THE ABSENCE OF SIGHT

          They’d been in this same isle for a number of minutes now, Touko leaning against the shopping cart while Aster was so absorbed in his corn comparison. It had been so long, that Touko successfully managed to wander over to the next isle, pick an item, wander back, place it in the cart, and then continue to stare at the man. 

                                    “Just buy BOTH of them, for fuck’s sake!”

     He had noted the woman’s sudden reappearance, not having been paying a grain of attention to her initial disappearance when she walked away with the cart. As he looked up, he was engaged with her obviously irritated front that was carried within her voice. His gaze focused temporarily as she demanded he simply buy both.

      “You don’t understand, Touko. It’s about namesake. Pride as a man, knowing what’s best for your core-- For your spirit! I can’t simply buy both, for I-- Yeah, I’ll just get both.”

     He crossed the short distance, shoes tapping against the tiles of the isle. He nonchalantly rolled the cans into the metallic cage for supermarket items, noting the foreign prisoner that would end up on his credit.

     An editor, it seemed.

     The cafe was small, yet filled with busybody locals. Aster had only been here as a temporary getaway from his current residence. He had his small cup of mocha coffee in his hand, the teal hues set on the rather irritated looking man. Slick shoes walked across and guided him to the man, a foreign accent attempting to speak a broken Japanese.

     Pained?

     No.

     He was alone. Isolated in a world that he hadn’t known until recent. He managed to get himself a place to stay, to work himself into a bit of steady positioning. Yet, at the end of the day, the man’s head rested upon a stiff pillow. A blanket far too thin for warmth covered his barely clad body, and the teal hues filled with a weary exhaustion stared off into the darkness.

She followed him, trying to keep up to his pace. “How boring. You’re leaving so soon?” If it was Lacie, she would probably walk even if it might take long. She loved the outdoors, but she enjoyed pestering people more. It was a good way to kill time and it was amusing to see their reactions and this guy seemed to be likely her new victim. 

“You know, it’s rude to turn your back on someone. I thought that was a pretty common way of thinking, but apparently I was wrong.” Not like you’re totally not rude, Lacie. “Why, have you grown bored of me now? We just met, but I can overlook this however~ How about we grab a bite together? I can pay for you too~ Besides it’s not like you make new friends every day, right?”

     “I have things to do, kid. Whether or not you think it’s boring, I need all that peaceful time to kick my feet up and reeeeelaaaaax,” He already begun to sound relieved, as if he was already in his apartment with his feet kicked up in the stream of air from a compact appliance AC unit. His hands reached upwards, linking fingers before he slid them behind his head.

     His feet continued to guide him away, despite Lacie’s attempts to criticize his behavior. He gave a gentle nod of his head in her direction, “You know, you’re implying that I care about common ways of thinking.” She continued on, causing his pace to slow a bit with her sudden self consciousness. 

     Was she inviting him out for a meal? And offering to pay!?