"Ren, is one enough?"
Picking up a fresh tomato that looked decent from the vegetable shelf and placing it into the shopping basket, Shiina asked Ren, who was standing beside her.
Since learning that Ren was from Kyoto, Mahiru had begun to consciously develop her taste towards Kyoto cuisine. Mahiru, who originally had a sweet tooth, had found a representative home-cooked dish with a sweet and sour flavor—tomato and egg stir-fry.
Ren was the type who bought groceries for one day and bought more once they were finished. The vegetables at home had already reached the bottom, so the two decided to go out and buy groceries together.
"One should be enough for a dish, but let's take a few more."
"Mahiru, do you really not need me to carry it?"
Taking a few more tomatoes from the shelf and placing them into the basket, Ren reached out toward the shopping basket in Mahiru's hand.
"No!"
Mahiru shifted her body slightly, avoiding the large hand Ren extended toward her basket, and refused with a firm tone.
It wasn't something heavy; she could manage it perfectly fine herself. Mahiru didn't feel that the indulgence Ren brought her was something to be taken for granted. She indulged in it, but she wouldn't become completely addicted to the point of helplessness. She was Shiina, after all—the Shiina who could live perfectly well alone.
"Mahiru, I want to eat middle-joint chicken wings."
After failing to get the shopping basket, Ren didn't force the issue. Instead, he started ordering dishes.
"No problem. We'll go buy eggs first. After we buy the eggs, we'll go buy the chicken wings. Tonight, I'll make chicken wings for Ren!"
Mahiru nodded in agreement, then took the initiative to hold Ren's hand and walk toward the place where eggs were sold.
Under Ren's care during this period, Mahiru had gradually grown to like Kyoto food. Many of her tastes had been influenced by Ren. Her long-standing habit of drinking ice water had also been changed by Ren into drinking more hot water.
"Mahiru is the best."
Ren took advantage of the situation, interlocking his fingers with Mahiru's small hand. The girl's hand was very small and smooth, very soft. Ren squeezed it gently.
Walking in front, Mahiru's earlobes turned slightly red, but she didn't stop Ren's mischievous behavior.
The ingredients needed for tonight were quickly gathered: tomatoes, eggs, chicken wings, a large bottle of tea, and they also bought some fruit. After checking out at the counter, Ren naturally took the hand-carry bags that were now packed to the brim. This time, Mahiru did not speak up to stop him.
There really were a lot of things bought, and the distance from this supermarket to home was still a bit far. Mahiru wouldn't try to be brave in front of Ren.
Ren and Mahiru stood side-by-side at the supermarket entrance, neither choosing to take a step forward. The weather had turned gloomy at some point, and a light rain had started to fall outside. This was, after all, the first time the two of them had gone out for a walk and grocery shopping together, so Ren hadn't chosen to drive.
"Mahiru, it looks like we have to go back and buy an umbrella."
"Mhm."
Opening the large umbrella bought from the supermarket, Ren stood on the outer side of the road, holding the umbrella in one hand and the bags in the other. Mahiru was very quiet. The height difference between the two was too large; if Mahiru held the umbrella, it would hit Ren directly, so it could only be held by Ren.
Mahiru wanted to take the bags from Ren's hand, but Ren dodged her in the same way she had dodged him earlier. Facing Ren's childish behavior, Mahiru was helpless and could only let him be.
As for why they didn't buy two umbrellas, that was also Ren's request. He said there were already enough umbrellas at home and there was no need to add more. Two people under one umbrella was much more romantic than each person holding their own. Moreover, Mahiru and he were in a fiancée-fiancé relationship; sharing an umbrella was perfectly reasonable.
Unable to win against Ren, Mahiru chose to compromise.
There were very few pedestrians on the street. It seemed this light rain had been falling for some time. When passing a small park, Mahiru couldn't help but turn her head, staring at a certain facility in the park.
In a daze, Mahiru seemed to see a girl sitting blankly in the park, filled with confusion.
"A swing? If Mahiru wants to play, you have to wait until the rain stops."
"Otherwise, you'll catch a cold from the rain."
Noticing that Mahiru beside him had stopped moving, Ren stayed still to hold the umbrella over her, also looking toward the place where the girl was looking. There was no one in the small park; only the various children's facilities were being pitter-pattered by the raindrops hitting them. Mahiru's gaze was exactly on one of the small swings in the park.
"Ren, I know," Mahiru responded to Ren.
In Mahiru's eyes, the girl sitting on the swing seemed to have heard the conversation between Ren and herself. She raised her head and tilted it, looking over with confusion. Seeing Mahiru also looking at her, the girl's originally confused eyes lit up. She opened her mouth as if saying something to Mahiru.
Perhaps the sound of the rain was too loud, as the words the girl spoke did not reach Mahiru's ears. Mahiru nodded to the girl, indicating she understood. A happy smile appeared on the girl's face, and then she slowly vanished.
"Ren, let's go home."
Taking the arm Ren used to hold the umbrella, Mahiru spoke softly. Although she didn't hear exactly what the girl said, Mahiru still understood her lip-reading.
Future me, are you living happily now?
That was what the girl asked her.
I am living very happily now.
That was Mahiru's answer as she nodded to the girl. After getting the answer she wanted, the little girl naturally wouldn't stay any longer. The girl sitting on the small swing in the rain was exactly Shiina from before the day she rang Ren's doorbell.
"Mahiru, no playing on the swing in the rain!"
Mahiru's reluctant gaze as she looked away from the small swing was seen clearly by Ren, and he couldn't help but let his tone become a bit firmer. After speaking, Ren added another sentence: "Mahiru, if you really want to play, I'll set one up for you on a tree outside the villa later."
"Yes, yes, yes. No playing on the swing in the rain, no playing on the swing in the rain."
"Let's go home, Ren!"
Hearing the promise Ren made to her, Mahiru's eyes curled up unconsciously.
...
"Ren! Why didn't you say anything about your side getting soaked by the rain!"
When opening the door and standing at the entrance to change shoes, Mahiru finally discovered that the umbrella couldn't cover both of them completely. Mahiru hadn't been hit by a single drop of rain, but half of Ren's body was soaked.
"What does it matter? A little rain isn't a problem."
With an indifferent face, Ren placed the hand-carry bags on the entrance cabinet and then opened the shoe cabinet to start changing shoes. He naturally placed the pink bunny plush slippers belonging to Mahiru in front of the girl.
As soon as he finished changing shoes, Ren was pushed toward the bathroom by Mahiru. "Go take a shower quickly! Otherwise, what will happen if Ren catches a cold later!"