The crowd around them kept growing.
To avoid the same situation from earlier, Ren Asakura reached out and held Megumi Kato's hand.
Megumi didn't resist. Judging from her expression, she didn't seem to find anything strange about it.
Ren felt the same. Holding her hand was simply a way to avoid any accidents in the crowded space.
Right now, Ren wasn't particularly interested in romance.
Because of lifespan.
The concept of lifespan—a truly terrifying thing.
Ren didn't want to think about it, but the difference in lifespans would inevitably become apparent with time.
Human life—and spirit—was simply too short.
Even if the body became eternal, the soul and mind would eventually decay alongside it.
Ren didn't want such things to happen in this otherwise ordinary, non-supernatural world.
Even more so, he didn't want his friends' souls to be tainted by such ideas.
After a loop around the mall,
Ren noticed a mug with a cute puppy design.
Thinking about Yui Yuigahama's pet, he decided this would be the perfect gift and bought it.
Megumi, with her keen sense of observation, picked out a bracelet—she'd noticed Yui liked wearing them.
Hachiman Hikigaya and Yukino Yukinoshita had also made their choices.
Hachiman remembered the accident he had—it was caused by Yui's dog breaking free from its collar and running into the street during a red light. He'd gotten into a car crash trying to save it.
It all started with a faulty collar. So, he decided to get a better one.
Yukino picked out a light pink apron.
---
After choosing their gifts, Ren called Hachiman.
The call connected after just two rings.
"Hey, Hachiman, you guys done picking gifts?"
"Just finished. What about you two?" Hachiman replied.
Ren looked at the shopping bag in his hand.
"We're done too. Where are you now? We'll come to you."
Hachiman looked around and gave their current floor.
"Got it."
Ren hung up, still holding Megumi's hand, and looked ahead.
"Let's go."
Megumi nodded.
---
Elsewhere, Yukino hadn't expected to run into her sister.
Haruno Yukinoshita—a big sister who was amazing in every way.
Yukino had always looked up to her, even copying her blindly without knowing what she really wanted.
Haruno greeted them with bright enthusiasm.
Her overwhelming energy even made Hachiman visibly uncomfortable.
In the end, it was Yukino who stepped in and brought the conversation to a close.
Someone like Hachiman, a socially anxious introvert, could barely handle being greeted so warmly by a girl.
Watching Haruno walk away, Hachiman let out a small sigh.
"Your sister really is impressive. Out of everyone I've met, I think only Ren Asakura can match her. But they're different—Ren's a total problem child who doesn't even bother to hide it. Your sister, on the other hand, is perfect. So perfect it almost doesn't feel real."
Yukino replied calmly.
"Perfect, huh? Everyone says that when they meet her. But you're right… Maybe only Ren can compare with her in some ways."
In chasing after a perfect image, she had forgotten herself.
Hachiman glanced at Yukino.
"Well, even so, you're not bad either, y'know? Was that a roundabout way of praising yourself just now?"
Yukino's face remained expressionless.
She seemed lost in thought—until suddenly, the sound of a dog barking echoed from the distance.
---
When Ren Asakura and Megumi Kato found Yukino Yukinoshita and Hachiman Hikigaya,
Yui Yuigahama was also there.
For some reason, the atmosphere felt a little awkward.
Yui looked at the two couples and gave a slightly embarrassed smile.
"How could I not realize it? Why didn't I notice it before? I'm usually so good at reading people—how did I miss this?"
Clearly, Yui had misunderstood something.
But birthday gifts are supposed to be a surprise.
Now wasn't the time to clarify anything.
Which made things… well, even more awkward.
What was needed now was someone to break the tension.
Ren Asakura jumped right in, speaking with exaggerated surprise.
"Oh, my god, my holy Mother Mary! What a miracle to run into my long-lost friend here of all places! Dango, to meet you again here—it's truly fate!"
Hachiman stared, thinking: What the hell is with this deadly fake foreign accent?
Yui chuckled softly, and the awkwardness dissolved in an instant.
"Long time no see, Ren! You're still as funny as ever."
Ren placed his hand on his chest with a solemn expression.
"Oh, my heavens! It must be that God has heard my prayers, for me to encounter you again like this. Might I be so honored as to offer you my assistance?"
Yui shook her head. Though the mood had lightened, she still seemed intent on leaving.
Ren kept going.
"Oh, what's with that heartbroken look? Did some blind bastard bully you? My Jehovah! Just say the word and I swear I'll kick him square in the ass!"
"N-No, nothing like that!"
Yui waved her hands quickly, though a trace of sadness flickered in her eyes.
"In that case, may I have the honor of inviting you to the clubroom this Monday? It's a humble little place, but it's a safe haven in a storm. The liveliness of the past is gone, and I feel such sorrow for it."
Ren smoothly changed tones again.
Hachiman looked stunned. The way Ren could shift tones so freely—and with that level of shamelessness—he couldn't help but feel inferior.
Yukino also stood from her seat and said,
"There's something I want to say about what's happened between us. Yui, can you come to the clubroom on Monday?"
Yui seemed like she wanted to refuse, but after seeing the serious look in both Yukino and Ren's eyes, she nodded slightly, then hugged her dog and left with a sad expression.
After she was gone,
Ren stroked his chin with a knowing look.
"I feel like… there's a major misunderstanding going on here."
Then he turned to Hachiman.
"Don't mess this up on Monday. You know, cracks in friendships always start with misunderstandings. Those super angsty bad-ending love stories always begin with a tiny miscommunication… and next thing you know, it's all-out emotional warfare."
Hachiman rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"That kind of thing doesn't happen in real life."
Ren replied,
"No, no, no. They say art is higher than life—but it still comes from life. Even a small misunderstanding can ruin a great friendship. Anyway, Hachiman, do your best on Monday."
°°°
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