The last day of August. The midsummer sunlight scorched the asphalt ground, sharply raising the temperature. To the point where sweat poured even when standing still, the Trinity autonomous district was sultry. It was better if you went inside a building, but just walking around outside a little would completely soak your clothes.
It was the complete opposite of the Arius autonomous district. That place was chilly enough to question if it was really August, while here was summer itself. The faintly heard songs while wandering the streets also strongly exuded a summer atmosphere. Apart from the heat, it was a decent season in its own way, but that very heat was the biggest problem. Is global warming an issue here too? Kenji grumbled like that and wiped the sweat beading on his forehead.
Then he turned his head. Misaki, wearing just a t-shirt and short pants, entered his view. Her appearance wasn't much different from Kenji's either. Sweat beads formed on her forehead and nape, and her face was contorted as if displeased.
"You okay?"
"...Hot. Thirsty. Hard."
Misaki muttered softly and gulped down water. Kenji held a faint smile and wiped the sweat on her forehead with a handkerchief.
"It'll be better once we go inside the department store."
"Then let's go quickly. Why are we dawdling here?"
The bench the two were sitting on was placed on a promenade rumored to be famous in the Trinity autonomous district. A promenade famous for its colorful trees decorating the street and the flower beds spread here and there being pretty. Kenji and Misaki set foot on that promenade as soon as they left the Arius autonomous district. It was quite far from the department store designated as their destination, but it was a place they had to visit because Kenji insisted on stopping by.
The reason for the insistence was simple. What else would be the reason for coming to the promenade? For a walk.
But hearing Kenji's words, Misaki slightly frowned.
"...Executive, I'm really hot. I think I'm going to collapse."
Misaki had spent her whole life in the Arius autonomous district. That gray city was chilly all year round, and thanks to that, she wasn't accustomed to such summers. So her saying she felt like collapsing was a truth without a single lie mixed in. Kenji also read the sincerity and truth written on her face.
"Alright, let's go right away."
Thus, the two left the promenade and headed toward the department store. Misaki grumbled intermittently, and Kenji laughed and accepted her grumbling. Meanwhile, Kenji fully enjoyed the summer scent he was experiencing after a long time. Honestly, he thought winter was better than summer, but he still liked summer's unique cool and exciting atmosphere itself.
The sound of music heard from the streets. The laughter of Trinity students. The solicitation of part-time workers. All of that breathed vitality into the world. At the sight never seen in Arius, Misaki felt a strange emotion and looked around.
Like a country girl who had just come to the city for the first time, she couldn't keep her head still for a moment. It was a look very prone to attracting stares, but no one thought she was a student belonging to Arius. Because all traces had been erased from her attire. The clothes she was wearing were all Kenji's except for her underwear and pants.
"What would be a good birthday present?"
Walking along the street, Kenji asked. He was wearing a black mask on his face. Because of that, more gazes were directed at him than at Misaki, but neither seemed to particularly mind. Misaki narrowed her eyes and pondered, then answered in an uncertain tone.
"...A knife?"
"Do you think Saori would be happy receiving that?"
"Hmm... No."
Misaki quickly agreed. Honestly, she couldn't imagine Saori looking happy while receiving a knife.
No, does she even like anything in the first place? Though she had been with Saori for many years, Misaki couldn't even guess what Saori liked. Azusa unexpectedly liked cute things, Hiyori liked magazines, and Princess liked flowers. But Saori... She had never seen her look happy when receiving or picking up anything.
"Can't be helped. We'll have to wander around and think a bit."
At Kenji's words, Misaki nodded.
A few minutes later, the two arrived in front of the department store. It was a huge building even at a glance. Perhaps because of the high foot traffic, people entering and leaving formed a huge crowd. At that flood-like crowd, Misaki flinched but quickly followed behind Kenji who was walking ahead.
Just before entering. Misaki saw a large poster hanging on the department store's bulletin board.
It wasn't a poster to promote something. But the moment she saw it, Misaki couldn't help but open her eyes wide.
[Looking for a person.]
[Name: Kenji]
[Age: 17 years old.]
[Origin: Trinity.]
Below the brief personal details, a photo of Kenji's face was attached. Below that, someone's phone number and a phrase saying they would give an enormous reward if reported were written. Upon confirming it, Misaki couldn't help but look back at Kenji.
"...Thatㅡ"
"Later."
Kenji cut off Misaki's words. He uttered it in a voice full of bitterness and apology.
"I'll tell you later. Not here."
"...Got it."
At Kenji's firm expression, Misaki backed down. She was curious, but it was also strange to interrogate when the person concerned didn't want to talk. He wasn't a criminal, and he had every right to keep quiet about facts he didn't want to discuss.
In awkward silence, the two entered the department store interior. Then the silence naturally had to break. Misaki unconsciously let out admiration, and Kenji spilled a faint smile at the familiar scenery.
"Where should we go first?"
Pointing at the department store directory, Kenji asked. Misaki pondered briefly, then chose the accessory shop. It was a place she had visited previously with Mika. Kenji nodded with a bitter smile.
