[FIC] First Impressions (part 23 : epilogue)
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:48 pm
“Another?”
Sousuke stood, his shoulders slumping somewhat. This was definitely more difficult than Basic Training had been. It required far more endurance and strength of will than the Klyuchevskaya Sopka mission had. The only thing that had been a greater strain had been his youthful days with the mujhaideen.
“Come on, Sousuke. Some soldier you are. If a civilian girl can do this, you can. Sheeesh!” Kaname tossed her hair and started walking towards the entry door again. “Besides, it’s fun, right? Don’t you want things to be perfect?”
Striding towards the doors of the flagship Mitsukoshi store, flanked by two lions modeled after sculptures in Trafalgar Square, Sousuke caught a glimpse of the another statue inside the building, reaching from floor to ceiling. It was Magokoro, the Goddess of Sincerity. Great.
If he answered honestly, Kaname would be upset. If he didn’t, the ordeal would continue. What should he do?
“Geeez. Get a move on, big idiot.” Kaname grabbed Sousuke’s arm and dragged him after her. “When we’re done here, it will be time to go to Isetan. The prices there are mid to high, but there’s a really nice food hall in the basement and the store is just to the east of Shinjuku Station. After dinner, we only have Odakyu on the west Side of Shinjuku Station. The prices are a bit high, but our bank account can handle it.”
“Uhhh…” Sousuke still had trouble with the concept of ‘our’ bank account. But, that was a simpler concept than ‘moving in together,’ which itself was less stressful than ‘living together’. It was particularly confusing, since Kaname’s first reaction to his offer of money for a place to live had been rejected in a pique of pride and umbrage. But, if there would only be two more stores after this one…
“After Odakyu, we’ll hit the stores owned by the railway companies. Keio is also situated on the west side of Shinjuku Station. In Shibuya there are two branches of Tokyu, Seibu in Ikebukero is one of the largest department stores in the world . The prices are pretty reasonable.” Kaname felt invigorated. She loved shopping. In some ways, it was far more exciting to shop with Sousuke than it was to wander the stores with Kyouko and the gang. It was wonderful being with him. It was also nice to pay him back for all of the stress and strain he caused her during his first year at school. “Oh. We shouldn’t forget Parco. It’s a bazaar style department store. There’s a big branch in Shibuya.”
“But…” Sousuke stopped. He looked over at nearby signs that pointed to a theatre that was part of the store.
“Sousuke, are you having second thoughts?” Kaname suddenly looked worried, even though she took pains to put on a big bold front. “Don’t you want to…” She didn’t have to finish. She asked the same question about a dozen times on week days, and twice that many times on weekends and holidays. Her relationship with Sousuke had progressed significantly after her father had given them his blessing. College was just around the corner, and she wanted to leave high school on a high note.
“Negative. You know my view. You also are aware of my feelings for you.” Sousuke was still part of Mithril. But, if that line of work ever threatened to get in the way of his maturing relationship, he wouldn’t have the slightest qualm about resigning for good this time. “You have first place in my heart. However, my feet are not so fond of you.”
“Big baby!” Kaname ran over and gave him a rather demonstrative kiss, starling a group of older women who were being given a tour of the store by a rather prissy guide.
“This famous department store is one of Japan's oldest and grandest, founded in 1673 by the Mitsui family as a kimono store. In 1683, it became the first store in the world to deal only in cash sales; it was also one of the first stores in Japan to display goods on shelves rather than have merchants fetch bolts of cloth for each customer, as was the custom of the time. Yet another first: It was one of the first shops to employ female clerks. Today, housed in a building dating from 1914, it remains one of Tokyo's loveliest department stores, with a beautiful and stately Renaissance-style facade and an entrance guarded by two bronze lions.” The woman looked over at Kaname and Sousuke. “Do not be concerned. It is not usually a place for rude and vulgar displays of teenage affection.”
