Editing City Series:Volume7 Layer 8 (section)

===Record 105: Even If It Means Being Alone===
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'''01/20/1999

'''17:46

One evening, Lady and I went to the supermarket to buy some supplies.

She found something promising in the snack section.

It was supposed to snow tonight, but it wasn’t yet. I wanted to get our shopping done quick and return to the Officers’ living room. There was something we were all going to watch on TV together.

“Stars of the New Year Hidden Camera Athletic Festival w/ Wardrobe Malfunctions – Pure Version, huh?”

“Everyone’s waiting for us, so we need to hurry,” said Lady.

She was stuffing the supermarket basket full of nothing but snacks, but I sensed a lack of cooperation in how they were all the kind that came in small boxes. Apparently, I was in charge of the ones in big bags. I grabbed some things from the shelves hanging upside-down from the ceiling and covered them with the basket to make sure they didn’t fall up.

“We should probably buy some alcoholic drinks too. I know everyone will want some.”

I smiled bitterly and she smiled bitterly back.

“We went a little nuts last month, didn’t we? I normally only drink aperitifs and maybe a nightcap on wintery days like this.”

“You heavenly people know how to drink in ways the lowly commoners like me could never even imagine.”

“You’re not making any sense. But were we really that bad last month? I was so drunk I don’t remember any of it.”

“Don’t worry. I remember every second of it. Like that you were blue and white.”

She frowned, wondering what I meant by that, but I opted not to answer. She tilted her head before asking me about Little Boy.

“Why does he butt heads with you like that?”

“Probably because our Mobilized Writings are similar. Its his legs and my arms, but mine is stronger since I realized what it was sooner. Also…” I scratched my head. “He always blushes when he sees Sensei.”

“Well, you did make Sensei cry when you brought him to meet her.”

“All I did was say I was going to show off my special skill and then quick-removed her bra. What kind of adult cries just because something startled her?”

We were interrupted by a sneeze from behind.

We looked back to see Sensei there. She stared at us with a basket in one hand, started to say something, and blushed after seeing what we were carrying.

“Wh-what is this about? Y-you two are out together at this hour, and, um, buying food back in an out-of-the-way aisle? Oh, how indecent! You have my support, but I also can’t let this continue!”

Could someone please do something very direct about this idiot? But I was also curious about what I had just said to Lady, so I asked about it.

“Hey, Sensei? This is a difficult question, so I’ll try to be as indirect as possible: what would you do if I said my underclassman wants to marry you?”

“Wow,” said Lady just before Sensei placed a hand on her cheek.

“Eh? No, no. That would never work. He would be a 1st year, right? And I’m 24, so that’s a…8-year age gap? That’s too much…i-isn’t it?”

“What, you aren’t sure?”

“So, um, he’s just going to have to limit himself to being around me at school and maybe bringing me food and maybe more if he wants, right? So, um, uh.”

She continued stammering, so Lady used her finger to write “stop her” on my back.

“I see. I read you loud and clear, Sensei. As his upperclassman, I will tell him to cheer up because you are green. I already checked during the day.”

“Oh, but that’s no longer accurate. I tripped in the snow earlier and changed, so now they’re white.”

“White!?” I shouted on reflex. “Wait, do you always carry a change of underwear with you!?”

“You’re supposed to make fun of her for the tripping in the snow part!” insisted Lady before gasping and holding her butt. “Is the blue and white you mentioned before, um, the same thing as Sensei’s green and white?”

“Yes. When you took a tumble in the milk bar, they were blue and white.”

That explanation made Lady crouch on the ground, hang her head, and mutter to herself.

“Maybe underage drinking is a bad idea after all.”

'''Author Comment:

There hasn’t been much snow in Tokyo lately.

I think it’s been 20 years since it got knee high.

The protagonists are heading out to go shopping pretty casually, but it appears to be more of a change of pace than an actual job.