Ai took the note, opened it, and softly read the numbers, repeating them again and again to memorize them.
She read for a while, then tried to recite from memory without looking, but after a few digits, she forgot the rest.
"This is so troublesome… My memory really isn't good enough…" Ai muttered. She tried for several minutes, but each time she recited, she got one or two numbers wrong. Finally, she looked at Hiko.
"That's why I wrote it down for you, didn't I? As long as you don't lose the note, you can just memorize it properly when you get back," Hiko replied after hearing her complaint.
"But what if we get separated, and I get flustered and lose the note…? Then today will have to end early," Ai said.
She emphasized twice that she couldn't remember and was afraid of losing the note, unable to contact him.
'Such an obvious hint, surely he'll get it?' Ai looked at Hiko with hopeful eyes.
But Hiko only knew that Ai had a poor memory, and he didn't think there was any hidden meaning in her words. He casually answered, "Can't you just put the note in your wallet?"
'Ugh… Why are you so dense all of a sudden!?' Seeing that he didn't understand, Ai could only get angry inside.
Yes, she had a bad memory and could be scatterbrained, but she wouldn't lose a simple note.
She had said those self-deprecating things on purpose, hoping he would take her hand again.
But Hiko failed to catch her hint. After all, he had just been rejected when he tried to hold her hand earlier. How could he have known that, after writing down his number, she would suddenly change her mind, just because of her poor memory?
Hiko, having no clue, felt confused by her sudden anger and could only ask, "Why are you suddenly angry?"
"Baka!" Ai snapped, refusing to explain further.
Hiko was scolded without understanding why. He found it strange, but standing there too long would waste time. After leaving the clothing store, he noticed the sky was darker than before.
"It seems the forecast was accurate," Hiko muttered. Feeling it really would rain, he urged Ai, "Let's hurry to the next store. If it starts raining later, we won't be able to shop."
"Okay~ Baka~" Ai shouted the word "idiot" directly at him.
Hiko froze for a moment. He hadn't done anything foolish, yet Ai kept calling him that. Still, hearing her tone carried no real malice, he chose to pretend he hadn't heard.
He kept walking forward, the crowd around them constantly shifting, and he had to look back again and again to make sure Ai didn't get separated.
"I'll keep following you, so stop looking back so often."
Ai had to speak up since he turned back every few seconds.
Hearing her, Hiko stopped and waited for her to catch up. Then he took her small hand again. "Since you don't like me turning around all the time, let's just do it this way."
Ai stiffened at first when her hand was suddenly grabbed, but soon she relaxed, intertwining her fingers with his.
Hiko noticed the gesture and was a little surprised that Ai actively linked fingers with him. Still, he didn't think too much about it and simply led her into another women's clothing store along the street.
"Welcome," a woman greeted as they entered.
This time, however, no shop assistant came over to guide them.
Hiko let out a quiet sigh of relief. The last assistant had been so enthusiastic that he would have left immediately if not for Ai being with him.
"It seems you weren't satisfied with other people's recommendations, so why don't you pick for yourself this time?" Hiko released Ai's hand after they stepped inside.
Ai nodded. She first checked the price tags, then looked through the cheaper items.
In the end, she chose a black long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of black casual pants.
"This outfit isn't any different from what you're already wearing," Hiko complained when he saw her selection.
"What does it matter to you what I choose?" Ai ignored him and headed straight for the fitting room with the clothes.
"It's a rare shopping trip. At least try a dress or skirt, otherwise it'll be boring if you only pick T-shirts and pants," Hiko said, trying to persuade her. "Or are you planning to buy this quickly and end the shopping right away?"
"Yes, yes, everything you say is right," Ai replied dismissively.
She didn't want to admit that it was because she was short on cash. If she tried on a dress she really liked but couldn't afford, she would only feel worse.
Especially since dresses were usually more expensive.
Seeing her reaction, Hiko recalled how the previous shop assistant had chosen clothes for Ai to try on, and how Ai herself had glanced at the price tags before picking.
Prices… it was a very real issue.
If he offered to pay, it might complicate things. After all, they were still just ordinary friends.
Hiko guessed as much. So while Ai was in the fitting room changing, he searched the racks until he found a dress that wasn't too expensive but still looked nice. He picked it out.
When Ai came out, he showed her the dress. "You should try this one. I think you'd look really good in it."
He made sure the price tag was clearly visible.
Ai saw the tag: 4,999 yen. She hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to try it on.
But before changing, she asked Hiko, "How do I look in this outfit?"
"Hmm… just ordinary," Hiko said honestly, choosing his words carefully. "This combination is like an invisibility cloak, it hides your beauty."
"It's like a beauty seal," he added.
"A beauty seal, huh…" Ai's expression soured a little at that. Most of her usual outfits were like this, and it sounded as though Hiko was saying her fashion sense was bad.
"Then I'll try on the dress you picked," Ai said, deciding to see how he would evaluate that one instead.
Hiko handed her the dress along with the hanger.
After taking it, Ai stepped back into the fitting room and drew the curtain closed.
Soon, the faint rustle of clothes being changed could be heard inside.
Hiko felt a little awkward hearing it, so he quietly stepped a few paces away.
But just as he moved to a comfortable distance-
"Ta-da!" Ai suddenly yanked open the curtain, ready to ask for his opinion, only to see him a few steps off.
"What are you doing?" she asked curiously, not understanding why he had moved away.
"Nothing, I just felt a little stuffy and wanted some fresh air," Hiko said, covering up his awkwardness.
Ai didn't press further.
Standing straight with her hands behind her back, she asked directly, "So, how is it?"
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