CHAPTER 390: CHAPTER 286: SHOPPING_2

"Hmm, thanks for the compliment." Uesugi Sakura took the lemon tea, sipping through the straw.

The girls, having met up, chattered and laughed as they headed to a small shop to check out some dresses.

Uesugi Sakura knew this was his time for labor.

But accompanying his girlfriend shopping... it was unavoidable.

They held hands and wandered through one local clothing store after another, going to places like [BEAMS BOY], [earth music & ecology], [ROPE’ PICNIC], [POU DOU DOU]...

Over an hour had passed, and they hadn’t bought a single thing.

"I mean, is it really such a hassle to buy clothes?"

Kitagawa Sakisa, discussing a sweet girl-style dress with Hanamaru Hanabi, heard him and had to turn back to explain:

"Many clothes truly need to be looked at over and over. Finding a dress you really like is a very happy thing."

"Even if you like it, you may not end up wearing that much. Occasionally, you should consider the practical value."

"That’s something you guys wouldn’t understand. The good clothes are always the next one, taste evolves daily."

Uesugi Sakura wasn’t against them buying more dresses; the more dresses Hanabi had, the better, and he could appreciate that.

What he opposed was the time they spent shopping.

They were excitedly picking out clothes, leaving him sitting idly.

"Forget it, forget it."

Being dazed while waiting wasn’t good, so he even downloaded a shooting game to play a few rounds.

After the beginner tutorial, he parachuted in-game, landing on the airport roof, where he casually picked up a sniper rifle.

A guy who landed simultaneously approached him empty-handed, twisting his body, targeting him as a newbie with a sniper.

Not friendly at all.

Uesugi Sakura noticed his movements, slid his finger, moved the crosshair, and shot the guy in the head as he moved.

A bang, a precise headshot.

The opponent was momentarily stunned even in death.

So accurate? And hit the head, of all places?

Uesugi Sakura then noticed others on the rooftop and, casually, took them all out, one shot each.

He initially wanted to play nice, but everyone seemed to enjoy the fighting, so he went along.

After clearing the entire airport, he planned to leave following the prompts.

While going to get a car, he passed a secluded small room and found a med kit inside, intending to grab it.

As he stepped in, the sound of a shotgun suddenly echoed from a corner.

Bang bang!

[You have been eliminated, ranked 69]

Uesugi Sakura stared blankly at the blackened screen.

So there were people fishing for easy points.

"Uesugi, if you’re bored, come over and help us look at dresses," Kitagawa Sakisa popped her head out from the other side.

"Sure." Uesugi Sakura put away his phone.

He walked over, and Hanamaru Hanabi had just come out of the dressing room.

Classic white top with a black skirt, striped elements, Japanese casual style, with the difference of wearing a beige vest outside, giving a more natural vibe overall.

"How about this...?" Hanamaru Hanabi asked softly.

Kitagawa Sakisa continued to scrutinize it.

Uesugi Sakura nodded: "It looks great, wearing your little straw hat would make it even better."

Hanamaru Hanabi: "So... should I buy these...?"

Kitagawa Sakisa: "Try a bit more."

"Isn’t this good?" Uesugi Sakura turned to look at her.

"Hanabi-chan looks good in anything; even wearing a high school gym uniform would look nice."

Japanese gym uniforms are similar to Chinese high school uniforms.

Hanamaru Hanabi discussed with Kitagawa Sakisa for over ten minutes before picking another set from the rack.

After staying and changing in the dressing room for a while, Hanamaru Hanabi came out again.

A simple knitted top, long sleeves covering half the skirt, with a round neckline revealing the neck and collarbones well, a refreshing minimalist style.

Hanamaru Hanabi twirled around: "How about this look?"

Uesugi Sakura: "The design is simple, in a cute light color style."

Kitagawa Sakisa: "Actually, it’s a cool style."

He looked left and right, noticing Hanamaru Hanabi’s small hands fiddling with her sleeves, "This doesn’t seem cool at all."

