Upon entering, Shikime Natsu calmly observed the various styles of swimwear hanging on the walls and racks.
It had to be said that the styles of girls' swimsuits in reality were far richer than what he had seen in those anime.
Aside from the common bikinis and one-pieces, there were halter-necks, tube tops, frilled designs, cut-out designs... Shikime Natsu couldn't even name the majority of the styles.
At this moment, this spacious and bright swimwear specialty shop appeared somewhat deserted. Apart from the three of them, there was only a female shop assistant standing behind the counter with a professional smile on her face.
Shikime Natsu couldn't help but feel a bit suspicious. This school only had so many students, yet the commercial facilities were so fully equipped; one could even say supply exceeded demand.
For a shop like this, which sold non-essential items, would there really be any business normally? There should be quite a few shops in a state of financial loss, right? Could it be that the school provided corresponding subsidies to these shops?
Of course, these were not things he should be considering right now.
"Natsu, and Horikita-san..."
Sakura Airi stood in front of a row of dazzling swimwear, turning around with some hesitation. "What kind of swimsuit do you think would be suitable for me?"
Originally, she only wanted to ask for Shikime Natsu's opinion alone; after all, a woman dresses to please the one who appreciates her. She only cared whether Shikime Natsu liked it or not. However, since Horikita Suzune was also present, and was someone she had specifically invited, she naturally had to take Horikita Suzune into consideration as well.
Seeing Sakura Airi toss the topic over, Horikita Suzune froze slightly. She seriously scrutinized the colorful swimsuits around her with their pitifully small amounts of fabric, her brows furrowing imperceptibly.
Finally, her gaze locked onto a dark blue one-piece swimsuit.
"This one, I suppose."
She pointed to that swimsuit. It was a very conservative style. Not only was it a one-piece, but the neckline was high, and the hem was relatively long. It basically covered everything that could be covered. It looked more like professional competitive swimwear rather than a vacation swimsuit for playing at the beach.
"Umm... this one?"
Sakura Airi nodded. "I understand. Thank you for Horikita-san's suggestion."
Subsequently, she turned her gaze towards Shikime Natsu with anticipation. "Then... what does Natsu think?"
Shikime Natsu rubbed his chin, his gaze sweeping across the rows of swimwear. Although he also felt that Sakura Airi's figure was very good and wearing those bikinis with very little fabric would definitely be a feast for the eyes, in this kind of public place—especially with an outsider present—he didn't want that overly hot figure to be displayed too blatantly.
Thus, he reached out and took down a swimsuit hanging on the rack.
It was a pale pink two-piece swimsuit. Although it was a two-piece set, the top was a camisole design with frills, and the bottom was a pair of shorts with a skirt hem. It retained a young girl's cuteness and sweetness without appearing overly revealing. It fit Sakura Airi's temperament very well.
"I think this one is not bad."
He handed the swimsuit to Sakura Airi.
"Mn-hm! I like this one very much too!"
Sakura Airi accepted the swimsuit, her eyes sparkling. It had to be said, Shikime Natsu's taste was indeed much better than Horikita Suzune's.
"Thank you, Natsu, and thank you, Horikita-san!"
Sakura Airi held the two swimsuits, her face brimming with a smile. "Then... I'll go to the fitting room to change and try them on now!"
After saying that, she cheerfully ran into the fitting room.
A few minutes later.
The curtain of the fitting room was pulled open.
"Umm... this one is the one Horikita-san chose."
Sakura Airi walked out somewhat shyly. The dark blue one-piece swimsuit tightly wrapped around her body without any fancy decorations. But precisely because of this tight wrapping sensation, it instead further highlighted her devilish body curves.
Her full upper circumference seemed almost ready to burst the swimsuit, her slender waist could be grasped with one hand, and her long legs were straight and fair. That competitive swimsuit, which should have appeared conservative or even somewhat old-fashioned, actually exuded a unique kind of charm when worn on her.
