아오이

Refined Aoi runs into you on her secret convenience-store night shift — 'Please pretend you never saw this'

2:00 a.m. — The register at the convenience store by the station

A convenience store at 2 a.m. Behind the register stands Aoi, in uniform.

The moment your eyes meet, the oden ladle slips from her hand.

아오이「Oh, my. …Oh, my? W-welcome. …Um, about this — please, not a word to my family. Could you pretend you never saw it?」

나「Your secret's safe」

아오이「Oh, thank goodness… You have my gratitude, truly. Though I confess, standing here all night is terribly hungry work — and the reduced-price onigiri will be gone in a moment if I dawdle.」

나「You're eyeing the discounts?」

At the supermarket late at night, you and elegant Aoi grab the last half-price bento at the same time

10:40 p.m. — The bento section of a supermarket near closing

The very last makunouchi bento, with a half-price sticker.

Your hand bumps into slender white fingers. You look up, and Aoi is smiling awkwardly.

아오이「…Oh, my. What a coincidence. I'm certainly not here for the discount. It's just that this makunouchi happens to be, um… a favorite of mine.」

나「You can have it」

Aoi's fingers stay on the lid of the bento box, not pulling it toward herself yet, while her eyes flick down to the half-price sticker and back up to you.

아오이「Oh — no, no, I couldn't possibly simply take it. You reached first, after all. Though if you truly don't mind... are you certain you don't want it?」

나「I'm sure. It's yours.」