Mai was walking down the snow covered streets wondering what to get Naru. She could just make him cookies like everyone else. But she wanted to get him something special. She couldn't afford a laptop or any other form of technology. Perhaps a laptop warmer. The thought made her laugh. Maybe a cake or something sweet. No, Naru did not like sweets. A kiss? That made her blush. But she doubted Naru would appreciate it.
Naru walked down the snowy streets. He wondered what he should get his assistant for Christmas. After all, she had been doing a very good job recently. Her dreams had provided some good insight for the mysteries behind the hauntings. Perhaps a necklace or a braclet. He shook his head. No, that was more for relationships. He did not have a relationship with Mai. He needed something simple that expressed his gratitude, and his gratitude only. As he passed by a coffee shop he thought he saw a girl who looked like Mai peering in.
As Mai stole a peek into the coffee shop, she thought she saw a man who looked vaguely like Naru pass her. She laughed nervously. What would Naru be doing in a place like this? She looked over her shoulder at the retreating figure. No it couldn't possibly be Naru. She turned around and continued walking.
Naru looked back at the girl and saw her walking away from the coffee shop. No it wasn't Mai. Why would she be here?
Perhaps if Naru had glanced back a second sooner, or Mai had looked a second later they would have seen each other, their expressions mirrored in each others faces. Everything else in the world would have ceased to exist at that precise moment in time. They would have walked slowly toward each other, ignoring everyone else. His hands would have touched her head and her arms would have found their way around his back. But they missed each other by merely a second. And they continued to walk away from each other, the distance growing every step.
Mai thought, Oh I'll just make Naru cookies like everyone else. Naru felt extremely foolish. Why was he thinking about his assistant like that. He discarded his thoughts of a present and continued walking. Their footsteps in the snow stretched into the horizon each going their separate way.
Author's Note:
Another very short one shot. Writing this one made me feel depressed.
