Hachiman nodded and gave the freckled blonde woman before him a gentle smile. "Thank you."
"No need. It's my job."
As she spoke, she lowered her head and walked away from Hachiman.
When she reached her colleague, a faint blush still colored her face. Her colleague immediately teased her. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you used that little bit of time to get yourself worked up?"
"What are you talking about? Do you think everyone's like you, squeezing your marks dry the moment you hook them?"
"I just saw an Asian guy who was pretty handsome. I wonder which country he's from."
"What does that have to do with you? He's just here traveling. He might even be here with his girlfriend or wife."
"What? Am I not allowed to look? Even if he has a girlfriend, she can't stop me from looking at a handsome guy, can she?"
"Achoo!" Hachiman stuffed the barbecue sauce into the shopping cart and sneezed violently.
"What's wrong? Are you catching a cold? I told you not to wear just a short-sleeved shirt, but you wouldn't listen."
Yukino said worriedly, "I have some medicine in my bag. Take some later."
"I'm fine. I don't need medicine."
"Then do you want to use a spring onion? If you want my help, you'll have to wash it first."
Yukino giggled.
Hachiman stared at the suddenly vulgar girl with dark lines across his face. Who would have thought that just a few months ago, she had been so cold and expressionless?
"I don't need it. But someone seems rather eager to know what that feels like." Hachiman teased Yukino in return.
"That's right. I'm eager. So what?"
"Wash yourself and wait for me tonight!" Hachiman said fiercely.
"If someone's thick-skinned enough to do that in front of