As their journey continued in silence more they finally were able to reach a small grocery store in the town. It was hard to see or tell when Karuta was truly excited, but the blond could see it all too well. Her face brightening as they neared the doors and with a push to open her eyes widened, before her stood a stand of delicious candies and desserts. With eager hands she rushed forward and shuffled through the items. She grabbed a bag of potato chips and a small box of gummies with one hand, and then with the other managed to stuff some assorted candies there as well. "Bon Bon's, chocolates, gummy fish, pocky…" She whispered, and the list went on and on from there. She was in such a daze. Watanuki stood back and watched her fumble through the array of foods, only able to relax after a moment when a tough, older kid walked in with a couple of his buddies. Watanuki, being the aggressive type, puffed up his chest and eyed the teen boys. However, what they found was not Banri's exceptional attitude, but Karuta…looking through the assortment.

?: "Aren't you that girl from our class? The girl that eats all those sweets?" Her fingers stopped grabbing for the candies, Watanuki watched intently.

"I like sweets…" She whispered back in a soft tone, being her usual monotone, expressionless self.

?: "You'll eventually get fat from eating all of that junk food. It's disgusting how much you eat, even in cooking class I hear you're such a pig. What a disgusting habit." It didn't seem to change Karuta the least little bit, but it did, deep down hearing those things…it hurt, but it was often. However, it DID change Watanuki.

"Hey! She eats in moderation, give her a break." The teen boy turned and eyed the blond who was now clutching his hands into fists.

?: "Why are you standing up for a girl like her? She'll only become a pig and when she does you'll just push her to the side." A couple of his buddies gave a nod of agreement, but Banri wasn't taking it.

"Listen asshole, even if she eats candies for the rest of her life, if she even gains a little weight, maybe a lot of weight, I'll still be by her side no matter what! She's…beautiful in my eyes, regardless of what she looks like or what she eats." He was trying to control his anger; if it got the better of him he'd have a one on one match with this guy right here on the grocery store floor. Karuta stood up then though and walked over with a bag of chips and pocky held tight to her chest.

"Let's go Watanuki…" The teen shook his head.

?: "Freaks…" He then turned around and walked off, leaving the two there by themselves again. Karuta had reached up and grabbed his shirt, looking forward at his chest. The blond gave a sigh and looked down at her.

"Doesn't it bother you that people talk and say bad things like that about you?" He then let his clutched hands relax. "Are you…okay?" She was silent for a moment before letting go of the shirt.

"I…need you to buy these for me…I don't have any money." His slender eyebrows knit together in sadness, heart breaking at how hurt her voice did so sound. With trembling hands he reached up but before he could fathom hugging her softly he blushed and grabbed the chips and pocky from her hands, taking them over to the counter to pay. With a softer face she turned and watched him do so. Karuta was actually very happy that Watanuki had stood up for her like that. It always made her feel better when people saw her as a nuisance and strange being, but…Banri never did. Watanuki grabbed his change and walked back over to Karuta, handing her the bag.

"Come on; let's go home…there are too many people out today…" Karuta clutched her bag softly in her hand, looking up at him with those sweet, pink, shimmering eyes. She raised her hand then and wrapped it around one of Banri's, walking forward and out the door, but not in the direction of home, Watanuki blushing profusely at this.

"W-Where are we going?" Karuta walked on, quiet.