I stood there, hands shoved deep into my pockets, staring at my reflection in the mirror like it might give me advice.
It didn't.
Behind me, the changing room curtains were closed, each one hiding a small mystery. Soft fabric rustled occasionally. Footsteps moved back and forth. Somewhere, someone laughed quietly. Normal sounds. Harmless sounds.
Still, I felt weirdly tense.
Waiting was not my strength. Especially not this kind of waiting.
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other and pretended to examine a nearby rack of clothes, even though I had no intention of touching anything. The price tags alone made me nervous. Why did a single shirt cost more than my monthly game budget?
I glanced at the fitting room again.
Saki was inside one of them.
That thought alone made my brain trip over itself.
Get a grip, Haruto. You're literally just standing here.
A store employee walked past me and smiled politely. I nodded back a little too stiffly, then immediately looked away, hoping she hadn't noticed how awkward I probably looked. To anyone watching, I must've seemed like a lost kid waiting for instructions.
Which… wasn't entirely wrong.
Time passed strangely in that space. It felt both slow and fast. I checked my phone. No new messages. Of course not. The person I was waiting for was five meters away behind a curtain.
I took a deep breath and looked around again, trying to ground myself.
The store was bright but calm. Soft music played in the background. Racks were neatly organized by color, transitioning smoothly from light pastels to darker shades. Mannequins near the mirrors showed off summer outfits with effortless confidence. I envied them. They didn't have to think about where to put their hands.
I glanced back at the fitting rooms just as the curtain of the one next to Saki's shifted and someone stepped out. Not Saki. Some random customer.
Okay. Still waiting.
I scratched my cheek, suddenly very aware of my posture. Was I standing weird? Should I lean against something? No, leaning would look too casual. Standing straight felt too stiff.
I settled for slightly awkward.
From behind the curtain, Saki's voice finally came out. "Haruto."
My heart jumped. "Y-Yeah?"
"Don't laugh."
"That depends entirely on what you're about to say," I replied honestly.
She didn't respond immediately. I heard movement again. Fabric. A pause.
Then the curtain slid open.
For a second, my brain forgot how to work.
Saki stepped out, adjusting the hem of a light summer top. It wasn't flashy. Just simple. Soft colors. Comfortable. But somehow, it suited her perfectly, like it was designed with her in mind.
She looked at me expectantly. "Well?"
Words did not come.
I blinked once. Then again. "Uh."
Her eyes narrowed. "That bad?"
"No!" I said quickly. "I mean— it looks good. Really good."
She crossed her arms. "You hesitated."
"I was processing," I said. "Processing takes time."
She studied my face, then smiled, clearly amused. "You're terrible at reacting naturally."
"I am reacting naturally," I protested. "This is my natural state."
"That explains a lot."
She turned slightly, checking her reflection in the mirror beside us. "Be honest. Does it suit me?"
I nodded, more confidently this time. "Yeah. It does. It looks… like you."
She glanced at me through the mirror. "That's vague."
"I mean it in a good way," I said. "Comfortable. Not forced."
Her expression softened just a little. "I like that."
She turned back toward the fitting room. "I'll try one more."
"Take your time," I said, probably too quickly.
She paused, then smiled to herself before slipping back behind the curtain.
And just like that, I was alone again with my thoughts.
I exhaled slowly, realizing I'd been holding my breath.
Why am I this nervous?
I looked at the curtain, half expecting it to move again immediately. It didn't. So I waited.
And somehow, waiting like this didn't feel as bad as I thought it would.
After a little while, the curtain shifted again.
I straightened instinctively, pretending I hadn't been staring at the fitting rooms the whole time.
Saki stepped out.
This time, she was wearing a light summer dress. Nothing overly fancy, but it fit her well, the fabric moving naturally as she walked. It had that easy, breezy feeling that made it seem perfect for warm afternoons and slow walks. She stopped a few steps in front of me, then looked up, waiting.
"Well?" she asked.
My brain stalled. Again.
I blinked once, then twice. "You're doing this on purpose."
