I Fell In Love With A Girl Who Died Before I Was Even Born

Bonus Chapter: A Grocery Store Trip from Hell

7:42 PM – Crescent Moon Supermarket

I just wanted to buy groceries. That's all.

The very last thing I wanted was another knock on my door from Hibana. I thought I was being smart and taking a proactive approach.

I should have known better.

Shion pushed the cart beside me, completely unbothered by the fact that she wasn't actually going to eat anything.

No, I couldn't talk her out of coming.

"You're going to the grocery store? This I've got to see."

And the deal was done.

Yuki floated behind us, humming to herself. This was going to be a peaceful, normal errand.

I kept telling myself.

Then Shion spoke.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Oh my god. Are you seriously buying that?"

I stopped mid-step, staring at her.

I didn't want to take the bait. I knew it was bait. I saw the hook.

"What?"

I took the damn bait…

She gestured dramatically at the box in my hands. "Instant ramen? Really? You've been here less than a month and you've already given up?"

I sighed, placing it in the cart. "I like instant ramen."

I don't even know why I bothered to say it. It didn't matter.

"Tragic." She kept walking, arms crossed, eyes scanning the shelves. "You could at least have the dignity to buy something decent, but nooo. Blondie buys trash. I shouldn't be surprised."

I rubbed my temples. "Shion, you don't even eat."

She grinned, flashing a hint of fang. "Exactly. And yet, somehow, I still have better taste than you."

I turned to Yuki for backup. "Yuki, tell her she's being ridiculous."

Yuki blinked. "Wait. Where's the Pet Milk puppy?"

I paused. "…What?"

She floated toward the dairy aisle, scanning the shelves. "You know. Pet Milk! The one with the little puppy on the can?"

I exchanged a glance with Shion, who immediately caught on and smirked.

"Yuki," I said carefully trying to remember if I'd ever heard my mom talk about a dog being on Pet Milk cans. "They haven't had a dog on the can in, like… thirty years."

Silence.

Yuki slowly turned to face me. "What? NO! …that's such a… a… stone cold bummer!"

I heard Shion take a long breath. "That's a what?"

I have no idea how Yuki can make a ghost look like it's blushing, but she can, and she does.

"Yeah," I said. "Uh… that brand is still here. But the dog is gone."

"…Gone?" Her voice went eerily quiet.

Shion leaned against the cart, watching with pure enjoyment.

"Doggone it," she said.