Horikita Suzune looked at the girl before her, and her whole person was stunned. Clearly... she had specifically chosen the most conservative one. Why did Sakura Airi still appear so... eye-catching after putting it on?
This kind of visual impact...
Shikime Natsu's gaze also fell upon Sakura Airi's body, a trace of appreciation flashing through his eyes. Although the style was a bit old-fashioned, this figure truly left nothing to be said.
However...
His line of sight quickly shifted to Horikita Suzune beside him, seemingly making some kind of comparison. Although he didn't say a word, the implication in his eyes couldn't be more obvious.
Feeling Shikime Natsu's malicious gaze, Horikita Suzune's cheeks were instantly dyed with a layer of thin anger. She glared back fiercely.
What are you looking at! Having a good figure is something innate; I have no way to control it!
"How is it? Does it fit?" Sakura Airi asked somewhat uneasily, her hands subconsciously shielding her chest.
"It's quite good." Shikime Natsu nodded, giving a positive evaluation.
"It suits you very well." Horikita Suzune could only brace herself and nod.
"That's good... then I'll go try the one Natsu chose!"
Sakura Airi heaved a sigh of relief and dove into the fitting room again. Not long after, she walked out having changed into that pale pink frilled swimsuit.
The effect this time was completely different. If the one just now was an ascetic kind of temptation, then this one was a purely sweet critical hit. The pink frills swayed gently with her movements, adding a few points of liveliness and playfulness. The design of the skirt hem covered the roots of her thighs, yet made her legs appear even more slender.
"How is it? What about this one?" Sakura Airi looked at Shikime Natsu expectantly.
"Very cute." Shikime Natsu did not stingy with his praise. "Perfect."
"What does Horikita-san think?"
"It's very good... very good."
Horikita Suzune had to admit that this one was indeed much better looking than the one she chose, and it also suited Sakura Airi's temperament better.
"If you both say they're not bad... then which one is better to choose?" Sakura Airi looked at herself in the mirror, falling into a happy dilemma.
Horikita Suzune fell silent for a moment.
If... in the matter of choosing a swimsuit, the one I chose wins over the one Shikime Natsu chose... would that prove that my relationship with Sakura Airi is more intimate? Or rather, that I understand her better? After all, between friends, having similar tastes is also very important, right?
Just as she was secretly competing, Shikime Natsu suddenly spoke up.
"Since both are thought to be good, then there's no need to struggle."
He waved his hand expansively. "Just buy them all."
"?"
Horikita Suzune froze for a moment, looking at him in disbelief. Does this guy... really not treat money as money? Swimwear here isn't cheap; two pieces added together would cost at least several tens of thousands of points, right?
"That's true!" Sakura Airi, however, didn't have any hesitation and agreed happily.
Subsequently, her gaze suddenly turned to Horikita Suzune at the side. "By the way, does Horikita-san need to buy a swimsuit too?"
"I don't need one." Horikita Suzune refused without even thinking. She only needed to wear the free school swimsuit provided by the school; she didn't need to spend points buying swimwear or anything like that.
However, just as she wanted to turn and leave, Sakura Airi leaned close to her ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Horikita-san... buying swimwear together is also a display of a friendly relationship between friends, you know! Think about it: good friends go shopping together, so of course they should buy clothes together!"
"This..."
Horikita Suzune was instantly stunned. Clearly... it wasn't like this at the start? When confirming the itinerary on the phone last night, it was clearly said that she was just coming over to accompany Sakura Airi to pick clothes and act as an advisor. She had even confirmed again and again back then whether she only needed to watch and didn't need to spend money.
Moreover... she didn't have a single point on hand.
If it were the previous Horikita Suzune, hearing this kind of request that changed at the last minute and didn't match the plan, she probably would have turned hostile and left long ago.
But... the current her was different. She needed to make friends with Sakura Airi. And, she needed to complete that damned mission before the end of the month—making three friends.
