I'm sure you've heard the phrase that humans are social creatures.

As it would turn out, Goda did in fact recognize the temple they'd just spent about a half hour traveling to. From what he could recall it was a buddhist temple that he'd visited as part of a class trip back in elementary school. At the time he'd been among the group of boys in class who'd decided beforehand that temples were boring. As a result they'd spent half the day racing between the various gates, to the dismay of their chaperones, and the other half repenting inside one of the halls. Goda could only imagine how incensed the temple staff must have been at the time. Speaking of incense, he happened to notice an incense burner not far from the entrance to the precinct. 

Also located near the entrance was the souvenir shop that Nakahara was making a bee-line for. Goda followed at his own pace and upon entering the shop returned a friendly nod from the older cashier, who was likely met by indifference from Nakahara. He spotted her along one of the back walls examining merchandise but figured if she wanted his opinion she'd be the type ask. So instead he settled for hanging around the entrance and browsing some of the more gimmicky stuff. 

"Looking for anything in particular young man?" 

Goda turned towards the cashier who'd come around the counter to converse.

"I'm not, but that one's on a mission as you can see." He gestured toward his counterpart who'd already moved on to another section.

"Your girlfriend perhaps?"

"Do we look like a couple?" Goda was honestly asking. He didn't think they gave off that vibe in the least. What with her constantly going ahead and ignoring him half the time. 

"Couples come in all shapes and sizes. Although I will admit I'd have considered you strangers if not for the school uniforms."

"Well we were strangers as of yesterday."

The man smiled at that, "An unexpected encounter then. Funny how life sends them our way when we tend to need them most."

That flustered Goda for some reason and he tried to find something to distract him. It was then he recalled the incense burner outside. 

"I noticed the incense burner by the gate, I take it you sell bundles here?"

"But of course, right this way!"

Goda followed the man over to the counter and watched as he pulled a small bundle from one of the shelfs behind him. Goda reached for his wallet only to be waved off.

"That won't be necessary."

Goda was quick to argue. "I insist—"

"Think of it as a token of our own unexpected encounter."

The man winked and shooed him off in the direction of the burner. Goda began to leave but paused in the doorway and looked back at the man a final time as he was about to check out Nakahara, who seemed to have found whatever she was looking for. 

"I'll use them wisely."

Exiting the shop and sauntering over to the incense burner, Goda hesitated when he realized he'd never lit incense before. He was unsure whether there was some sort of decorum he should be following in regards to lighting the sticks and placing them. He did note that the sticks leftover from previous visitors seemed to be place haphazardly in clumps and decided something similar would suffice. 

So Goda lit the incense one at a time and placed them in a half circle in front of him, then stood and watched as the flames began working their way down each stick. The smell of the incense washing over him, treating him to a very fragrant wood smell he was unfamiliar with.     

"Agarwood if I'm not mistaken."

Goda looked over at Nakahara who'd joined him at some point, purchase in hand, and watched  as she closed her eyes to better appreciate the scent of the smoke. 

"A type of resin-rich aromatic wood, meaning it falls under the kunko category of contemporary japanese incense."

"You know a lot about stuff huh."

Nakahara reopened her eyes and stepped out of the direct path of the smoke. "Perhaps. I'm sure I've browsed a book or pamphlet on japanese kodo at some point or another. Something was bound to stick."

"I see." Goda wondered whether he'd unintentionally contributed to this impartial well of knowledge the evening prior during his rant about Bagemon. Come to think of it she'd whipped out some fact about flames having different colors then. Must have been from another book or something.

"So what did you get for your frenemy?" Goda gestured at the small white bag from the shop.

Nakahara rolled her eyes at the designation he'd given the recipient of the gift, but pulled it out of the bag nonetheless.      

"You bought them a stamp book."

"I did. I think it'll suffice."

"I mean, I know it's for a kid or whatever but...I'm just saying if I got this as a gift I'd probably be bored to tears."

"Then it's a good thing you won't be the one receiving this." She dropped the book back into the bag and began walking in the direction they'd came.

"Not that I didn't revel in the fragrance of aro-whatever wood, but I thought you brought me along to help pick something out. Seeing how confident you are in that stamp book, why bring me along at all?"

Goda wasn't necessarily complaining about his lack of involvement today, he was trying to befriend this girl after all, so her accepting his company on this endeavor was a good start. He just thought being friends with someone meant trying to understand their way of thinking. At least to an extent. Which in turn could bring them closer in the future. 

"It's true your presence wasn't explicitly necessary when it came to the selection process, but that wasn't my intent in bringing you along." 

"Ok then, humor me. What was the reason?"

Nakahara stopped walking and stood silent for a moment. She seemed conflicted with the notion of explaining herself to him. He could tell as much by the look on her face, because if nothing else Nakahara Yurika was very expressive when it came to her facial expressions. 

"I'm sure you've heard the phrase that humans are social creatures." Goda nodded, wanting to make his investment in her response known. "it means that from an early age we're wired to form and develop social connections. Or at least we're supposed to be." A regretful expression   briefly flickered across Nakahara's face. "some of us have more success developing these connections than others, and there are even some with no tangible successes at all." Goda was getting a sense of where this was all going. "naturally changing that requires effort, not just from the personal perspective but from both parties, and I guess...this is the first time in a while, that the other party has made this much of an effort."

The couple stood silently on the sidewalk as the world continued moving around them, maintaining a distance that blurred the line between acquaintances and strangers. Nakahara's words taking their time to sink in and permeate. Until Goda closed that distance and spoke up again.

"I'm glad you told me. I was worried what Hoga-senpai said about us being in the same boat pressured you into letting me join. But I get it now. This is your version of making an effort, right. It just so happens your take is a bit standoffish. Nothing wrong with that, if anything you could argue it weeds out the superficial connections. I guess what I'm trying to say is...I'm glad you invited me along. And I'm honestly stupid happy that you recognized I was making an effort. Yikes, listen to me monologuing. Talk about gross. Um...it looks like we'll be in each others care from now on so, I look forward to getting to know you better." Goda released the breath he didn't realize he was holding and squared up with his classmate. "the real you that is."

Nakahara was speechless during the course of his monologue, and remained that way the entire trip back. Fortunately that face of hers told Goda everything he needed to know. She was stunned, overwhelmed even. But also happy, though they weren't at a stage where she'd readily admit it. All things considered, not bad for a relationship lasting all of a day and a half. And with their respective suspensions in place, there'd be plenty more to help define that relationship. Who knows, maybe one day he'd be telling his future grandchildren all about the girl he won in a crane game.