The accessory shop visited after a year didn't seem to have changed much. The accessories shaped like the moon and stars sold before weren't visible, but the rest remained in their places. However, since the purpose of this visit was different from a year ago, he quickly shook off his longing and began searching for accessories that would suit Saori.
Honestly, since Saori's appearance was so outstanding, it seemed like she could pull off anything given as a gift, but according to Misaki's statement, due to her personality, she wouldn't wear accessories that weren't helpful in combat, so choosing was really tricky. Necklaces would sway during intense movement: eliminated. Bracelets for the same reason: eliminated. Rings were uncomfortable when grabbing something: eliminated.
Earrings seemed somewhat okay. But Saori didn't have pierced ears, so she couldn't wear them.
...Ultimately, they couldn't choose Saori's gift at the accessory shop.
Instead, they found earrings that suited Misaki.
"Want to try these on?"
"...Are you buying mine?"
"A reward for coming along. If you don't like it, fine."
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Kenji said that and handed the earrings he was holding to Misaki.
They were earrings of ordinary color. Earrings with a simple design, painted silver. Misaki moved her lips, then let out a deep sigh and put on the earrings. Since the design wasn't much different from what she was originally wearing, there was no particular awkwardness.
She glanced at her reflection in the mirror.
"Looks good, doesn't it?"
It was as Kenji said. Since Misaki also didn't seem to dislike it, Kenji immediately called an employee and ordered the earrings Misaki was wearing. Then as soon as the employee brought a box containing the new product, he swiped his card. 7,000 yen. It was an expensive price, but considering the money received from the black-suited men, it wasn't that severe an expenditure.
But Misaki thought differently. At the payment made without a chance to say anything, she let out a sigh of astonishment and frowned. But Kenji was faster than her opening her mouth. He grinned and lightly held out the box in his hand to Misaki.
"At times like this, don't say strange things but say thank you."
"...No, there's no need for such a gift for someone like me. I can't even repay you..."
"A word of thanks is repayment enough."
Kenji spat that out and roughly tousled Misaki's head. Just days ago, Misaki, who would have refused that touch, now only frowned and didn't shake off his hand. Pleased by that in its own way, Kenji smiled broadly and stared at Misaki, and Misaki avoided that gaze as if embarrassed.
Then she muttered in a low voice.
"...Tha, tha... nk you. I'll use them well."
"Sure."
Kenji gave her head a final tousle and left the accessory shop. Instead of immediately following him, Misaki looked at the mirror due to a sudden sense of incongruity.
The girl in the mirror was smiling very faintly.
A smile so faint even Misaki herself wouldn't notice.
*
After simply having lunch, the two decided on Saori's birthday gift. Kenji, thinking of her worn-out hat, chose a similarly designed hat, and Misaki chose a simple cosmetics set. In addition, they also bought a bear doll for Azusa, the latest magazine for Hiyori, and several flower pots for Atsuko.
Shopping ended with that. Though there was still plenty of time until evening, the two decided to head back to Arius immediately without further dawdling. Because for both Misaki and Kenji, Trinity felt uncomfortable.
Just before returning. Kenji left briefly for the restroom, and Misaki sat alone in the first-floor hall, staring blankly into space.
Then, a girl in splendid attire passed before her eyes.
"Ahaha, it's been a while since we came together! Yeah yeah, I like it too. Ah, shall we go to that accessory shop we visited last time? This time I'll choose for you! Since your birthday is soon, as a present!"
The girl spat that out while looking at the doll she was holding in her arms. She looked fine, but had she lost her mind? Misaki briefly thought so but soon lost interest. Instead, she turned her head toward the ceiling.
The dazzling chandelier descending through the open space evoked a luxurious atmosphere just by looking. But Misaki was more concerned about the piercing in her ear than the chandelier. With a blank expression, she fiddled with the silver earring.
Though the texture wasn't much different from other earrings, Misaki felt a faint warmth from the silver earring.
The first gift received in her life was that special.
Moreover, it wasn't a gift given expecting something in return. The gifts for the others were the same. From beginning to end, he didn't want anything. He didn't show off about it either. As if doing something natural, he consistently seriously pondered or smiled while choosing gifts.
A strange person. But a good person. Misaki defined Kenji as such. Honestly, no other modifier came to mind. Kenji was strange and simultaneously a good person. And the feelings toward such a person could only be positive.
...Positive. Misaki sneered slightly while reconsidering the thought that came to mind. She didn't know she could use the expression 'positive' while living in this meaningless world. But... yes, if it's a world with him in it, wouldn't it be okay to live a little longer? Misaki thought so and turned her gaze forward.
Thus, they met.
"Excuse me."
Pink hair reaching down to her hips.
Pure white attire. A bun hairstyle tied on only one side. Above that, a hairpin seemingly woven with forget-me-nots.
Gem-like, topaz-colored eyes. But what they contained wasn't brilliance or beauty, but an abyss so dark its end couldn't be known. Just looking felt like being swallowed, so Misaki unconsciously held her breath.
But the girl didn't seem particularly interested in her. Instead, pointing at the clothes Misaki was wearing, she gave a faint smile.
"That outfit, where did you get it?"
"..."
"It smells familiar."
The girl erased the expression from her face while pulling the black doll in her arms as if about to burst.
"I asked where you got it."
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