If she turned hostile now, all her previous efforts would go to waste. At that time... Brother would definitely be quite disappointed in her, right?
At the thought of Horikita Manabu's cold and disappointed gaze, Horikita Suzune's heart clenched fiercely. She couldn't do that. She absolutely couldn't let that kind of thing happen.
So... endure it.
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the dissatisfaction in her heart.
Just then, the female shop assistant who had been silently observing from the side walked over, a warm smile hanging on her face. "Students, if you buy three swimsuits at once, we can offer a discount! It's very cost-effective!"
"Twenty percent off..." Horikita Suzune was still hesitating.
Shikime Natsu suddenly turned his head, looking at her with a smile. "In that case, let's buy them together. I've known Horikita for so long, and you've helped me quite a lot during this time. So..."
He paused, his tone speaking very naturally: "The swimsuit Horikita-san chooses will be considered a thank-you gift from me to you."
"..."
Hearing Shikime Natsu say this, Horikita Suzune froze for a moment. Give it to me?
Although she really didn't want to accept this kind of charity-like kindness, under the current situation where she was riding a tiger and couldn't get off, this seemed to be the best way out. It could satisfy Sakura Airi's inexplicable proof of friendship without her having to pay out of her own pocket.
"...Fine."
She had no choice but to nod reluctantly and agree. At the same time, she glanced at Sakura Airi with a slightly dissatisfied gaze. She really disliked it when things happened differently from the plan. Although for Horikita Suzune, who had never made friends, what Sakura Airi just said indeed had no flaws. Girls buying swimwear or whatever... if done together, would promote friendship.
"Since Horikita-san helped me pick just now, then I'll pick for Horikita-san too." Sakura Airi stood out and spoke, her eyes looking at Horikita Suzune, seemingly asking for the other party's opinion.
Horikita Suzune nodded.
Sakura Airi quickly picked a white and blue color-blocked frilled bikini.
"How about this one?"
"Just this one."
"Don't you want to try it on?" Shikime Natsu raised his eyebrows. "It's very troublesome if a swimsuit doesn't fit."
"No need." Horikita Suzune refused decisively.
She didn't want to change into this swimsuit in front of Shikime Natsu. If it were a swimming class or a swimming pool—occasions where she had to wear one—she might be able to accept it. But right now, in a cramped fitting room with Shikime Natsu standing right outside... just the thought of being scrutinized by that gaze of his after changing into the swimsuit... even the always calm Horikita Suzune would feel a burst of intense unnaturalness and shame.
"I know my size very well," she added, her tone stiff.
"Since it's decided, let's leave it at that." Shikime Natsu shrugged and didn't insist further.
After buying the swimwear, Sakura Airi didn't end the day's itinerary. She soon led the two to a bookstore with an elegant environment.
"Horikita-san." Sakura Airi walked to a row of bookshelves and looked at Horikita Suzune. "Do you have any other good books to recommend to me?"
"Books?" Horikita Suzune was somewhat surprised.
"Mn!" Sakura Airi nodded, her eyes sincere. "I secretly observed Horikita-san before... and saw you were always reading the book 'Crime and Punishment'. Actually... I've finished reading that book now too! I think it's very interesting; the psychological descriptions inside are really profound."
"So I was thinking... could I ask Horikita-san to recommend some more books to me? Maybe... our reading tastes are unexpectedly compatible!"
Hearing these words, Horikita Suzune couldn't help but freeze slightly.
Sakura Airi... read the book she often read? And finished it? She couldn't quite believe it. After all, a massive volume of serious literature like Crime and Punishment should be very hard to chew for a girl like Sakura Airi who seemed to prefer fashion and idols.
Thus, she tentatively asked a few questions regarding the psychological changes of the protagonist, Raskolnikov, in the book, as well as details of several key plot points. Of course, she didn't deliberately make it difficult; she asked basic questions that anyone who had seriously read the book could answer.
