Episode 384: Shopping Trip

The first Sunday after winter break started.

Today, we were all going to shop for various things for the Christmas party coming up in two days.

Originally, Sara-san, Hanako-san, Hayato, Todo-san, and I had planned to coordinate our schedules, but since everyone decided to participate during the recent group chat, we ended up deciding to go shopping together too.

So this morning, we met up early with the three from the further away group at the station (Nishikawa-san went to pick up Yuji and Tachikawa-san in her car), and we planned to storm our usual shopping mall starting from the morning…

「Whoa… it’s pretty big. Oh!? There’s a Machetier!!」

「Huh… it seems several brand shops have been added since I moved.」

Tachikawa-san raised an excited voice while looking at the directory map set up in front of the escalator after we entered the building from the parking garage walkway… and Nishikawa-san, who was visiting for the first time in a long while, was also gazing at the map with interest.

By the way, Machetier was a casual brand popular with girls lately… I think, probably.

「Tachikawa-san, do you like Machetier?」

「I’m totally obsessed lately!! Look, even this coat…」

Tachikawa-san flipped the tag on her collar to make it easier to see, and Natsumi-senpai leaned in to take a peek…

「Hoh, no wonder I thought it was a stylish coat.」

「Ehehe, it’s trending with the girls in my class… well, it’s popular in the whole school lately!」

「Now that you mention it, there were a few people in our class obsessed with it too. Right, Sara… wait, you’re not interested, are you.」

「No. I have no interest in brands.」

Sara-san brushed off Natsumi-senpai’s lead easily… but perhaps she was a little curious, as she seemed to be staring intently at Tachikawa-san’s coat?

「But Satsukawa-senpai is always so stylish, isn’t she? Her fashion is sophisticated and mature, and she’s even cute on top of that.」

「Originally, Sara was the type who was indifferent to fashion itself, let alone brands. Even when I brought her to places like this, it was like anything was fine as long as it was loose-fitting and didn’t show her body lines, and she only ever picked floor-length skirts even in summer.」

「Ah… now that you mention it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Satsukawa-senpai in a miniskirt or pants.」

It was just as those two said. Sara-san really didn’t wear clothes like that… even in the middle of a hot summer, she would never wear anything that needlessly exposed her arms or legs, and miniskirts or short pants were out of the question. So when she walked next to Natsumi-senpai, their fashion styles were at such extremes that the difference really stood out…

「I bet. That’s why even her recent outfits are based on that coordination for use against Takanashi-kun I advised her on before, which was a total hit, and now that’s become Sara’s preference.」

「Um… so that means even Satsukawa-senpai’s fashion is based on Takanashi-kun’s standards?」

「I won’t deny that my coordination is conscious of Kazunari-san’s tastes. If I’m going to wear something anyway, it’s obviously better if it’s something that makes Kazunari-san happy.」

Sara-san stated it flatly as if it were obvious, though she smiled a bit bashfully. And since she sent a quick glance my way to gauge my reaction… well, I’m well aware of that, and to be blunt, it makes me happy, yeah.

「Kazunari, how about my clothes?」

「Eh?」

While I was captivated by the still slightly bashful Sara-san, Hanako-san suddenly tugged at my left arm as usual and asked me that…

Um…

「I think they’re very cute and look great? They suit you well, Hanako-san, and you seem a bit more mature today.」

Today, Hanako-san wasn’t in her usual flashy Gothic-Lolita-style clothes. She was still in the cute category, but overall she was more reserved, wearing a soft kind of cuteness… and her checkered long skirt gave her a mature vibe…

Hmm, I still can’t express it very well.

「Thanks… I tried to go for more of a big sister feel today. I’m glad you noticed.」

Even with my vague and clumsy impression, Hanako-san wore a gentle, soft smile and pulled the sleeve she was holding a bit tighter.

Isn’t that smile and gesture a bit of a foul play?

「…That guy really praises her straight out without any embarrassment at all.」

「…Kazunari is always direct, so I think they can tell immediately that he’s being sincere.」

「…Hehe, that’s one of Takanashi-san’s wonderful qualities.」

…Hey, I can hear you.

I can’t tell if they’re praising me or teasing me, but I don’t have the dexterity to give smooth compliments, so I’m just telling them exactly what I think.

「Hehe… Kazunari-san♪」

「Kazunari.」

But even with my clumsiness, Sara-san… and Hanako-san both smile happily like this…

So… I guess this is fine.

「Well, leaving that stupid couple and the bro-con aside, shall we decide where to start?」

「I’m in! Oh, but Machetier too.」

「Honestly, Yoko. That’s not our goal today, is it?」

「Hehe… but since we’re here, let’s take a look later. I’m interested too.」

「Oh? But Eri-rin, doesn’t your favorite brand have a different style…?」

「That’s that, and this is this. As a girl around this age, I have to keep up with the trends too.」

A girl… huh.

This is just an image, but Sara-san and Nishikawa-san especially seem a step or two more mature than other girls their age, so somehow rather than the clothes high school girls in general like… well, of course that’s not a bad thing, just an image.

「Hmm… I see. In that case, I will also…」

「Oh!? So Satsukawa-senpai is interested in trendy fashion after all…」

「No, I’m heading to the men’s section.」

「Wait, you mean Takanashi-kun’s clothes!!」

「Of course, is something wrong?」

Sara-san mercilessly cut down Tachikawa-san’s interjection with a straight face, stating it as if it were absolutely nothing. And Hanako-san was also giving a silent nod of agreement to Sara-san’s statement… don’t tell me they’re both going to pick out my clothes?

