"By the way, dear..." she said. "Did you figure out why that onion was perfect?"

"The onion...?" I mumbled unsurely. "...Because you nurtured it. The Goddess of Harvest."

Demeter chuckled, her eyes twinkling with approval. "Fufu~ Well done. No need to be mortal and hopeless, hmm?"

And with that, she was gone. At least… until my next inevitable encounter with the divines.

"Why do these gods and goddesses always show up at the most random moments...?" I sighed.

"I mean, she's got a point though," Lana grinned. "You really are hopeless, Aikami."

"I am not hopeless. I've been doing just fine."

"Oh? Let's see…" Alice placed a delicate finger on her chin. "Minimal groceries, questionable eating habits, and a complete lack of culinary knowledge—yes, thriving, truly. I'm sure Demeter, who is also the Goddess of Nurture, would agree wholeheartedly."

Chloe giggled. "Don't worry, Aikami. That's why you have us now!"

"Oh, lucky me."

"You're welcome," Alice smirked.

As the three of them continued to snicker at my expense, I silently wondered if it was too late to abandon the cart and bolt for the exit.