Only then did she notice that Yamada Kenta's eyes were completely bloodshot, all red.
"Are you okay, Kenta?"
His mother asked curiously.
Yamada Kenta just waved his hand.
"I'm fine, Mom, go on with what you're doing."
Only then did Yamada Kenta's mother smile and walk away.
"Alright, alright, you two chat."
Only then did Yamada Kenta release his hand from over the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Yamada!"
A familiar, pleasant voice came from the other end of the line.
"Oh, Hazuki, did you need something from me?"
"Are... are you free right now?"
"Want to come out and hang out?"
Yamada Kenta froze for a moment.
He glanced at the time.
It was already almost seven-thirty in the evening.
Hazuki had never invited him out at night before.
But he didn't think too much of it—lately Hazuki had been frequently inviting him out, so he'd long gotten used to it.
Sure, it was the first time at night, but plenty of classmates went out together to hang out at night too.
"Where to?"
"The Shintoshin Footbridge, how about it?"
"I heard a new movie theater opened up near there."
"I've got discount coupons—want to go together?"
Yamada Kenta thought it over.
"Okay, I'll go."
Twenty minutes later, the two of them met up at the Shintoshin Footbridge.
Hazuki had clearly dressed up with great care today.
She wore a light pink wool coat, her slightly grown-out bob hanging loose, the ends curling faintly.
The neon lights of Kabukicho not far off fell upon her, lending the usually lively and adorable Hazuki a few extra touches of allure.
"Yamada, your hair's a little messy."
She smiled and reached out to fix his disheveled hair.
He instinctively flinched back, then realized he'd overreacted.
Only then did he notice she also seemed to have gotten her nails done.
So he quickly tried to make up for it.
"Your nails look really nice."
Hazuki didn't seem to mind; she just smiled and held out her hand, saying:
"They're pretty, right? Want to feel them?"
Hazuki pointed at the simple little doodle of a rabbit on her nails.
It actually looked a bit similar to the rabbit hairpin she usually wore.
There was still some time before the movie.
The two of them strolled slowly along the surrounding shopping street.
It wasn't even December yet, but the streets were already strung up with Christmas lights, and the shop windows were filled with all sorts of Christmas-themed decorations.
A small stall selling sugar-roasted chestnuts steamed away, the sweet scent drifting through the air.
Hazuki bought a bag of sugar-roasted chestnuts, peeled one, and handed it to him.
"Open up."
"Thanks, I can do it myself..."
"Just open up."
Yamada Kenta had no choice but to open his mouth, and Hazuki popped the chestnut in.
He felt Hazuki's fingertips brush against his lips, a little cold.
"Tasty?"
"Mm."
Smiling, Hazuki peeled another and popped it into her own mouth, then continued walking forward.
Yamada Kenta followed behind her, looking absent-minded the whole time.
After the two of them wandered around for a while, they saw the movie's start time was approaching.
So they headed to the theater together.
It was a romance film.
The plot was very clichéd—the male and female leads meet, fall in love, have a misunderstanding, separate, and finally reunite on some snowy day.
The visuals were beautiful and the music was lovely, but Yamada Kenta was distracted the entire time.
He kept thinking about the Nina doll he'd seen that afternoon and that 128,888 yen.
By the time the movie let out, it was already almost eleven o'clock.
There were far fewer people on the streets, and the streetlights stretched the two of them's shadows out long.
The air had grown even colder, the white puffs of breath clearly visible under the lights.
Hazuki rubbed her hands together, hesitated for a long while, then turned to look at Yamada Kenta.
"I can go back a little late tonight."
"Is there anywhere else you'd like to go, Yamada?"
"Anywhere I'd like to go?"
"Mm!"
Hazuki walked over to Yamada Kenta's side.
She said softly:
"Wherever else you want to go, this time it's my turn to keep you company~"
Yamada Kenta looked at her.
Hazuki's eyes were exceptionally bright tonight.
Tiny droplets of water clung to her long, curled lashes.
