Refilling the pantry [Safi]

It was afternoon, when Add was drinking tea while watching some random videos. Usually, he would be drinking coffee. However, he ran out of it and completely forgot to buy some. He liked both, but having coffee at this time was part of his daily routine. The young man just sighed and finished the tea he was drinking. He then took the empty mug to the kitchen a swiftly cleaned it and put it back into its place. /"Since I'm going shopping, might aswell see if I need something else besides coffee."/ He thought as he was searching through the cupboards and refrigerator. Once he was done searching, he took a piece of paper and pencil and wrote down everything he needed. The list was a bit longer than he expected it to be. /"Coffee, more tea, sugar, a variety of spices, some ketchup, apples.. Could throw in some candies, energy drinks and probably a half of loaf of bread wouldn't hurt either.."/ He ran over his list one more time. When he was satisfied with it, he put on his favourite and usual outfit and set off. His destination - The Penecia Island.

Normally, Add would just be alright with going to a local grocery store, but today he felt like going somewhere where they had a bigger variety of items on sale. And Penecia's shopping mall was just the thing. He had his coat's hood with cat ears on, as he was going between different aisles. The shopping cart was half-full when he arrived at the section where they had tea and coffee and other powder-stuff like soy milk. Picking tea wasn't that hard. He grabbed two packs of his favourite one - Earl Grey tea. /"I should try it with milk like British do, sometime.."/ He was pondering as he moved over to nearby shelves with coffee. He quickly found what he needed and put it in the cart. /"I feel like trying something else, though.."/ He thought as he rubbed his chin, deciding. /"Maybe one of these flavoured ones?"/ He reached out for a bag of coffee in one of lower shelves, turning it around, reading what was written on the backside.

The coffee Add grabbed seemed to be vanilla flavoured. /"Doesn't seem that bad. The ingredients seem decent enough, aswell.. Perhaps they have some different flavours, too?"/ Just as he was about to check if his thoughts were correct, he was somehwat interrupted. He heard a fairly quiet, yet familiar voice beside him. Obviously, Add couldn't have possibly seen the other man coming, as he had his hood on. Plus, he was far more concetrated on the coffee then on his surroundings. Still, the voice was familiar, and he knew why. The young man had met the other before. During late night, on this island, aswell. /"I believe his name is Sharaku."/

He'd chuckle a little, though. Add himself didn't find choosing that complicated. Well, under certain circumstances it was, but not at the current moment. "Perhaps for you, Sharaku, but not really for me." He'd say loudly enough for the other man to hear him. "Good afternoon, by the way." He'd add quickly afterwards, while reaching out for another bag of coffee from one of higher shelves.

The coffee the young man reached out for was strawberry flavoured. Add wasn't that big fan of fruit to buy such coffee. Sharaku responded firstly with greeting, then adding his own opinion on coffee. Everybody has their opinions and Add was alright with it. Add wasn't big fan of coffee before, nor he exactly is. Yes, he does drink it often, he quite enjoys drinking it. However, there is a certain  background story to it. And since he drinks it, he learned few things along the way and the skill how to pick good coffee along with it. "I wouldn't be into coffee either, if... if...." His voice broke.

Add wouldn't have continued either way. But he didn't expect his voice to crack like this. He could feel his hands shaking madly. He gripped the coffee bag in his right hand more forcibly, almost enough to pop it open. He clenched his left hand into a fist in a desperate attempt to not lose himself. The young man took a few deep breaths. After few moments that seemed like hours he felt himself calm down bit by bit. Add didn't care how many people were looking, if any. He would turn around and throw the coffee bag into the shopping cart, before he could destroy it and lightly lean on the rack, making sure he wouldn't cause any damage. "That was close... So fucking close..." He would sigh as he put his right hand on his forehead.

Add slowly lowered his right hand from his forehead, which was covering part of his face. His hands were still shaking a little. However, what Sharaku had said made Add feel a bit better. Especially when he said that he won't pry for information. The hooded man was truly grateful for that. Add then gingerly attempted to stand on his own and was somewhat successful. "I'm afraid that I won't explain anything. I'd rather not talk about it, especially here. I appreciate your understanding, though." He would say only loud enough for Sharaku to hear him, while finally taking a good look at him with his pink eyes.

The young man's vision was slightly wavering, but tried his best to look unaffected. The last thing he wanted was somebody else's pity. He had enough of that in is life already. "I think that I'll slowly make my way to the checkouts. Unless you are going to look for something else so that I would accompany you." It wasn't usual of Add to willingly tag along with somebody, but he felt like he needed the presence of another person he recognizes with him.

Weakness:

The answer Sharaku recieved wasn't unexpected. He hadn't truly thought he'd get an explanation right here and now, if even. He had posed the question mostly just in case. It wasn't his business after all, and it was fairly obvious it was something Add wasn't enthusiastic to speak about in general. ''I believe that is fine. Some things are better not spoken about, I know that.'', he'd say, waving a hand in the air somewhat dismissively. Whatever it was, it already sounded like something not cut out for a small talk while shopping in the first place.

