A/N: Written for a friend! I thought it turned out rather cute. I hope you guys like it!
Bubblegum
He watched with feigned disinterest as she munched on something pink-ish. Her humming was almost endearing to him, but he ended up tapping his fingers on the table impatiently.
"Why did you want something so useless?" he finally asked. "You've no need to work on your jaw muscles, and it seems to serve no other purpose."
Orihime's wide eyes turned to him, almost alarmed. "Ulquiorra… you've never chewed gum before? Ever?" She said it as though it were the silliest thing in the world.
Instead of replying, he just shifted in his seat.
"There are all kinds of flavors," the girl continued, listing her favorite types (watermelon, cotton candy). "Sometimes they're really pretty, too, but the colors mix together when you chew." Laughing, she leaned back and kicked her legs out.
"So it is simply made to be pretty and tasteful?"
She brought a finger to her cheek, still biting down gently on the gum. "I think it's to keep people entertained." At his slightly raised brow, she elaborated: "It's just so much fun! Kind of like… well, here, I'll show you."
Lips puckered slightly, she began to form a small, pink bubble. As it grew, the innocence of her concentrated stare was more intriguing than the bubble itself. He was about to ask her the reason for such an action when--
POP!
"Well," she said through a fit of giggles, "that didn't go as planned!" Orihime attempted to pick the stray pieces of gum off her lips, mumbling about how she usually didn't make them so big. "Ulquiorra?" Bright eyes glanced up at him, amusement beginning to fill their pits.
It took him a moment to realize he was smiling, albeit a small smile.
"See? Gum can be good for lots of things," she concluded with a wink.
He couldn't disagree.