Suddenly Nina's face surfaced in his mind.
"Yamada?"
"Ah... well... that..."
As if possessed, he pointed ahead.
"I want to go check out that manga shop over there."
Hazuki froze for a moment, then, while Yamada Kenta wasn't paying attention, she pursed her lips.
Then she immediately smiled and said:
"Alright."
Inside the manga shop it was much warmer than outside; the men and women who came in at this hour were all couples, and the atmosphere was quite a bit more ambiguous.
The moment Yamada Kenta walked in, he made a beeline straight for the R18 section, walking so fast that even Hazuki couldn't keep up.
When he'd been with Hazuki before, he'd never dared to go into the R18 section.
It was also Hazuki's first time coming to the R18 section after they arrived.
She knew that a boy like Yamada Kenta who loved ACG must come here often to buy adult manga magazines.
But normally she could tell that, to be considerate of her, Yamada Kenta always restrained himself and only discussed general-audience topics with her.
She never imagined that today he'd so proactively bring her into the R18 section.
She'd... she'd heard that they apparently also sold some adult novelty items here.
The instant she thought of this, Hazuki's face suddenly flushed bright red.
Then she glanced at Yamada Kenta not far away.
So you can do it once you work up the courage after all.
Don't keep me waiting too long, you idiot!
Meanwhile, Yamada Kenta walked straight over to the commercial magazine section.
Sure enough, he spotted the [Nina doll] set apart together with the magazines.
But there was only one of these dolls left at this shop!
Good heavens, who on earth is buying such an expensive doll?
It felt like he wouldn't even get the chance to work for it—by tomorrow morning...
No, it would probably be sold out by tonight.
This was a limited edition!
How am I supposed to live without Nina!
Just as Yamada Kenta was lamenting inside.
A man walked over and said to the clerk:
"Excuse me, could you grab that doll for me?"
Yamada Kenta's heart skipped a beat.
He watched helplessly as the clerk opened the display case, took Nina out, and placed her into an exquisite paper bag.
The man paid and walked off carrying the bag.
Yamada Kenta stood rooted to the spot, feeling as though something had slipped away through his fingers.
"Yamada?"
Hazuki gently tugged at his sleeve.
"Are you okay?"
Yamada Kenta came back to his senses.
"It's nothing."
He forced a smile.
"Let's go."
Hearing Yamada Kenta say this, Hazuki grew puzzled too.
She could tell Yamada Kenta had indeed wanted to buy something.
She'd originally meant to tease him, to see what shameful thing he wanted to buy.
But now Yamada Kenta was leaving without buying anything at all.
"Fine then."
Once the two of them came out of the manga shop.
Hazuki was about to ask Yamada Kenta where else he wanted to go.
But Yamada Kenta said straight out:
"Hazuki, I'll walk you to the station."
"It's getting late, you should head home too."
"?"
And so, with question marks all over her head, Hazuki was dragged off by Yamada Kenta to the subway station.
And watching Yamada Kenta's anxious expression.
She only then recalled that Yamada Kenta had been absent-minded the whole day he'd spent with her.
After Hazuki was seen through the gate by Yamada Kenta and they waved goodbye.
Yamada Kenta was just about to turn around and hurry home.
When he heard Hazuki's voice from behind him again.
"Yamada."
"Today you... seem to have been thinking about something else the whole time?"
"Is something on your mind?"
She looked at him, a little uneasiness in her eyes.
"You can tell me, you know."
Yamada Kenta froze for a moment, then smiled.
"Sorry for making you worry, Hazuki."
"It's just... I'm a little tired."
Hazuki lowered her head and was silent for a few seconds, then looked up and smiled as brightly and radiantly as ever.
"Then go home and rest early."
She waved at him, turned, and walked into the ticket gate.
After she'd gone a few steps, Yamada Kenta's voice came from behind her.
"Sorry, Hazuki."
"Next time I'll definitely keep you proper company!"
"If you're still willing to invite me out next time, that is!"
"It's a promise?"
