"Did you just get back from work?" Tayama asked curiously.
Nifuji is dressed in his salaryman navy-blue suit, its crispness lost, wrinkled from a long night. He is slumped slightly, his elbows resting on his knees, with wire-rimmed glasses slipping slightly down his nose.
Yet despite this, Tayama felt like he was the most handsome man that she had ever seen.
"I should be the one who asks you that question." Nifuji turned his head slightly to meet Tayama's gaze. "Are you still working till this time?"
"It can't be helped. I am in charge of monitoring the goods from the truck." Tayama did another puff of her cigarette, which had been sucked by him, yet inwardly, her tongue lightly licked the sweet filter, making her body hot, causing her to hug her body tightly in her leather jacket, displaying the plumpness of her womanly body further.
Nifuji was exhausted as he hadn't gotten enough rest, yet even so, his eyes were glued to her body, especially her thighs, which appeared soft and comfortable if he put his hand there.
Yet, he endured it, especially when he didn't want to be put in jail.
His career had just begun, so he didn't want trouble, but if Tayama went after him, he wouldn't refuse.
"Don't worry. My work is easier compared to yours since after this, I can sleep." Tayama looked so relaxed as she smoked.
"So, you will go home after this?"
"What? Are you missing me? You are such a child~!"
"...." Nifuji.
He just asked her out of concern, yet somehow, she mistook him for missing her, but frankly, he almost forgot about her, considering how long it had been.
How long had it been since she appeared in this story?
From the beginning of the story to now, Tayama has only appeared once, and compared to others, her appearance is undoubtedly low.
"Did you think something rude about me?" Tayama asked as she narrowed her eyes.
"No."
"Anyway, what about your work? Are you so busy that you can only appear now?"
Nifuji couldn't help but look at Tayama due to her question and even smirked. "Did you miss me?"
"...."
How old was she?
Yet with his teasing and as his eyes met hers, Tayama felt that her face was so hot!
"Who is missing you, you idiot!"
She lightly bumped against his body before leaning on him for a moment, lingering, trying to inhale his scent, and feeling the warmth of his body before moving away, maintaining the same position, feeling a little helpless as she couldn't be honest with herself. When she couldn't meet him, she had to admit that everything was just so hard. She wasn't sure why she thought of this, especially when they only had one meeting, but the thought of him disappearing, even though they had just bonded together, made her feel so helpless and weak.
She didn't like this feeling, or rather, she hated it!
However, her heart couldn't stop longing for the casual banter they had exchanged in the back area of the supermarket. There might not be something special; it was just something casual where the two just talked as they smoked, but that moment... that instant moment... was just unforgettable.
For him, who was popular and probably the most handsome guy that she had ever seen, she was just another character in the story of his life, but for her, he was like her light, the sun that was about to rise from the dawn.
If possible, she wanted him to stay a little longer, or even forever, yet it was only a small desire, impossible.
"Then, should I go back?"
"...." Tayama.
"I was just kidding." Nifuji smiled softly then said, "Though I miss this exchange, like before."
They didn't speak. They simply sat there, shoulders almost touching, sharing a profound, companionable silence. Both held cigarettes, the tiny, intense orange embers burning as singular pinpricks of warmth against the cool blues of the morning. They exhaled in unison, the smoke mingling with the truck's exhaust and rising into the air. Their heads were tilted back, eyes fixed on the narrow strip of sky above the fence line, watching the deep indigo slowly bleed into the pale, bruised purple of the coming day.
If he had had the cigarette in his hand, such a scene probably would have happened, but he didn't have it.
Growl!
All of a sudden, his stomach made a sound, and this made him a little embarrassed, but he knew that it was time for him to go home.
Yup, let's stop.
If he continued to linger, he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to stop.
Let his existence be similar to this single cigarette.
Nifuji didn't have to be Tayama's only one, the one that she was addicted to. Instead, he just needed to be one of the existences that she met by chance, who disappeared like the smoke of the lit-up cigarette.
"I am going back first. I need to rest."
He yawned before he was about to stand up, ready to leave, but the hem of his suit was grabbed.
"E-Eat..."
"What?"
Despite how bright red and how hot her face was, Tayama said, "Let's eat first. Let me cook for you."
"..." Nifuji.
Tayama wasn't sure why she did this, but she grabbed him subconsiously as if afraid that he would leave her, and wouldn't meet her again.
Yes, this was the feeling she got when he stood up. She wasn't sure, but this was what she got, yet even so, she was afraid since she did everything on impulse, and if he refused her, what would happen?
What would happen if he pulled away?
The scary thoughts kept haunting her until she felt strange by his silence, who looked at her so strangely.
"...what's with that expression?"
"Can you cook?"
"..." Tayama.
Many words were about to escape from her lips, especially the first words that came out of his lips, which were just so rude!
Still, she calmed herself, trying to be lady-like despite the fact that she wasn't one.
"Let me show you my skill. Let's go to my place after this."
Nifuji smiled softly as he asked, "Do you have an extra cigarette there?"
"There are many packs; you can buy them from me later."
"How cheap."
"I think you are the cheap one since you are an elite salaryman, and I am just a cashier at the supermarket."
"Okay, then, let me buy from you."
"Give a little extra for the ingredients and the extra effort that goes into cooking, too."
"Yes, yes. Let me taste your cooking skill, too."
Tayama wasn't sure what kind of expression she was showing, but as the sunlight bathed over her face, her smile was so cute and sweet, a stark contrast with her punk-like appearance, yet with this, Nifuji knew that he was simply a walking disaster for women.