The Nakano Family Before Giving Gifts

August 21, Monday afternoon.

"I'm full."

As she laid down her chopsticks, Itsuki said to Nino, who had just sat down and hadn't started eating yet.

Nino was very surprised and said, "What's wrong with you? Why did you finish eating so quickly?"

"I don't have much of an appetite today, so I'll eat less."

Itsuki made up a random excuse.

"The world is going to end!!!" Yotsuba screamed.

"That's an exaggeration!" Itsuki retorted angrily. "I told you, I don't have much of an appetite."

"I can't imagine Itsuki not having an appetite."

Miku was also very surprised by this turn of events.

"Okay, I won't tell you anymore, I'll go back to my room first."

After saying that, Itsuki walked upstairs without intending to stay here any longer.

Seeing her figure leaving, Yotsuba asked puzzledly, "What's wrong with Itsuki today? Even if she's not hungry, shouldn't she eat a bowl of rice?"

"Maybe she's in a bad mood?" Miku guessed casually.

"Unlikely. Nothing has happened recently. Itsuki has been happily shopping these past few days."

Yotsuba didn't quite buy this explanation.

Nino said with a smile, "There must be something else she needs to do, so Itsuki is just making excuses and doesn't want to waste too much time eating."

"Something else to do? Is there anything more important to Itsuki than eating?" Yotsuba was still a bit confused.

"Of course, for example, she wants to give a gift to Kamikawa-san." Nino revealed her thoughts, "The agreed time must be almost here, so she's rushing to leave."

After thinking about it, she continued, "And if my guess is correct, the purpose of her shopping today might be to buy a gift."

"It seems so. It's kind of weird if Itsuki has been out shopping these past few days but hasn't bought anything." Yotsuba nodded in agreement.

"You only find it weird after I mention it, right?" Nino complained, "You originally thought about going shopping with Itsuki."

Yotsuba explained very embarrassedly, "I thought it was weird, so I wanted to go and see with her."

"That doesn't necessarily mean giving a gift to Ren, it could also mean going on a date with Ren." Miku added another possibility.

"In other words, Itsuki must be doing something very important, so she lost her appetite... No, it should be said she doesn't have time to eat." Yotsuba guessed.

Soon after she finished speaking, the sound of footsteps was heard from the other side of the stairs.

"Itsuki, come down... Wait, what's in your hand?"

Following the voice, Nino caught a glimpse of a gift box in Itsuki's hand.

"Nothing, you saw wrong."

Itsuki quickly hid the gift box behind her, then pretended nothing was wrong, walked downstairs, and headed straight for the door.

"I have to go out for a bit. I might not be able to come back anytime soon."

"Are you going to give a gift to Kamikawa-san?"

Before she reached the door, she was stopped by Nino.

"Yes."

Since the existence of the gift was known, Itsuki had no choice but to admit it.

"Is this a big deal? You don't need to intercept me."

"You're right, but what's with your outfit right now, Itsuki?" Nino asked, pointing at her clothes, "Why is it all black from top to bottom?"

Black top, black skirt, black stockings...

"Recently, I wanted to try a different style." Itsuki explained shyly.

"It's very strange, like..."

Nino couldn't find the right adjective for a moment.

"Like a replica of Ren." Miku said directly.

The type of clothing Kamikawa Ren most often wore was all black.

Nino asked puzzledly, "I see. So you're trying to be like Kamikawa-san, just wearing all black?"

"Is it weird to dress like this?"

Itsuki's attention was focused on Nino's comment about her clothes.

"It's really strange. Change your top to white and don't wear stockings. It should look good."

Nino gave her advice.

"You don't suit pure black clothes at all. It's not a big deal for Kamikawa-san to wear black clothes, but it's too awkward for you."

"...Okay."

After seriously considering it, Itsuki went back upstairs.

A few moments later, Itsuki appeared in front of them after changing her clothes as per Nino's instructions.

"This should be okay, right?"

"It does look better than before."

After comparing it to earlier, Yotsuba commented.

"It's much easier on the eyes than before." Nino nodded.

"In that case, I'll go out now."

After getting a positive response, Itsuki was ready to proceed with her plan.

"Itsuki, don't you think my advice to you was in vain?"

Nino's voice sounded again, causing Itsuki's movements to stop in place.

"W-what do you mean?"

Nino said without beating around the bush, "As advice for you to match your clothes, please tell me what gift you want to give to Kamikawa-san."

"Never."

Itsuki refused without hesitation.

"In exchange, I could tell you what gift Yotsuba gave."

Nino proposed that deal.

Itsuki continued to refuse, "I already know what Yotsuba's gift is."

"How do you know?"

Yotsuba was surprised.

"I asked Kamikawa-kun."

"This is too much!"

"Eh? Has Yotsuba finished giving out gifts already?"

Miku was confused, but she didn't know what was going on.

"It's been delivered, I just didn't tell Miku."

"Hmm... Can you use the gift information I gave to Ren as a substitute?"

Setting aside Yotsuba's gift issue for now, Miku suggested that she be a little concerned about Itsuki's gift.

Itsuki whispered, "Mhm... I also know what gift Miku got."

"Did you also ask Ren?"

If so, there was nothing she could do.

"N-NO..."

"Itsuki, don't slip up." Erno stopped her in a hurry.

"Slip up? What do you mean?"

Miku realized something was amiss and looked at Nino.

"Ugh..."

Nino's eyes dodged, not knowing how to explain.

At this moment, when their attention was not focused on her, Itsuki hurriedly put on her shoes and left, heading towards Ren's house.