Chapter 120: Jashin-chan, Don't Ask About Adult Business!
The unexpected incident was resolved, and the group continued their shopping.
Ryohei Tanaka, ignoring Lucoa's strong recommendations, bought a pair of box-cut swim trunks and a pair of beach shorts from a swim shop. He also bought some flip-flops from another store. Yurine, Minos, Medusa, and Lucoa each picked out a pair of beach sandals they liked, and Medusa also bought a straw hat. Jashin-chan just wandered around the store; having no feet, she had no need for shoes.
After that, they bought beach chairs, a parasol, pool floats, and a volleyball. Ryohei also picked up a small shovel and bucket for Koji-kun so she could play in the sand.
Naturally, a trip to the beach also required sunscreen.
By the time they had bought everything they needed, it was already lunchtime. They had already decided on the way here to get ramen. It was a rare weekend off, and Ryohei Tanaka naturally wanted to relax. Besides, since they were already here, they had to at least try the local specialty food. What was the point of coming all this way otherwise?
...
An hour later—
"The ramen at this place is actually really good."
Jashin-chan rubbed her satisfied stomach as she slithered out of a ramen shop called 'Genesis.'
"Yeah, the noodles were perfectly chewy, the broth was delicious, and the toppings were great too," Minos added with a smile, having just devoured a bowl of Tonkotsu ramen and a bowl of Chicken Paitan ramen.
Ryohei Tanaka took his car keys from his pocket, turned to look back at Lucoa, Jashin-chan, Minos, and Medusa—his gaze lingering on Lucoa for an extra second—and said, "Well, Yurine and I are going on a date now."
It was time for free activity. Ryohei planned on going on a date with Yurine. Just the two of them.
"Mhm," Minos replied first, looking at him.
Jashin-chan's gaze darted between Ryohei and Yurine. She asked curiously, "Are you two coming back tonight?"
"That's adult business. Don't you go asking about it," Ryohei said, looking at Jashin-chan with a smile, his answer perfectly deflective.
He honestly didn't know if they were coming back tonight or not. They probably were. They had been together for half a month, but this was their first official date. Plus, they were going to the private beach tomorrow. All things considered... Ryohei felt that tonight probably wasn't the right time.
But... what if Yurine wanted to stay out overnight with him?
Ryohei figured he would be unable to refuse.
"Wait, I'm pretty sure I'm older than you, right?" Jashin-chan was stunned by his answer. When it registered, she pointed at herself, completely exasperated. "You're not even a fraction of my age! Who are you calling 'adult'!"
"Age isn't the standard for measuring if someone is an adult or not," Yurine commented leisurely from the side.
"I agree!" Lucoa raised her hand, showing her strong approval. She didn't even know her own specific age; she'd long since lost count and couldn't even estimate it. But she felt that she was still very young, just your average, broad-minded big sister.
"Tch!" Jashin-chan clicked her tongue at Ryohei, Yurine, and Lucoa, and didn't say anything else. Those three were a clique; she wanted nothing to do with them!
'Wait a minute—'
'We're all in a summoner-and-summoned relationship, so how did I get excluded?'
Jashin-chan fell into deep thought. This was very strange! It shouldn't be like this!
Then, she quickly reached a conclusion—
Yurine and Ryohei were lusting after each other. Lucoa was lusting after Ryohei, and Ryohei was secretly lusting back at her.
But she, the great Jashin-chan, was not controlled by lust at all!
'So that's how it is!'
'As expected of me!'
Jashin-chan put her hands on her hips, a smug grin spreading across her face as she proudly puffed out her chest.
Minos, Medusa, and Lucoa, who were watching Ryohei and Yurine get into the car, all turned to look at Jashin-chan strangely, feeling that she was being completely random. But none of them paid her any mind.
"Ms. Lucoa," Medusa said, turning to her and inviting her, "Would you like to go shopping with us?"
"No thanks, you all go ahead. I'm planning to visit a friend," Lucoa replied, smiling and waving her hand.
"Oh, okay."
...
Inside the white Toyota.
Ryohei turned on the air conditioner. The end of May was already starting to feel hot, especially around noon. The car had been parked under the sun for an hour, and the interior was sweltering. However, as the cold air continued to blow, the stuffy environment gradually cooled down.
"Sorry about this, Yurine. It's been so long, and this is our first real date," Ryohei said, turning to apologize to Yurine in the passenger seat as he backed the car out of the parking space.
"It's fine. You've been really busy lately," Yurine replied with an understanding smile.
Ryohei pulled the car onto the road, following the GPS toward a movie theater. "My weekends should be a lot freer from now on," he said. The restaurant was on track, and there wasn't much else to worry about.
Ryohei held the steering wheel, his eyes on the road ahead, driving steadily as he continued, "Let's go out more often!"
"If you have time, we could take weekend trips to places a little farther away."
"Mhm." Yurine's eyes lit up at his words. She felt this was an excellent proposal; just the thought of it was wonderful.
And...
'If we go on a trip somewhere a little farther away...'
'We'd probably have to stay overnight, right?'
At that thought, Yurine's heart couldn't help but beat a little faster.
...
Watching Ryohei's car drive away, Jashin-chan also prepared to leave. She turned and waved. "Well... I'm off to play pachinko."
"Wait! Jashin-chan, come shopping with us!" Medusa quickly grabbed her arm.
"Eeh?" Jashin-chan looked back, her face clearly saying, 'You're so needy.'
"Come on, let's go. I need to buy some summer clothes, too," Minos said, crossing her ample arms.
"But I don't!" Jashin-chan refused. She wanted to play pachinko. She wanted to get rich quick.
"I'll buy you a drink tonight," Minos said, looking at Jashin-chan with narrowed eyes.
"Ugh... fine!" Jashin-chan crossed her arms, stroked her chin, and finally caved to the temptation of a free drink.
Lucoa glanced at the three demons who had decided to go shopping together, smiled, and then vanished on the spot.
Medusa, sensing her disappearance, looked over, momentarily surprised. She then linked her arms through Jashin-chan's and Minos's, one on each side.
"Let's go, let's go!"
"We can go, but stop clinging to me! It's hot!" Jashin-chan's annoyed voice echoed in front of the ramen shop.
"I agree," Minos added.
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