"Nonsense, Mogami-san, I insist." Ren looks at the fight in her eyes. "Look, it's been a long day for both of us, so why don't we just keep this as smooth as possible and just let me get the groceries. The sooner you let me, the sooner I can get my nutrients in me and go to bed at a half-way decent time, right? Besides, you're cooking anyway."
"Yeah, but..." She bites on her lip softly and he's glad to be holding his jacket because otherwise he might just reach out for her.
"Look, we're already holding up the line," he points out as someone get in line after them and the clerk just looks at them, having been through this before with the couple. Why do they keep doing this to my line? It's always the same to. Any moment now, she'll give in and he'll just pay for them regardless. On most nights it would be a little humourous for the attendant, but since he's getting off early for once, he don't want this to drag out.
"Okay then, fine." Just like clockwork, these two, the clerk thinks as th man hands over the exact change for the transaction. The two exit the store together as always and go on their own merry way as the clerk makes a mark on the tally board by his till under 'Tall Man' for his victory tonight before helping the next customer. Well, he's in the lead, but he isn't exactly left in the dust either, he thinks after the next customer leaves and he checks his board again. He's ten times ahead of her, but together they have gotten forty-four bags for groceries starting a few months ago, an who knows how many more before I noticed them walking in here. 'Little Miss' sure is rising though, since it used to be way off.
Later he calls his wife at her mother's house for a trip to Kyoto. After about forty-five minutes after the start of the conversation, right before they hung up, he remembers the chart. "They came in again."
"Who?"
"'Tall Man' and 'Little Miss'. They came in again tonight, same as always."
"Who won this time?"
"'Tall Man' again. Claimed they were holding up the line."
"Poor thing caved then, didn't she?"
"Yeah, but reluctant to do so. Difference is back up to ten."
"I bet she'll get back on it; she has the fighting spirit."
"No doubt about that. Well, have a good night, dear."
"Alright, I love you, hon."
"Love you, too."