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Coffee in the morning is something of a norm for most people. Sure, there are many who call it unhealthy, but to many they simply would not function without their morning coffee. Especially if they have a busy day ahead. It's not easy dealing with plenty of things left and right throughout the day, especially when running a business.
Then again, health isn’t always in the forefront of everyone’s minds. When one is simply out in the world trying to make a living, they wouldn’t put too much focus on their health. Just enough to keep them afloat and then continue on trying to make ends meet and live as prosperous of a life as they can manage. No more, no less.
And, in the modern world, Hollows included, many people fall into this category.
Yanagi was no exception, of course.
As she made her way towards the upper level of the Lumina Square Coff Cafe store, she couldn’t help but look around at the people going about their day. A small sigh escaped her lips, watching families discuss winter plans and couples talk about their holidays that they will spend together.
And her? Yanagi herself has no idea what she wants to do during the holidays. Just some work, work, and more work as it seems for now.
Not that she could complain. Such a pattern is required for the Chief deputy of Section 6 after all. Yet she knows she can’t do it all. Everyone has a leave quota after all, and while the offices at H.A.N.D work just fine, a little change of scenario wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Not that she wants to spend all of the Christmas holidays working too. Yanagi knows better than that; a little vacation can go a long way in mending one’s mental health and body after all.
One thing she noted however is that plenty of people are also discussing winter shopping. While Hollows are a constant danger in this day and age, adding the snowy weather of winter into the mix will make things much more complicated. Thus, plenty of people have been going on and on about winter shopping. There are lots of necessities to purchase after all in the lead up to winter, especially since heavy snow can make shopping difficult; or even getting out of houses in general.
Yanagi was no exception to this.
Winter shopping is indeed something she needs to do. Especially now that it is fast approaching. She has been holding it off for a while now under the context of finishing up work, but now that it is upon her, she can’t hold back on it any longer, less it becomes a headache later when stores run out of supplies.
As she stopped by the middle connector between the 2 walkways up, she couldn't help but listen in on some conversations of people passing by her below.
Some of them are talking about going winter shopping together as friends, making sure that everyone in the group gets adequate supplies for the winter in worst case scenarios and to avoid over-purchasing. Many families too plan to go shopping together. Between their kids wanting gifts for the holidays, or the parents wanting window seals to keep heat in their homes and fresh new blankets and clothes for the winter, should the needs arise.
Yanagi sighed, slightly shaking the coffee cup in hand to keep it mixed. While she does have some things she needs to buy for her home, Soukaku’s only really going to ask for food. They have stayed outside in winter before, enduring the cold hard nights filled with snow. Having a home like this is something of a luxury for them, all things considered.
She turned and resumed her path upwards. Perhaps she can find time to go shopping for winter supplies and materials tomorrow, or the day after. While taking Soukaku is an option, it’s probably not the best given her tendencies to become hungry almost instantaneously. That, and shopping for goodies that aren’t food will disinterest Soukaku greatly.
Yanagi wouldn’t want to bore the little oni. Maybe Asaba or Miyabi can entertain her in the meantime?
Still, that would leave her shopping for goodies alone. Not exactly the least ideal situation in her books by a longshot, but one that leaves her….a little awkward.
Not because she doesn’t know how to shop, but more so because everyone’s shopping with another person or two with them at this point in time of the calendar. Rarely do you find one going out all alone for hefty winter shopping, less they live a truly lonely life, or just prefer solitude to a degree higher than awkward loners.
And Yanagi, while not too awkward, is certainly not one to hang out with others a lot. Between her job that leaves her little free time, the constant risks she takes when going in and out of Hollows, nor the fact that she herself isn’t one who is, perhaps in the best language possible, good with socialites.
Yanagi took a look up at the cloudy sky and could only sigh, bringing her cup with her to the second floor as she progressed up the stairs.
And at the top, she could only sigh yet again. Seems like the day is not her day quite yet.
The top of the cafe is quite crowded at this time of day. Perhaps, to add salt to her wounds in this scenario, most of the people up there themselves are pairs and couples out on a date at the cafe. Casual talk while having coffee by the riverside isn’t exactly a bad idea itself, Yanagi herself would admit.