“Ahhh. That is a disappointment. No displays of affection. We will have to leave and go elsewhere, then.” Sousuke began walking back towards the entrance. A firm grip on his collar stopped him in his place. A sudden yank of Kaname’s arm had his head and neck imitating a Bobble-Head doll.
“Let’s go. If we don’t finish tonight, I’ll drag you out again tomorrow night! Hmmmpppfff!” Kaname smiled. That ought to do it.
They moved from floor to floor, shopping, with Kaname buying things and arranging for delivery. Sousuke was teased by a myriad of scents arising from a food basement one floor below. He could barely make out the shouts of vendors. “It appears that they have a food basement in this store as well. I think it might be a good time to eat.”
“OK. When we’re done shopping here. I hate to pamper you too much, but I’m getting hungry too.” Kaname stopped and then back-tracked into the men’s clothing area. “I read about these. Fundoshi. One of the fliers for this store claimed that the fundoshi is making a comeback among Japanese men.” The fundoshi is basically a loincloth that went out of fashion long ago when Japanese men discovered boxers and briefs. Back in the old days, fundoshi were normally white but sometimes bright red. These days, the shelves were covered with underwear in starling colors. “Here. Give me the basket. We’ll take some of these home with us. I’ll mark down more for delivery.”
“Huh?” Sousuke let the clothing slip through his fingers. He looked puzzle, and not a small bit concerned. “Are you to be in charge of my clothing as well?”
“Of course not, Sousuke. Don’t be such an idiot.” Kaname tossed her hair. “I’m not your mother or something. You can dress yourself, right?” She smiled. “So, what colors do you want to get. I’m glad they don’t come in camouflage.” She frowned when a group of shop girls in Mitsukoshi uniforms came on shift, running to receive their daily instruction from their male section chief. It was too much like watching a platoon of soldiers in action.
“I see.” Sousuke set his jaw. Kaname could purchase whatever she wanted. She would be in for a nasty surprise, however, if she every physically tried to dress a Specialist.
He took a moment to relax, trying to ease his thoughts. Kurz and Melissa had warned him about things that might happen. They had Kaname pegged pretty well, it seemed. They had been torn between throwing Sousuke a party, or a wake, when they learned that he and Kaname would be moving into an apartment near the Komaba campus of Tokyo University. Sarcastically, they had sent him a carton of aspirin and some medicinal ointment after he told them about Kaname’s reaction to his acceptance to the college.
‘What?’ Kaname had shouted. ‘They let you in with your grades?’ He had been convinced that she would be ecstatic that they would attend the same school. ‘I had to work hard for my grades! And my test scores! Everything!’ She had been somewhat physical in her reaction. ‘I bet Mithril just paid for you to get in. Money and power, Sousuke. How sick!’ The knee to the groin had not been expected. ‘Ooooh. I hate you!’
“I suggest we also purchase some to send your father,” Sousuke put in, an idea coming to him. “He will be quite interested to know that you are shopping for my underwear.” He fought a smile. That would ruin everything. He must sound convincing. “Which colors does he prefer?”
Kaname reached out quickly to keep a huge shelving unit from falling. She had bumped into it with her full wait when she stumbled, hearing Sousuke’s question. “I hate trendy stuff. Never mind. Forget the fundoshi. I don’t know why they caught your attention, anyway. Jerk.”
There was a flutter of announcements to the customers waiting outside about the various exhibitions, lectures, and demonstrations scheduled throughout the store. Dark-suited section managers stood back and to the side. They were bowing to an assembly of waiting customers when Kaname pulled Sousuke into the next section.
Everything became a blur to Sousuke. Chimes marked the hours, as did Handelian chords from the organ in the loft over the central hall, situated near the fantastic ten-meter-high statute of the Patroness of Department Stores they had passed by earlier.
“Kaname, why have you chosen that style of table lamp? The sharp edges may provide stylistic cues, but they could also render the lamp base an effective club or projectile. In addition, it is rated only to low watt bulbs. It will give little usable light and…” Sousuke was interrupted.
