Shampoo sighed, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts as she carried the plank and concrete blocks back to the shed. She placed them carefully in their spots, closed the shed door, and stood there for a moment, her hand resting on the handle. Her mind was still tangled with thoughts of Ryoga.

"Why Pig-boy in Shampoo's head so much?" she muttered, her brows furrowing. "No sense... Shampoo need to focus."

She spun on her heel and hurried into the house, heading straight for her room. Shampoo quickly grabbed a towel and her change of clothes before stepping into the shower. The warm water did little to ease her frustration as she leaned against the tiled wall, her cheeks still faintly pink.

"Ryoga is just..." Shampoo paused, her hands tightening into fists. "Ryoga is just... a friend."

The words felt heavier than she expected. Shampoo tilted her head back, letting the water cascade over her face as if it could wash away the confusion bubbling inside her. But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, the image of his kind, determined expression lingered in her thoughts, refusing to be ignored.

With a huff, Shampoo turned off the water and stepped out, quickly drying herself off and getting dressed in her cafe uniform. She glanced at herself in the mirror, adjusting her apron and tying her hair back.

"Shampoo no let Pig-boy distract," she declared firmly, though the small flicker of a smile at the corner of her lips betrayed her resolve.

Shampoo quickly got herself ready for work, slipping into her cafe uniform and tying her apron securely around her waist. She grabbed a towel and dried her damp hair, her movements brisk yet efficient. Once dry, she took her brush and carefully worked through the silky strands, smoothing them until they shone in the light.

She caught her reflection in the mirror, her hair framing her face neatly.

"Shampoo ready for work," she said with a small nod, her confident smile returning. But as she turned to leave her room, a thought about Ryoga crept into her mind again. Her brow furrowed slightly, and she huffed, brushing the thought away.

"No distractions. Pig-boy is just... Ryoga is just a friend," she told herself firmly before heading downstairs to help prepare the cafe for the evening rush.

Shampoo walked down the stairs, her steps light as she prepared herself for the evening rush. Just as she reached the bottom, Cologne called out from the kitchen, her voice carrying over the clatter of pots and pans.

"Shampoo, we're running low on spices. Can you run and get some before the rush starts?"

Shampoo nodded without hesitation. "Okay! Shampoo be back quickly!" she said, tying her apron tighter as she headed out the door.

The evening air was cool and crisp as Shampoo made her way toward the market, her pace swift and purposeful. Her thoughts, however, drifted as she walked. Despite her efforts to focus on her task, she found herself replaying moments from earlier that day—Ryoga's determined face during PE, his exasperated reaction to her teasing, and the fleeting smiles they exchanged.

"Why Pig-boy keep popping into Shampoo's head?" she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as if to clear it.

Reaching the market, she began selecting the spices she needed, her usual confidence masking the strange flurry of thoughts swirling in her mind.

As Shampoo walked home, the evening sky began to darken, casting long shadows across the street. She hummed softly to herself, carrying the bag of spices in one hand. Suddenly, a small shadow fell from above, and without thinking, Shampoo's reflexes kicked in. She caught the object mid-air with ease, her movements precise and fluid.

Curious, she looked down at the small thing cradled in her hands—a tiny black pig with a familiar bandana tied around its neck.

Her violet eyes widened in recognition. "Pig-boy?" she asked aloud, tilting her head in confusion.

The little pig squealed softly, its tiny legs flailing in an attempt to escape her grip. Shampoo brought it closer to her face, studying it intently. "How Pig-boy turn into pig?" she mused, the corners of her lips twitching in amusement.

The pig froze for a moment, its dark eyes meeting hers, and Shampoo could've sworn it looked embarrassed.

"Maybe Shampoo dreaming," she said, glancing around to see if anyone else was witnessing this bizarre moment. But the street was quiet, leaving just her and the peculiar little pig to sort things out.

Shampoo giggled, enjoying the little pig's defiance. "You get lost again, Pig-boy?" she teased, gently placing the small pig on her head, balancing it carefully between her hair. The tiny creature snorted and kicked its hooves against her, not in any real anger, but more as a playful gesture.

Shampoo's eyes twinkled with amusement as she felt the small hooves nudge her lightly. "You think you can hurt Shampoo, huh?" she said, smirking. The pig's hooves barely made an impact, and Shampoo easily ignored the small gesture.

With a satisfied chuckle, she adjusted the little pig so it was sitting comfortably on her head. "What should I do with you now, Pig-boy? You're too cute to be mad at."

The pig let out a small squeal, its tiny legs moving as it fidgeted atop her. Shampoo rolled her eyes playfully. "Alright, alright, you're free to go when we get home. Just don't get lost again, or I'll have to start calling you Pig-boy permanently."

She continued her walk home, a smile tugging at her lips as the small pig remained perched on her head, no longer struggling but seemingly content to stay. It was an odd, amusing little moment for Shampoo, and she couldn't help but wonder what sort of strange circumstances had led to this.

Shampoo entered the cafe, calling out cheerfully, "Shampoo has the ingredients!" She carefully placed the small bag of spices on the counter, her eyes scanning the room for Cologne. As she moved further inside, the familiar smells of the cafe filled the air, calming her. The little black pig remained perched on her head, still oblivious to Shampoo's casual stride.

Cologne looked up from the stove with a raised eyebrow. "Shampoo, did you really need to bring that with you?" she asked, noting the tiny pig sitting so comfortably on Shampoo's head.

Shampoo smiled, looking up at the pig and then back at Cologne. "Pig-boy got lost again."

Cologne sighed, shaking her head. "Just make sure he doesn't cause any trouble. Now, help me get everything ready for tonight."

Shampoo nodded and moved to the back to help set up, all while the small pig seemed to enjoy the view from her head. Her thoughts, however, kept wandering back to Ryoga. It was odd, the way her mind kept drifting to him in moments like these. But with her focus on her work and the little pig on her head, she tried to push those thoughts aside.

"Focus, Shampoo," she muttered to herself, though the smile she wore suggested she didn't mind the distraction too much.