If she ever went on a date, that is. She never really did.
Does she want to? Perhaps. Deep down, there’s a small desire for her to find someone she can rely on, someone to trust, and someone who can bear with a woman like her. Unique in all her specialities.
Does that person exist? Maybe, maybe not. Only time will tell.
Scanning the crowd again however, Yanagi does notice that one table located at the far side only used one person. She breathed a sigh of relief. Perhaps not everyone is here with someone else. At the very least, even if she couldn’t get a seat, she could bask in the comfort that someone else went to the cafe on their own as well. As for who, she couldn’t see the shape of the person clearly due to the crowd in the cafe’s top floor.
Except a waft of what looks like ash grey hair.
Wait. Ash grey short hair?
Yanagi raised her eyebrows, fixing her glasses with one hand as she zoomed her eyesight onto that one person.
“.....is that Wise?” She mumbled to herself, fully unaware that her legs had started moving on their own towards the table. Though her eyesight isn’t the best, she has seen him many times enough, work occasion or not, to recognize him from quite a distance away. Once you memorize him, he’s hard to miss.
Not that she intends to miss him in the first place.
For his part, Wise was simply looking out over the side of the cafe’s second floor area, taking a look at the river on the side of Lumina Square and basking in the view. The cold will only drop as time goes by, and he wishes to make use of his time outside when the temperature is still bearable before it gets too cold.
Unaware as well that he’s about to get some company.
“Ah, it is Wise!”
Wise paused for a second, turning his head around to take a look at the familiar lady who had happened to be right beside his table, carrying a hot glass of coffee herself.
“Oh, Yanagi. Fancy seeing you here.” He says, turning his body around slightly to address her more politely. “Taking some caffeine in?”
“Something to keep me awake while I finish the due paperwork at night later.” She replied, taking a look around before turning back to Wise.
“Is the seat empty?”
“Have a seat.”
The pair blink, realizing they had said about the same words of intent simultaneously. They then proceed to laugh lightly with one another as Wise pulls the chair back for her. Yanagi sat with a thankful nod, exhaling much louder than she would have liked beside Wise.
“Something up?” He asked, putting his cup of coffee down onto the plate on the table. “That was a worryingly loud exhale.”
Yanagi instantly bit her lip slightly as a reaction. She hadn’t meant to sound so displeased in front of him so quickly. Her mind raced to form a response before she came off as displeasing; though she knows that he wouldn’t mind owing to the many times they had, effectively, gone out together in the past. Still, she didn’t want to bury the relationship they had under the rug after the Bringer fiasco; especially when Miaybi seemed to become oddly closer to him than even her team sometimes.
“S-sorry, sorry, no, it was just my thoughts.” Yanagi quickly corrected. “I’m not tired because I saw you, or….anything related to you! In fact, I feel much better somehow that you’re here by my side.” She added, not realizing she spilled her heart out way too quickly.
“Ah, no worries! I was just thinking you’re tired of work.” Wise reasoned.
“No, it’s not really work. Just some personal matter.” Yanagi replied, taking a look at him and giving him a small smile before turning away to look at the river.
‘.....did I just blurt everything out like that?! Ugh, what is wrong with me??’ She thought to herself, shaking her head. ‘First I lost my cool when I was going to plan Chief Miyabi’s rescue, and now this? I need to get my head straight.’
“A break will do you some good, you know.” Wise cut in, interrupting her train of thought. “I think you look like you have had too much to think as of late.”
She took a second or two to blink and connect to his response. Somehow, perhaps without actually meaning it, his response had perfectly aligned with what she was thinking of, causing her to have a temporary brain freeze again before correcting it with a random pat to her cheeks. Or several pats.
“Right, right, sorry. Christmas prep has me a little bit out of sorts, sorry you have to see me like this.” She quickly fixes herself, trying to regain composure. “So, speaking of, how is yours?” She throws out, trying to steer the conversation off to make it less embarrassing.
Luckily for her, Wise went with it, unwise of the fact Yanagi was trying to hide her embarrassment. Ironic.