She smiled. "Doing what?"
"Making it hard to respond normally."
She laughed softly. "You're overthinking. Just say what you think."
I rubbed the back of my neck. "It looks… really nice. Like, actually really nice."
She raised an eyebrow. "That's still vague."
I sighed. "Okay. It suits you. The color works, and it looks comfortable, not stiff. You could wear that all day and still look fine."
She turned slightly, checking herself in the mirror, then glanced back at me. "So you approve?"
"I do," I said. "Strongly."
"Strongly?" she repeated, amused.
I nodded. "Very professional opinion."
She smiled, clearly satisfied, then spun lightly on her heel. The dress swayed with the motion. "I was thinking this might be good for summer outings."
I froze. "Outings?"
She looked at me. "You know. Walking around. Cafés. Stuff like today."
"Oh," I said. "Yeah. That makes sense."
She watched my reaction carefully, then grinned. "You're acting like I said something shocking."
"I'm not," I replied. "I'm just… imagining it."
"Imagining what?"
"…Nothing."
She laughed and shook her head. "You're so easy to tease."
She turned toward the fitting room again. "I think I'll get this one."
"Good choice," I said immediately.
She paused and glanced back. "You didn't even hesitate that time."
"I've learned," I said proudly.
She smiled, then disappeared behind the curtain once more to change back.
I let out a slow breath, realizing only then how tense I'd been. My reflection in the mirror looked slightly flustered, but not unhappy.
Yeah, I thought.
Waiting like this really wasn't so bad after all.
A few minutes later, Saki came out of the changing room in her usual clothes, the dress neatly folded in a bag hanging from her hand.
She walked up to the counter without hesitation, clearly having already made up her mind. I stood a step behind her, watching as she placed the bag down and took out her wallet. The cashier rang it up, the soft beeping cutting through the store's quiet music.
I glanced at the price on the screen and winced internally.
Summer clothes were dangerous.
Saki paid calmly, thanked the cashier, and picked up the bag. I nodded along awkwardly, contributing nothing of value to the transaction.
"Alright," she said, turning to me. "Let's go."
We stepped out of the store together, the cooler air of the mall wrapping around us again as the automatic doors slid shut behind us. The noise picked back up immediately. Footsteps, voices, distant laughter. It felt like re entering the world after a brief pause.
Saki adjusted the bag on her wrist. "Thanks for coming in with me."
"I didn't really do much," I said. "Unless moral panic counts as support."
"It does," she replied easily. "You survived."
"Barely."
She smiled and started walking, and I fell into step beside her without thinking. The mall corridor stretched ahead, bright and busy, filled with places we hadn't visited yet.
As we walked, my eyes drifted back once more, not to the bookstore this time, but to the reflection in the glass storefronts as we passed. The two of us, side by side. Nothing special on the surface.
And yet, it felt like something had quietly shifted.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and followed her forward, curious about where we'd go next.
We hadn't gone far when Saki suddenly slowed down.
Then she stopped.
I almost walked straight into her.
"Whoa— what?" I said, catching myself just in time.
She didn't answer right away. Her eyes were fixed on a large poster mounted on the wall beside the corridor. Bright colors, dramatic lighting, a familiar title splashed across the top.
"A new release…" she murmured.
I followed her gaze. It was a movie poster, huge and impossible to miss. Action fantasy by the looks of it. The kind with epic poses and way too many explosions promised in the fine print.
She took a step closer, reading the details. "It just came out today."
"Of course it did," I said. "Everything I like always comes out when I'm unprepared."
She glanced back at me. "You like this kind of movie?"
I nodded. "Yeah. I read the first volume of the series. It's pretty good."
Her eyes lit up slightly. "Then we should watch it."
The words came out so casually that my brain took a second to process them.
"…Watch it?" I repeated.
She turned fully toward me now, smiling. "The theatre's right here. We still have time, don't we?"
I glanced down the hallway where the mall theatre sign glowed faintly in the distance. Then I checked the time on my phone. We hadn't planned this. At all.
