JUST A CRASH - BUTTERFLY CROSSING

20. Sweet Tea

That morning Jingga felt like she had been hit, sore the whole body until it felt like she did not want to leave. After drinking ginger water then his body began to feel better and he continued his activities to prepare to leave for work.

Today Orange does not pack because Shuji insists on making it. In the heart of the orange enthusiastic and joyful. When he came out of his apartment, Shuji was already standing in the hallway playing with his cell phone.

“Aready?” ask the man.

“Um.”

Today Shuji looks fresh with his casual appearance.

Orange tidied his jacket before the road together to the elevator.

“Today the perfume is different?” chirping Shuji suddenly.

“Eh? Really?”

“Maybe the softener. I changed just yesterday..,”

Shuji was silent for a moment. “Why not wear the old fragrant?”

“Soalya this gift from discount, buy one free one.” Orange glanced at Shuji. The man's expression looked normal.

Orange knows Shuji's love for her. Therefore, Shuji's movements that look ordinary, now Orange dare to read it more deeply.

Why would Shuji mind his softener being changed?

The orange approached and sniffed the sweater that Shuji was wearing, instantly making the man stiff in place.

“Oh, it turns out our softener is the same.”  Jingga looked at Shuji with a joke. “It's a shame we're different now, hehe.”

“...I.., just think the smell of this softener is good, so put on this one.” Shuji explained hurriedly. “Not because it's the same as yours or anything.”

Orange laughs a little. “I think also this one smells good.”

“True once.” Shuji nodded firmly.

Arriving at the stop, Shuji immediately handed over the lunchbox he had brought with him. Oranges see it too, but this lunchbox is really…. Too large.

“...Everything?”

“This is a tiered box. Original one box.”

“This... instead of too much?”

Shuji frowned. “I don't think there is a term ‘too many’ when eating healthy food. I've been counting the portions and the number of calories. You can eat quietly everything.” Shuji. “The container is large because of its many variants, but the portions are small.”

“But..., this is really..,” Orange bit her lip and stopped her sentence while noticing the eye bags under Shuji's eyes. Maybe Shuji covered it with concealer but not so flat.

The orange finally gave up. “Then I will continue to eat when I go home if it is too full, how?”

Shuji frowned, but finally agreed.

“Dah..,”

Shuji returned a wave of Jingga's hand while thinking what cook tonight. Of course having already managed to cook food for the Oranges once, Shuji would not stop.

“My tomyam-ku's words are so good,” Shuji muttered. “But if you cook tomyam again later even bored. Maybe I can try to make hot pot.”

“The best of that hot pot, of course the gravy.” Shuji also plans to make ginger honey all together to relieve stomach cramps due to menstruation.

The man thought of a line of menus as he walked towards the supermarket. Some people who were used to being seen in the surrounding area started greeting him and Shuji replied to him.

This area is on the edge of the city, so the people still like to mingle and get to know each other.

At eleven o'clock in the afternoon Shuji finished shopping. Towards his apartment, he brought a bag of groceries while in his hand the other one had a grilled yam.

Shuji was still walking leisurely until he saw two figures in front of the building. One was a man in a familiar uniform. The bastard who was secretly eyeing the girl.

Hehe, it's a pity that the opportunity is in my hands now.

But that sense of victory did not last long when he saw the figure of the middle-aged woman beside him.

The woman's face looks foreign to the people around and looks new up from a long trip. At his feet was a cardboard box and a raft bag filled with vegetables. If looked closely, the woman had eyes similar to Shuji's.

Hurrying, Shuji approached the two.

“Aibi Mio.” Shuji called out, then raised a flat gaze at Yugani. “Halo pak polis..., working?” get out of here and don't be lazy.

“Good morning.” Yugani lifted her hat. “It just so happens to be part of the patrol area here and meet with Mrs Oda.” Finished saying so, Yugani suddenly looked at Shuji's cold glittering eyes. Even as he approached Orange, Shuji's reaction was not this sharp. Yugani thought for a moment.

“Think his size is the same as yours. You family? Or..” Yugani noticed both. Although there is no resemblance, there are similar gestures from the way these two people behave.

“...Your album?”

Mio, who heard Yugani's words, was delighted for a moment. It was soon extinguished with Shuji's reaction.

“Do not carelessly.” Shuji. Her mother is dead.

“Oh.” Yugani raised next to her eyebrows but did not continue. He chatted for a while with Mio, and resumed his patrol as someone kept glaring as if to haunt him. As it passed, Yugani's eyes shone for a moment as if getting a brilliant idea.

Shuji, whose mood is now down drastically, transports dus and two bags of groceries. Were it not for his strength, he would not be able to transport it all at once.

“Liar…. Aunty auxiliary.”

“No need.” Shuji Reply. “After all how can you carry this much stuff by yourself?” shuji.

Mio stuttered. “I did not come alone.. I, escorted... until the front of the road.”.

“…..”

“But because he has a job so I told him to leave immediately.”