“I like them, Sousuke.” Kaname wrote the number down on her note pad. “They will look nice in the living room area. Lights are not weapons, do you understand me?” She stood nose to nose with the flustered soldier. “Unless some big stupid head keeps questioning every decision I make.”
“Shouldn’t that be ‘we make’, Kaname?” Sousuke began to sweat when he saw some of the store clerks gathering around to see if they could be of service.
“It is ‘we’, Sousuke.” Kaname said, poking Sousuke in the chest. “I just happen to be making the decisions for us. On certain things. We’ve been over that already.”
Sousuke acquiesced, and the two of them continued their marathon shopping spree. He never knew just how many choices there were for simple things like curtains, rugs, towels, and shower curtains. There were entire books filled with sample materials. Some volumes were larger than the newest manual on Arm Slave Maintenance!
“I do not think that we should have pink curtains,” Sousuke said. He had already been bullied into accepting yellow bath towels and a sky blue throw rug for the sitting area. What was with Kaname and her seeming desire to purchase something of every conceivable color? The earth tones used in Soviet, American, and French camouflage uniforms and paint schemes for their armored vehicles were not only practical, they were soothing to the eye.
“OK,” Kaname said amiably, a sly twinkle in her eye. She hadn’t really wanted pink. That would have looked dreadful. “Well, that’s your decision. See, and you thought you weren’t going to get any.” She smiled a big smile and batted her eyelashes. “I guess I’ll just have to settle for this one then…” It was a rather busy pattern with a whole palette of colors. Sousuke had talked her out of it a few moments ago. “It’s good to compromise, I guess.”
“Uhhhh…” Sousuke was wise enough to know that he had been snookered. Kaname was a wily opponent. She made Gauron and Leonard look like girl scouts. It was just the middle act of the opera he found himself cast in. There should be a group of singers following them around, singing of his plight.
There were couches with storage compartments, perfect for secreting away weapons. No. Denied. Instead, overstuffed monuments to appearance rather than function and comfort made the list. Certain tables would make a suitable shield against low velocity weapons, and had legs that could be broken off quickly as clubs and staffs. No again. Rejected. Instead, Kaname chose fashionable designs made of woods that were pleasing to the eye, but would easily be scratched when one chose to clean and reassemble weapons on them. Plasma screen TVs had circuitry that could be used to fix the communications panel in a pinch. But, LCD screens were purchased in place of them. Similar sad tales could be sung about kitchen equipment, utensils, coat racks, easy chairs, coffee tables, bookshelves, washing machines, and dressers.
“I like this headpiece, don’t you Sousuke? It’s pretty. Really really nice.” They were in the furniture area, looking at beds.” Kaname ran her hand over polished mahogany, luxuriating in the feel as her finger their ways over intricately carved whorls and curves.
“Uhhh…” Sousuke began to sweat. “That is rather large for a single bed. Wouldn’t we need more than one, if things are to match properly?”
“Huh?” Kaname arched an eyebrow. “We’re not going to have a guest room, moron. You can afford a Queen-sized bed for the two of us. Geez, it’s not like I’m looking to get King-sized or something.” Then, it suddenly struck her. “And we won’t need two beds, you big idiot. Hmmmpppfff!” She grinned.
“B-B-But….” Sousuke swallowed hard. “One…” He knew what one bed meant.
Before he knew it, he was being dragged into the next department. It didn’t look like they would be making it to any of the other stores than evening. They had gotten a lot of stuff there, and the clock on the wall indicated that closing time was fast approaching.
Small items were selected and purchased faster than Sousuke could follow. As before, Kaname made a majority of the choices, calling out the reasons as she demonstrated a shopping prowess that made the complexity of Spetsnaz and SEAL team operations look like a walk in the park.
“Kaname, I do not wish to strike a dead horse, but I feel that I should be making more decisions on items that will affect the environment in which I live.” Sousuke stood firm, his arms folded across his chest.
