Chapter 4:
Wrapping Up a Year
THE NEXT DAY, AYAKA AND I SWAGGERED AROUND the mall.
The decorations had already been changed over to New Year’s from Christmas. The red and white of the banners strung up above really reminded me that the year was ending.
This whole place was having a New Year’s blowout sale, so it was busier than ever.
“Today was a bad day to visit…” Ayaka complained.
“You’re the one who invited me,” I replied, annoyed.
She sighed. “Well, you’re the only person I can get to carry my stuff!”
“I’m sure you know plenty of people who’d do that for you. And by the way, don’t invite people out just to make them your pack mules.”
“Ughhh, I hate being considerate!” she grumbled again as she trotted over to a cosmetics store.
She had enough friends to know that there weren’t many people out there you could treat inconsiderately and still expect them to be friends with you. How would a normal guy feel if one of the most popular girls in school called him over just to lug around her bags?
I wouldn’t know, but speaking personally? I wanted to go home.
“The only reason I’m here is to scout out the expensive makeup that just came out. I’m gonna be a while, so I’d feel bad for whoever I asked out.”
“Why doesn’t that apply to me, I wonder…”
“Because we’re so close and trusting of each other! Yep, that must be it.”
“It is not!” I smacked her on the butt with a bag full of winter clothes she’d bought. It made a loud thump.
“Oww! Hey, where are you aiming?!”
“Shut up. You know you earned it.”
“I was obviously joking,” she whined as she rubbed the point of impact.
“Isn’t it easier to buy that kind of stuff on the internet these days, anyway? They’ve got reviews right on the product page too.”
If she’d shopped online, I’d have been spared from carrying so many heavy shopping bags.
Nowadays, most people tended to pay attention to reviews when buying things. I didn’t, sure, but I recognized that I was in the minority.
Surprisingly, Ayaka shook her head at that.
“There are review sites for makeup, sure, and I used to pay them a lot of mind. The thing is, I hear they give out a lot of free products in return for fake reviews,” she explained, combing her fingers through her hair. Her silky hair distracted me for a moment, but I managed to keep my head on straight. “I bought a conditioner with a really good review average, and it made my hair all stiff and hard. So I looked, and all the one-star reviews were like ‘what the hell,’ saying the other reviews were fake and not to be trusted.”
That was the big downside of relying on reviews. They’re convenient but blindly trusting them could be dangerous.
“That must’ve been rough.”
“Yep. It’s not just makeup, though. Whenever I want to make a choice I can’t risk regretting, I always check things out with my own eyes first.”
After that nonchalant remark, she squatted down and started inspecting the eyeliner selection.
That’s Ayaka for you. Her strong will really is one of her biggest charms. How many of her friends know about it, though?
“What a waste,” I muttered.
“Huh? You think so? I thought it was a fair price… Hmm, maybe it is a little expensive. What do you think?”
I guess her strong will doesn’t apply to shopping.
“It’s fine. Just buy it,” I replied dismissively and adjusted the paper bags on my shoulder. They were getting heavy.
“Want me to carry them?” Ayaka suddenly held out her hand.
I hesitated for a moment, but I held strong in the end. It wasn’t fun to be a shopping bag mule, but I’d be embarrassed to walk next to her while she carried her own bags. If I wanted to maintain my image, then the wise decision was to continue my duties.
“Thought so.” Ayaka smirked, as if she’d expected my response.
“Don’t give me that. You’d better thank me somehow,” I shot back.
Surprisingly, she replied, “How about I treat you to a meal?”
“Huh? Really?”
“Of course. I’m relying on your time and energy, after all.”
That changed everything. My disappointment turned to excitement, and shopping suddenly became fun. Ayaka chuckled, apparently having noticed.
Can you blame me? As a broke university student living alone, those words are heaven-sent. Of course I’m excited!
Maybe I’d hesitate if she were younger, but I had no reason to refuse a meal offer from someone my age.
“I’m going to check out that shop back there, so pick a place you’d like to eat at, okay?” After a quick stretch, Ayaka walked off, heels clacking, arms swinging back and forth.
I watched her leave and gleefully tapped on my phone screen.
Search… There it is!
There was a restaurant in front of the station I’d actually been interested in for some time now.
I made a reservation under the name Mino Ayaka.