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1. Chocolate: 350 words

Usagi clung desperately to the window, leaving steamy prints on the glass. Her eyes were fixed on the contents of the display. It was a beautiful exhibit, set off by the lovely sale sign: 50 off. She had never seen a sweeter sign. But when she reached for her wallet, Usagi felt the weight of the shopping bag hanging from her elbow. The full bag meant an empty wallet. With a mournful sigh, she turned back towards the window, still mesmerized by the array of chocolates and candies within.

Without warning, Usagi found herself sprawled on the ground, her bottom bruised, and her hand scraped. She was in such shock that she was still inspecting her injured hand when an angry voice boomed down at her, "Watch where you are going, Odango Atama! You really need to pay attention when you're running like that."

"Running?! Usagi burst out furiously. "You were the one who was running, Baka. I was standing perfectly still and looking in this window." As she motioned towards the shop window, Usagi began to sob violently. "I was—I just—I really need some chocolate!" she blubbered between her shrieks.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Mamoru turned abruptly away from her. Seeing that he was not even going to apologize, Usagi's wails grew louder, and she allowed herself to fall back onto the sidewalk in a childlike tantrum.

Usagi continued to weep loudly until a pink blob appeared before her watery eyes. Blinking back the tears, she saw that it was a bag from the candy shop she had been staring at. Forcing her eyes to focus beyond the bag, she saw a hand, and then an arm, a familiar shade of olive green. Finally the face came into focus. "Mamoru?" she sputtered.

The full bag was dropped forcefully onto her abdomen as he answered with forced patience, "It's not like I'm being nice to you. I just thought someone needed to do something about that racket you were making." Inside though, his stomach was soaring on butterfly wings as her face spread into a joyful smile.