After finalizing details like helmet selection and modification parts, Shizuka couldn't wait to take a few laps around the test ride area.
When it came time to pay, Shizuka also purchased vehicle inspection and procedure agency services at the store.
This mainly included applying for vehicle license plates and registration with the transportation branch, paying taxes based on displacement and vehicle weight, purchasing minimum statutory liability insurance, and getting garage certification and anti-theft registration.
These services are valid for 3 years for a new vehicle, and the agency fee cost over 80,000 yen.
(80,000 Japanese yen is about 725 dollars in 2018.)
It was unclear whether it was a coincidence, but the total cost of the vehicle and agency fee was just enough, when combined with the advance manuscript fee Tsuna had already received and some pocket money he had saved.
However, when Tsuna tried to pay himself, Shizuka stopped him.
"Ms. Miyamura, please rest assured. These procedures will be completed by the day after tomorrow at the latest, and the motorcycle will also be delivered to the address you provided at the same time."
The store clerk showed a sincere smile and assured her as Shizuka successfully completed the payment.
Shizuka nodded, took Tsuna by the hand, and drove off under the 'enthusiastic' farewell of the store clerk.
"Tsuna, when are you coming back?"
"(Tilting head in confusion.jpg)"
On the way, Tsuna glanced at the message Shouko had sent, while half-heartedly responding to Shizuka's words in the front. His fingers quickly typed on the keyboard.
"On the highway now, about ten minutes."
"Then what about dinner for you and Auntie? Should Grandma and I prepare a bit more?"
"..."
Tsuna glanced at the time displayed on his phone and felt a hint of speechlessness.
"Shouko, it's just past five now. Even if Shizuka and I get home after six, there's still time to prepare dinner."
After a while, he didn't see any new messages from Shouko; only 'Read' was displayed. Just when he thought the chat was over, his phone suddenly vibrated.
"Then what kind of motorcycle did you choose? Is it good-looking?"
Tsuna didn't hesitate and decisively sent the few photos he took from different angles.
"Image"
"Image"
"Image"
Naturally, he received praise from Shouko, along with her eagerness to sit on the back seat and experience it.
Shizuka, who was driving in front, saw him constantly staring at his phone through the rearview mirror. She no longer tried to persuade him, instead silently turning up the volume of the J-POP love song.
---
The cherry blossom season-limited drinks, which the school convenience store freezer had just refilled, were picked out by several girls on 'Monday,' who took the last two bottles. By 'Wednesday,' early summer lemon soda was already on the shelves.
"Dong... dong... dong...!"
"Shouko-chan, let's go home." Ajitani packed up her paintbrushes and other tools, then turned to look at Shouko, who was still drawing illustrations beside her.
For a moment, she felt a little envious. After all, she was still practicing drawing circles, while her good friend had already earned her first manuscript fee with her own ability.
Although Shouko-chan's childhood friend, Miyamura-kun, was a big part of the reason...
"Let's go, Ajitani-chan." Shouko saved the uncolored illustration, put away her tablet, and said with a light smile.
The two got up, said hello to the seniors who were still tidying up in the club, and left the Art Club.
"Snap out of it, they've already left. Why are you still looking?"
"You don't understand. Ajitani is really cute..." A boy in the corner of the Art Club, with a dazed look, lightly slapped away the hand waving in front of him.
"Haha..." The boy whose hand was slapped away wasn't annoyed. He just nodded perfunctorily.
It must be said that he agreed with the other person's words. In this club recruitment, only a few juniors left an impression.
And among them, two left a deep impression: Ajitani and Shouko. One was because of her sweet and lively appearance, and she quickly 'got along well' with everyone in the club.
The other's appearance wasn't inferior, but compared to Ajitani, Shouko gave off a more prominent feeling of gentleness.
"Dōto among the new juniors this time, who do you think left a deeper impression on you?"
"..."
Hearing this, the boy paused his actions. The smiles that Shouko and Ajitani showed while chatting with each other flashed unconsciously in his mind. Those were expressions they had never shown when talking to him.
"Mind your own business! I just see them as juniors!"
"Right, right..." The boy next to him ignored his stubborn words. "If your ears weren't so red, I might believe you."
"Are you looking for a fight!?"
Seeing this, the boy didn't say anything more, teasing a few words before running out of the Art Club, afraid of getting hit.
Another boy chased after him, and the people in the Art Club were long accustomed to such scenes.
Meanwhile, Shouko and her friend met up with Takagi and her friend at Teaching Building No. 1 and walked toward the school gate together.
"Shouko-chan, do you think Miyamura will come to pick you up today?" Ajitani asked casually.
"I don't know." Shouko slowly shook her head. "Probably not. Tsuna is very busy."
"What is Miyamura busy with?" Takagi, who was beside her, asked curiously. The first thing she thought of was the light novel they were about to publish.
"..." This question really stumped Shouko. She was just making up an excuse...
"Is he writing the second volume of the light novel that's about to be published?" At this moment, Nishikata, who was lagging behind the three, asked.
"Ah... yes, yes." Shouko nodded vigorously, silently giving Nishikata a thumbs-up in her heart. "The publisher is pressing hard, so Tsuna is busy with the light novel now."
"Shouko-chan, what is Miyamura's light novel called?" Ajitani couldn't resist her curiosity.
After thinking it over, Shouko decided not to hide it from them anymore: "We still don't know the name of the flower we saw that day."
"So long..." x3
Nishikata's gaze retracted from the students playing in front, "What genre is it?"
"He... he... healing type..." Shouko stammered nervously...
She remembered that when she heard Tsuna say it, he had referred to it as the "healing type" back then.
Just looking at the first half, she really thought it was a healing type at first, until she saw the later parts... it was truly depressing...
The three nodded upon hearing this and decided in their hearts that, as soon as the book hit the shelves, they would all buy a copy to support Miyamura, although they all felt that the book wouldn't become a huge hit or sell well...
Once this topic passed, the three girls moved on to other topics. This time, Nishikata chose to listen silently and no longer interrupted.
After all, they were talking about clothes, and he didn't want to be seen as a pervert by the three of them...
By the time the four of them walked out of the school, they all noticed a black motorcycle parked not far from the school gate. The 'conspicuous one' on the motorcycle was someone they were all familiar with...