Christmas was far from Katsu's favorite time of year. People got together, they had fun with friends and family. Katsu's parents usually went out, but that was only because Katsu lied to them and told them she had friends she could go spend time with. She didn't want to burden her parents, after all.
Katsu was able to use the time to be alone and draw, if nothing else. She really didn't mind that, although she felt like this was wrong on this day. She felt like she deserved better, but nothing worked for her, so she wasn't able to get anywhere.
She put down her sketchbook and decided to go into town a little, to see what stores had and what other people were doing. It would probably make her sad, but it's not like that was anything new.
Emi had been looking at the shops in town, looking for a good present she could give to Katsu. As she went from window to window, she couldn't find a single empty shop... "Mou... Why does everyone else have to procrastinate and get their gifts today..." she muttered to herself as she went towards the next store, sighing.
There were a lot of people around. Katsu wondered if there were any people like her out among them; people just watching, people who were lonely and trying to find some escape from that. Or were all of them loved, buying presents, with friends or family?
The thoughts started to get to her, and she put her head down as she walked a little. She couldn't think about depressing thoughts like this...it wasn't good for her.
Emi eventually found a relatively empty store with a rather interesting gift. She wasn't sure Katsu would like it... but at least the gesture would be appreciated, right? Smiling, she stepped inside the store, grabbing the item in question before walking to the register.
As she walked around, she found a spot to sit that afforded her a view of the people all around, and of some of the decorations and stores. She pulled her sketchbook out of her bag and sat there, drawing a little. She couldn't really appreciate this, but it was a pretty time of year, if nothing else she could have this picture.
Walking out of the store, holding a rather large and gift-wrapped box, Emi hummed to herself before she spotted Katsu. Grinning, she waved to the best of her ability before the box was starting to tip over. She quickly resumed keeping both hands on the box as she walked towards her.
Katsu didn't notice, all she saw was a person waving to someone they knew. She looked back at her page and began to add more detail to some of the decorations she was drawing at the moment.
Emi looked for a moment before she puffed out her cheeks and walked towards Katsu. "I wave and you don't even respond..." she sighed. "Are you really that focused?"
Her hand slipped and a large dark line cut through her work. She looked up, rather shocked that someone was talking to her. "O...oh, it's you..." she said softly.
Emi saw Katsu make the line, and she backed away. "S-Sorry! I shouldn't have said anything!!" she told her, hiding behind the box. "Please don't get mad at me!"
She looked down at her drawing and started to erase at the line, trying to salvage it. She wasn't sure what to respond with for a moment, "I...I'm not angry," she said softly.
"Thank goodness..." she said. "I was thinking you would be like the artists at my school, who fly off the handle the moment someone distracts them from their art. Good thing I'm leaving..."
She looked up at Emi, "What?" she asked. Leaving right now so Katsu could do her art, or leaving her school? She was confused, but it didn't bother her much.