1 The meeting...

Walking down the street, I am running through a mental checklist. I have a feeling that I forgot to do something today. Trying to remember, my thoughts quickly start to move towards dinner as I walk past my favorite noodle shop, Aki's noodles. Drifting down the block, I slip into the market. I greet the cashiers as I do almost daily, and start thinking about what I would like to eat tonight. I am thinking… homemade sushi! Running my hand through my currently dirty blonde, long military fade hair, which is naturally a snowy white and I dye it every month a new color, I start my hunt for the sushi's fish. As I stroll through the isles, looking at ingredients for dinner, I run straight into a young man.

I am knocked off my feet and barely catch myself on the vegetable rack. The young man seemed to be slightly taken aback, but otherwise unharmed. I keep my head down, not quite wanting to look the stranger in the eyes. Gripping onto the store shelf, I stutter my apology,"S-s-sorry sir. I should have been p-paying better attention." I know I get embarrassed very easily, and knowing how red my face probably is, I get even more flustered. Then I realize that the stranger is crouching down, and picking up my wallet, that I must have dropped at some point.

He is a tall guy, with broad shoulders. If I had to guess I would say he was at least 6'3, compared to my 5'10 stature. His inky black hair is darker than anything I have ever seen. Although it is stiff enough to hold his crew cut hairstyle in place, it looks velvety soft. Kind, ice blue eyes look down at me. When I look into them, I can see amusement flit across them for a brief second.

He hands me my wallet with a small, genuine smile and says, "I think this belongs to you… Rin?" Now it is my turn to be taken aback, and my heart starts pounding in my chest. I grow tense as my imagination is running wild on how he might possibly know my name. Is he stalking me or something? Surprise must be evident on my face, because he lets out a small chuckle.

"I read your name off the ID on your wallet." Again I can feel heat rising to my face and spreading across the back of my neck. "Oh" I say in barely a whisper, while trying to calm my thumping heart. He continues, "Are you alright? That could have been a nasty fall if you hadn't caught yourself. I feel as though I am partly to blame." I nod my head, "I'm fine, th-thank you for asking." Why am I still stumbling over my words? My heart has calmed down and I am no longer flustered… I think.

"Well... See you around." He says as he picks up his basket, that I am just realizing was tipped over on the ground, and walks towards the checkout without even a backward glance. I collect the rest of the items that I will be needing for dinner tonight, and mindlessly checkout. Did he say 'See you around.' because it was the courteous thing to do or is he planning on seeing me again? Most likely I am overthinking what he said, but I have never seen him around here before. One thing that I am good at is remembering faces. Okay, granted I typically can't match a name to the face, but- Wait, did he ever tell me his name?