Shopping with Shirogane Kei

On the day Shinichi met Hayasaka Ai, he made a promise with Kei to accompany her to buy items for the middle school festival.

Shinichi didn't tell anyone about this. Only Hayasaka had some vague guesses, but she didn't care much; she seemed more worried about whether he would charm a middle school girl.

However, she knew what choice he would make.

"Senpai, you do know about the middle school festival next week, right?"

On the way to the city center, Kei took the initiative to bring up the topic, and her soft voice sounded like a summer breeze in Shinichi's ears.

"Senpai, would you like to come and visit us? Moeha also said she really wants to meet you."

"Is that so?" Shinichi was slightly surprised. His relationship with Moeha could only be described as average. Could it be that Chika talks about him every day at home?

Kei shook her head honestly: "Sorry, it seems not. I said it on a whim."

"..." Shinichi fell silent.

"But Rui said that if she has free time, she will come to play."

"I see." Thinking about the past, Shinichi couldn't help but smile nostalgically, "Yeah, I haven't seen her since summer vacation... Of course, I'll go there, and I'll ask you to lead the way."

"..."

For some reason, Kei hesitated for a moment, but didn't say anything.

The atmosphere became quiet, and this time it was Shinichi who initiated the topic.

"Kei, are you in any clubs?"

"No, just student council. Because of exams, I won't continue it for now."

"Meaning only classrooms will be busy?"

Kei nodded.

Curiously, Shinichi asked: "What does your class do?"

"Mhm..."

Kei was about to answer, but suddenly stopped in her tracks, her expression tensed as if she was thinking of something bad.

A blush appeared on her snow-white skin, making the ears peeking through her hair look very attractive.

She said softly with wandering eyes: "It's a regular stall selling drinks and food..."

"A coffee shop?" Shinichi guessed.

"Maybe." Kei was vague and said in a stiff tone, as if she didn't want to continue the conversation, "Anyway, when the time comes, Senpai will come and see... Before that, let me tell you something first. Let's wait and buy something."

"Sure."

Shinichi tried not to laugh.

Just from her reaction, he could almost guess what kind of class they had...

"Let's buy something light first, so we don't have to carry heavy things while walking... Disposable cake forks, baking paper for making cakes, and some kitchen utensils..."

Kei took out a list, wanting him to see it clearly, and gently placed her hand on it, guiding her finger to the fine handwriting on it, and said seriously:

"Finally, flour, butter, eggs... Although we can use home economics class, the ingredients still need to be prepared by ourselves. Of course, I'm not the only one in the purchasing team, so the portion isn't too big."

She straightforwardly and clearly told Shinichi about the plan for today's trip. It was just shopping, and she had no plans to go shopping at electronics stores, department stores, and other places along the way.

Shinichi observed from the side and nodded silently. From his perspective, he could smell the fresh scent of her hair, and the softness of her arm also felt itchy.

Although he was still a virgin, he wouldn't be moved by this contact and would remain calm in his response:

"In that case, let's go to the grocery store first."

"That's what I planned."

Putting away the list, Kei moved away from him, then suddenly turned her face sideways.

Seeing her side profile, Shinichi wondered: "What's wrong?"

Kei answered without looking back: "Nothing."

Of course, she wouldn't say that when Shinichi bowed earlier, it made her so nervous that she couldn't help but hold her breath, and now she was breathing quietly.

Almost dying from lack of oxygen.

After regaining her breath, she quickened her pace a bit and walked ahead.

"I know a cheaper store that also has a loyalty card."

"In that case, I leave everything to you. Conversely, let me take the lead!"

Pretending to be the neighbor's older brother, Shinichi smiled and patted her arm.

Kei looked back at him, and they locked eyes.

Then, the girl with silver-white hair quickly led him to a small grocery store and went straight to the old man at the counter.

"Excuse me, I'd like to ask where these items are..."

After receiving instructions, Kei returned to Shinichi, speaking seriously.

"This is more efficient."

She didn't know why she explained it.

Shinichi chuckled: "Your thinking is very similar to one of my friends."

Kei asked somewhat strangely: "Is there a problem?"

"No, efficiency is good. Let's go."