But… we did have time.
"I mean," I said carefully, "I'm not against it. Just didn't think we'd decide something this suddenly."
She shrugged. "Spontaneous plans are fun."
"That sounds like something someone with self control would say," I replied.
She smirked. "You're still thinking about the bookstore, aren't you?"
"Maybe," I admitted.
She stepped closer and lightly tapped the poster with her finger. "Think of this as compensation."
"For what?"
"For not buying the manga," she said. "Story now, not later."
I laughed quietly. "You're really committed to this lesson."
"Someone has to be," she said.
I looked at the poster again. Then at her. The way she was smiling, clearly excited, made it hard to say no.
"Alright," I said. "Let's watch it."
Her smile widened. "Good."
She turned and started walking toward the theatre without another word, confident I'd follow.
I did.
As we headed down the corridor, I felt that same strange warmth settle in my chest again. Not nervous exactly. Just… light.
A movie. In the mall. Unplanned.
Yeah. This day was definitely going off script.
We reached the theatre entrance a minute later, the big digital boards glowing overhead with showtimes and posters cycling through dramatic stills. The smell of popcorn hit me instantly, warm and buttery, like it was designed to erase good financial decisions.
Saki stopped in front of the screen, scanning the listings. "Okay… this one's playing in fifteen minutes."
"Fifteen?" I repeated. "That's dangerously soon."
She glanced at me. "What, you need emotional preparation?"
"I need snack preparation," I said seriously.
She laughed. "Of course you do."
We walked up to the ticket counter. Saki leaned slightly forward to read the options, then turned to me. "Two tickets. Middle seats?"
"Middle is good," I said. "I like being surrounded. Makes me feel safe."
"From what?"
"Life."
She shook her head, smiling, and bought the tickets before I could overthink it. When she handed one to me, our fingers brushed again, and I pretended to be very interested in the ticket design.
"Screen three," she said. "We've got time for snacks."
Music to my ears.
The snack counter was already busy, a small line of people debating combos like it was a life altering choice. I stared at the menu board, my brain immediately overwhelmed.
Popcorn sizes made no sense. Why did they go from medium to large to somehow larger than common sense?
"What are you getting?" Saki asked.
"I don't know," I said. "I wasn't ready for this level of responsibility."
She leaned closer to the menu. "Just get popcorn."
"Sweet or salted?"
She looked at me. "Salted."
"Correct answer," I said.
She laughed. "You say that like there was a test."
"There was," I replied. "You passed."
We ordered a shared popcorn and two drinks. When the cashier asked if we wanted to upgrade, Saki declined immediately. I felt proud. Growth was happening today.
We headed toward screen three, the hallway dimmer now, carpet muffling our footsteps. Posters lined the walls, illuminated softly. The noise of the mall faded behind us, replaced by that quiet anticipation theatres always had.
Inside, the room was already half filled. The screen glowed faintly, trailers looping silently. We found our seats and sat down, leaving the popcorn between us.
I adjusted in my seat, suddenly aware of how close we were sitting. Not touching. Just close enough to notice.
"Thanks for suggesting this," I said quietly.
She looked at me. "You don't sound convinced."
"No, I am," I said. "Just didn't expect today to go like this."
"Is that bad?"
I thought about it. The bookstore. The clothes store. The vending machine disaster. Standing outside a fitting room. Now this.
"…No," I said. "It's kind of nice."
She smiled softly and looked back at the screen as the lights dimmed further.
The trailers started, sound filling the room. I reached for the popcorn at the same time she did, our hands bumping lightly.
"Sorry," we said at the same time.
She laughed quietly. "You go."
"No, you," I said.
She rolled her eyes and grabbed a handful. "You're impossible."
I smiled, leaning back as the screen brightened.
Somewhere between the opening logo and the first scene, I realized something.
I hadn't thought about the bookstore in a while.
And that felt… surprisingly okay.
The opening scene rolled in with a dramatic swell of music, and for a while, everything else faded out.
