Vol. 2 Chapter 19 – Holiday Date (2)

Despite the total already exceeding half a million yen at this point, Hikaru’s momentum showed no signs of stopping.

“Memory is also one of the most crucial parts. It’s often compared to the size of your workspace, determining how much work you can do at once… Considering the next few years, I think you’ll want at least 32GB.” (Reiya)
“Then let’s go with 64GB.” (Hikaru)

Taking double my recommendation as the correct baseline, she continued picking parts briskly without hesitation.

“Next is the SSD. The auxiliary storage device where the OS and, most importantly, your data are saved is naturally paramount. Lately, games exceeding 100GB aren’t uncommon, so to be safe, 4TB (terabytes) is—” (Reiya)
“In that case, let’s get this 8TB one.” (Hikaru)

This might be the first time I’ve ever felt ‘scared’ watching someone else shop.

“This is the power supply unit… the crucial heart of the PC that supplies power to each component… At this point, maybe you should just buy the most expensive one.” (Reiya)
“Yeah, let’s do that!” (Hikaru)

Faced with her overly magnanimous shopping spree, my explanations gradually became more half-hearted.

From there, she also purchased peripherals like a mouse, keyboard, and monitor.

Naturally, those were also high-performance models from famous brands.

By the time we had finished circling the store, a formidable, almost grotesque, ultimate deck of product cards had been assembled.

When we lined up at the register and handed them to the clerk, he also had a look like, ‘Eh? This girl is buying all this?’, glancing back and forth between Hikaru’s face and the items about three times.

With each barcode scanned, an unbelievable amount accumulated on the LCD monitor.

Seeing the final total, an amount that could probably buy three of my PCs, I couldn’t help but let out a startled gasp, “Hih…”

The male clerk stared at the displayed amount about four times.

Meanwhile, Hikaru seemed completely unfazed, taking out her smartphone and completing the payment.

“Ehehe, I bought it~” (Hikaru)

Hikaru beamed, holding the long receipt.

“Y-Yeah, you bought it…” (Reiya)

Though we uttered the same words, the meaning was entirely different.

This boldness, making a purchase exceeding seven figures without hesitation.

It drove home the fact that she was fundamentally different from me.

“Some parts weren’t in stock and need to be ordered, so they’ll deliver everything together next week, apparently.” (Hikaru)
“Well, yeah, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to carry it all home anyway.” (Reiya)
“Yup, so keep your schedule open next weekend too, okay?” (Hikaru)
“…Meaning?” (Reiya)

The connection wasn’t immediately clear, so I asked for clarification.

“You’re going to help me assemble it at my place, right?” (Hikaru)
“Eh? Ah, yeah… Of course…” (Reiya)

Naturally, I had considered it, but hearing it stated directly made me slightly flustered.

“What’s with that reply… Were you planning on making me do it all by myself…?” (Hikaru)

Perhaps because my answer was a bit hesitant, she gave me a suspicious look.

“No… that’s not it… It’s just my first time going to your house, Hikaru, so I just wondered if it was really okay…” (Reiya)
“What’s that about? Of course, it’s okay. You’re weird~” (Hikaru)
“R-Right…” (Reiya)

I replied, but entering a girl’s room was, naturally, a first-time experience for me.

Actually, come to think of it, I had been in Ichiru-san’s room several times…

But a relative I’d lived in the same house with for a time probably doesn’t count, right…?

“So, where to next?” (Hikaru)

As I was pondering this, Hikaru casually came into view and asked.

“Or should we go home and play games? I’m fine either way.” (Hikaru)
“S-Since we came all this way… don’t you want to look around a bit more…?” (Reiya)

I managed to utter the words I had decided on beforehand.

Of course, the easiest option was to go home right now and indulge in games together as usual.

But I didn’t want to end our precious holiday date here.

“Okay, where should we go then? You know this area better, Reiya-kun. Any good places?” (Hikaru)
“Umm… let’s see…” (Reiya)

Just for this date, at least, I’ll take the lead.

With that thought, I laid out my imaginary hand of cards before me—

• Go to the arcade
• Go home after all Fin

Seriously? My hand… is way too weak…

I despaired at my own deck, which felt like it had bricked from over-compressing too early.

“H-How about the arcade, for starters?” (Reiya)

But, as Snoopy said, you have to play the cards you’re dealt in life.

“The arcade? The place we went before?” (Hikaru)
“Yeah, actually, I saw an online news article this morning saying that a new prize for Dekkawa is coming out today… I thought maybe we could put it next to the one you got before…” (Reiya)
“That might be a nice idea! Let’s go right away!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the arcade.

Although less crowded than last time during Golden Week, the arcade was bustling with a decent number of customers.

The machine containing the giant ‘Shichisan’ plushie we were after was placed near the entrance, likely to attract customers, with several units lined up together.