"It’s the person’s influence," Kitagawa Sakisa said, "How do you feel about this set, Hanabi-chan?"

"I think it’s very nice..."

Uesugi Sakura chimed in: "Are you done picking?"

"Yeah."

Kitagawa Sakisa, hands on her hips, asked, "Do you want me to pay?"

"It’s just one outfit." Uesugi Sakura waved his hand.

Implying that such a small amount was absolutely no problem.

-551,262 yen

Uesugi Sakura left the store named "niko and ..." carrying 11 parcels.

"Thank you, Uesugi-san!" Kitagawa Sakisa happily grabbed four shopping bags from him.

He was now full of dark lines.

"Why didn’t you tell me you bought 11 items? All expensive limited editions."

"You didn’t ask, and when I was about to pay, didn’t Uesugi-san generously agree?"

"This is where boyfriend power is displayed." Uesugi Sakura bought them as gifts for Hanabi.

"So just trouble you to spend," Kitagawa Sakisa laughed, "But to compensate for your loss, I invite you to tomorrow’s tea party."

"You were planning to invite me anyway, right?" Uesugi Sakura asked skeptically.

"No way! It’s a great chance to eat together, having me and Hanabi-chan is enough." Kitagawa Sakisa said, linking arms with Hanamaru Hanabi, looking as if good friends don’t need a third.

Just stubborn, but Uesugi Sakura didn’t argue with her, a few clothes were nothing to him, given as a gift it was fine.

A meal at her tea party would make up for it.

"What’s the purpose of your tea party? Is it for networking or getting acquainted?"

"You could say that... but that’s my brother and their business. I don’t want to know. We’re mainly into eating and playing. Since you and Hanabi are my friends, of course, I have to invite you to join, otherwise, it’d be boring."

After finishing clothes shopping, they didn’t head home right away but decided to eat lunch before parting ways to return home.

"What did Kitagawa come to Akihabara for? Buying things at the boutique, trying to hide it from me."

"Sakura-kun...it’s better not to know..." Hanamaru Hanabi seemed like she was keeping a secret for her friend.

Not wanting to say, Uesugi Sakura didn’t press further, "What shall we do this afternoon? A bath together...?"

"Hanabi has assignments." Hanamaru Hanabi said, blushing.

"Art assignments?"

"Yeah..."

"What a shame, can’t give you proper guidance."

Flagging a taxi, Uesugi Sakura loaded her bags of clothes into the trunk, then sat with her in the rear seat.

Hanamaru Hanabi always rolled down the window when riding in a car, as she gets car sick.

"Does Hanabi think it’s better to have money or not?"

"Having money is a convenience... but for Hanabi... it’s not necessary..." Hanamaru Hanabi gazed outside, the cityscape etched into her mind day after day.

Her father worked hard, at least he wouldn’t let Hanabi worry about money.

But if the Hanamaru family had been poor growing up, Hanamaru Hanabi was someone who understood well.

A too peaceful life would make her virtues less apparent; if she disappeared, one would realize how precious these ordinary, uneventful days were.

To protect her, making sure she smiles every day.

Returning home, Hanamaru Hanabi began trying on her new clothes; with each piece, she’d come out lightly, shyly asking how it looked on her.

Her skirt hem fluttered around her slender bare legs, her hands shyly in front, just a glance was enough to feel delighted!

He watched captivated, even forgetting to comment on the clothes.

One after another, he just kept saying beautiful, beautiful.

Hanamaru Hanabi pouted: "I feel like Sakura-kun isn’t being sincere."

Uesugi Sakura leaned on the sofa, smiling, "Of course I am, these are my gifts to you."

Most of these little dresses were picked with Kitagawa’s help, half counting as gifts.

Hanamaru Hanabi pulled at her skirt hem with both hands, lowering to cover and facing him, muttered:

"Sakura-kun is looking at my legs."