54
I arrived at the appointed place.
It looked like Hasumi still hadn"t arrived.
I adjusted my hat in place.
The sunlight is strong today. I shouldn"t have put just the hat on but sunscreen too. What a blunder.
As I waited, I absent-mindedly heard the talks of other girls wishes here and there.
Aah, has he finally arrived?
"Sorry, did I make you wait long?"
I scowled at Hasumi that said the standard line.
"You"re late. I thought I would get sunburnt."
"......sunburnt? You didn"t put on sunscreen?"
"I forgot to put it on! Now, let"s hurry. Before I get sunburnt."
"Ah, yeah……"
When I walked briskly ahead, Hasumi followed suit.
Our destination was the department store. The department store I once ran into Hasumi.
I want to look around for accessories.
I want to gift Miku-sama an accessory that suited her.
Even though I was walking ahead of him, Hasumi came up next to me in no time thanks to his long legs.
Not willing to lose, I sped up my pace to be ahead of Hasumi.
Hasumi did the same and came up next to me again, and said with an exasperated tone.
"Why are you competing with me? Are you angry?"
"I"m not competing; and I am not angry."
"Then, why are you walking ahead of me?"
".......because I feel like it?"
"I would like to hear why though……"
Hasumi knitted his brows.
In reality, it"s because I vaguely felt resistance to walking beside him.
It"s just vague, but awkward.
And because it"s awkward, I try to squeeze in a conversation.
"What will Hasumi-sama gift Miku-sama?"
"Aah…..right."
Hasumi answered after thinking for a bit.
"I thought to give her something she could use on a daily basis."
"I see. Me too."
"We should be careful to not gift similar things."
"Yes, you"re right. By the way, what did you give her last year?"
"Last year, I gifted her a bouquet of flowers."
"My, a bouquet."
Are? I felt like I had heard about this somewhere already.
Where was it again? Hmm…...ah right.
If I remember correctly, it was my brother that said, Hasumi would gift Miku-sama flowers for her birthday every year. And that, as fresh flowers would wither; they wouldn"t remain.
And then thought. It"s painful, Hasumi.
But, this year you intend to give her something that would properly remain?
Is this the proof that he broke through Miku-sama?
That might be it.
Then, this time"s shopping is the first step to commemorate that for Hasumi.
"......what. What"s with that look."
"Well. I was thinking that Hasumi-sama has grown up….."
"Why are you looking down at me then?"
"Ufufu."
".......it"s disgusting, don"t look at me."
It"s rude to say that it"s disgusting!
I was just genuinely smiling thinking about Hasumi"s growth.
However, my grinning wouldn"t stop no matter what he said.
Hasumi looking uncomfortable made his gaze wander about.
Having arrived at the department store, we immediately went in the centre of accessories.
Hmm, I wonder what would be suitable.
Something like perfumes? Oh, this perfume is cute. Oh, this one might be good too.
But perfume, mh? But I don"t know if she"d like it or not…….
I wonder what smells Miku-sama likes.
When consulted Hasumi, without delay, sniffed the perfume and advised me that this was good.
Okay then, I"ll go with this!
Ah, this towel is cute too. I ended up secretly buying some in various colours.
Pink for Miku-sama, light blue for Nao, and orange for me.
I bought the pink towel and the perfume that Hasumi chose, asking for them to be wrapped.
Shop a.s.sistant-san, a cute wrapping please!
When I smilingly asked the shop a.s.sistant to wrap it, I was told: "your boyfriend is cool."
Bo-boyfriend!? You"re wrong!
While I was all fl.u.s.tered, I was told: "are you on a date with your boyfriend? I"m so jealous," with a grin.
He is not my bo-boyfriend! And we aren"t on a date!
When I tried to deny it with all myself the shop a.s.sistant said, "is that so?" While looking at me with a warm gaze.
Not able to resist any longer, I ran away as soon as I got the number for the wrapping.
Hasumi looked at me with curiosity when I came back with a red face.
I hung my head down without being able to look at Hasumi"s face directly.
"What"s up? Do you feel unwell?"
"I-it"s nothing……."
"Your face is red though…...do you perhaps have a fever?"
"I"m fine! I just feel a bit hot!"
"Even when there"s air conditioning?"
Hasumi didn"t look convinced.
I must distract him with another topic.
"Has Hasumi-sama decided on a present?"
"Yeah. How about this?"
What Hasumi picked up was a hand cream.
When I used the free sample, it had a really good smell and my skin absorbed it smoothly.
After using it, it didn"t feel sticky, this might be good.
"Isn"t this good? I think girls would be happy with this."
"Then, shall I go with this?"
Hasumi took a set of hand cream; and, after paying for it, he went to have it wrapped like me.
And as he did that, the shop a.s.sistant from before uttered an unbelievable, "is it fine if I give it to your girlfriend together with her items?"
After turning his head to look at me for a moment, he answered, "it"s okay," with his usual expressionless face.
Deny the girlfriend part will you!
Look, the shop a.s.sistant is looking at me with a heartwarming smile because you didn"t deny it!
Honestly, until we exited the shop I didn"t feel alive.
After we bought the presents, we decided to go somewhere for some tea.
I should at least offer some tea as thanks for accompanying me for shopping.
It"s bad to be the one that is always receiving things.
When we were talking about what reaction Miku-sama would have when opening our presents, a small silhouette jumped in front of us.
"Sousuke-sama!"
The small silhouette approached Hasumi.
She had glossy black hair, curled like a lady from medieval Europe, with a mole under her big slanted eyes, she had a small, well shaped lips.
A true bishoujo. The bishoujo called out to Hasumi with a smile plastered on her whole face.
Are? I feel like I"ve seen this child somewhere……..where was it...? I can"t recall.
As I couldn"t catch up to my thoughts, I stared at those two.
"They sure match really well," and so, while thinking this, I decided to watch the course of events attentively.