Explosions, magic effects, sweeping camera shots. The kind of movie that clearly wanted you to be impressed from the first minute. I leaned back in my seat, letting it pull me in. The sound system vibrated through the floor, and the dark room made it easier to forget there was a world outside this screen.
Still, every now and then, my awareness drifted sideways.
Saki was watching intently, eyes fixed forward, expression calm but engaged. She leaned slightly toward the screen, chin resting on her hand. It was subtle, but I caught it. The way she always leaned in when something interested her.
I tore my gaze away and focused back on the movie.
About ten minutes in, I reached for popcorn.
At the exact same time, Saki did too.
Our fingers brushed again.
This time, neither of us apologized immediately.
"…We need a system," she whispered.
"Agreed," I whispered back. "This is getting dangerous."
She snorted softly, earning a quiet shush from someone a few rows ahead. She covered her mouth, shoulders shaking as she tried to hold in her laughter.
I smiled despite myself.
We silently agreed on turns after that. Or at least attempted to. Every so often, I'd glance over and see her already holding the popcorn bucket slightly away from me like she was guarding it.
Hey. I noticed that.
Halfway through the movie, there was a particularly dramatic scene. The hero stood alone, rain pouring down, delivering a line that was clearly meant to be iconic.
Saki leaned closer and whispered, "He practiced that in the mirror."
I almost laughed out loud.
I covered my mouth just in time, shoulders shaking as I tried to stay quiet. I leaned slightly toward her. "You're ruining the immersion."
"I'm improving it," she whispered back.
The movie continued, jumping between action and quieter moments. During one of the slower scenes, I realized how relaxed I felt. Not tense. Not nervous. Just… comfortable. Like this was something we'd done before, even though we hadn't.
The lights from the screen flickered across her face, softening her expression. She didn't notice me looking this time.
Good.
Near the climax, the theatre went completely silent. No popcorn. No whispers. Everyone leaned in together as the tension peaked. I felt my pulse sync with the music, with the moment.
Then the final scene hit.
Credits rolled.
Lights slowly came back on, and the room filled with murmurs and movement. People stretched, stood, complained, praised. The spell broke gently.
Saki exhaled. "That was fun."
"Yeah," I said. "Way better than I expected."
She glanced at me. "You sound surprised."
"I mean," I shrugged, "unplanned movies can go either way."
She stood up and grabbed the empty popcorn bucket. "This one went the good way."
We filed out with the rest of the crowd, back into the bright hallway. The sudden light made me blink. It felt like waking up from a nap.
"So," she said as we walked, "any regrets?"
I thought about it. The bookstore. The manga. The game.
Then I thought about this.
"…No," I said honestly.
She smiled at that. "Good."
We stepped back into the open mall space, noise rushing in around us again. People moving, voices overlapping, the day still very much alive.
Whatever we did next, I had a feeling I wouldn't forget this part.
And that was enough for now.
We drifted out of the theatre hallway and back into the main mall corridor, the noise hitting us all at once like we'd stepped into a different world. Laughter, footsteps, music from some nearby store. Everything felt louder after the quiet darkness of the screening room.
Saki stretched her arms above her head. "That was a good pick."
"You picked it," I reminded her.
"Exactly," she said proudly.
I shook my head, smiling. "I still can't believe we decided that on the spot."
"That's the best kind of decision," she replied. "No time to overthink."
I winced. "You say that like it's easy."
She glanced at me sideways. "You're still recovering from the bookstore, aren't you?"
"…A little."
She laughed. "You're unbelievable."
We started walking again, no real direction this time. Just following the flow of the mall. The afternoon crowd had grown thicker, and we had to slow down, weaving between people. At one point, someone cut in front of us suddenly, and Saki instinctively grabbed my sleeve to keep from bumping into them.
The contact was brief, but I felt it anyway.
She let go just as quickly, like nothing had happened. "Sorry."
"It's fine," I said, probably too fast.
