Eggs. Milk. Apples...
Toji scribbled down the items that were in desperate need of purchase onto a tiny notepad, sticking his head into various cupboards and cabinets to examine their contents. Toji and Aoi usually took turns doing the weekly grocery shopping and this week happened to be Toji's turn. Typically, a trip to the grocery store involved bringing along the children, but today's trip would only see Megumi tag along as Tsumiki was at a friend's house. So, when Toji felt a tug at his trouser leg and peered behind him, head hidden amongst tinned goods, to see his son clutching a piece of paper he knew the boy had his own ideas of what should be bought during today's trip.
"Daddy! Have list!" Megumi declared proudly, thrusting the crumpled paper up for Toji to take before the man could properly readjust his posture. The man took his son's attempt at a shopping list into his hands and began to decipher the child's writing. Chocolate, Pokémon cards, and soda were scrawled across the page in blue felt tip pen. Toji smirked, handing the list back to the child and ruffling his hair, much to Megumi's bemusement. "You're dreaming kid, we'll be sticking to my list" the man smirked, adding 'rice' and 'onions' to his list. The toddler huffed and puffed out his cheeks, stomping out of the kitchen to go and undoubtedly sulk in another room of the house.
As Toji examined his list twice over, content that he'd covered all of the necessities needed for the home, he tore the page from the notebook, folded it neatly and tucked it into his pants pocket. The sorcerer killer followed the sound of cartoons into the living room, observing his child sprawled upside down on the sofa with his eyes practically glued to the screen.
"Hey, come and get your shoes on."
The boy did not budge in fact, Toji was certain he hadn't so much as blinked. The father waltzed over to the sofa and obtained the remote control, jabbing at the power button to turn the screen black. In doing so, the child let out a low whine, turning to his parent with his bottom lip quivering and eyes swimming with tears.
"Nice try, I ain't falling for it. Shoes now." Megumi immediately slumped forward, forcing himself from the soft cushions and dragging his feet to the front door.
Eventually, the pair made it out of the home and embarked on the fifteen minute walk it took to arrive at their local grocery store. As the pair strolled, Megumi's mood seemed to brighten. Upon passing through the slow moving automatic doors to the establishment, the boy surveyed his surroundings with a look of awe etched on his face. Instantly, Toji knew that his son would make a beeline to the toy and candy aisles and beg his father for something. The man brought the child close to him, kneeling so that they made eye contact.
"Megumi, we're here for the items on the list only. We won't be getting any candy or toys today. If you behave, we'll have some ginger cookies and tea, ok?" Hearing that he wouldn't have a chance to so much as raise the idea of a new toy or a chocolate bar to his father, Megumi initially puffed out his cheeks in protest. However, the promise of ginger cookies if he behaved well dissipated what frustration he'd felt in that moment. Megumi nodded his head, taking his father's hand as the man retrieved a plastic basket from the front of the store and rummaged in his pocket for the list he'd made.
The two ventured down each aisle, with Toji putting Megumi in charge of spotting the items he called out that were on the list and, if they weren't too heavy, allowing the child to place them into the basket. When the pair happened upon the candy aisle, Toji momentarily paused to tie his shoelace. This exact moment was when a devious plot formed in Megumi's mind. With his father's back turned, Megumi slyly shuffled to where the chocolate bars were displayed and, with his back to the display, his tiny hands gripped onto a bar within his reach and he skillfully maneuvered it into his coat pocket before Toji noticed what he was up too. The chocolate bar, a plain milk chocolate, was too long to fit into the boy's pocket and he was unable to zip his pocket closed. So, the child adjusted the position of his arm so that, in his view, it concealed the candy sticking out. Megumi knew that his father had told him he wouldn't be buying any new toys or candy, but the boy saw no reason as to why he couldn't simply take what he wanted. In his young, inexperienced mind, grown ups paid for things and since he was a child, this rule clearly didn't apply to him. Megumi walked with glee, a feeling of thrill stirring within as he felt the bar of chocolate protruding from his coat pocket. As they reached the check out counter and Toji loaded their groceries onto the conveyer belt, Megumi peered at the retail assistant perched at the till by stretching upwards with all his might while balancing on the tips of his very toes. The boy remained in his position, intently observing his father and the employee briefly conversing as the groceries were packed into thin plastic bags and the total was rung up. However, before the retail assistant accepted the cash from Toji, she looked to Megumi with a look of false happiness plastered across her face.
"Oh, did you want to put that onto the counter yourself little one?" Megumi felt his stomach drop to his bottom, his heart skipping a beat as he was sure he could sense the colour draining from his face. Toji, perplexed, looked down to his son with an eyebrow raised, his hand still extended out and holding the money for the shopping.
"Megumi. What have you got?" Toji handed the cash to the retail assistant and crouched down, aiming a stern gaze at his son. Megumi froze, avoiding his father's stare and casting his eyes to his feet.
"Megumi. If you don't tell me, I will search you and find out for myself." Toji dropped his tone of voice, becoming slightly irritated with the child. With unsteady hands, the boy pulled out a large chocolate bar from his coat pocket. The man blinked numerous times, a mixture of shock and surprise swelling within, though he did not allow this to show on his face. Yet, he felt as though all those present in the store had eyes on him and Megumi, judging him and his parenting silently. Toji removed the confectionery from the boy's hands and placed it to one side, standing upright to face the cashier. "No, that'll be all thank you. Let's go Megumi, we need to have a talk." The retail assistant flashed a sympathetic smile to the boy as Toji practically dragged Megumi out of the store, for the boy felt as though his legs were about to give way with how much they shook.
Toji couldn't quite believe what had happened. His son attempted to steal, after he'd explicitly stated he wouldn't be buying any toys or candy. What had possessed him to come up with such an idea? Had he heard it from one of the children in school? Did he see something on television that invoked the idea? He felt embarrassed, mortified and was internally kicking himself for not noticing something was amiss sooner. Whatever the case, Toji needed to address the situation promptly, lest his son be led down a criminal path as he once was. The sorcerer killer led his son to a small bench just a few yards from the store, prompting the child to sit. Before Toji could so much as ponder how to appropriately converse about Megumi's behaviour, the child let out a shrill wail.
"D-Daddy I'm sorry! I-I just wanted some candy and thought that I could have some. Please don't be angry!" Toji let out a sigh, remaining silent and embracing Megumi, allowing the child to cry until he was able to settle himself independently. The man stroked the boy's unruly hair, closing his eyes to enable himself to become submerged in deep thought. How would he deal with this situation? He could scream and shout at the boy, planting a swift smack to his backside, but what kind of lesson would that teach him?
"Megumi, I'm so disappointed in you. We haven't, I haven't, raised you to steal. We pay for things, we don't just take them. And you deliberately disobeyed me when I told you we wouldn't be getting anything other than what was on the list." Toji spoke, looking to the hiccuping, snivelling ball that clung to his side. "When we get home, you will go straight to your room. No television tonight and no ginger cookies. Let's go home." The walk home was painfully drawn out. When the father and son returned home, Megumi did as instructed and retreated to his bedroom where he threw himself atop his duvet and sobbed into his pillow. Meanwhile, Toji unpacked the shopping and pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache lingering. What an unexpected turn of events! While Toji knew he was doing the right thing by punishing Megumi for his wrongdoing, he couldn't help but also feel a smidge of guilt, especially seeing his son so upset. Still, he hoped Megumi would learn a valuable lesson and by tomorrow, a new leaf would be turned. That being said, Toji most certainly knew now to keep a closer eye on the boy when shopping.