“You don't need to be so careful.” Said Shuji in an overly relaxed tone. “How's dad doing?”

“How about Morie?”

“Oh,” Mio blinked a few times. “Morie made it into the baseball team and next summer she will be in the tournament.

“...Hmm,”

Receiving a response from Shuji made Mio even more excited about the situation at home.

“My place is not so neat but come in.” Shuji opens the door of his apartment while putting things in one by one and tidying up the kitchen.

Shuji puts his newly purchased groceries in the kitchen cabinet that can not be reached other than by himself. Then prepare tea for the guests.

“Your apartment... looks different to the previous one.” Mio muttered while receiving the tea that was served.

“What's weird?”

“No, not strange at all.” Mio sipped some tea to relieve her nervousness. “Only now feels more comfortable and more lively.”

Hearing that compliment, Shuji's eyes softened. “I think so too.”

It's just that Mio is confused, Shuji's taste changes 180 degrees to the previous one. The layout of the apartment and the items in his house looks more feminine…

“Oh.” Mio murmured inwardly, maybe Shuji is staying with his lover?

Knowing this secret, Mio felt joy and relief in her heart.

“Ah...” realized the two were silent for a long time, Mio tried to break the silence. “How about turning on tv only?” while saying so the middle-aged woman turned her head in search of a tv remote.

The TV remote was lying on the dining table on the edge of the— window that Mio found, only the position of this table was in line with Shuji's personality. Strange and unique. Put it as you please without caring around.

“Friends of your father appeared on one news show, maybe you can still see the rebroadcast. Your father's name is said to be one of the contributors.” while explaining, Mio moved her hand towards the remote.

But not until the finger touched it, Shuji's hand moved first.

“Ah?”

“...” Shihai shuji moved the remote to the side of the tv and explained. “Tvnya is being damaged and sound is interfering.” Shuji put on a small smile. “I'm sorry for my reaction, I'm afraid you pressed the button accidentally. Usually neighbors like protest.”

“Ah, no, it's okay. Indeed the most important thing is to maintain harmony around.” Mio lived in the city and knew very well, even a small voice could provoke a depressed person into going crazy.

He just thought Shuji's reaction just now was also related to his reluctance to hear the news about his father. Mio does not go ahead and offers to cook a lunch menu which Shuji happily greets.

"You don't know, the harvest this time was sent directly by Grandma. As usual, he always sent a large portion. He thinks you're still home."

The woman noticed a variety of spices and bottles on the spice rack, which surprised her. Looks like it's Shuji's girlfriend's collection.

“Shuji-kun, do you have a bottle of XX brand ketchup?” ask Mio from the kitchen. Shuji who was sitting on the sofa thought for a moment and replied. “I've not used that soy sauce.”

“Oh, so. Too bad even though if you use soy sauce cooking will be more savory.” Mio muttered to herself.

Brand called Mio just now is a product that can not eat Orange. Shuji has long since removed all kinds of Brand products from his home.

The man had already checked the item Mio was carrying. In addition to the tubers and vegetables in it, there is rice as well. There was no meat at all, therefore it was also that he was willing to let Mio cook lunch this time.

It would be troublesome if he had to change his cooking tools, right.

Thirty minutes later Mio came carrying a pot of yam rice to the table. Shuji stood up and immediately helped bring the side food.

“See your refrigerator is full, this is a very good thing.” Mio said with a sincere smile.

“Hmm.”

“As a man it is difficult to live alone without anyone taking care of.” Mio said again.

Shuji just nodded.

“If you don't mind.. Can I meet your girlfriend?”

Shuji who was drinking to hide his boredom accidentally chokes on hearing the question.

“What does it mean?” Shuji asked after forcing his cough to stop. His mind spun rapidly into the face of the self-styled policeman he had encountered earlier.

Could it be that the person said something?

“Didn't you stay with your lover?”

“….Umm....,” Shuji answered ambiguously, waiting for Mio's next sentence.

“I see a lot of cooking ingredients in the kitchen, and the state of your apartment is. You don't have to hide it anymore. I know.”

Shuji blinked a few times and did not deny. “..She..., she works and, I have no intention to introduce..,”

“Oh, look at me. I'm getting too old. I'm just very happy with the presence of other people in this place. I won't bother you young people.” Mio ended her sentence with a smile.

Mio's previous ngaco guess managed to make Shuji's mood improve and he generously exchanged jokes for a moment.

At two o'clock in the afternoon, Mio moved to leave. Shuji doesn't stop her for dinner because he knows the woman will have dinner together in her own house.

Shane has other plans, too.

“You... go home occasionally.” Mio had already heard the news that Shuji was no longer working in his old company from the police they had met earlier. Mio wanted to say at length, don't rely on women, work. He also wants to offer to work with his father anyway, they are still father and son.The company where his father works can include one Shuji person.

But the woman eventually held back.

“Morie misses you.”

Shuji lowered his gaze, hiding a flush in his eyes.

“Be careful on the road.” In the end Shuji did not promise anything.