He would, however give Add a slightly contemplative glance when the man made his next statement. Tag along? Why? Sure, he didn't mind the concept, but wasn't the other feeling not well a while ago? ''Your call.'', he would smile faintly. ''I don't mind the company if you're sure you feel up to it.'', he'd give the approval, at Add's own decision. He couldn't know the man's condition afterall. Speaking of going, however..did he even need anything else? 'Hmmm...' He took a momentary glance at the currently forgotten coffee section, deciding to 'screw' that for now. Perhaps...''I suppose there are a few more things I could use. Now, where were the fish again....'', he would conclude, the second sentence more of a mutter to himself, though it was audible enough to be heard still. How did he always keep forgetting what was where was such a wonder. Oh well.
                                             

Add nodded at Sharaku's response. For some reason Add felt like he needed somebody's presence and was glad that Sharaku didn't tell him to buzz off."Don't worry. I'll be fine in a bit." He'd say as he put his still shaky hands on his shopping cart. He felt somewhat dizzy, but far from being on verge of fainting. Sharaku then said that he apparently needed to buy a fish. At least, Add assumed it was A fish. He remembered Sharaku saying that he lived on his own, so unless he was stocking for a year, a fish sounded reasonable. Not that it was of any interest to Add. However, his companion seemed to be at a loss, as to where the fish were. Good thing that Add had already shopped here on several occasions, so he knew his way around.

They were currently at coffee, tea and stuff section, so the freezer section was in a bit of a different place. "I've heard you say you need fish, yes? They would be this way, I believe." He'd say somewhat faintly as he pushed the cart with some visible effort. He'd stop at the spot where the shelves ended and connected to the main corridor. The hooded man looked to his left and then his right. He would nod once again. "Over there, far in the back is the freezer section. They should have whatever it is you're looking for there." Add would point with his shaky index finger to his right. "Wanna take the lead, since you're the one shopping at the moment?"

The duo arrived at the freezer section without any problems, despite the people and the size of the shop. Add hadn't been in that section yet, but he didn't really need anything from there. On the other hand, though... /"I think that I could use some icecream. And by think I mean that I'm definitely buying a box or two."/ He thought as they walked between freezers that housed all manners of various groceries. It didn't take long for them to find the ones that Sharaku was after. Add looked at his hands. They felt like they were not shaking anymore, but he couldn't be sure.

As Add was standing near Sharaku, who was deciding as to which fish he will eventually buy, he was asked a peculiar question with some relevant and strong arguments. If he had to be honest... He really didn't know. Something compelled him to do so, but he couldn't put his finger on what it could be. "I... I guess I needed to stay with somebody I recognize a while longer, so I would calm down sooner.." Add would say only loud enough for Sharaku to hear after a bit of hesitation. That was his best guess. Add had never stayed at a place long enough to make acquaintances. It felt strange having somebody use his name in a friendly manner. He would lean on an edge of a nearby freezer. "I hope that I'm not that big of a drag for you." He'd add quietly afterwards as he looked at the ceiling with a look that one had when they were thinking about good memories and people who were long gone.

/"I wish I could at least remember their faces.. I wish... For so many things.."/ But before Add could plunge further into his inner sadness, Sharaku's voice brought him back into reality. What he said made him feel a bit better. He turned his head to the side where Sharaku was standing, as he was asked a question. /"Do I need- Yeah, icecream. I almost forgot all about that"/ He took a glance around, as he responded. "Yea, I think that I'll grab some icecream." Luckily, on the end of the row of freezers was another freezer which had some kinds of icecream in it. "I'll be right back." Add would quickly turn to his companion, before briskly walking over to the freezer.

There wasn't any real selection, so Add ended up taking one box of caramel flavoured icecream and one more box of tiramisu flavoured icecream. With this loot he quickly returned and placed the boxes in his cart. "I suppose we're done here, so perhaps we should head to the checkout?" Add would ask as he got hold of his shopping cart.

Sharaku agreed with Add and thus the plan was decided. Add nodded and the shopping duo headed to the checkout. The crowd of people was thicker than before, so it was kinda tricky getting to their destination. There was no space for chatting. Not that the young man wanted to chat. He finally calmed down, including his shaky hands. It was safe to just go home and distract himself by playing or watching something entertaining.

There were plenty of people at the checkouts, which meant fairly long queues. However, luckily for the young men, a cash register near them was being opened, due to the number of people. Add motioned towards it. "Shall we?" He would head to the cash register and start putting things on the conveyor belt. The saleswoman attempted a small talk with Add, but he shot her a glare and she rather stayed quiet. Soon enough, Add payed for his stuff and put the shopping bags back into the cart, for the time being. He would then stand a little aside, waiting for Sharaku.