Chapter 24 When We Went Shopping for Clothes

When We Went Shopping for Clothes

“Shintaro… I wasn’t told about this.”

“Atsushi, you say that every time we meet.”

I went to a large shopping mall with Atsushi during my free time before work.

Since my shift started in the afternoon, we arrived just as the mall opened.

You might wonder, “Why are two guys shopping together?”

Well, it’s because I hadn’t bought any decent casual clothes lately, and I figured that if I’m going out, I should at least dress properly.

That’s what led me to come here.

Or, to put it bluntly, it’s because “I wanted to look good for a date with a college girl.”

Of course, I couldn’t exactly consult Kanade about something like, “I need to buy clothes—for our date!”

That’s why I turned to Atsushi for help.

Still, maybe because there weren’t any girls around, Atsushi looked visibly annoyed, pouting.

“Why am I stuck shopping with just you, Shintaro!? At least bring Kanade-chan along!!”

“Come on, let’s have a romantic shopping date, just the two of us. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“The way you said ‘like’ makes it sound terrifying in an entirely different way…sigh.”

“Hahaha!”

“You’re having fun, huh, Shintaro? Personally, I’d rather not tire myself out before work. If only there were a cute girl here, I’d feel more motivated… Why is it always just me…?”

Atsushi slumped his shoulders with a sigh.

He looked visibly dejected, but… for a shallow reason.

If I remember correctly, Atsushi’s classes were mostly full of male students.

And most of them were the muscle-bound type…

Thinking about it, I wanted to introduce him to someone who could help, but I’ve lost touch with most of my social circle, so I couldn’t do much.

That thought made me sigh too.

“So, Shintaro. Why are we here today? I thought you said you were treating me to lunch.”

“No, I wanted to hear a guy’s perspective. I’ve been choosing clothes randomly or just wearing my old college stuff, but I figured it was time for a change.”

“I see. So you’re asking for my advice…”

“Exactly.”

“Heh… Well, you’ve made the right choice, Shintaro! Leave it to me, the company’s self-proclaimed fashion leader—I’ll find you something perfect!”

“I’m counting on you. You’ve got a great sense of style, and I know you’ll be a big help.”

“Haha~! Keep the compliments coming! Worship me! …But seriously, why the sudden interest in clothes?”

“I’m going out with Kanade.”

“…”

Atsushi instantly fell silent, averting his gaze like a sulking child.

He even seemed to tremble slightly.

“…Shintaro, does it even matter what you wear?”

“No, no, I can’t have a shabby-looking guy standing next to a beautiful girl, can I?”

“…Tch. Go rot in dating hell…”

“Wow, you’re really bitter.”

“Besides, Shintaro, you’re already popular, so why worry? Back when you were a new hire, you were always surrounded by girls!!”

“Was I?”

“You were! You have no idea what it’s like for me… Every time someone talked to me, it was just to use me as a bridge to get to you. That’s my life, Shintaro!”

“But didn’t you seem like you were having fun? You were always so loud and animated.”

“Of course I enjoyed it! Talking to women is fun, even if I know I’m being used! It’s the sad truth about us men!!”

Atsushi started bawling and grabbed my sleeve, his reaction overly dramatic.

Shaking my head, I gave up resisting.

After he’d finished shaking me around, Atsushi finally calmed down and slapped his cheeks to compose himself.

“Alright! Enough messing around. It’s time to step up for my best friend!”

“Thanks, Atsushi.”

“No problem! Now, let’s start picking out clothes… Hm? Wait a second.”

“What is it?”

“My beauty radar just went off. Over there—look, Shintaro. Take a peek.”

“…Huh?”

“Beauty radar”? What even is that?

Swallowing my urge to retort, I sighed.

Following his lead, I turned to look in the direction Atsushi pointed with his chin.

There, I saw two girls—one dressed like a gyaru and the other wearing a school uniform.

“…Nee-san, you need to make your move.”

“I know, Hibiki, but it’s just an outing, you know~?”

“…You can’t think that way. A woman of the Amamiya family never lets her prey escape.”

“Come on, Ariga-cchi isn’t prey. Besides, I don’t need to stress about picking the right underwear… oh.”

Standing in the lingerie section, the two girls were none other than Kanade and her younger sister, Hibiki.

Hibiki held up some provocative black lingerie, showing it to her sister.

And just at that moment, their eyes locked with mine, making it impossible to pretend I hadn’t seen them.

No matter how I looked at it… this was something I shouldn’t have seen.

The awkwardness was overwhelming, but I told myself to act like an adult, keeping my composure as I smiled.

Raising a hand, I approached as if I’d only just noticed them.

“Yo! Kanade, what a coincidence.”

“Eh? W-why is Ariga-cchi here!?”

As Kanade panicked, the other two grinned mischievously, as if they were itching to say something.