Chapter 169: Shopping Together
"Don't falsely accuse people."
Asagiri shook his head and let out a light chuckle.
"This is pure, uncut talent."
"You're really proud of yourself."
Kato Megumi smiled gently, brushed her medium length hair back, and spoke softly.
"Alright, enough joking. I did contact Asuna and Kotoko. One said she still hasn't recovered and wants to rest at home. The other said she has to handle requests from the local yokai in Tokyo. While she's at it, she's having familiar yokai spread the news that she's recovered, so nobody who doesn't know her will call her a fraud."
She exhaled.
"So… I could only ask you to come with me."
Asagiri sighed, putting on a wounded expression.
"Ah, so I was the backup plan."
"You're definitely not the backup. It's just…"
Kato Megumi pursed her lips, then finally said it.
"The main thing is… I still need to buy underwear today."
"Oh, perfect."
Asagiri waved a hand grandly, full of confidence.
"I know underwear way too well."
Kato Megumi tugged his sleeve and lowered her voice, cheeks faintly red.
"Hey, we're still on the street. Everyone's looking. Don't say it so loudly…"
Asagiri replied righteously, "Didn't you say you wanted to increase your presence?"
Kato Megumi rubbed her forehead and sighed.
"That's not the kind of presence I meant…"
…
Half an hour later, inside a clothing store.
"Mm… they're all kind of expensive…"
Kato Megumi stared at a white dress. She clearly liked it, but when she saw the price tag reading "4,500 yen," she reluctantly put it back.
"For a spring dress, that's not expensive," Asagiri said. "If anything, it's pretty cheap, right?"
Kato Megumi turned her head and glanced at his luxury brand casual wear, then sighed.
"I'm just a normal student. I don't have that much pocket money. You, on the other hand, wear luxury brands whenever you're not in uniform."
She continued, tone steady.
"I heard Kotoko's outfits are custom designed to match her taste, unique pieces that will never be duplicated. Asuna's isn't that extreme, but even a short sleeved shirt can cost two or three thousand yen."
Kato Megumi looked back at the racks.
"I still need sportswear later, so my budget is tight. I have to choose carefully."
"Then… how about I buy it for you?" Asagiri asked.
"How could you do that?"
Kato Megumi's expression turned serious. She faced him directly, tone firm.
"Because we're friends, we should be clear about certain things. An occasional gift is fine, but clothes are different. Even if you have money, I can't let you pay."
After she finished, she noticed the faint smile on his face and immediately felt irritated.
"What are you smiling at?"
"What you just said is exactly what Asuna would say," Asagiri replied.
"Is that so…"
Kato Megumi answered noncommittally, turned away, and continued browsing, voice calm again.
"Anyway, with my budget, I need three sets of underwear, one spring outfit, and two sets of sportswear. The sportswear from last time got torn, so I need new ones."
Asagiri asked, "So your budget is…?"
Kato Megumi raised her index finger and wiggled it in front of him, a small smile appearing.
"Twenty-five thousand yen."
"You can't buy a ghost with that."
"Huh? You can buy things."
Kato Megumi pulled her hand back and began calculating on her fingers.
"If I buy online, ten thousand yen should cover a spring dress and jacket. Five thousand yen is enough for two sets of sportswear. Sportswear just needs to be durable, there's no need to be picky."
Her voice grew quieter.
"But the remaining ten thousand yen isn't really enough for underwear. It's underwear, so the quality can't be too bad…"
Watching her calculate so carefully, Asagiri could not help laughing.
"No matter how you calculate it, you're still short."
"It's short, but…"
Kato Megumi lifted her face and spoke earnestly.
"That's what ordinary high school girls do. You plan your pocket money. Clothes, hanging out with friends, magazines, dolls, accessories, little things like that. You have to be careful."
"Then I'll buy the sportswear for you," Asagiri said. "This isn't just your problem. It's a team issue, so it's reasonable."
Kato Megumi rested her chin on her hand, hesitating.
Entering three Dungeons a month meant she would need at least three extra sets of sportswear every month. That was an expense she could not explain to her parents, and it would only keep growing.
"Then… alright."
Asagiri had not even spoken before Kato Megumi added quickly, her tone serious.
"But if you say it's a team matter, then if you buy two sets for me, you have to buy something for Asuna and Kotoko too. Otherwise… it feels wrong."
"Let's forget about those two," Asagiri said.
"Hm? You can't do that."
Kato Megumi frowned.
"Kotoko acts carefree, but she's still a girl. And Asuna is your first teammate. How can you only buy for me and not for them? They'll be mad at you."
"You're right, but…"
Asagiri looked at her serious face and laughed.
"Asuna has light armor, and Kotoko wears her own dress every time she enters a Dungeon. Why would I buy sportswear for them? In this team, besides me, you're the only one who actually needs it."
"Uh…"
Kato Megumi froze, then coughed twice and turned her face away to hide her embarrassment.
"Oh right… then… then buy something else for them…"
"No," Asagiri refused flatly.
Kato Megumi blinked. "Why?"
Asagiri shrugged, casual.
"Didn't I already say it? Sportswear is a team necessity, not a personal gift. If I were buying you something out of private feelings, then sure, I'd need to treat everyone equally and give gifts to those two as well."
"I see…"
Kato Megumi nodded as if she understood, then walked back to the white dress she had been eyeing. She took it off the rack and smiled.
"Then I'll buy this one."
"Hm? Not looking around more?"
Kato Megumi shook her head and looked at him, expression gentle with a faint hint of mischief.
"Didn't you say shopping is boring? So… I'll just pick this and be done."
…
Twenty minutes later, inside a women's underwear store.
"Utsunomiya…"
Even with Kato Megumi's calm personality, she could not help feeling shy as Asagiri followed right beside her, step for step, while she browsed. The surrounding customers and clerks kept glancing over.
"Um… you don't have to stay with me. You can sit in the waiting area, like the boyfriends over there… Ah, no."
Halfway through, she realized what she had implied and immediately waved her hands, flustered.
"I mean, you're a guy, so you can just wait over there. I wasn't saying you're my…"
"It doesn't matter."
Asagiri's expression stayed indifferent.
"Don't you feel awkward?" Kato Megumi asked softly.
"Why would I?" Asagiri answered, completely matter of fact.
"I'm here to help you pick underwear. I'm not the one wearing it. What's there to be awkward about?"
.....
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