“OK,” Kaname said. “Geeez. All the hard work I’m doing here, and some moody military moper can’t appreciate it. Fine. You pick out the soap dishes and toothbrush holders. Knock yourself out. Choose the toilet brush and shower curtain rings while you’re at it.” She put her hands on her hips. “It’s not like you haven’t had a say in things, you know.”
Sousuke just stared. That didn’t sit well with Kaname, naturally.
“You chose the apartment, Sousuke.” Kaname shook her finger at him. “It had to be facing a certain direction. It couldn’t be on a dead end street. There could be no external structures that encouraged rappelling. The entry hall had to be long and the central air system couldn’t fit large gas canisters. Sheesh.” It didn’t matter that Sousuke had ended up selecting her favorite building of all, or that he had been willing to be spendthrift, renting a suite that had a rare amount of space.
“OK. You may select the sundry items. If it means that much to you.” Sousuke sighed.
He had no idea that Kaname had been paying attention to what he had been saying all along, writing down some items that she liked along with some that he preferred. He wouldn’t find that out until things were delivered. This would be good training for him.
“There are only twenty minutes left, Kaname.” Sousuke saw light at the end of the tunnel. He couldn’t believe that they had spent that much time in a single store. But, everything on Kaname’s list had a line through it.
Everything on her written list had been checked up. There was something that she had not written down, but had decided to shop for when they were looking at bedroom furniture. She had made up her mind about certain things. There was another big adjustment coming for Sgt. Sagara. It would be interesting to see how he handled that mission!
“That’s plenty of time. Come on, slow poke.” Once again, she came close to separating his shoulder as she tugged him this way and that, zigzagging between display tables, racks, customers, and sales people. “There’s only one thing left. Because you’ve been complaining all night, you get to pick it out.”
“What?” Sousuke felt uneasy when Kaname pulled him into an area where the sales clerks were exclusively female. There were a large number of manikins displaying clothing, not to mention racks hung with apparel he was unfamiliar with in practice. “But this is…”
“Yes,” Kaname said, smiling at Sousuke discomfort. “Lingerie…”
“Uhhh…”
Sousuke stood, his shoulders slumping somewhat. This was definitely more difficult than Basic Training had been. It required far more endurance and strength of will than the Klyuchevskaya Sopka mission had. The only thing that had been a greater strain had been his youthful days with the mujhaideen.
“Come on, Sousuke. Some soldier you are. If a civilian girl can do this, you can. Sheeesh!” Kaname tossed her hair and started walking towards the entry door again. “Besides, it’s fun, right? Don’t you want things to be perfect?”
Striding towards the doors of the flagship Mitsukoshi store, flanked by two lions modeled after sculptures in Trafalgar Square, Sousuke caught a glimpse of the another statue inside the building, reaching from floor to ceiling. It was Magokoro, the Goddess of Sincerity. Great.
If he answered honestly, Kaname would be upset. If he didn’t, the ordeal would continue. What should he do?
“Geeez. Get a move on, big idiot.” Kaname grabbed Sousuke’s arm and dragged him after her. “When we’re done here, it will be time to go to Isetan. The prices there are mid to high, but there’s a really nice food hall in the basement and the store is just to the east of Shinjuku Station. After dinner, we only have Odakyu on the west Side of Shinjuku Station. The prices are a bit high, but our bank account can handle it.”
“Uhhh…” Sousuke still had trouble with the concept of ‘our’ bank account. But, that was a simpler concept than ‘moving in together,’ which itself was less stressful than ‘living together’. It was particularly confusing, since Kaname’s first reaction to his offer of money for a place to live had been rejected in a pique of pride and umbrage. But, if there would only be two more stores after this one…
“After Odakyu, we’ll hit the stores owned by the railway companies. Keio is also situated on the west side of Shinjuku Station. In Shibuya there are two branches of Tokyu, Seibu in Ikebukero is one of the largest department stores in the world . The prices are pretty reasonable.” Kaname felt invigorated. She loved shopping. In some ways, it was far more exciting to shop with Sousuke than it was to wander the stores with Kyouko and the gang. It was wonderful being with him. It was also nice to pay him back for all of the stress and strain he caused her during his first year at school. “Oh. We shouldn’t forget Parco. It’s a bazaar style department store. There’s a big branch in Shibuya.”