We passed an arcade next. Bright lights flashed from inside, the sounds of game machines spilling out. A familiar chiptune melody caught my ear, and my steps slowed.
Saki noticed. Of course she did.
"Don't tell me," she said. "You're tempted again."
"I'm not tempted," I said defensively. "I'm just… acknowledging its existence."
She leaned closer to the entrance, peering inside. "You like arcades?"
"I mean," I shrugged, "yeah. But that's not the point."
"The point is self control," she said, nodding seriously. "Which you are currently failing."
"I have not moved," I pointed out.
"Yet."
I sighed and forced myself to keep walking. "You're enjoying this way too much."
"Watching you struggle is very entertaining," she said without shame.
We slowed near a seating area with benches and planters. Saki sat down first, placing her shopping bag beside her. I followed, sitting a little too straight again before relaxing.
For a moment, we just sat there, watching people pass by. A group of kids ran past, arguing about snacks. A couple debated directions. Everything felt… ordinary. Peaceful.
Saki swung her feet lightly. "I'm glad we came today."
"Me too reminded her.
She glanced at me. "You don't sound conflicted when you say that."
"Because I'm not," I said. "I mean… I was earlier. But not now."
She smiled softly and looked ahead again. "Good."
I leaned back slightly, letting the moment settle. The mall lights glowed warmly overhead, and for once, my head wasn't racing ahead to the next thing.
I wasn't thinking about what I'd missed.
I was just here.
With her.
We sat there for a bit longer, just watching the crowd move like a slow river, when Saki suddenly spoke up.
"I'm hungry."
I glanced at her. "That was fast."
She looked offended. "We walked. We watched a movie. I emotionally supported you through multiple temptations. That burns energy."
"…Fair," I admitted.
She stood up and picked up her bag. "There's a café upstairs. Wanna grab something?"
My stomach answered before my mouth did.
She smiled knowingly. "I'll take that as a yes."
We made our way toward the escalator, stepping on as it carried us up. From above, the mall looked even busier, people flowing between stores, lights reflecting off glass and metal. It felt strangely cozy, like the world was moving but we were taking it slow.
The café was tucked near a corner, quieter than the main floor. Warm lighting, wooden tables, the smell of coffee and baked food hanging in the air. It immediately felt like a place meant for sitting and talking without rushing.
"This one," Saki said, already heading inside.
We grabbed a small table near the window. I took the seat facing outward, mostly so I could pretend to look outside instead of thinking too hard. Saki scanned the menu board above the counter.
"They have pasta, sandwiches, and desserts," she said. "Dangerous place."
"For my wallet or my self control?" I asked.
"Yes."
We ordered at the counter. She got an iced coffee and a light meal. I hesitated longer than necessary before ordering, then settled on something simple and a drink.
When we sat back down, the noise of the mall faded into a soft background hum. Sunlight filtered in through the window, catching on the table and the edge of her bag.
Saki stirred her drink slowly. "You seem calmer now."
"I am," I said. "I think food helps."
She smiled. "Or maybe you're just getting used to today."
"Maybe," I said, watching the ice clink softly in her glass. "It's been… nice. Different, but nice."
She looked up at me then, really looked, and for once didn't tease.
"Yeah," she said quietly. "I thought so too."
The food arrived, steam rising, the smell making my stomach protest again. We ate, talked about small things, laughed at nothing important. No pressure. No rushing.
Just a café.
Just the afternoon.
And somehow, that felt like more than enough.
After we finished eating, Saki leaned back in her chair and stretched a little.
"Okay," she said, standing up. "I'm going to the restroom. Don't run away."
"I wasn't planning to," I said. "But now that you mention it…"
She gave me a look. "I'll be back in two minutes. Try not to buy anything in the meantime."
"With what money?" I shot back.
She laughed and walked off, disappearing past the café entrance.
I stayed at the table, hands resting around my empty cup, suddenly aware of how quiet it felt without her across from me. I glanced around, half-expecting her to pop back in immediately just to mess with me again.
Nope. Still gone.
