[Neo Zone] Population: 23 Kids

Crochet Prodigy

Shotaro groaned, tossing his crochet hook to the side and pausing the video. This whole thing made no sense, but it wasn't like he was going to quit. No, he couldn't do that.

"What's your problem?" Mark asked bitterly.

"This lady makes no sense and I don't understand half the words she's saying."

"Then just don't."

"I can't. I'm trying to make a blanket for Tomomi for their birthday."

Mark leaned over to look at the video on Shotaro's screen, seeing the jasmine stitch being explained. All the jasmine stitch was was a fancy looking puff stitch that made the blanket look like a pattern of stars, but it was confusing to learn.

"Isn't there an easier way than knitting?"

"It's crocheting."

"What's the difference?"

"Crocheting has once hook, knitting has two needles."

"Sticks?"

"Sure."

Mark looked back at the screen, and then at Shotaro's so far failed attempt at the jasmine stitch.

"There's got to be an easier one."

"Well yeah, but this one looks cool."

"Aren't they blind?"

Shotaro sighed. "You know they can still feel it.

"Mark, just because you're salty about your fight with Haechan doesn't mean you can take it out on him." Ten scolded.

No one was quite sure why Mark and Haechan were fighting that morning. Neither of them had said a word about it after Doyoung and Jaehyun split them up. The only thing they did know was that Haechan wouldn't take off his sunglasses and they were staying on different levels of the cafe.

"Sorry, I didn't mean-"

"I get it."

Ten got up from the crate he was drawing on, going over to see what Shotaro was confused about.

"Can you not understand the video because it's in English?"

"It's in English?!" Shotaro looked at his phone, hitting play.

The lady was indeed speaking in English. He must not have noticed with the low volume and the fact that he was just copying her movements.

"I guess I really don't understand what she's doing then."

"My granny knows how to crochet. She can probably teach you." Chenle inputted. 

Mark scrunched his eyebrows. "When did you get down here?"

"I've been down here. You've just been too sulky to notice."

"I have not been sulking."

"Two hours ago you looked like you were going to explode and five minutes ago you looked like you were going to cry." Ten said.

Mark looked to Shotaro for confirmation, hoping he was going to be on his side, but Shotaro nodded.

Chenle got up from his bed, straightening out his shorts that rode up. "Field trip to granny's then?"

Shotaro smiled, happily ditching the video he was watching.

"I'm down. Ten?"

"Not like I have anything better to do."

The trio looked to Mark, Chenle with a raised eyebrow.

"Nah, I'll pass."

"Suit yourself, loser."

With Chenle as a translator and the occasional help from google for words Shotaro didn't know in Korean, Chenle's Granny ended up being extremely helpful.

She was happy to teach Shotaro all the basics so he could better understand the jasmine stitch, and she made so much more sense than the lady in the video. Except the jasmine stitch took so much more yarn than Shotaro ever expected, so after building his base chain and two rows they had to get a couple more skeins.

It was completely worth all the time, effort, almost cussing, and the occasional teasing. Because Tomomi fell in love with the feel of the stitch and they didn't stop hugging Shotaro for a very long time.