Saturday. Fiddling with my smartphone at the shopping mall's lounge area. The newly released mobile game is tough but so rewarding and fun. I'm totally engrossed in the game when... "I've kept you waiting, haven't I?" Miyanoshita shows up. She's usually dressed in outfits that I find cute, but today's look is strikingly beautiful. There's also a gentle whiff of citrus in the air. It's probably perfume. It doesn't bother me at all. The scent is just a faint hint, which actually adds to the charm. "..." "Hehe, what do you think? Does the more grown-up me make your heart race, Yuuki-san?" "Definitely... Well, I can't quite tell if it's my heart racing, but I'm definitely taken aback." "Oh, really... Hmm, I see. Do you think I'm cute?" "Yeah, you're cute." "That's surprisingly candid of you. Are you plotting something? I'm not some gullible girl, you know." "No, I honestly find you cute." "Geez, I like you! I really, really like you!" Isn't that incredibly gullible? "I think it's good. I'm not well-versed in fashion, but even I can tell, it's nice." "Is that so... Hehe, hehehe♪ You're really good at making me happy, Yuuki-san." Miyanoshita was trying to stay composed, but she seemed quite bashful. "Well, shall we head out? We only have so much time for our date." "OK!" "Then, let's go♪" ―――――――――― Having decided to genuinely confront Miyanoshita's feelings, I have to respond as much as I can. And so... I was invited on a date and agreed to go. "Hehehe, today I'll make you fall for me with my superb skills, Yuuki-san." "Can you stop doing that with your hand?" You look like an old dude. "Today, I'll be the one to escort you, Yuuki-san." "Got it, I'm counting on you." "Now then, let's depart!" Led by Miyanoshita, we walked through the shopping mall to a clothing store known for its bargains. "Let's start with some shopping here." "So Miyanoshita, you shop here?" "Are you surprised?" "Yeah, to be honest." This apparel shop is all about low prices, so it doesn't really have much brand power. I thought girls wouldn't be very interested because of that.

"That perception is a little old-fashioned. There are some who still care about brands, but increasingly, many find them unappealing. They're like, brands? So what? Brands don't automatically guarantee popularity anymore. There's so much more out there that's also good." "When you put it that way..." "Recently, you can find a lot of cute clothes even in a place like this. It's important to be trendy, but at the same time, you want to fill your wardrobe with stuff you personally like, right?" "I see." "And, most importantly, it's affordable. That's really important for an elementary school girl like me." "After all, it comes down to that." I can't help but smile wryly. Her sense of money is already like an adult's. "Yuuki-san, will you help me find clothes that suit me?" "Eh, I don't think I have any fashion sense though..." I prioritize affordability and comfort. Unless it's an extremely colorful piece, I haven't really cared about the design of clothes. "I want my beloved to pick for me. In wearing what they like, I aim to be enveloped in their sense of style♪" "... Understood, I'll try my best." If she says it like that, I can't say no. We're not lovers, but I do want Miyanoshita to be happy. "Hmm... How about this one?" I pick up a fluffy, longer skirt. It was crafted with a sharp edge in a pale pink color. "Oh, Yuuki-san, you have a good eye. Yeah, that looks really nice." "I'm glad. But it's tough finding something that matches this." "I'll choose the top. It's like a shared labor of love with Yuuki-san, isn't it?♪" "Wording!" ―――――――――― "Hmm, is this okay? I'd actually like to spend another two hours choosing." "It's fine." "Really? We've already spent quite a lot of time on this." "Isn't that just part of girls' shopping?" "Mmm, such understanding... impressive." Being praised for that feels somehow wrong. "But I feel bad dragging you around any more than this, Yuuki-san, so let's call it a day." "I really don't mind." "Eh?" "It's for an important friend." "......Geez, geez, geez. Those words, like 'friend,' they make me so happy and give me butterflies. If you say them so casually, I might just die, you know?" "Die?" "I'm dying of infatuation." "What a way to die..." Isn't that more of a phrase that guys use? "Anyway... I'll go take care of the bill." Having finished choosing her clothes, Miyanoshita happily heads to the cashier. I was thinking of offering to pay, but she rejected me, saying, "I don't want the first present to be something choosen haphazardly". I wasn't trying to choose haphazardly... Ugh, understanding girls is tough.