"Ren, was that Sawamura-san just now?"
Mahiru sat obediently in the passenger seat, glancing over at Ren Katsuragi as he focused on driving.
Right after school today, Ren had called to ask whether she was participating in club activities—and if she was, whether she could take a leave of absence.
Mahiru texted the club president, and after learning there was nothing particularly important today, she promptly requested leave.
When Mahiru jogged to the spot where Ren had parked this morning, she happened to see Ren being pestered by Eriri Spencer Sawamura.
"Mn. Looks like yesterday afternoon caused a chain reaction. She thought I was the one messing around, so she came to confront me."
It wasn't anything shameful, so Ren didn't hide it and spoke openly.
In passing, he asked, "How was school today, Angel?"
Mahiru was approachable, gentle with others, and excellent in her studies, earning her the nickname "Angel" from the students.
Together with Yukino Yukinoshita, who was nicknamed the "Ice Queen," they were considered the prettiest girls at Sobu High.
In fact, there were many beautiful girls at Sobu High. Yumiko Miura, the Nakano quintuplets, and others would be considered top-tier beauties at any other school. But here, they were up against two standouts: Mahiru Shiina and Yukino Yukinoshita.
With their cute appearances and super-strong academic abilities, the two girls successfully squeezed out the other beautiful girls who had the looks but not the grades.
Ren only learned that Mahiru had such a nickname today, after overhearing classmates discussing the ranking of beautiful girls in the school.
"Please... please don't call me Angel, Ren."
Unlike last night when she asked Ren not to call her "fiancée-san," Mahiru's eyes were full of seriousness at this moment.
"No problem, my cute fiancée."
Taking his right hand off the steering wheel, Ren petted Mahiru's head without looking.
"Ren, where are we going?"
Noticing that the road they were driving on wasn't the way home, Mahiru asked in confusion.
"Buying clothes."
Inside a clothing store.
Next up was Mahiru's fashion show.
Wearing a white turtleneck under a beige trench coat, with brown leather boots, Mahiru instantly shifted from cute to cool and mature.
"Mahiru, try this on."
Ren took a pair of rimless silver glasses from the accessory rack nearby and handed them to Mahiru, signaling her to put them on.
As soon as Mahiru did, an air of intellectual beauty washed over her.
A white shirt paired with a light beige vest, a red-and-white striped ribbon tied at the collar, and a matching light-colored pleated skirt. It was the look of a JK (high school girl) from another school, different from the Sobu High uniform.
"Mahiru, it looks great!"
Ren praised Mahiru without holding back.
Noticing the customers around them intentionally or unintentionally casting their gazes in her direction, Mahiru lowered her head, her earlobes dyed with a hint of crimson.
The fashion show didn't stop. Under Ren's direction, Mahiru changed into many styles she had never tried before.
Just as Mahiru changed into a black pleated skirt paired with a white hoodie, a light black jacket over it, and a light blue scarf...
The female shop assistant standing next to Ren lit up and couldn't help whispering, "Sir, your girlfriend is so cute~"
"Mahiru, someone just said you're really cute~"
Ren smiled and relayed the shop assistant's whisper to Mahiru.
The shop assistant froze for a moment, then smiled. "Yes, this young lady is really so cute."
That made Mahiru blush furiously, and she was about to duck into the fitting room to change back into her Sobu High uniform.
"No need to change, my cute Mahiru. Just wear this one."
Stopping Mahiru who wanted to flee, Ren pointed to the pile of clothes she had just tried on and spoke to the sensible shop assistant: "Wrap them all up for me, please. Thank you."
"Certainly, sir!"
The shop assistant was overjoyed. After bowing to the two, she quickly went to organize the pile of clothes.
It was a case of "snooze you lose"; she could clearly feel the covetous gazes of her colleagues around her.
She had caught this windfall of wealth!
After paying the bill and filling in the home address for delivery, Ren pulled Mahiru along to take a good stroll around the mall. After all, there were still many things to buy.
"Takoyaki! Want to eat!"
"Crepes? Let's get one."
"Candied strawberries, too."
The two ate while they shopped, never tiring of it.
"Ren, I can't eat anymore."
Looking at Ren's empty hands, then at her own hands occupied by food, Mahiru was afraid Ren would disdain it, so she handed the untouched candied strawberry skewer to Ren.
"Mahiru, say 'ah'~"
Taking the skewer from her, Ren held the largest strawberry at the top to Mahiru's lips.
The large strawberry, wrapped in a thin, crispy layer of golden sugar, was bitten down until two-thirds of it was gone. Mahiru's small mouth really couldn't fit the rest, so she could only give up.
Just as Mahiru was about to say that if it didn't work, he could just throw it away, she saw Ren eat the remaining bit of strawberry without a hint of disdain.
Seeing Mahiru staring at him blankly, Ren was puzzled. "What's wrong? Do you still want to eat?"
As he spoke, he held the skewer to Mahiru's lips again.
"No, I wanted to ask if Ren wants to eat the crepe?"
Shaking her head to indicate she was fine, Mahiru lifted the untouched crepe in her hand to Ren's lips. Because she wasn't tall enough, she even stood on her tiptoes.
Leaning down, Ren took a small bite from the edge. "Thanks for the treat."
Mahiru looked at the crepe with a small missing piece in her hand and took a bite.
The two continued walking forward, visiting many types of shops and buying many things: toiletries, wall stickers, pajamas, slippers, and so on.
It is worth mentioning that when they stood in front of a lingerie store, Mahiru blushed and pushed Ren to the rest bench outside the store, making him sit there properly and forbidding him from entering.
The final stop: The Plushie Shop!
Looking at Ren holding a large blue-and-white dolphin in one hand, dragging a slightly smaller Kuromi in the other, and with a teddy bear hooked under his arm...
Mahiru simply thought Ren was having a fit of childishness and watched it all with a gentle gaze.
On this trip, Ren bought a lot of plushies.
Full from eating, done with buying, and finished with strolling, Mahiru took Ren's large hand and left the mall.
--
At the villa.
The purchased items arrived home one after another. Mahiru was truly busy today.
Busy sticking decorative wall decals in her room, busy putting the toiletries she bought into her exclusive spot, busy organizing clothes and putting them into the wardrobe.
Knock, knock—
"Ren, the door isn't locked."
The knock on the door no longer frightened Mahiru. She said it without looking up as she organized the clothes laid out on the bed.
Hearing Mahiru's response, Ren entered Mahiru's boudoir holding a large pile of plushies.
"Ren, this is...?"
"These were bought for you in the first place."
Placing the large plushies on the floor and tossing the smaller ones onto Mahiru's bed, Ren ruffled Mahiru's hair. "Tidy up the room properly. I'm going out."
Mahiru stretched to loosen her stiff body and looked around her room. It was now neatly arranged and filled with the things she had bought today.
With the lights on, everything looked bright and tidy.
The room felt full.
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