“Good, I guess. Belle and I already went out for food items and stored necessities such that if storms hit, we’d be fine. The things we haven’t bought are the non-food items that are also important. Like window insulations and carpets, the stuff to keep the shop warm.” Wise replied, taking a look at his phone for a moment. “There’s…..a larger variety of things, but I think you should get the gist of it.”
“Ah! That actually coincides with what I want to look for too.” Yanagi clasped both her hands together. “Fancy seeing that you need the same things too, and here we are meeting each other by chance.”
“I guess coincidences can be good too.” He replied, turning to look at Yanagi for a moment. “You planning on doing it with Soukaku?”
“Oh, no. That would be suboptimal. Soukaku can’t handle shopping like that, and it won’t be long before hunger overtakes her rational mind. When that happens, it would only disrupt our shopping trip.” Yanagi fixes her glasses slightly as she speaks. “And you? With Belle, I assume?”
“We planned to, but someone has to watch the store in case people do come. Since she did most of the food ones, it’s my turn to go I suppose.” Wise scratched the back of his head. “Still, Belle asked me to find some good prices for the items while keeping quality. I know a few places around the city, so long as we avoid the overly pricey malls and large shopping centers.”
“Ah, that is a fair tactic.” Yanagi replied with an affirming nod. “It is well known that retailers and stores that sell in crowded and often visited places like the Lumina Square Mall have a high amount of mark-up on their prices.”
“It’s only fair. Rent in those places can;’t be cheap, and they have to make a profit somehow.” Wise replied, Yanagi humming in agreement.
“A sentiment I share. I am not opposed to them having high prices, but it’s the sad truth. Still, I’m not exactly rich so I can’t be spending my money on things I can get elsewhere for a cheaper cost while remaining as effective.” The woman added further, taking a sip of her freshly made coffee.
Her mind paused for a second after that though. Wise could be asked to go shopping with her. He hasn’t shopped for those items himself and there’s perhaps no better shopping partner than him now. His calming effect that soothes her could also work to make sure that the shopping trip is indeed enjoyable.
Perhaps pressing the advantage here could be a worthwhile tactic.
“Ahe, so Wise.” She cleared her throat slightly to get rid of any nervousness. Wise turned to her, waiting for Yanagi to continue.
“Would you mind…..if I went out with you to shop tomorrow?” Yanagi asked, a little hint of shyness in her voice that is rarely ever heard outside.
“Oh? With me?” Wise raised an eyebrow. “I won’t lie…..I’d thought you’d have done it with other members of Section 6, or the other staff at H.A.N.D instead of me.”
“....pfft.” Yanagi giggled, waving her hand. “Wise, look. You saved our chief from having her blade go out of control. You helped unveil a corruptive scheme in the NEPS, especially their leader himself, and then not to mention how you pulled Asaba perhaps out of his own death. If you’re worried about achievements and ranks and all that, about my image, there’s no reason whatsoever I’d go with them over you.”
“But no, I couldn’t care more about all that. I just find going with you to be much more…..fulfilling. Relaxing, even.” She admitted, leaning ever so slightly forward in her seat towards Wise across her. “And really, that’s enough for me so long as you see it the same way. So, may I?”
“Haha, alright, alright. You win.” Wise raised his hands up in mock surrender. “There’s nothing negative at all about going with you, and I enjoy it as much as you probably do. Let’s meet up tomorrow then?”
“Your store, bright and early.” Yanagi says with a smile, almost too eagerly for herself. “I have tapes I want to rent for Christmas as well to keep me and Soukaku entertained at home on the off-days. I guess I can start there before we go shopping. Might as well meet Belle to ask her permission that’d I’d be taking her brother out for the day.”
“Alright, she’d be happy to. Just say you’ll steal me from her, she'll steal me back.” Wise jokes, prompting Yanagi to laugh alongside him at that.
“Ah, Wise. I swear, only with you do I laugh so easily. I know you’re not a comedian but it seems you have a virus of some sort that makes it nice to be around you.” SHe quipped back, swirling her coffee cup in one hand. “Did you take lessons on socializing, perhaps?”
