My entire walk home felt…weird. I'd just been sort of thanked and also sort of threatened. That dough whip was STRONG…

I hope Pucca didn't get it too much trouble. She just seemed like she needed a break from her family. It was always obvious that she adored her uncles, and they seemed like really good guys, even if I couldn't remember their names, AND that they scare me a little.

I guess Dada counts in a weird way, too. He's worked at that shop for years. He and Pucca almost had a sibling like relationship from what I could tell. I'd definitely seen them argue more than once while I was at that restaurant. Never in a genuinely mean way, but I have seen Pucca blow raspberries in his face before, pretty recently.

When I finally made it home and walked in, it felt strangely empty. She'd only been here for one night, and it already felt… sad… to be here alone again. The blanket she'd used was still lying on the couch. The plates still sitting over by my sink.

I grabbed the blanket and walked back towards my bedroom to put it away. As I walked past the bathroom, I could see her clothes still hanging in there. She must have forgotten to grab them. That could give me an excuse to maybe stop and see her, tomorrow…

I threw the blanket back in its spot, and walked back to grab her clothes. They were still sort of wet. I'd just throw them in the washer for her. As I pulled them off the curtain rod, I heard my front door open.

"BOOOSSSS! You home!?" I heard.

I sighed, walking out of the bathroom, Pucca's clothes in hand. "Yeah yeah, quit yelling, I'm right here."

"Hi Boss!" A different one said gleefully.

For the record, I did know their names. They just preferred not to use them. Never did, even when we were kids. So. They were all just "Ninja".

Another one began, "Hey! We saw Pucca coming up here last night, what was she-?"

The first pointed at what was in my hands. "That's what she had on! Didja defeat her!?"

"Or maybe…EAT HER?!"

"Yeah, I'll bet he did plenty of that…" A third one added.

"AHHHAAAA…that's enough of that joke" was all I could get out. Why did everyone keep saying stuff like that? While I appreciate that people think I have some level of game, I unfortunately, do not. Also, I'd like to think I was classier than that! "She just came over to thank me."

"Thank you, or THANK you?" The third one said, an eyebrow raised.

"OKAY, YOU CAN WAIT OUTSIDE." I yelled, pointing at the door.

"Aw…" He said quietly, walking back out and closing the door.

"So…why didn't we ever see her leave?" The first asked, seemingly genuinely.

"She fell asleep on the couch."

They nodded at one another.

"Is she okay?" The second asked.

"I think so? As okay as a person can be after something like that, I guess." I told them. I really DIDN'T know how truly "okay" she was.

"Boss, she's only been gone an hour or two." The first said.

"Uh… Yeah, what about it?"

"You already miss her, don't cha?"

I did not expect to be completely called out by my own dang family today. "… Yeah."

"Ya like her, huh?" The other added.

"Yeah." This felt like a surprise attack I was not prepared for.

"We thought so!"

"Anyways, we gotta go, Boss! Just wanted to say hi!" They both waved, and ran outside after the third, who was still pouting outside.

My boys were strange. But it must be painfully obvious if even THEY could tell.

I finally took the clothes to the washer and threw them in. I took the rest of the afternoon the clean up my house a little. I didn't think I'd get another unexpected visit from the girl I had a wee bit of a crush on again, but you never know.

By the time I was done, her clothes had come out of the drier. I folded them to the best of my ability, which admittedly wasn't very "able", and set them on my couch. I couldn't get this girl out of my head. But who on earth would want someone like me, when someone like Garu was around?

I'm sure the day Garu gets home from his weirdo spirit quest, she'll be back to hanging around him every second, just like she always had. Why wouldn't she? Someone like her deserved to be with the most respected person in the village. Even when he was being sort of a jerk, she'd stick around.

I was a guy who helped her once. I can't compete with HIM. Even if he wasn't a factor… I wasn't good enough for her. I just wasn't.

Maybe I could at least try to be a good friend to her, though. God knows I could use one.

I looked at the clock. It was about five. Where did my day go…? I guess I should eat something…

I went over to my fridge, trying to figure out what to make for dinner. Cooking sounded way too hard today. But I also couldn't order noodles. I feel like that might be a little too stalkery for Pucca's family.

Maybe I'll just walk out to the market area and find a sandwich of something. It was nice enough out.

I pulled my hair out of it's admittedly sloppy ponytail, and redid it a little bit neater. I checked the mirror before I walked out. Nope. Still look evil.

This stupid scar will always make me look like a crazed supervillain. Scars in movies ALWAYS mean villain. I hated it. But it was a part of me, I suppose. I'd had the damn thing most of my life. Yet, it still made me sad when I looked at it.

I shook it off, and set off for the village. It was so quiet outside. The leaves barely even made a sound. It almost made me feel like I should have brought my sword with me. It was that "too quiet" kind of quiet.

