Encounter: 'The Little Match Girl' (Absurdist SS14)

I was walking along my usual route, just like any other day.
Then, someone called out to me.
'Excuse me.'

She was a young woman.
She had a refreshing smile.

Is this a religion?

'Um.'

Or is she hitting on me?

'Would you like to buy some matches?'

It was the unexpected 'Little Match Girl'!!!

I wish she had at least been selling lighters.
Even if it were a lighter, I don't smoke, so I wouldn't need it anyway.

Looking closely, what she was holding in her hand was a ticket.
A concert ticket for 'Match'?

Hmm, that's questionable.

When I reached out, I found a pocket tissue in my hand.

I was led by the hand to a table on the side of the road.

I sat down.
In front of me was a young man with brown hair.

'How much is your current mobile phone bill per month?'

I see, so that's how it is.
His eyes were filled with desperation.

I tried blowing my nose with the tissue I had been given.
It wasn't bad to use.

Should I just walk away silently, or should I keep this young man company?
I started thinking while checking my schedule for the day on my smartphone.

It's not a bad feeling.

'I had breakfast at Doutor earlier, and I really think the A-set is the classic choice.'

I decided to enjoy this situation.
The young man was staring at me with his mouth agape.
It was written all over his face that he didn't want to get involved with a dangerous or troublesome person.

'Are you with Docomo?'
The young man looked at the smartphone in my hand, glanced at my face once more, and then opened his mouth.
He was desperate to get the conversation back on script.

However, I was confused because he had referred to my smartphone with an honorific.
I had no choice but to throw my winning pitch.

"Well, I sometimes think that the C set might be nice, you know."

All expression vanished from the young man's face.

"Thank you for your hard work."

The young man handed me a pocket tissue pack and steered the conversation toward an end.

I stood up as guided and began to walk away.
The woman of indeterminate age from earlier gave me another tissue pack.

I left the scene with three pocket tissue packs in my left hand and my smartphone in my right.

After walking for a while, I saw a middle-aged man handing out tissues about five meters ahead.

I tucked the tissues in my left hand into my pocket and pressed forward in a state of combat readiness.

It's not a bad day.

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