As soon as Kushida Kikyo left, Karuizawa Kei peeked out from the fitting room.
She had already changed into the pastel pink sweater, hesitated for a moment, then quickly stepped out, glancing around as if checking for anyone nearby. After weaving through a few racks, she made her way to Kure Ragna. With a playful twirl, she half-raised her arms, the hem of the sweater swaying slightly.
"How does it look? Cute, right?"
Kure Ragna tilted his head, pretending to evaluate her seriously, even though, truthfully, he didn't feel much about it.
"Not bad. It suits you."
"Right?!" Kei beamed, spinning once more in excitement.
His gaze shifted downward. Something felt off.
"Wait… where's your dress?"
Kei instantly stiffened, gripping the hem of her sweater. She fidgeted before mumbling, almost too quietly to hear:
"It was… a little tight. I couldn't get it back on. So I left it in the fitting room…"
She hesitated before adding in a frustrated whisper, "But I could still wear it just fine last month!"
"Ah…" Kure Ragna stretched out the sound, realization dawning. No wonder she seemed hesitant when stepping out.
She didn't need to say it. The implication was clear—she had gained a little weight.
"Why not just ask the store clerk for a bigger size?" he suggested, offering a simple and logical solution.
Kei, however, shook her head furiously.
"No! This size is fine!"
"Even though it's too small?"
"I'll slim down!" she declared, puffing up her cheeks in determination.
There it was again—that strange sense of competitiveness.
Kure Ragna rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then raised a finger. "I'd suggest getting at least one size up. Preferably two—"
Kei immediately shot him a glare.
"Not because of that," he continued, unfazed. "Think about it. You plan to wear this in autumn and winter, right?"
"…Yeah?"
"Last time you tried it on, you probably only had a thin layer underneath. But if you want to wear it in winter, you'll need more layers. Even if you lose weight, it won't be enough to fit comfortably."
Kei stared at him, caught between frustration and realization.
After a long, silent battle in her head, she finally exhaled. "Fine… I'll ask if they have one size up."
"Good call."
Kure Ragna shrugged. It was her purchase, after all. No reason for him to push any further.
---
About twenty minutes later, the two of them walked out of the store. Kei had changed back into her dress, now carrying two shopping bags in her hands. Meanwhile, Kure Ragna remained empty-handed.
As they strolled through the shopping mall, Kei looked up at him with a satisfied smile.
"Thanks for coming with me today, even on your day off."
"No problem. I wasn't busy anyway."
"So, where to next?"
Kei hummed, tilting her head in thought.
"No real plans… Oh! Let's go get some bubble tea!"
"Bubble tea?"
"Mhm! Consider it my thanks. Unless…" She narrowed her eyes playfully. "You think that's too cheap?"
"Not at all," Kure Ragna said, glancing at the shopping bags in her hands. Then he raised an eyebrow. "But… didn't you just say you were going to lose weight?"
Kei didn't even flinch. Instead, she lifted her index finger and wagged it.
"Nope. Bubble tea calories don't count."
"That's… an impressive level of self-deception."
Still, he followed her toward the bubble tea shop.
---
"Wow~ This is amazing!"
Outside the shop, Kei took a long sip of her mango bubble tea, sighing in pure bliss.
"Shopping and bubble tea—best combo ever. Especially when your throat is dry, and you take that first sip… Perfection!"
Kure Ragna took a sip of his own drink—coconut bubble tea, a classic. It had been around forever, yet it still held its place in every bubble tea shop, surviving wave after wave of new flavors.
"Alright," he said, checking his phone. "We've got our drinks. Let's head back."
Kei hummed in agreement but frowned after a few steps.
"Wait, isn't the east exit closer? Why are we going toward the south gate?"
"Ah, I have something to pick up on the way."
"…Huh? What is it?"
"You'll see."
---
Five minutes later, Kei stood in front of a small store near the south exit, staring at the sign in disbelief.
"…Tattoo stickers?"
She turned to Kure Ragna, who had just stepped out of the shop with a small plastic bag.
"That's what you needed to buy?"
Tattoo stickers weren't uncommon, especially among high school students who wanted the look without committing to a real tattoo. They were temporary, easy to remove, and wouldn't cause problems in the future.
Still, something about Kure Ragna buying them just felt… off.
As she stood there, baffled, he casually held up the bag and shook it.
"The shopkeeper said these are waterproof. You can even wear them during swimming class."
Kei blinked. "…What?"
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