“But…” Sousuke stopped. He looked over at nearby signs that pointed to a theatre that was part of the store.
“Sousuke, are you having second thoughts?” Kaname suddenly looked worried, even though she took pains to put on a big bold front. “Don’t you want to…” She didn’t have to finish. She asked the same question about a dozen times on week days, and twice that many times on weekends and holidays. Her relationship with Sousuke had progressed significantly after her father had given them his blessing. College was just around the corner, and she wanted to leave high school on a high note.
“Negative. You know my view. You also are aware of my feelings for you.” Sousuke was still part of Mithril. But, if that line of work ever threatened to get in the way of his maturing relationship, he wouldn’t have the slightest qualm about resigning for good this time. “You have first place in my heart. However, my feet are not so fond of you.”
“Big baby!” Kaname ran over and gave him a rather demonstrative kiss, starling a group of older women who were being given a tour of the store by a rather prissy guide.
“This famous department store is one of Japan's oldest and grandest, founded in 1673 by the Mitsui family as a kimono store. In 1683, it became the first store in the world to deal only in cash sales; it was also one of the first stores in Japan to display goods on shelves rather than have merchants fetch bolts of cloth for each customer, as was the custom of the time. Yet another first: It was one of the first shops to employ female clerks. Today, housed in a building dating from 1914, it remains one of Tokyo's loveliest department stores, with a beautiful and stately Renaissance-style facade and an entrance guarded by two bronze lions.” The woman looked over at Kaname and Sousuke. “Do not be concerned. It is not usually a place for rude and vulgar displays of teenage affection.”
“Ahhh. That is a disappointment. No displays of affection. We will have to leave and go elsewhere, then.” Sousuke began walking back towards the entrance. A firm grip on his collar stopped him in his place. A sudden yank of Kaname’s arm had his head and neck imitating a Bobble-Head doll.
“Let’s go. If we don’t finish tonight, I’ll drag you out again tomorrow night! Hmmmpppfff!” Kaname smiled. That ought to do it.
They moved from floor to floor, shopping, with Kaname buying things and arranging for delivery. Sousuke was teased by a myriad of scents arising from a food basement one floor below. He could barely make out the shouts of vendors. “It appears that they have a food basement in this store as well. I think it might be a good time to eat.”
“OK. When we’re done shopping here. I hate to pamper you too much, but I’m getting hungry too.” Kaname stopped and then back-tracked into the men’s clothing area. “I read about these. Fundoshi. One of the fliers for this store claimed that the fundoshi is making a comeback among Japanese men.” The fundoshi is basically a loincloth that went out of fashion long ago when Japanese men discovered boxers and briefs. Back in the old days, fundoshi were normally white but sometimes bright red. These days, the shelves were covered with underwear in starling colors. “Here. Give me the basket. We’ll take some of these home with us. I’ll mark down more for delivery.”
“Huh?” Sousuke let the clothing slip through his fingers. He looked puzzle, and not a small bit concerned. “Are you to be in charge of my clothing as well?”
“Of course not, Sousuke. Don’t be such an idiot.” Kaname tossed her hair. “I’m not your mother or something. You can dress yourself, right?” She smiled. “So, what colors do you want to get. I’m glad they don’t come in camouflage.” She frowned when a group of shop girls in Mitsukoshi uniforms came on shift, running to receive their daily instruction from their male section chief. It was too much like watching a platoon of soldiers in action.
“I see.” Sousuke set his jaw. Kaname could purchase whatever she wanted. She would be in for a nasty surprise, however, if she every physically tried to dress a Specialist.
