Volume 2 - CH 12

“This autumn coat is very stylish.”

Then Arisa looked at the price tag and ……

Her expression clouded.

“Is it over your budget?”

“…. a little bit.”

Yuzuru glanced at the price tag.　

Arisa told him that this coat cost more than the money she had received from her adoptive father for her clothes.

Well, it is indeed a bit expensive.

But the amount of money that is a little lower than that coat is…Yuzuru wasn’t sure if this was the right amount of money to give to a high school girl for clothing.

The amount needed by men and women will be different.

However, ……

Considering the benefits that the Amagi family will gain from Arisa’s marriage to Yuzuru, one could say that they are stingy.

Although, consequently speaking, Arisa will never marry Yuzuru, so it may be appropriate.

“How much money are you short?”

When Yuzuru asked, Arisa stated the amount that was missing with a disappointed expression on her face.

Yuzuru thought about it for a while and then asked Arisa.

“Do you like it?”

“…… Well, more or less.”

There was a hint of regret in Arisa’s expression.

If she didn’t like it that much, she would have given up on it outright.

The fact that Arisa is unsure about it means that she likes it a lot.

“Do you want me to pay for it?”

“Eh? but …….”

“You like it, don’t you?　It seems to be a good one for the price. The next time you come back, it might be gone. As long as you give me my money back later, it’s fine.”

As long as we are not real lovers, we can’t say “I’ll buy it for you”, but ……　

It’s not a problem if you lend a little money.

He trusts that Arisa is a girl who will pay him back properly.

Fortunately, with the money he had saved from his part-time job, he can afford it.

“……if Yuzuru-san says so, ……then I’ll try it on and then decide. Please let me know your impressions.”

“Oh, That’s fine.”

When Yuzuru replied, Arisa took the coat in her hands without hesitation.

Then, after asking the shopkeeper for permission, she put it on.

“…… How do you like it?”

“It looks good on you. I think it makes you look more mature.”

The coat that Arisa liked was a caramel-colored trench coat.

The design and color of the coat were a little more mature, but Arisa was originally a high school girl with an unmistakable style.

She was able to wear it with no problem.

“…… Then I’ll buy it. Only because you are buying it, okay!”

Arisa reminded him of this, but she looked excited and put the coat in the basket.

They both headed to the checkout.

“Ah, ……, yes. Mind if I get credit points?”

A few years ago, high school students were not allowed to have credit cards, but now, with the lowering of the marriage age, they can.

Holding the card in his hand, he asked Arisa, who gave a small nod.

After finishing the payment with the card, she received a paper bag from the clerk.

Arisa squeezed the bag with both hands.

“I was able to make a good purchase. Thank you very much. I will return the money to you later.”

“Ah sure. …… Well, I’m not going to rush you. Just return it to me when you can afford it.”

When Yuzuru said this, Arisa squinted her eyes and gave a small nod.

Arisa seemed to be in a better mood than ever.

Her eyes, normally as quiet as the surface of a lake in winter, seemed to have a warm glow in them.

If she had “Ahoge,” it would be bouncing up and down.

(TN: Ahoge: The antenna hair which is a character trait on some anime and manga like Rika from Chuunibyou)

It was so cute that Yuzuru couldn’t help but reach out and pat Arisa’s head.

At first, Arisa looked puzzled, but she soon squinted her eyes and left him to do as he pleased.

It was like petting a dog, Yuzuru thought.

Then.

There was a strange noise.

Yuzuru looked up and looked in the direction of the noise. ……

Someone was running at a furious pace.

His back was quickly moving away from them.

“What’s wrong, Yuzuru-san.”

When he came to, Yuzuru was frozen with his hand on Arisa’s head.

She looked up at him, puzzled.

“No, …… somehow, a person ran by.”.

“That’s dangerous right.”

“Maybe he had something urgent to do?”

However, it was just a matter of a stranger running, and not related to Yuzuru and Arisa.

Even so, continuing to caress her head…..was not something he could do.

“So, what to do next?”

The texture of her hair was so good that he got carried away and started stroking it. ……

But It’s not a good idea to do this in public, Yuzuru quickly realized.

So he asked as if to change the subject.

Arisa looked a little embarrassed, and her cheeks were blushing.

“Yes, that’s right. …… Since neither of us has anything in particular we want to buy, how about we just go window shopping at random?”

“Yeah, it would be fun to just wander around without really thinking about the purpose as well”

The shopping mall is quite large, so there are places they haven’t visited yet.

Yuzuru and Arisa started to walk around, trying to take a look around the place.

Simply looking around at the products.

That alone was surprisingly fun.

However, due to all the playing around, it was getting late in the evening.

So they decided to have dinner as well.

There was a diner nearby, and they walked over to it.

“I don’t go to this kind of place very often, you know…….  How about Yuzuru-san?”

“That’s right. …… I go with Soichiro and friends sometimes. And sometimes with my family.”

When Yuzuru said that, Arisa widened her eyes, looking a little surprised.

The fact that he went with his family seemed to be the point of surprise.

“I can’t imagine the Takasegawa family coming to a place like this.”

“Well, I am aware that we are a strange family that wears kimonos all year round. But when we go out, we usually wear casual clothes, and we even go into random stores around here.”

Yuzuru’s mother, Sayuri, only cooks for weekday dinner and on weekends and holidays.

However, when she feels it’s too much trouble, they will naturally eat out.

Since such occasions are usually sudden, chain restaurants that do not require reservations are very useful.

And his younger sister, Ayumi, says, “The hamburgers at the family restaurant are better than my mom’s hamburgers”……

That is only natural.

If they can’t compete with hamburgers made at home, they can’t do business.

“I think I’ll have the demi-glace hamburger steak.”

Partly because he was thinking about hamburgers, and partly because he hadn’t eaten a Western-style hamburger recently.

Yuzuru’s order was immediately decided.

Arisa, on the other hand, seemed to be a little confused.

“I can’t make a choice. There are so many dishes to choose from.”

“Well, take your time.”

After a lot of hesitation, Arisa ordered the Doria. (TN: Doria – Rice gratin with white sauce and cheese) 

After waiting for a while, the food arrived with a delicious smell.

Yuzuru cut up the hamburger steak and put it in his mouth.

It was a familiar taste that he had eaten many times before.

After all, chain restaurants give you peace of mind in that you can walk into any restaurant and get a reasonably good meal.

Of course, it’s also fun to visit independent restaurants.

Eating half of the hamburger ……, he suddenly turned his attention to Arisa’s Doria.　

She seemed to have just finished a quarter of her meal.

Suddenly, his eyes meet hers.

Then she took out a new spoon.

She scoops up the part of the Doria that she hasn’t eaten yet and blows on it.

Could it be ……

At the same time as Yuzuru came to his senses, Arisa held out the spoon.

“You want some, right?　Go ahead.”

“‘…… Then, I’ll indulge in your kindness.”

Yuzuru leaned forward a little and put the spoon in his mouth.

The rich taste of white sauce and cheese spread in his mouth.

“How is it?”

“It’s delicious.”

However, it was a little embarrassing.

But it would be easier to have Arisa actually experience it than to say it out loud.

So Yuzuru stuck a new fork into the hamburger and stuck it out to Arisa.

A slightly surprised expression appeared on her face, but Arisa immediately leaned forward and opened her small mouth to put the hamburger in her mouth.

“Mmm. ……”

“How is it?”

“It’s delicious.”

There was a slight hint of red on Arisa’s cheeks.

She was also embarrassed, after all.