"So, are you excited to try everyone's cooking later?" Shion smiled as she pushed a cart while walking with Rosa through a store. "Bet Rena is excited to see what you think of whatever she makes."
Shion suggested they have a picnic today to celebrate meeting Rosa and going on summer break. Since everyone had to get food and change out of their school clothes, she told Rosa they should go to the grocery store together to buy things for the picnic.
"Rena never told me she loved to cook." Rosa walked beside Shion while holding Maria. "I swear that girl is too selfless with doing so much for everyone."
"Yep, that's Rena for you." Shion giggled as she stopped and grabbed a few cases of strawberries.
"I just hope Rena isn't doing most of the work." Rena sighed.
"She probably is because she always does." Shion sighed as she sat them in the cart. "Satoko and Rika love to cook too, so it's not like it's only her contributing."
"And what's Keiichi contributing?" Rosa raised an eyebrow.
"Not burning down his house by trying to cook." Shion smiled as she turned and saw Rosa laugh.
"Is he that bad?" Rosa asked.
"You have no idea." Shion giggled as she pushed the cart. "He really is a good friend, though. We just always end up messing with him the most."
"I see." Rosa smiled as she looked down at Maria. "He kind of reminds me of my nephew."
"You have a nephew?" Shion turned to look back at her.
"Two nephews and a niece." Rosa sighed. "I'm referring to my nephew Battler though."
"Is he like Keiichi?" Shion stopped.
"In some ways," Rosa explained, "Battler isn't that bright either. Sometimes, I'd have to watch him while school was still going on and help him a lot with his homework."
"You ever get annoyed?" Shion grinned. "Sometimes we get annoyed with Keiichi."
"Absolutely not," Rosa giggled. "He may not be that bright, but he was the sweetest boy when he saw me. He used to run up with his arms wide open, saying, 'Auntie Rosa's here,' and hug me."
"Auntie Rosa?" Shion's eyes went wide before smiling. "That's the perfect name for your clothing business."
"I thought we were supposed to focus on things for the picnic." Rosa groaned as she dropped her shoulders. "Not about your thoughts of me opening my own business."
"Don't you think Auntie Rosa is a good name, Maria?" Shion walked closer to Rosa and leaned down to Maria. She just smiled back before Shion looked at Rosa. "I think Maria loves the idea, too."
"Yeah, yeah…" Rosa sighed as she looked back down at Maria and smiled.
"Hey…" Shion blushed as Rosa looked at her. "You think I could hold Maria?"
"You want to hold her?" Rosa looked up at Shion.
"Well, I saw Rena hogging her and was curious what it's like to hold a baby." Shion looked down as she held her hands behind her back.
"You were too embarrassed to ask in front of everyone, weren't you?" Rosa asked in a deadpan voice.
"Maybe." Shion's blushing face got brighter.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt." Rosa smiled as she got closer. "You've held a baby before, right?"
"No." Shion frowned. "It's fine if you don't want me to. I just thought…"
"Well, just hold your arms like mine." Rosa smiled.
"Oh…" Shion slowly did. "Like this?"
"Now remember you're cradling her, so your upper arm will act like a pillow." Rosa slowly placed Maria into Shion's arms.
"I…. I'm not sure this is…." Shion shook as Maria was placed in her arms.
"You're doing fine." Rosa giggled as she held her hands under Shion's arms. "Now, just loosen a little. Otherwise, you'll stress your arms out trying to hold her with them tensed."
"Okay…" Shion slowly loosened her arms while looking up at Rosa.
"And there you are." Rosa smiled as she stepped back.
Shion slowly looked down and saw Maria looking back up at her. She was still shaking, but it went away when Maria finally smiled at her. Shion smiled as she started rocking Maria in her arms.
"And you acted so nervous when I started to hand her over," Rosa giggled. "I bet you feel silly being scared about this."
"This feels nice." Shion looked up at Rosa.
"You're a natural, Shion." Rosa patted her back. "Just wait until you're older. You're too young to have kids of your own."
"I…" Shion heavily blushed as her back tensed up. Rosa just laughed in response.
"Now I see why you're always teasing me." Rosa got behind the cart and started pushing. "It is a lot of fun."
"Wait, aren't you going to take Maria back?" Shion's eyes went wide.
"Maria looks happy in your arms right now." Rosa turned to look at Shion. "Besides, you need more practice."
"But you said I was too young to have kids!" Shion raised her tone as she continued blushing.
"Doesn't mean you won't have to take care of a baby in the future." Rosa giggled.
"But I…" Shion tried to say but heard Maria giggling again. When she looked down, she saw her reaching up for her. Shion sighed as she smiled and tickled her. "Your Mama was right. I was silly for being so nervous earlier."
Maria just giggled back as Shion walked beside Rosa. While Shion kept holding Maria, Rosa grabbed a few more things for the picnic before walking to the cash register to check out.
"Are you sure this is fine?" Rosa looked back at Shion. "I feel we should be getting more things."
"I promise it's fine." Shion smiled. "My sister is bringing drinks, while Keiichi is in charge of paper towels and garbage bags so we don't leave a mess."
"Okay. Just wanted to be sure." Rosa sighed as she started putting the items up for the cashier to scan.
"By the way, put everything on the Sonozaki tab," Shion said to the cashier.
"Sure thing." The cashier smiled as he kept scanning their items.
"Are you sure your family won't mind us doing that?" Rosa turned back to Shion.
"Relax, we do it all the time. It's just another day for…" Shion began to explain until Maria started crying. Shion immediately frowned as she looked down at her. "Oh no! What did I do!?"
"Shion, calm down." Rosa looked down at her daughter. "Maria, what's wrong?"
Maria continued to cry as her legs squirmed in Shion's arms. Rosa leaned closer to Maria before standing back up and facing the cashier.
"Excuse me, but do you have a restroom?"
"Right over there." The cashier pointed towards it.
"Do you really need to go now at a time like this!?" Shion looked back up at Rosa. "Can you at least help me with this first!?"
"I am helping you." Rosa touched Shion's back and led her to the restroom.
"Wait, why am I going with you?" Shion kept looking at Rosa as she walked by her side.
"I take it if you never held a baby before, then you've never changed a diaper, right?" Rosa giggled as Shion started to blush again.