After Otae decided what flavors of Bargain Dash she was going to get, she felt a bit better. She was even excited to try out the new limited flavors. She happily took her ice cream to the cashier. She looked to see how Shinpachi was doing and that was when she spotted Gintoki. A welling of irritation and anger suddenly rose inside her. She had the urge to go out there and beat the crap out of Gintoki as payback for his insults last night. She could already feel a vein popping on her forehead.

'Now, now, you musn't get all worked up,' she whispered to herself. 'Eventhough, you wanted so badly to kick his ass right now, you mustn't lose control because he'll just expect that from you. No, you must try to be calm and just think that he doesn't exist at all. Yes, that's a good idea, think that he doesn't exist anymore. Make him a stranger you won't ever meet. Yes, that's good. A stranger who you don't want to know ever because he's the biggest jerk in this planet.'

She smiled at the cashier and asked sweetly, "Um, do you mind if I use your back door to get out of here?"

The cashier looked at her in puzzlement. "Well, you see that man over there - the one with the silver hair. He's been stalking me in the marketplace earlier and I'm just so scared of him. You would really do me a big favor if you let me leave through the back door, I just don't want him to see me," she explained. She made sure that her face had that desperate and pleading look. "Onegai!"

"Yeah...sure...why not," said the cashier, taking pity on her.

She beamed her sweetest smile to the cashier and walked out of the store through the back door. Now she would have to call Shinpachi's attention without having to go to the front of the convenience store. She peaked from the side of the store - Gintoki and Shinpachi were still talking. She waited a few seconds and then looked again. She saw Gintoki going inside the store. Now was her chance. She quickly called out to Shinpachi.

"Shin-chan, Shin-chan," as she waved him to come over to where she was.

Shinpachi looked at her with surprise and ran towards her. "Aneue! How did you get here? I thought you were still inside the store."

"Well I asked the cashier if they still have other flavors of Bargain Dash in the back. He said there were some so I checked it out. There were definitely limited edition flavors but none appealed to me so I didn't get any. And since I was at the back, I decided to just go out through the back door. It's such a hassle to be walking over the front door to get out you know. It was quicker this way," she said.

"But Gin-san was just there and asked about you," he looked back.

"Who?" she feigned ignorance but didn't let Shinpachi answer anymore. "Anyway, let's go home. I'm starving. I'll let you cook this time. So you better make me a delicious meal. Come on, hurry up," she said as she dragged Shinpachi hurriedly.

"Alright, alright. I'm coming. Gee, are you THAT hungry?" said Shinpachi. But Otae didn't reply.

Gintoki was in a bad mood. Not only did he fail to get the apology thing with Otae done and over with, now he had to put up with his guilty feeling for a little longer. "Why am I feeling this way, damn it? It wasn't my fault. She started it. She got what she deserved," he said out loud, clearly frustrated. "Yeah, that's right. Maybe I shouldn't apologize at all. Yeah, I'm the man. Men don't apologize. We have our pride! Women should just cry and take it."

"Gin-chan, my papi said that if you did something that hurt another person you should tell that person you're sorry. Unless you really meant to hurt that person, yes? In that case, you are the biggest jerk in this whole wide world and I am ashamed to be your friend," Kagura said while reading Jump comics on the couch.

"Huh? Kagura! I didn't know you are here," said Gintoki, a bit embarrassed.

"I was here all the time and I heard everything you were telling yourself," answered Kagura, still not taking her eyes off the pages of Jump comics.

"Ah souka," he said and went to the fridge and placed the cartons of strawberry milk he bought from the grocery store. He was mulling over what Kagura told him.

"Gin-chan, did you really mean to hurt the feelings of that person?" This time Kagura put down the comics and looked directly at him. He avoided her gaze. "Cause if you didn't mean it then you should say sorry right away. Or else things would just get worse."

He sighed and said, "Kagura, are you hungry? It's already lunchtime. Do you want to go to Shinpachi's and get some free food?"

"But Anego might be cooking her tamagoyaki again," Kagura-san said in horror.

"Nah, I have a feeling that Shinpanchi is cooking nabe for his beloved sister," he said, grinning. Even if he wasn't and Otae cooked her signature tamagoyaki meal, Gintoki would readily eat it without complaint if it would help with smoothing things out with her. Truth be told, he really didn't want to let this misunderstanding between them go on long. He really wanted to apologize to her sincerely.

To be continued...