He took a moment to relax, trying to ease his thoughts. Kurz and Melissa had warned him about things that might happen. They had Kaname pegged pretty well, it seemed. They had been torn between throwing Sousuke a party, or a wake, when they learned that he and Kaname would be moving into an apartment near the Komaba campus of Tokyo University. Sarcastically, they had sent him a carton of aspirin and some medicinal ointment after he told them about Kaname’s reaction to his acceptance to the college.
‘What?’ Kaname had shouted. ‘They let you in with your grades?’ He had been convinced that she would be ecstatic that they would attend the same school. ‘I had to work hard for my grades! And my test scores! Everything!’ She had been somewhat physical in her reaction. ‘I bet Mithril just paid for you to get in. Money and power, Sousuke. How sick!’ The knee to the groin had not been expected. ‘Ooooh. I hate you!’
“I suggest we also purchase some to send your father,” Sousuke put in, an idea coming to him. “He will be quite interested to know that you are shopping for my underwear.” He fought a smile. That would ruin everything. He must sound convincing. “Which colors does he prefer?”
Kaname reached out quickly to keep a huge shelving unit from falling. She had bumped into it with her full wait when she stumbled, hearing Sousuke’s question. “I hate trendy stuff. Never mind. Forget the fundoshi. I don’t know why they caught your attention, anyway. Jerk.”
There was a flutter of announcements to the customers waiting outside about the various exhibitions, lectures, and demonstrations scheduled throughout the store. Dark-suited section managers stood back and to the side. They were bowing to an assembly of waiting customers when Kaname pulled Sousuke into the next section.
Everything became a blur to Sousuke. Chimes marked the hours, as did Handelian chords from the organ in the loft over the central hall, situated near the fantastic ten-meter-high statute of the Patroness of Department Stores they had passed by earlier.
“Kaname, why have you chosen that style of table lamp? The sharp edges may provide stylistic cues, but they could also render the lamp base an effective club or projectile. In addition, it is rated only to low watt bulbs. It will give little usable light and…” Sousuke was interrupted.
“I like them, Sousuke.” Kaname wrote the number down on her note pad. “They will look nice in the living room area. Lights are not weapons, do you understand me?” She stood nose to nose with the flustered soldier. “Unless some big stupid head keeps questioning every decision I make.”
“Shouldn’t that be ‘we make’, Kaname?” Sousuke began to sweat when he saw some of the store clerks gathering around to see if they could be of service.
“It is ‘we’, Sousuke.” Kaname said, poking Sousuke in the chest. “I just happen to be making the decisions for us. On certain things. We’ve been over that already.”
Sousuke acquiesced, and the two of them continued their marathon shopping spree. He never knew just how many choices there were for simple things like curtains, rugs, towels, and shower curtains. There were entire books filled with sample materials. Some volumes were larger than the newest manual on Arm Slave Maintenance!
“I do not think that we should have pink curtains,” Sousuke said. He had already been bullied into accepting yellow bath towels and a sky blue throw rug for the sitting area. What was with Kaname and her seeming desire to purchase something of every conceivable color? The earth tones used in Soviet, American, and French camouflage uniforms and paint schemes for their armored vehicles were not only practical, they were soothing to the eye.
“OK,” Kaname said amiably, a sly twinkle in her eye. She hadn’t really wanted pink. That would have looked dreadful. “Well, that’s your decision. See, and you thought you weren’t going to get any.” She smiled a big smile and batted her eyelashes. “I guess I’ll just have to settle for this one then…” It was a rather busy pattern with a whole palette of colors. Sousuke had talked her out of it a few moments ago. “It’s good to compromise, I guess.”
“Uhhhh…” Sousuke was wise enough to know that he had been snookered. Kaname was a wily opponent. She made Gauron and Leonard look like girl scouts. It was just the middle act of the opera he found himself cast in. There should be a group of singers following them around, singing of his plight.
