Chapter 6: Deals

Haru was heading back home after cleaning the classroom.

"There are no student council activities this afternoon."

"I have more important matters to deal with today."

Those were the president’s words. In public, the way she spoke was much more rigid. She didn’t want anyone to see her vulnerable.

"Should I ask her for her phone number?" Haru murmured.

As if it were a divine sign, his phone vibrated, catching him by surprise.

What were the chances that the president had sent him a text message?

The answer was… none.

When he looked at the message, it was indeed from his sister.

"(Sora) There are no club activities today."

"(Sora) What are we having for a snack, onii-chan?"

"Greedy girl, always thinking about sweets…"

He smiled a little.

"(Haru) Do you want to go to uncle’s café?"

"(Sora) No thanks. I don’t feel like seeing that dirty old man."

"(Haru) I understand – Nervous Smile Emoji."

"(Haru) I’ll stop by Don Molinos and see if I can make something sweet."

"(Sora) Thanks, onii-chan. You’re the best!"

"(Sora) Happy Emoji"

He put his phone away and, with a smile, kept walking toward Don Molinos supermarket building.

"Friday 50% discount at the supermarket… nothing escapes you, little sister."

Once inside, Haru grabbed a basket and walked through the aisles, carefully looking at prices, discounts, and expiration dates.

After all, saving money was his special skill.

At one point, he saw a familiar silhouette crouched by the rice shelf, as if she were debating what to take.

He slowly approached the girl with the rebellious strand of hair.

"If you're thinking about the cheapest rice, I recommend the one on the left. Two half-kilo packs… you save 20% more than if you take the one-kilo pack."

The young woman, wrapped in oversized clothes, turned to look at him.

"I knew I recognized you from somewhere," Haru commented.

Just as she was about to respond.

"You're the one from the combini that time, right?"

The girl simply picked up the two bags of rice, gave a quick bow, and walked away.

"You're welcome…" he said.

"What a strange girl."

Haru decided not to think much about it as he headed to the desserts and baking section.

He stood there looking at the shelf for a few seconds.

"3 for 2 on puddings, a chocolate cake mix for the oven… and I’ll take some raspberry gelatin too."

"Alright, I have the sweet stuff. Now next…"

Before leaving, he saw a jar of dulce de leche from Uruguay.

"Mom once told me that in South America they put this on pudding… I wonder if she would like it."

He took it and placed it in the basket.

"Now the meat and the vegetables."

After buying a few more things, Haru went back home. Luckily for him, the market was only a few blocks away.

The city of Kanazawa was always full of life outdoors, and the plazas were a good example of that: children playing, couples sitting while looking at the sea, and a fresh salty breeze in the air.

"I wonder if she goes for walks here too."

"I always see her working and studying."

For a moment, he imagined her sitting in front of the sea, reading a book.

He gave a faint smile and kept walking.

Almost reaching his house, he saw the girl from before, the one from the combini with the rebellious hair.

"Is she visiting someone…?"

She entered a complex of very old small apartments. She seemed to look around everywhere, as if making sure no one was following her.

"So that’s where she lives…"

His gaze turned a little melancholic and his smile disappeared.

"I always thought it was an abandoned complex."

Haru looked back one last time toward the complex and could see that only one window had its light on.

Then he continued on his way.

Once at home, there was a note stuck on the refrigerator.

"Onii-chan, I’m going to take a bath and then I have online classes. Let me know when the snack is ready! — Sora."

He smiled faintly again while looking at an old family photo.

"Alright, time to get to work…"

A few hours later, he went upstairs with a slice of chocolate, strawberry, and cream cake, a big mug of chocolate milk, and a glass of water.

He left it at the door of his sister’s room and went back downstairs.

Once downstairs, he saw that many portions were left for two people.

Once again, the president invaded his mind.

"I'm sure she would do the same…"

He looked for a container, placed two slices of cake inside, added a can of soda from his fridge, and put everything into a bag.

Then he placed a note and headed out toward the complex of old apartments.

He climbed the stairs slowly and saw the young woman, with her back to the window, eating instant noodles.

He left the bag at the door and, from below, tossed a small stone at the door before running away.

The young woman came out and saw the bag.

"Who left this…?" she murmured while her rebellious hair took the shape of a question mark.

"I hope you enjoy it, I wanted to share it with you," said the note.

She looked inside the bag and saw the slices of cake placed inside a box, along with the drink.

"Share it with me? Who?"

She looked down the stairs, but there was no one there anymore. Whoever had left it had already disappeared…

And for a moment, she felt warmth in her chest, comfortable and warmer than the steam from the noodles.