I checked my phone. No messages. Of course not. It hadn't even been thirty seconds.
I leaned back and looked out the window again. The mall kept moving. People passed by with shopping bags, couples talking, kids tugging their parents toward toy stores. Normal stuff. Peaceful stuff.
My eyes drifted to a nearby display inside the café. Desserts.
I looked away instantly.
No.
Not today.
I had already eaten. I had already spent money. I was being responsible.
…Mostly.
I tapped my fingers lightly on the table, counting in my head like that would somehow make time move faster. I wondered what Saki was thinking right now. Or if she was just fixing her hair and taking her time on purpose.
Knowing her, probably the second one.
I sighed, then smiled to myself without really meaning to.
"Taking your time, huh," I muttered.
I stayed there, waiting, the afternoon light slowly shifting across the table as the hum of the mall carried on around me.
She came back a few minutes later.
Okay, more than a few.
I noticed her before she reached the table because something was off. She was walking a little too casually, like someone trying very hard to look normal. And in her hand was a small paper bag.
Not the clothing store bag.
A different one.
I straightened up immediately. "You took longer than two minutes."
Saki blinked. "Did I?"
"Yes," I said flatly. "You disappeared long enough for me to consider ordering dessert, resist it, regret resisting it, and then feel proud of myself."
"That's a whole character arc," she said, sitting down. "I'm impressed."
My eyes dropped straight to the bag resting beside her chair.
"…What's that?"
She followed my gaze, then slowly slid the bag closer to her feet with her shoe. Way too smooth. Way too suspicious.
"What bag?" she asked.
"That bag," I said, pointing. "The very real, definitely existing bag."
She tilted her head. "You're imagining things."
"Saki."
"Yes, Haruto?"
"What's inside."
She smiled. Not a normal smile. A closed-lip, absolutely-not smile.
"Nothing."
I stared at her.
She stared back.
The bag sat there between us like a challenge.
"People don't buy 'nothing' and put it in a bag," I said. "This isn't a philosophy class."
"Maybe it should be," she replied. "Then you'd overthink less."
"That makes no sense."
"It doesn't have to."
I leaned forward, lowering my voice. "You disappeared. You came back with a mystery bag. This is how rumors start."
She shrugged. "Let them."
I squinted at her. "Did you buy something?"
"No."
"That's a lie."
She gasped softly. "Wow. Accusing me now?"
"You're terrible at lying," I said. "You blinked twice and smiled."
"I blink a lot."
"You don't smile like that."
She crossed her arms. "You're being weird."
"You're being secretive."
She leaned closer, matching my tone. "You're being nosy."
"Because you're hiding something."
She tapped the table lightly. "Maybe."
I groaned and leaned back. "You know what? Fine. Keep your secrets."
"Good," she said cheerfully.
I lasted exactly three seconds.
"…Is it food?"
She didn't answer.
"Saki."
Still nothing.
I sighed. "I swear, you came back from the restroom with a side quest."
She laughed at that, finally, eyes bright. "You'll find out later."
"When is later?"
She stood up, picking up the bag and slinging it casually over her wrist. "Come on. Let's walk."
"That's not an answer."
"It's enough," she said, already turning away.
I followed her, glancing at the bag like it might suddenly reveal its secrets on its own.
It didn't.
Whatever was inside, one thing was clear.
She did it on purpose.
We walked out of the mall together, the automatic doors sliding shut behind us with a soft hiss.
Evening had settled in while we weren't paying attention.
The sky had shifted into that in-between color, not quite blue, not quite orange. Streetlights flickered on one by one, and the air felt cooler than it had earlier, like the day was finally letting out a tired breath. The crowd outside was thinner now. Fewer families, more couples, people heading home with shopping bags and slow steps.
I stretched my arms over my head. "Did we seriously spend the whole afternoon in there?"
Saki hummed. "Time flies when you're watching someone struggle not to buy manga."
"Hey," I said, offended. "I was strong."
"You stared at that bookstore like it was your long-lost soulmate."
"It was calling to me."
