Fallen Snow (Kita Shinsuke x OC)

[6]

It was later in the evening when Megumi and Kenji dropped Kita off at his home after their day at work. Even though it was winter, there was still a lot to do on the rice farm. With the rice crop now out of season, they moved on to growing barley in its place. Their days were spent with taking care of the crops, as well as their animals, and filling and distributing customer orders.

Kita walked into his home and slipped his shoes off and put them to the side as he hung his jacket up. "Obaasan I'm home," Kita announced as he made his way into the kitchen where his grandmother, Yumie, was finishing up cooking dinner. She gave her grandson a warm smile as she stirred the pot of curry she was making.

"Welcome home Shinsuke," she said as she noticed the bag in his hands, "Ah are those the pastries from Sato's? I've been excited to try 'em all day."

Kita nodded and opened up the fridge and placed the box of desserts inside, "I'm sorry I didn't drop them off to you earlier today. Kenji was late this morning and that set us back schedule wise," he explained, walking beside his grandmother and taking over cooking the rice.

Yumie smiled at her grandson as she cooked. She admired what a hard worker he was and how he always made sure to lend a hand in any way he could. But she also worried about him. He spent most of his day every week working long hours on his farm and running his business. Kita spent little time doing anything for pleasure, and had yet to meet a nice woman, much to his grandmother's dismay.

"No worries Shinsuke, I know how hard yer working lately," she reassured him as he went over to the table and set it for dinner. Yumie grabbed two bowls and filled them with rice, curry, and assorted vegetables. She set the bowls down on the table and took a seat with Kita. They both brought their hands together and bowed as they said "itadakimasu," before eating their food.

They ate in silence until Yumie started a conversation, "So how was Sato's Sweets? Has it changed much now that is has re-opened?"

Kita took a sip of water and responded, "Sato seemed much happier than he was a few months ago, and the shop was full of desserts again. He put a lot of work into the renovation, it has a more modern flair to it now, but still quaint."

Yumie listened to him explain as she ate, "Ah yes he explained that the new girl he had hired helped him to design the cafe to be more 'hip," she said with a laugh. Placing her chopsticks down on her plate, she folded her hands and took a look at Kita, "Speaking of...Ishida Saya, is it? How is she? Sato told me she is a beautiful woman with a kind personality to match," his grandmother gushed.

Kita's face stayed stoic as he ate his meal, "Yes that is her name. She's nice, a sort of nervous person, and she apologizes a lot when not necessary, but she seems like a good person."

A smile appeared on Yumie's face as she listened to him. She rose from the table and collected there empty dishes and placed them in the sink, "I'll have to go into the shop and meet her soon," she said as she took the box of pastries out of the fridge and brought them to the table, "Did ya get to talk to her much? Get to know her?"

Kita helped his grandmother take the desserts out of the box as he responded, "Megumi and Kenji talked to her the most, but she explained that she moved here from Tokyo recently."

"Tokyo, really? My my, what would bring her over to Hyogo?" She questioned as she put a slice of cake on both her and Kita's plates.

Kita took a bite of the cake and shrugged, "I'm not entirely sure. She said it was to escape the busyness of life in Tokyo, but I get the feeling there is more to it than that."

Yumie nodded as she took a bite of the cake, her eyes widening slightly, "This is delicious! It tastes just how I remember Mitsu would make it," she said fondly as she ate, "You know Shinsuke, you should try to get to know her more. With baking skills like this she would make a great wife," she hinted.