[prompt] Mochi Munching

Gwen jumps excitedly from foot to foot in the corner store queue.  Ahead of her another patron has finished their transaction and turns to leave victoriously with bagged mochis in hand. The next bun steps forward to the cashier and everyone behind them moves one spot closer as well. The wait doesn't deter her; it would be horrible to go back home without a sweet treat of her own to enjoy. It wasn't just a tradition, it's a requirement.

Eventually all those before her have left with their own purchases and Gwen makes her way to the unenthusiastic cashier. Undeterred, she dumps her armful of mochi packages for the cashier to scan and bag.

"Busy today, huh?" Gwen can't help herself from making idle chatter. The cashier pops her gum as Gwen rambles on, clearly uninterested but stuck at the whim of her chatty customer. Each blip of the scanner riles up the excitement in Gwen's stomach. There were easily enough mochis here not only to satiate her own sweet tooth but to share with her friends when she sees them next.

"Do you have any plans later? To celebrate?" Gwen pries at the cashier, leaning forward on her forearms.

"Not really," comes the dull reply.

"Me either! It's perfect." Gwen claps her hands together. "Just me, my TV, and my pillow pile! I have a lot of shows to catch up on."

Her total flashes on the screen. Gwen swipes her card before grabbing the bags to stuff in her ratty backpack for safekeeping.

"Nice meeting you- have a good night!" She calls over her shoulder as she drags her board off the wall and to the sidewalk. One smooth step and is she flying down the street before the door can even shut behind her.

She weaves her board around scattered pedestrians, pushing herself off with a kick when she slows, but luckily her street isn't much further ahead. Gwen makes a turn before hopping off her board and scooping it up to make her way up the greyed concrete stars leading to her townhouse.

It wasn't much but she never really needed much. She rents a room in the back for a decent enough price, all of her roommates are agreeable and there's rarely any squabbling, plus the location makes it prime real-estate for skating to the park, to work, or anywhere she needs in the mid-city.

Gwen leans her board up near the door before bolting inside. As she tears off her jacket and clumsily kicks away her shoes, she bids a cheerful greeting to her roommates gathered in the living room.

"Heads up!"

Packaged mochi fly through the air towards them, nearly as weapons instead of gifts, before Gwen bounds off with a laugh echoing behind her.

"On the house– thank me later!"

As soon as she door is shut she twists the lock and tosses her remaining mochi on her bed for safe keeping. Gwen ties back her curtains, plugs in her multicolored lights, turns on her lava lamp, and fixes up her pile of pillows and blankets for maximum comfort.

Gwen settles in, TV remote in hand, and digs into her pile of mochi treats. Finding something to watch is easy– her endless list of clips in her watch later provides a variety of options. Soon she makes her selection and melts into her blanket nest with a mochi finally in hand.

Her whole day, nay, her whole life has led to this moment. Gwen delicately peels open the wrapping and tosses it aside without breaking eye contact with the succulent rice cake in her palm. Such a smooth, dusted surface.

Finally she takes her first bite.

Sweetness overwhelms her mouth and she quickly pulls back, licking her lips, and savors the taste of it. It's addicting. Gwen relaxes back with an exaggerated groan.

Definitely worth the wait.

Word count: 635