It felt like someone was watching me. I walked a little faster, really wanting that feeling to go away. As I approached the village, it quickly did. I knew it was all in my head.

The little market had a few food stalls out right now. One of which, was just a simple sandwich shop. Perfect. Next to it was a stand with some really pretty looking slices of cake. That's when I had an idea. She'd said she was miserable of the food from the Gohrong…would it be weird if I brought her food? Maybe. But I was going to do it anyway.

I ordered two sandwiches, and one slice of cake that had strawberries and pink frosting. It felt right. Luckily, the guy had put it in a nice plastic to go container, so I was able to gently put it in the bag with the sandwiches. I also went around and got a few pieces of bright and colorful fruit, that seemed like something she'd enjoy.

Now, I just have to get it to her without being awkward and weird. My specialty…

The sun began to set as I rounded the corner to the Gohrong. Only one light was on in the upstairs part of the restaurant. I was fairly certain that was the window to Pucca's bedroom. I walked up to the building.

Now I wasn't about to just waltz up to her window. What if she was changing or something?! Nope. Not risking it. Maybe I'd just do the sappy TV thing where you throw rocks at the window. That felt dangerous. Nope… Okay, uh…

"Tobe?" I froze for a moment before looking up at the window. There she was, standing at her open window.

"Uhhh hi. This isn't quite how I'd planned this, I was trying to figure out…"

She smiled and giggled. "How to get my attention?"

"How'd you guess?"

"You talk to yourself." She laughed. "The window was already open."

I felt my face go red. "Oh."

"Are you going to keep standing there, or are you coming up here?" She teased, pointing at the bit of rooftop that was underneath her window.

She was getting great at embarrassing me. I hopped up there, and just sort of leaned in her window.

"All the way!" She said, gesturing for me to come inside. I did as she asked.

"Aren't I basically toast if your uncles find me in here?" I nervously laughed.

She shrugged, and hopped over to her door and locked it. "They can't hear anything up here from the restaurant, trust me."

I got flustered. Why did watching her lock the door make me so nervous?

"Why'd you come all the way back here?" She asked me.

"Oh! I was hungry. But didn't want to cook. And I thought ordering noodles might freak your family out. So, I went out to the market to get a sandwich." I reached into the bag and pulled out hers. "And I figured you'd like this more than soup."

The smile on her face was the brightest I'd ever seen it. It was absolutely enchanting.

"Really?!" She exclaimed. She looked so excited it made my heart melt. "You didn't have to do that!" I handed it to her, and she did a little happy dance as she took it from me. "Thank you!" Her smile never left her face once. "You got yourself one, too, right? Sit and eat with me!"

She grabbed my hand as she sat herself on the floor in front of her bed, pulling me down with her. I guess this was an offer I could not refuse.

I did as I was told, and we both started unwrapping our sandwiches. As she happily munched on hers, I couldn't help but looking around her bedroom. It suited her. Lots of pictures everywhere. Her family and friends. Sitting on her dresser was the flowers I'd sent her when she was still in the hospital. I had no idea how she'd managed to keep them alive this long.

I finally started eating my food. This sandwich was so good… Or maybe it was just the company I was in. I glanced over at her, and she looked so profoundly happy. "Oh!" I exclaimed, getting her attention. "I got you this, too." I reached in the bag and pulled out the cake.

Her eyes lit up. "Tobe, this is my favorite! How could you have possibly known that!?" She jokingly asked.

"It just felt right for some reason." I smiled at her.

"Pink is my favorite, both in color and flavor." She said happily as she opened the little box.

I laughed. "First off, pink isn't a flavor. Second, I'd always assumed your favorite color was red..."

"Red is the color I think I LOOK the best in, but pink is my favorite. And pink is DEFINITELY a flavor." She smiled indignantly.

"I think you look pretty in every color." I told her. Why did I say that? I'm so awful at this.

She smiled and looked quickly down at the floor. She pushed a piece of hair of her hair behind her ear.

"I don't mean to be creepy sounding or anything, but have you seen you? You'd make a potato sack look beautiful." I told her. It was true, too.

I could see her cheeks turn pink as her smile grew even wider. "The only one whoever says things like that to me are my uncles and Ching." She said, finally looking back to me. "I needed that today. Thank you."

"Well it's true every day, but why today, if you don't mind my asking?"

"I've been too sore to really get ready, I think it's starting to mess with my head a little." She gestured to her body. She was wearing a loose tank top and sweatpants. Her hair still down. I actually thought she looked cute.

"Well, you make post trauma chic look fantastic, in my opinion."

She laughed. "I have to respectfully disagree, but thank you."

I was so lucky she thought I was at least a little funny, I felt like I was just putting my feet in my own mouth.

"You're kind of incredible, you know that?" She said, looking me straight in the eye.

"I have to respectfully disagree, but thank you."