Perhaps we arrived at a good time, as one of the machines had just become available.

“Alright, I’m gonna rescue you right now and take you home with me!” (Hikaru)

Psyching herself up, Hikaru placed a stack of 100-yen coins she had exchanged onto the control panel.

I decided to pretend I didn’t hear her refer to my room as ‘home’.

“I’m getting this one today, so you just watch from behind, Reiya-kun!” (Hikaru)
“Ah, okay. Good luck.” (Reiya)

As instructed, I took a breather behind her.

I had weathered the immediate crisis, but now my hand was completely empty.

While Hikaru is playing the crane game, I need to think of the next move…

When it comes to things girls enjoy, it’s usually sweets or fashion-related shops, right?

But I don’t even know where those kinds of shops are around here.

In that case, how about just wandering around and looking for one together?

But then it wouldn’t feel like I’m escorting her…

It can’t be helped…

“Yeah, Dekkawa and Shichisan really need to be together~” (Hikaru)

While Hikaru was focused on the machine, I took out my smartphone and opened PINE.

‘Currently on a sudden date with Hikaru at 〇✕ Mall. Please tell me a place she might like.’ (Reiya)

It felt a bit pathetic, but I requested backup, realizing I couldn’t manage this alone.

“Oh, looks like it’s in a position where I might be able to get it…” (Hikaru)

Inside the machine, the plushie was already tilted at a good angle.

Meanwhile, there was still no reply.

“At this point, if I just nudge it bit by bit, it should fall, right…?” (Hikaru)

With every 100 yen Hikaru inserted, she got closer and closer to winning.

Impatiently, I tapped my toes on the floor tiles.

“Almost there… Almost there…” (Hikaru)

…It came!

Just as Hikaru started adjusting the crane for the final push, a reply arrived.

‘What’s this all of a sudden…? I’m busy with practice right now…’ (Akane)

‘Sorry! But I’m out of cards… I was hoping I could borrow your strength, Ogata-san.’ (Reiya)

‘Well, can’t be helped, I guess… Around there, I think some kids in class were saying there’s a fortune-telling place that’s supposed to be really accurate lately.’ (Akane)

Fortune-telling!

A third option I hadn’t thought of suddenly descended upon me.

I had heard that 99% of girls like fortune-telling.

Asking a girl about girls was definitely the right move.

‘What’s the name of the shop?’ (Reiya)
‘Forgot the name, but I think they said it was near the sports gym on the second floor.’ (Akane)
‘Got it! Thanks! And sorry to bother you when you’re busy! Good luck with your stage practice!’ (Reiya)

Just as I sent that last message and closed PINE, clunk, the plushie fell into the prize chute with a sound.

“Yay! I got it!!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru hugged the retrieved plushie, jumping up and down on the spot.

Perhaps because the next destination was decided, I had the composure to find her actions cute.

“Congratulations. Impressive.” (Reiya)
“Ehehe, thanks~ I was a little frustrated I couldn’t get it myself last time, so I’m super satisfied!” (Hikaru)
“So, about what’s next… I happened to overhear that there’s a popular fortune-telling shop nearby… Are you interested, Hikaru?” (Reiya)

Keeping the fact that I heard it from Ogata-san (another girl) to myself, I tried to gauge her interest—

“Fortune-telling!? Yes, yes! I’m super interested!!” (Hikaru)

She started getting excited, about as much as when she picked up the 4090.

“W-Well, that’s good… I’ve never been there either, but I roughly know the location, so shall we go check it out…?” (Reiya)
“Yeah!” (Hikaru)

I carried the bagged plushie, and we walked down the mall’s wide corridor towards our next destination again.

“Girls really like fortune-telling, huh.” (Reiya)
“Hmm… Now that you mention it, yeah, pretty much everyone around me likes it too~ Oh, but Ayaka didn’t believe in it at all, I think. She was like, ‘Fortune-telling…? That’s so unscientific…'” (Hikaru)
“Hahaha… Yeah, that sounds exactly like her.” (Reiya)
“What about you, Reiya-kun? I get the impression most guys don’t really believe in it.” (Reiya)
“Hmm… Well, I’m pretty neutral, I guess. I might glance at it on the morning news, and if the result is good, I think ‘lucky,’ but that’s about it.” (Reiya)
“Hmm… Oh, isn’t that it?” (Hikaru)

After walking for a few minutes, a place that seemed like it came into view.

Just as Ogata-san’s information suggested, there was a decent queue forming next to the sports gym.

To confirm if this was really the place we were looking for, we peeked at the front of the shop before lining up—

Akashic★Spira’s Super Galactic Fortune-Telling

So shady!!

Seeing the unprecedentedly suspicious sign displayed in front of the shop, I almost cried out loud.