"It's a promise!"
Only then did Hazuki smile, turn around, and board the train that had just pulled in.
Yamada Kenta watched Hazuki, who kept waving at him through the window, gradually recede into the distance aboard the train.
Then he turned his head and hurried home.
Back home, Yamada Kenta went straight to his own room.
He picked up the little piggy bank sitting beside his desk.
He turned the piggy bank upside down and poured out all the coins and bills.
He counted them once, then counted them again.
A little over ten thousand.
He ran back downstairs.
"Mom!"
"What is it?"
"Can you give me next month's allowance in advance?"
His mother paused for a moment.
"Right now?"
"Yeah, right now."
"What's wrong? Why the rush?"
"I want to buy something."
His mother thought it over.
Then she took some money out of her wallet and handed it to him.
At this point his father, who'd been watching TV, also spoke up.
"Is that enough?"
Yamada Kenta was taken aback; he hadn't expected his old man to ask whether the money was enough.
So he said straight out:
"Not enough!"
Then Yamada Kenta's father pulled two Fukuzawa Yukichis out of his own wallet.
Then he said:
"Is that enough now?"
Yamada Kenta looked at his father's twenty thousand yen.
He thought to himself, why is this old geezer being so generous today?
Of course it's not enough!
But Yamada Kenta didn't dare make outrageous demands, so he took the twenty thousand yen and smiled.
"Arigatou, Otou-san!"
Yamada Kenta took the money but didn't go back to his room.
Instead, while his parents were in the living room secretly chatting about who-knows-what.
He went to the entryway and picked up the landline phone.
He stood at the foot of the entryway stairs and took a deep breath.
Then he dialed a number.
The Tsushima Kagami household.
At this moment Tsushima Kagami was holding two brushes in one hand, various pigments laid out beside him.
One brush was dipped in clean water, the other in pigment.
After taking a glance at Yukino before him, Tsushima Kagami immediately raised his brush and resumed painting.
This too was because, during this period of "leisure," he'd been thinking that ever since his technical breakthrough at Yukinoshita Shizuku's place last time, it had been a long while since he'd done any gongbi painting, and it was about time to do some to cultivate his sentiments.
So lately, every evening he used Yukino as his model, taking up his old trade once more.
And Yukinoshita Shizuku was always beside him, grinding the mineral pigments for him.
It had quite the flavor of that old verse: "In green robes she holds the inkstone, urging him to compose; with red sleeves she adds incense as he reads through the night."
Just then, his phone suddenly rang.
Only then did Tsushima Kagami set down the brush in his hand.
He took out his phone and put it on speaker.
"Hello?"
Yamada Kenta's voice came from the other end.
"Kagami, it's me."
"It's so late, what's up, Kenta?"
On the phone, Yamada Kenta was silent for a few seconds.
"Um... could you lend me some money?"
Tsushima Kagami froze upon hearing this.
Yamada Kenta normally wasn't a big spender.
He even took on part-time jobs now and then.
Why was he suddenly asking to borrow money?
Then he thought about how it seemed Christmas was coming up next month.
Could it be Yamada Kenta was planning to buy some gift for Hazuki?
No telling how far the two of them had progressed.
Still, a small favor like this absolutely had to be done.
So before Yamada Kenta could even say how much he wanted to borrow.
Tsushima Kagami, without asking anything, said straight out:
"Is a hundred thousand yen enough?"
Yamada Kenta opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
He'd originally planned to scrape it together by asking friends here and there—he never imagined Tsushima Kagami would open with a hundred thousand right off the bat.
He quickly did the math in his head: a hundred thousand yen, plus his own savings, next month's allowance, and the old man's twenty thousand—that was already more than enough.
Then he'd only need to work four hours a day, and accounting for rest, in about a month and a half he could pay Tsushima Kagami back.
He grew faintly excited.
"That's enough!"
"I don't need that much."
Tsushima Kagami laughed too.
"Let's round it to a nice even number."
"When do you need it?"
