---
Not falling behind.
Not pulling ahead.
---
The automatic doors opened.
A short beep from the sensor.
The cold air hit imdiately.
Different from outside.
---
We walked in.
Bright lights.
Long rows of shelves.
Goods lined up.
Organized.
---
I paused for a mont.
Looked at the layout.
Unchanged.
Still the sa as before.
---
The most efficient route:
left → back → right → cashier.
I walked.
Without hesitation.
---
Yuna followed.
Half a step behind.
Her eyes moved more actively.
Looking at the shelves.
The items.
The prices.
---
I grabbed a basket.
Handed it to Yuna.
"Hold this."
She took it.
---
We entered the first aisle.
Rice.
I grabbed one bag.
Standard weight.
Enough for a week.
Nothing more.
---
Yuna looked at the label.
"...why not buy the big one?"
I didn’t stop.
"Heavy."
---
She thought about it.
"...if we buy more, we won’t have to buy it again later..."
"We can’t."
She turned to .
"...why?"
"No space."
---
Yuna tried to recall.
The apartnt.
Limited space.
"...Ooh..."
We moved on.
Next aisle.
Eggs.
I opened one carton.
Checked inside.
No cracks.
Closed it.
Into the basket.
---
Yuna watched.
Closer now.
"...Do you really have to check them?"
"Have to."
She nodded.
Committing it to mory.
---
We moved on.
Vegetables.
Cabbage.
I pressed it slightly.
Firm.
Fresh.
Took it.
Carrots.
Picked the straight ones.
Not the bent ones.
---
Yuna watched.
"...what about the bent ones?"
"They’re fine."
I paused for a mont.
"...but they’re harder to cut later."
She looked at the carrots in my hand.
Then at the others.
"...oh..."
---
We moved on.
Tofu.
Tempeh.
Grabbed two.
Enough.
Next aisle.
at.
---
I paused longer.
Checked the prices.
The weight.
Chicken was cheaper.
Took it.
---
Yuna looked at the labels.
Didn’t speak.
But her eyes were reading.
We moved on.
Seasoning powders.
Onions.
Garlic and shallots.
Tomatoes.
Grabbed. Grabbed. Grabbed.
Grabbed.
Just enough.
---
Sugar.
One bag.
Half a kilo.
Salt wasn’t needed.
Oil.
Still enough at ho.
Skipped.
---
Last aisle.
Coffee.
I stopped.
For a few seconds.
---
Many choices.
Different brands.
Different prices.
I grabbed the sa one as before.
Consistent.
No need to try anything new.
---
Yuna watched.
"...Papa always buys that one..."
"...don’t you want to try another?"
"No."
She fell silent.
For a few seconds.
---
"...do you like that one?"
I looked at her.
Briefly.
"Yes."
She stopped talking.
Processing.
---
We moved on.
Toiletries.
Body wash.
Took it.
Shampoo.
Took it.
Toothpaste.
I grabbed one.
---
Yuna watched.
Then—
she grabbed another one.
I looked at her.
"...This is for backup..."
She spoke softly.
I didn’t answer imdiately.
Looked at the item.
---
Right.
A backup.
"Yeah."
She placed it in the basket.
Faster than before.
A small smile.
Ford on her face.
---
We headed to the cashier.
The basket was almost full.
Enough for a week.
Maybe more.
The items were placed down one by one.
The beep of the scanner.
Repeated.
---
The total appeared.
Quite a bit.
Not a problem.
They had to be bought anyway.
I paid.
A plastic bag was provided.
"One more."
I took two.
To distribute the weight.
Lighter.
---
I handed one to Yuna.
She took it.
No protests.
No complaints.
We walked out.
The automatic doors opened again.
The warm air returned.
Our steps returned to the street.
The load had increased.
But it was steady.
---
Beside —
Yuna held her bag.
Not complaining.
"...Papa..."
"Hm."
"...if we bought more earlier..."
A few seconds.
"Heavy."
"Yeah."
She fell silent.
For a few seconds.
---
"...even this is already pretty heavy..."
"Want to carry it?"
Yuna answered imdiately.
Quick.
"No, I can do it."
Up ahead—
sothing ca into view.
Sothing.
That was too big to be ignored.
---
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