However, to her surprise, Sakura Airi answered fluently, and could even add some of her own insights. Very smooth, without any stuttering.
This proved... she hadn't lied. She had truly finished reading this book seriously.
At this moment, a subtle feeling suddenly arose in Horikita Suzune's heart. She fell silent.
Sakura Airi was understanding her. Was it to become friends with her that she went to read this book, to understand her interests and hobbies?
And what about herself? She seemed to know nothing about Sakura Airi. If they were friends... shouldn't she also try to actively understand the other party?
Recalling the experiences along this journey. Whether it was choosing swimwear or browsing the bookstore now, it seemed that Sakura Airi and Shikime Natsu had always been leading; it was their home court. And she was like a detached lightbulb, completely out of place.
At least during the process of buying clothes today, she didn't feel any of that tacit understanding and atmosphere between so-called friends. Even if she was as obtuse as she was, she couldn't feel it, so presumably, Shikime Natsu definitely didn't feel it either.
Horikita Suzune fell silent for a while, her gaze flowing back and forth between Sakura Airi and Shikime Natsu.
She remembered Mei-Yu Wang from before; she also seemed to have tried hard to understand her in order to become her friend. Last time, Mei-Yu Wang also mentioned the book Crime and Punishment, only at that time, she had responded quite perfunctorily and didn't take it seriously at all.
Thinking about it now... did she really do something wrong?
Aloof... lonely...
Shikime Natsu had said her understanding was incorrect, and her brother had also said she misunderstood the two. If it was Shikime Natsu saying he had read Crime and Punishment, then Horikita Suzune wouldn't feel anything; after all, Shikime Natsu was well-read.
"These few." Horikita Suzune pulled a few books from the shelf and handed them to Sakura Airi. "These are also Fyodor Dostoevsky's works; the style is similar to 'Crime and Punishment'."
"Thank you, Horikita-san!" Sakura Airi accepted the books happily.
"Umm..."
Just as Sakura Airi was preparing to turn and go to checkout, Horikita Suzune suddenly spoke up and stopped her. Although the voice wasn't loud, it appeared exceptionally clear in the quiet bookstore.
"Sakura-san... what are your hobbies?"
Immediately after, Horikita Suzune turned her head, looking straight at Shikime Natsu who was browsing a magazine at the side. "And... what are your hobbies?"
Since she wanted to become friends, then she needed to try to understand the other party a little. Even if she didn't understand the things they liked, she at least had to know what they liked.
This was the principle she had just realized.
Looking at Shikime Natsu's familiar profile, Horikita Suzune suddenly realized: Although the time she had been in contact with Shikime Natsu was longer than anyone else she knew at school besides her brother; although she knew this guy had excellent academic grades, all-round athletic ability, astonishing insight, and ridiculously good cooking skills; although she knew this guy's personality was terrible...
But... until now, she seemed to have never truly understood his hobbies.
What did he like? What did he hate? What did he usually do?
Before, it was because she didn't want to understand, feeling it was unnecessary. But...
Horikita Suzune thought about it. Whether it was Mei-Yu Wang, Sakura Airi, or even Shikime Natsu, they all seemed to be seriously trying to become friends with her. Mn, no matter how terrible Shikime Natsu's personality was, Horikita Suzune could still feel that Shikime Natsu wanted to become her friend; otherwise, he wouldn't have designated himself as one of the three targets.
She was the only one completing it as a mission.
So... no matter what, Horikita Suzune felt that she still had to take a step forward slightly. At least, she had to slightly change the status quo, even if perhaps nothing would change temporarily.
This was something the previous Horikita Suzune wouldn't have even thought about.
____
👻🔥Walnut-chan ;)🔥👻
🔥 New history: Group chat of the Dead
✅ Jump 40 chapters ahead of the public release!
✅ Get access to special perks and news!
Help smash these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter (for everyone)
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters (for all stories)!
👻 P - Walnut-chan