He stood there and didn't move.

"Then, who's the friend you're talking about?"

Ask this?

Shinichi looked at her in surprise, then confessed: "Ogata Rizu is also a member of the student council."

"That person..." Kei nodded thoughtfully, thinking of the bespectacled girl who was smaller than her but had better breasts than her.

She had met her several times during summer vacation, not to mention the other party was quite famous in Shuchi'in Academy and was a fairly good senior.

So, was she really similar to her?

For some reason, though, when she thought about it, Kei felt a little unhappy in her heart.

"Kei?"

"It's nothing." After coming to her senses, Kei decided to temporarily forget this mood.

Shinichi couldn't guess what she was thinking when she intentionally lowered her expression, so he led and walked towards the next row of items she wanted to buy.

But before he could move forward, the hem of his clothes was already gripped by her.

"Senpai, let's start from the first row."

Kei pointed to the first row of shelves on the far right side of the grocery store. Her snow-white skin was tinged with a slight blush, but her tone was serious.

As ordered, it was best to start buying from the fifth row first to finish shopping as soon as possible.

Shinichi unconsciously asked.

"But, it's on the list..."

"Let's start from the first row."

Her expression remained unchanged, but her demeanor became firmer.

"Efficiency..."

"Let's start with the first row."

A cold light appeared in the girl's eyes.

"..." Shinichi quickly closed his mouth, his expression slightly strange.

Seeing that he didn't object, Kei released his clothes, gently nudging his shoulder, and let him walk ahead.

Then, turning her back to him, she swung her fist forcefully from top to bottom.

(My victory!)

Shinichi turned back, thinking, and her arrogant expression immediately disappeared.

"Senpai can also browse and check out what you want to buy together later to get a bigger discount."

Kei urged him to look back immediately.

"Sure."

Shinichi walked to the first row of shelves.

He didn't have anything he wanted to buy. This time he just came to work as a porter and seek the opportunity to talk to her... But Kei asked him, so Shinichi still planned to show off and grab items with fruit icons on the outer part.

Maybe some kind of chewing gum.

Kei also moved forward to see, and when her fingers suddenly tensed and she tried to put the box back on the shelf, she read aloud all the words on the label.

"New brand, ultra-thin condoms, tropical fruit flavor..."

(Additional note: Shinichi briefly didn't recognize it because it's a new brand)

"..."

The atmosphere fell silent, and time felt heavy and frozen.

Shinichi put back the condom, not daring to look at the expression of the girl behind him.

Damn, this was an unexpected situation.

"...I didn't expect items like this to be sold here."

To lighten the mood, Shinichi spoke casually.

"Well, it's okay. Kei, you're still young. Remember to look at things like this with the right, positive, and understanding attitude. It's not good to avoid them because of shame or taboo."

"Just so you know, in our second year of high school, we had a classmate whose family owns an adult products store, named..."

"You're not too old, right? We're only two years apart."

Kei's complaint made him pause for a moment, and finally, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Shinichi slightly raised the corner of his mouth and continued:

"These are two years of life experience. Don't worry, I don't want to teach you, I just want to tell you a story-"

"Senpai, have you ever used them?" Kei asked casually.

Shinichi's smile froze.

"Not used!"

To maintain the innocent image of a senior in front of his school friends, Shinichi responded quickly and firmly, afraid that any doubt would be seen as malicious.

Unexpectedly, a calm voice still sounded cold behind him.

"His attitude is excessive, trying to hide it."

Shinichi suppressed the urge to explain hastily, maintaining a calm demeanor and not allowing himself to show embarrassment or guilt.

"Kei, I'm serious..."

"Yeah, I know."

Shinichi: "?"

Before he could show his surprise, when he finished speaking, the long silver-white hair suddenly swept to his side.

Kei walked towards him again, looked back, and gently placed her hand on his back.

"There shouldn't be anything here that Senpai wants to buy, so let's quickly move on to the next row of shelves."

Ignoring these light and peaceful words, the girl moved forward gracefully.

Shinichi stared at her back for a few seconds, sighed.

"Women really can't be predicted."

He quickly followed, and then slowly walked around the grocery store with her.