Insights from a Rogue

As Shinichi stepped out of the grocery store, he had a few more bags in his hands.

Although Kei wanted to share some of the load, Shinichi insisted that he came here to help move items, so he let her lead with empty hands while he easily carried the not-too-heavy stuff.

Asking others to fetch things for her while she watched from the sidelines made Kei very uncomfortable; she glanced at his own palm, which looked warm and thick with slightly protruding veins. Like...

Kei looked straight ahead and coughed.

"The place we're heading to next is a bit far." Shinichi said casually. "No matter how far I walk, I'll be fine all day."

"That's good."

Kei nodded, her waist-length silver hair swaying from side to side, as if indicating that she was in a good mood at the moment.

They walked side by side, strolling through the streets on a holiday morning, neither of them rushing to the next shopping destination. Occasionally, they exchanged glances, feeling a bit of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.

While walking, Kei suddenly stopped in front of a handicraft store with feminine decorations and many male customers, then turned around and asked, "Senpai, do you want to go in and take a look?"

Although she pretended to be casual, her eyes couldn't help but glance at the cute products on the shelves, and she seemed very interested in them.

"Sure, besides, I'm not in a hurry to buy anything." Shinichi couldn't help but laugh.

After all, Kei was still a normal girl.

She would enjoy shopping, she would like cute things, and she would also have a crush on a guy... But she seemed to dislike spending money casually.

Setting aside the use of point cards and special offers to minimize shopping costs, they passed by many dessert shops with tempting aromas along the way. Although they looked very tempting, after a few arguments, Kei also declined Shinichi's treat offers, saying frankly, "I don't want to spend money here. If I want to eat it, I'll wait until afternoon tea to have it."

Thinking like this, Kei was just the best choice to be a good wife and mother because she had a strong yet pragmatic, diligent, and thrifty self-esteem.

...Better not to think about things like that as a middle school student.

Setting aside those messy thoughts, Shinichi followed the girl into the store. The staff were too busy dealing with other customers to notice them, and they wandered around alone.

Kei squatted down, placing her hand on her knee, and carefully examined the simple and plain hair accessories.

Dark blue jeans outlined the tight lines of her legs. Looking down, Shinichi could see her white ankles, and her round buttocks lightly pressed against her heels.

Shinichi turned around and looked at the necklaces, earrings, and other small accessories on the other side. Unlike Kei, he sometimes picked up something to look at and then put it back.

"Kei, do you want to buy something?"

After Kei finished looking at what was in front of her and stood up with her knees pressed, Shinichi asked.

Kei stopped and answered hesitantly, "If I don't find the style I like the most, I might not buy it..."

This is also called window shopping – Just looking without buying.

After coming back to her senses, Kei quickly guessed the true meaning of this sentence. Although she was very happy, she still shook her head.

"I will pay whatever I want, so you don't have to spend money on it, Senpai. Thank you for your kindness."

"..."

The fingers that took the cute ribbon stopped in the air, and Shinichi put it back.

"Yes, I understand."

"...I don't mean to be mean. It's just that I don't want to owe money to anyone."

Kei also seemed a little embarrassed.

Kind of embarrassing.

Honestly, Shinichi just asked casually and didn't intend to help her buy it...

But it's okay, he wouldn't know unless she said it, so just consider it a beautiful misunderstanding!

Besides, after hearing Kei mention it, Shinichi had an idea in his mind and hesitated whether to carry it out.

Considering the purpose he agreed to come for, Shinichi looked around the store.

After thinking for a moment, he bowed and carefully selected products on the shelf more carefully than before.

"That... Senpai?"

Kei looked at his behavior in surprise, confusion in her eyes.

The first thought was, of course, to suspect that the other party insisted on buying gifts for her, but judging from the other party's attitude, it didn't seem like that.

After thinking for a moment, Kei asked hesitantly, "Senpai, do you want... to buy something to give away?"

It's impossible for Shinichi to buy these cute handicrafts and wear them to play, right?

"You guessed it right." Shinichi smiled, and without saying anything else, he chose a small ornament for each girl based on the image in his mind.

Kei silently watched from the side, her expression gradually returning to the calm look from her original astonishment.

After completing the selection, as she followed Shinichi to the counter, her soft voice sounded again.

"Senpai, do you want to give so many gifts?"

Carrying a basket full of accessories liked by the girls, Shinichi nodded casually.

"Yes, everyone should be given, otherwise it wouldn't be fair

Kei clenched her fist.

She clearly understood what this person wanted to say and what this sentence meant.

[I have a lot of girlfriends. If I want to give gifts, I have to give them together, otherwise we won't be able to share rain and dew.]

He thought she could understand him, so he deliberately said such words.

She deliberately threw a cruel sarcasm in front of the girl who had a crush on him.

The atmosphere plummeted to freezing point.

"..."

Neither of them seemed to intend to take the initiative to bring up the topic. They just maintained silence around them and walked towards the cashier.

△

Shinichi didn't intend to be a rogue and build a memorial at the same time.

So he admitted that he was wrong, and his countless and heinous crimes.

If it's wrong, then it's wrong. Right now, he just wanted to use actions rather than words to tell Kei a certain fact.

"..."

Kei stared at him in silence, her eyes like ice, and her immature yet somewhat mature face covered with a layer of ice.

It wasn't a condemning look, but a firm expression that concealed anger, discomfort, loss, and frustration, yet still bravely raised her eyes to tell him that she was very unhappy with this.

"You don't have anything to buy? Then I'll go check it out."