“Ah, no. I just have a very sociable and jumpy little sis.” Wise explained within reason. “Try to hang around someone as spunky as Belle and you tend to develop said skills.”
“Oh, that’s fair. I suppose that can work as a social training method for those who lack socialization skills……” Yanagi trailed off, one hand on her chin in thought.
“No, Yanagi. Please don’t drag her into H.A.N.D and make her a social skills teacher. It won’t end well.” Wise sighed, much to Yanagi’s amusement.
“Hehe, I jest. I won’t drag the both of you two to H.A.N.D. Well….maybe I would if you’re willing to work with Section 6 and no other section. If you are indeed joining H.A.N.D, it would be with me and no one else, otherwise I’d decline your application through inside means.” Yanagi shot him a wink after that.
“I’ll….think about that.” The pair continued light chat for some time finishing their coffee in the process.
“Well, I think my break is over. I guess I’ll return to the shop.” Wise stretched his arms a bit. Yanagi nodded, doing the same and cracking her back in the process, somehow.
“Ack- okay, I may need a massage sometime soon, my back and shoulders feel kind of sore from all the work I’ve been doing approaching the Christmas period.” Yanagi says, standing up and twisting herself to get her bones in place. “You know a good place, Wise?”
“Yeah, it’s right across from this cafe.” Wise pointed in the direction of Old Duyi’s across. Yanagi hummed, giving him an appreciative nod.
“Alright, mind if you show me? I think I’ll take a look tonight if it’s still open.” She says, moving out of her chair and pushing it in.
“Sure.” He pushed his chair in as well. He takes a tray to collect both his and Yanagi’s cups to pass them to Master Tin to make his life easier. Yanagi watched him, smiling as he found his intentions to be such a gentlemanly thing.
As they deposited the tray in the drop off table on the second floor, Yanagi took a glance around. The cafe is still crowded, with people talking in groups or in pairs. She found herself feeling a little out of place looking at everyone else, thinking about how they all seemed to fit the theme of a cafe hangout better than she did.
“Wise….tell me something for me.” She quickly asked, prompting him to turn to her before they leave.
He tilted his head to one side slightly. “Yes, Yanagi? Something you want to ask?”
“Yes.” She nodded, looking a teensy bit embarrassed. “Do I look out of place here? You know, someone like me, hanging out with someone like you in a coffee shop? I feel like if people really know who I am, it’d make me look really awkward.”
Wise took a short and quick look at Yanagi, top to bottom, and then shook his head.
“Where’d you get that assumption from? If anyone thinks you don’t fit in here, they either need glasses or are mentally ill.” Wise replied quickly.
“....huh?”
“Seriously. There’s no way in hell you look out of place here. You fit right in, just chatting about the day and all. And don’t use the excuse about you living a boring life. We all have interesting lives, one way or the other, and I’m sure you’d have plenty of stories to tell.” He replied with a heartfelt smile. “That’s all. You fit right in, don’t worry. If you do feel awkward, just call me. If I’m free, I’ll come by and make you feel less awkward.”
“If I’m not, I’ll see if I can reason my way to see you anyways.” He finished, before turning around. “Come on, Old Duyi’s not far from here.”
Yanagi paused right then and there, her brain going into short circuit mode for a split second. She took a look down at her hand, thinking about what Wise told her. That she’s not an awkward person to him, and that she’s every little bit as interesting as, well, perhaps as he is himself.
Admittedly, Yanagi had a feeling Wise was more interesting than what meets the idea, but she was so glad he was who he turned out to be now.
And perhaps, that light flutter in her heart was enough to tell her what she really wanted.
“Yanagi? Come on, before you come back to your work from break a little too late.”
Yanagi shook her head, Wise’s words shaking her out of her daydream. “C-coming!” She quickly retreats down the stairs where Wise is waiting for her halfway, her heels clacking as she catches up with him. The pair proceeded to talk lightly to one another between laughs and chuckles as they walked out towards Old Duyi’s.
And while they didn’t stick out in the cafe, everyone still thought the same thing when they saw their interaction.
‘They do make a great couple.’