「Oh, that sounds interesting? I’ve never had the chance to coordinate a man’s outfit before, so I’d like to participate too.」

「Wait, Eri-rin too!?」

Now even Nishikawa-san was volunteering, already looking me over from head to toe as if she was imagining something… hey, hey, haven’t you all forgotten the goal for today!?

「I’ll say this now, the final decision-making power lies with me. Eri and Hanako-san are participating strictly as observers.」

「Well, that can’t be helped. Takanashi-san is Sara’s fiancé after all…」

「I’m his sister, so I should at least have a little more right to say something…」

「Rejected. If you’re going to say that, as his fiancée and future wife, I am the only one with the absolute right, you know?」

「Um… I…」

「Hehe, I’ll find the perfect outfit for you, Kazunari-san, okay?」

Um… apparently I, the person in question, have no decision-making power. I knew that, so it’s fine, but yeah.

But I’ll say it again…

That’s not the goal for today, is it, Sara-san?

「Phew, I’m stuffed.」

「Honestly, Natsumi. I always tell you to stop talking like that because it’s unladylike, don’t I?」

The shopping went smoothly, and after having a late lunch, we were taking a break in the still-crowded food court.

Since we weren’t finished with all the shopping, we couldn’t exactly change locations just for lunch, so we ended up making do with the food court… although, it’s weird for high schoolers to even consider a hotel restaurant for lunch in the first place.

「Whoops, my bad for a lady.」

「…Pfft.」

「Ah? What is it, Yuji, you got a problem?」

「No, nothing.」

Yuji, glared at by Natsumi-senpai with dead eyes, exaggeratedly straightened his posture and slowly shook his head. Opposing Natsumi-senpai in this state is suicide even if she’s being unreasonable, so Yuji was probably following the rule of letting sleeping dogs lie.

「Still, Nishikawa-san eating at MugBurger…」

「Y-yeah, it was a bit hard to imagine. And Satsukawa-senpai too…」

Meanwhile, Tachikawa-san and Todo-san were having a bit of déjà vu, seemingly surprised for reasons they’d heard before. Well, the fact that the image of fast food doesn’t link up with Nishikawa-san is probably a path every friend or acquaintance has to walk.

「Oh, I’m just a normal high school girl like everyone else, you know?」

「No, I mean, that’s true, but.」

It’s true that for an average high school girl, there’s nothing strange about going to a fast food place… but when it’s Nishikawa-san (and Sara-san), it’s only natural to feel a sense of mismatch.

「Hehe… Kazunari-san, please don’t move.」

「’kay.」

And the other part of the conversation… Sara-san was, as usual, not paying any attention to the reactions around her, happily (or joyfully?) wiping my mouth with a damp paper napkin. Sorry for being such a handful, really.

「…No way, man…」

「…Look at that girl, she’s too cute.」

「…Wait, is she dating that guy?」

Well… if you do something like that in such a crowded place, of course you’re going to stand out.

It’s a bit late to care about that now, though.

「Now then… leaving the stupid couple aside, what should we do next?」

「Right, we’ve bought most of the things needed for the preparations…」

「Then, is it time to go buy ‘that’?」

「Ehehe, I wonder what I should get?」

「Mmm… I can’t decide.」

The「that」the girls started talking about with excitement was… in a way, the staple of Christmas parties, the thing known as「that.」

「Well then, shall we split up for a bit?」

「I don’t mind staying with Kazunari-san, though?」

「Oh, come on! Read the room for once!」

「No fair. If my brother’s wife is going with Kazunari, then I…」

「E-even Hanako-san…」

「Good grief.」

As expected, Sara-san (and Hanako-san) showed reluctance to part from me, and Natsumi-senpai shot a do something about it look right at my face. To be honest, my true feeling was that I didn’t want to split up either… but this was what we all decided, so it couldn’t be helped.

「Sara-san, I don’t want to be apart either, but here…」

「Yes…」

When I suppressed my true feelings and started persuading her, Sara-san seemed to understand the situation, nodding immediately while staring at me with pained eyes… ugh, that expression is unfair. If we weren’t in public, I’d want to hug her right now!!

「…Sigh, these two really are something.」

「…Yuzuki-senpai, aren’t you actually the one who doesn’t want to be away from Tachibana-kun…?」

「…Don’t group me with them!!」

「…How about it, Yuji?」

「…Don’t throw it to me. Anyway, how about you guys?」

「…Haha, no comment.」

「…Uuu.」

「…I understand. To go against Kazunari-san’s will would be contrary to my pride to begin with…」

「Thank you, Sara-san.」

It wasn’t exactly reluctant, but Sara-san showed her intention to go with the others while still leaving a somewhat regretful atmosphere.

Pride might be a bit of an exaggeration, but if that’s Sara-san’s will… it’s my job to respect it.

「In exchange… when we get home, please let me hold you lots, okay?」

「U-understood…」

Phew… apparently tonight as well… wait, pointing out that happens every day would be boorish.

Because I’m happy every day.

「「Sigh…………」」

Our heartwarming(?) exchange drew very warm… no, rather, lukewarm gazes from everyone… huh, that’s weird?

「…Well then, let’s go.」

「「Okay~」」

Leaving us behind, Natsumi-senpai started walking briskly, and the other girls followed suit. Sara-san followed them, turning back once to wave at me… I waved back with a smile… now then.

「Alright, shall we go too?」

「Yeah. The question is which store to go to… is Hayato the expert on that?」

「Yuji, what’s that supposed to mean?」

「Haha… why don’t we just head to a likely-looking store for now? We know which store Sara-san and the others headed for.」

「Right.」

「Got it.」

Well then, time for the men to move too.

The next goal is, of course, 「that」… a gift for the gift exchange.