There were couches with storage compartments, perfect for secreting away weapons. No. Denied. Instead, overstuffed monuments to appearance rather than function and comfort made the list. Certain tables would make a suitable shield against low velocity weapons, and had legs that could be broken off quickly as clubs and staffs. No again. Rejected. Instead, Kaname chose fashionable designs made of woods that were pleasing to the eye, but would easily be scratched when one chose to clean and reassemble weapons on them. Plasma screen TVs had circuitry that could be used to fix the communications panel in a pinch. But, LCD screens were purchased in place of them. Similar sad tales could be sung about kitchen equipment, utensils, coat racks, easy chairs, coffee tables, bookshelves, washing machines, and dressers.
“I like this headpiece, don’t you Sousuke? It’s pretty. Really really nice.” They were in the furniture area, looking at beds.” Kaname ran her hand over polished mahogany, luxuriating in the feel as her finger their ways over intricately carved whorls and curves.
“Uhhh…” Sousuke began to sweat. “That is rather large for a single bed. Wouldn’t we need more than one, if things are to match properly?”
“Huh?” Kaname arched an eyebrow. “We’re not going to have a guest room, moron. You can afford a Queen-sized bed for the two of us. Geez, it’s not like I’m looking to get King-sized or something.” Then, it suddenly struck her. “And we won’t need two beds, you big idiot. Hmmmpppfff!” She grinned.
“B-B-But….” Sousuke swallowed hard. “One…” He knew what one bed meant.
Before he knew it, he was being dragged into the next department. It didn’t look like they would be making it to any of the other stores than evening. They had gotten a lot of stuff there, and the clock on the wall indicated that closing time was fast approaching.
Small items were selected and purchased faster than Sousuke could follow. As before, Kaname made a majority of the choices, calling out the reasons as she demonstrated a shopping prowess that made the complexity of Spetsnaz and SEAL team operations look like a walk in the park.
“Kaname, I do not wish to strike a dead horse, but I feel that I should be making more decisions on items that will affect the environment in which I live.” Sousuke stood firm, his arms folded across his chest.
“OK,” Kaname said. “Geeez. All the hard work I’m doing here, and some moody military moper can’t appreciate it. Fine. You pick out the soap dishes and toothbrush holders. Knock yourself out. Choose the toilet brush and shower curtain rings while you’re at it.” She put her hands on her hips. “It’s not like you haven’t had a say in things, you know.”
Sousuke just stared. That didn’t sit well with Kaname, naturally.
“You chose the apartment, Sousuke.” Kaname shook her finger at him. “It had to be facing a certain direction. It couldn’t be on a dead end street. There could be no external structures that encouraged rappelling. The entry hall had to be long and the central air system couldn’t fit large gas canisters. Sheesh.” It didn’t matter that Sousuke had ended up selecting her favorite building of all, or that he had been willing to be spendthrift, renting a suite that had a rare amount of space.
“OK. You may select the sundry items. If it means that much to you.” Sousuke sighed.
He had no idea that Kaname had been paying attention to what he had been saying all along, writing down some items that she liked along with some that he preferred. He wouldn’t find that out until things were delivered. This would be good training for him.
“There are only twenty minutes left, Kaname.” Sousuke saw light at the end of the tunnel. He couldn’t believe that they had spent that much time in a single store. But, everything on Kaname’s list had a line through it.
Everything on her written list had been checked up. There was something that she had not written down, but had decided to shop for when they were looking at bedroom furniture. She had made up her mind about certain things. There was another big adjustment coming for Sgt. Sagara. It would be interesting to see how he handled that mission!
“That’s plenty of time. Come on, slow poke.” Once again, she came close to separating his shoulder as she tugged him this way and that, zigzagging between display tables, racks, customers, and sales people. “There’s only one thing left. Because you’ve been complaining all night, you get to pick it out.”
“What?” Sousuke felt uneasy when Kaname pulled him into an area where the sales clerks were exclusively female. There were a large number of manikins displaying clothing, not to mention racks hung with apparel he was unfamiliar with in practice. “But this is…”
“Yes,” Kaname said, smiling at Sousuke discomfort. “Lingerie…”
“Uhhh…”