I Just Want a Single Ending [64]
[Go together]
[Politely decline]
Wait a second—doesn't this feel familiar?
Hadn't he already been invited to an accessory store by someone else?
That's right—last time, he'd gone with Chihaya Anon.
Now it was Ikuyo Kita's turn to invite him.
What a coincidence, especially since he'd just been chatting with Anon not long ago.
"No problem."
Kamigawa Saku agreed without hesitation.
After all, to maintain the delicate balance required for the "single ending," he'd have to treat each of the girls equally. If he'd gone with Anon to an accessory store, naturally, he'd accompany Kita there too.
[Stamina +5]
"Thank you so much!" Kita said, then paused, as if gathering her thoughts. "Kamigawa-senpai, do you have any recommendations for a good accessory store?"
What's going on?
Kamigawa felt a twinge of confusion.
He recalled Anon asking him the exact same question the last time they'd gone shopping together.
Wasn't it a bit strange that both of them would turn to him, of all people, for accessory store recommendations?
More importantly, a "social butterfly" like Kita shouldn't need any advice on where to shop for accessories.
It wasn't like she was a homebody like Gotoh Hitori.
Curious, he asked directly, "If you don't mind me asking… why are you asking me, a guy, for accessory store recommendations?"
"Well, since you're an influencer on Insta," Kita explained, "I figured you'd know a lot about things like this. You seem like a pro!"
Yesterday, after he'd shown her the ropes of account management, she'd taken a closer look at his posts.
Her conclusion? Kamigawa was insanely knowledgeable.
Even though accessories weren't his usual focus, she still thought it was worth a try asking him.
After all, she wanted the best possible gift for Gotoh Hitori.
"I see."
Kamigawa nodded thoughtfully.
That explained it. No wonder both Anon and Kita had asked him the same thing.
There was no escaping the impression of expertise when his follower count was that high.
"Unfortunately, though, this is out of my area," Kamigawa said, shrugging apologetically. "I've only been to one accessory store, so if I were to recommend anything, it would just be that one store."
"How did you like that store, Kamigawa-senpai?" Kita asked, clearly interested.
"I haven't been to any others, so I can't compare," Kamigawa admitted. "But personally, I thought it was a pretty nice place."
Kamigawa's response was carefully measured.
"In that case, let's go to that store," Kita decided, trusting his taste completely.
"Let me lead the way, then," Kamigawa offered, realizing the store was within walking distance.
"Thank you, Kamigawa-senpai."
---
"So, Kamigawa-senpai, what brought you to an accessory store last time?"
As they walked, Ikuyo Kita asked curiously.
She remembered that Kamigawa had said he'd never dated anyone, so his reason for going was… intriguing.
"Oh, I went with Anon," Kamigawa replied honestly.
"Then is it really okay for you to come with me now?"
Kita paused, suddenly sensing that this might be more complicated than she'd thought.
"It's perfectly fine." Noticing her reaction, Kamigawa quickly clarified, "Anon and I are just friends; don't get the wrong idea."
"Sorry, I was overthinking it."
With that reassurance, Kita felt at ease.
---
When they reached the store, they immediately started browsing for a suitable gift for Gotoh Hitori.
Kita picked up a pair of earrings, but Kamigawa stopped her. "Earrings are a no-go, right? Bocchi doesn't have her ears pierced."
"Oh! I almost forgot."
Kita quickly put the earrings back and picked up a necklace.
"What about this necklace?"
"Doesn't really match Bocchi's style. Plus, wearing something this fancy with a tracksuit would look… odd," Kamigawa observed.
"You're right."
Just as Kita was about to put the necklace back, Kamigawa added, "But it would look great on you. I think you'd pull it off really well."
"Oh, really?"
Kita was about to take another look, but then she saw the price tag.
"Wow, it's expensive! If I buy this, I won't be able to afford a gift for Gotoh-san."
"Today's shopping isn't for me, after all," she said with a sigh, returning the necklace to its spot.
Kamigawa didn't say anything, but he quietly noted where she'd placed it.
They continued browsing, occasionally glancing over at the men's accessory section.
This store was filled with a surprising variety of items, so choosing a gift took a fair amount of time.
Eventually, they decided on a red-and-black guitar-pick-shaped hair clip for Gotoh—something simple and practical.
"I'll take care of the checkout. Kamigawa-senpai, you can go wait at the entrance," Kita suggested with a smile.
"Alright."
Kamigawa nodded but quickly turned to retrieve the necklace Kita had admired, bringing it to another cashier and asking them to wrap it as a gift.
There was no way he'd pass up this chance to make a good impression.
Once he'd completed the purchase, Kamigawa stepped outside.
Luckily, Kita hadn't finished yet.
Looks like I'll get to surprise her.
Thinking of the necklace now safely tucked in his pocket, Kamigawa couldn't help but wonder how she'd react.
After a moment, Kita finally emerged from the store, holding a small, carefully wrapped gift box.
"Sorry for the wait! There were more people than I expected," she said, immediately apologizing.
"No problem…"
Just as Kamigawa reached into his pocket to pull out the necklace, Kita held out the gift box to him first.
"The wrapping's really nice! Bocchi will love it for sure," Kamigawa said offhandedly.
"No, it's not for Gotoh-san. This is for you, Kamigawa-senpai."
Kita corrected him with a shy smile.
"For… me?"
Kamigawa froze, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected turn.
"Yes, please accept it, Kamigawa-senpai," Kita said, her gaze sincere.
In that instant, Kamigawa understood why it had taken her so long to come out—she'd been picking out a gift for him all along.
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
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