Featuring Polarshipping (Katsuya Jonouchi x Mai Kujaku)
"Hmmmm."
Mai held two small boxes in her hands, staring at each necklace inside for probably longer than was necessary.
Tap, tap, tap.
She pressed her lips together and tried to ignore the noise.
Tap, tap, tap.
She blew out irritably.
"Could you stop doing that?" she said.
Jonouchi blinked.
"Doing what?" he said.
"Tapping. You keep tapping your foot. I know I'm taking a while, but please calm down. We'll go when I'm ready."
"But I wasn't..." Jonouchi started.
Mai glanced at his foot, which was still tapping. He also looked down. A sheepish grin grew over his face as he stopped tapping.
"Sorry."
Mai rolled her eyes, but flashed him a smile anyway.
It was incredibly busy in the jewelry store, despite how close Christmas was. She would have thought everyone would have gotten their shopping done already; it was why she had chosen today to go Christmas shopping. Several people jostled her as she was examining the necklaces, apparently in too much of a hurry to go around through the wide open part of the aisle. She glared at their backs as they hurried onward.
"Ugh, I can't decide," she said. "Jou, which one do think Anzu would like better? And are either of them appropriate for Ishizu?"
Jonouchi grimaced. He looked between the two necklaces.
"I dunno why you're asking me," Jonouchi said. "I don't know a thing about this stuff..."
"You've been friends with Anzu for at least a year, right? You should have an idea of what she likes..."
Jonouchi kinda frowned, obviously trying really hard to imagine what Anzu would be interested in.
"Umm...I think I'd go with the silver one. I think she likes silver."
"You think?"
"Pretty sure."
Mai sighed.
"All right, we'll go with this one...I guess the gold one would suit Ishizu-san...she looks good in gold."
She put both boxes into her basket that was already packed pretty high.
"What about Shizuka? Does she like jewelry?"
"I was just thinkin' that myself..."
Jonouchi lifted a small necklace from a rack, one with a big pink rose on the end.
"I know she likes flowers..." he said.
Then he turned over the tag to see the price and visibly flinched.
"But maybe I'll look somewhere else," he said hurriedly, putting the necklace back.
Mai hid her smile with the back of her hand.
"Shizuka will be happy with anything you give her, you know," she said.
"Yeah...I still want it to be kinda special though. I haven't gotten her a Christmas present since our parents divorced."
He looked really worried. Mai smiled a little sadly and put her hand on his elbow.
"You're a good big brother," she said. "I promise you that. She'll be so excited about any gift you give her, it will be like you're Santa Claus!"
Jonouchi half-smiled, looking pretty grateful for Mai's reassurance.
"Well, this Santa is on somethin' of a tight budget, so how about we finish up at this fancy place and head somewhere else," he said.
"If you say so," Mai said, linking her arm into his.
They smiled at each other before they started on their way through the crowds of people to the door.