"It was paper and ink."
"And dreams," I added.
She laughed, walking a step ahead of me, the mystery bag swinging lightly at her side. I noticed she kept it on the opposite side from me. Very subtle. Very suspicious.
We stopped near the mall entrance, the noise fading just enough to feel peaceful. Cars passed by, headlights streaking past us. Somewhere nearby, music played from a shop speaker, muffled but warm.
I shoved my hands into my pockets. "So… where to now?"
She looked around, then up at the sky. "It's nice out."
"That's not a destination."
"It could be," she said lightly.
I glanced at her. The evening light softened her expression, her hair catching a faint glow from the streetlamp above us. She looked relaxed. Comfortable. Like she wasn't in a rush to be anywhere.
"…We could walk a bit," I said. "Before it gets dark."
She nodded. "Yeah. Let's do that."
We started down the sidewalk side by side, our steps naturally falling into the same rhythm. For a moment, neither of us spoke. It wasn't awkward. Just quiet in a good way, filled with distant traffic and the sound of our shoes against the pavement.
After a few steps, I glanced sideways at her again.
"…You're still not telling me what's in the bag, are you?"
She smiled to herself. "Nope."
"Not even a hint?"
"Nope."
I sighed dramatically. "This is emotional torture."
"You'll survive," she said. "Probably."
I shook my head, but I was smiling too.
Evening walks, secret bags, and Saki being impossible.
Yeah.
This day wasn't over yet.
We walked the rest of the way home side by side, the familiar streets slowly replacing the busy noise of the mall. The shops thinned out, streetlights became fewer, and the road turned quieter. This part of the walk always felt slower, like the day didn't want to end just yet.
Our houses came into view soon enough. Two neighboring gates. Same as always.
Saki slowed down first.
I stopped beside her, shifting my weight. "Well," I said, trying to sound casual, "guess this is it."
"Yeah," she replied.
There was a brief pause. Not awkward, just… lingering. Like neither of us was in a hurry to step away.
Then Saki reached for the bag.
The mystery bag.
She held it out toward me.
"…Here," she said.
I blinked. "What?"
"Take it."
I stared at the bag, then at her. "Saki, what is this?"
She tilted her head slightly, a tiny smile playing on her lips. "Open it."
Slowly, I took the bag. It felt light. Paper-light. My heart did something weird as I peeked inside.
And froze.
There it was.
The manga.
The exact volume. The fantasy RPG one. The one I had stared at in the bookstore like a traitor to my own wallet.
My brain completely stopped working.
"…No way," I muttered.
I pulled it out properly, staring at the cover like it might disappear if I blinked. "This is— this is the one."
Saki crossed her arms, pretending to look unimpressed. "Wow. Good observation."
"You—" I looked at her, then at the book, then back at her again. "You bought it?"
She shrugged. "You were suffering too much. It was embarrassing."
"That was an internal struggle," I protested. "A noble one."
"Uh-huh. You almost walked into a glass wall because you were thinking about it."
"…That's not important."
I held the manga a little tighter. "But why? You didn't have to."
She looked away, suddenly very interested in the ground. "You kept talking about saving for a game. And I figured… this way you don't have to choose."
My chest felt warm in a way I wasn't prepared for.
"You're unfair," I said quietly.
She glanced back at me. "How?"
"You act like it's no big deal."
She smiled. "It's not. Just consider it… repayment."
"For what?"
"For being entertaining all day."
I laughed under my breath, then shook my head. "Seriously. Thank you."
She nodded once. "You're welcome."
We stood there for a moment, evening settling around us, the street quiet and familiar. I clutched the manga like it was something fragile.
"I'll read it tonight," I said.
"I expect a full review," she replied. "With spoilers."
"That defeats the purpose!"
She laughed, stepping back toward her gate. "Goodnight, Haruto."
"Goodnight, Saki."
She disappeared inside, leaving me standing there with the book in my hands and a stupid smile on my face.
I glanced down at the cover again.
…Yeah.
Today was definitely worth it.