As Tsushima Kagami spoke, he had Yukinoshita Shizuku open up her little treasury.
Normally the money was all kept with Yukinoshita Shizuku; he himself just carried a little pocket change.
When they went out to play, it was also Yukinoshita Shizuku who was in charge of carrying the money.
Only then did Yukinoshita Shizuku take out from her own room a wallet where the household cash was usually kept.
She took ten Fukuzawa Yukichis from inside, then found an envelope and wrapped them up.
Then she handed it to Tsushima Kagami.
On the phone, Yamada Kenta hesitated for a long while before saying:
"Could it be right now? I'll come over to your place this instant."
Tsushima Kagami was surprised that Yamada Kenta was in such a rush.
He'd assumed it would be tomorrow.
But the money was already prepared, so it didn't matter if he came in a bit.
So after Yamada Kenta arrived at Tsushima Kagami's house.
Tsushima Kagami handed the sealed hundred thousand yen to Yamada Kenta at the courtyard gate.
And he patted his shoulder and said with a smile:
"Kenta, give it your all!"
Yamada Kenta happily took the envelope and was about to thank Tsushima Kagami, but this remark left him stunned.
Give it my all at what?
Though Yamada Kenta didn't understand, he still smiled and said to Tsushima Kagami:
"Thank you, Kagami."
"I will!"
Having said that, Yamada Kenta even pumped his fist.
Then he immediately said goodbye and hurried off in a rush.
Tsushima Kagami also watched his friend's retreating figure with a smile.
So this is what it feels like to ship a couple?
Once Yamada Kenta had completely vanished from sight, Tsushima Kagami turned and went back to his room.
At this moment Yamada Kenta, carrying his entire fortune, ran toward that manga shop from the afternoon.
When he reached the entrance, he froze.
The roller shutter had already been pulled down.
It seemed the shop had closed.
He stood at the door, panting heavily, staring at that tightly shut door for a long time.
He looked at his watch.
It was already twelve o'clock; the bookstores nearby had basically all closed.
The last train was gone too.
He had no choice but to go home for now.
That night, Yamada Kenta couldn't sleep.
He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind filled entirely with Nina's image.
"You won't abandon me, will you?"
He rolled over.
"You'll stay with me forever, won't you?"
He rolled over again.
He pulled the blanket over his head.
He couldn't sleep.
Early the next morning, the moment day broke, Yamada Kenta crawled out of bed, unable to wait any longer.
He gave himself a quick wash, didn't even eat breakfast, grabbed his coat, and ran out the door.
When he reached the entrance of the manga shop, the roller shutter had just been pulled halfway up.
The clerk was inside cleaning.
He completely ignored the clerk and ran straight to yesterday's spot.
He saw that of the seven or eight dolls that had been lined up neatly there yesterday, only the last one remained!
Inside the acrylic display case, Nina still sat there quietly.
Her emerald eyes looked at him, a faint smile at the corners of her lips.
As if to say:
"You've finally come."
"I've been waiting for you all along."
"Only I have been waiting for you~"
Tears nearly spilled from Yamada Kenta's eyes.
This is the one!
He scooped her up along with the acrylic display case and came to the register.
He fumbled out his wallet and dumped all his money onto the counter.
Coins rolled all over the table with a clattering, jingling sound.
The clerk counted it up and nodded.
Then, after packing it into a specially made packaging box.
He bagged it up again in one of the shop's bags.
Only then did he hand it to Yamada Kenta with a smile.
Yamada Kenta took the paper bag, both hands trembling.
He opened the bag and peeked inside.
Nina was lying quietly within!
Suddenly he felt that his life was complete.
He had been born for Nina!
"I'll take good care of you!"
Yamada Kenta walked out of the manga shop hugging the paper bag, the early morning sunlight shining warmly on his face.
He took a deep breath.
Then he lifted the bag and said with a smile:
"The weather's so nice—how about we go back and have some morning tea together first."
"My name is Yamada Kenta."
"Nice to meet you, Nina~"
____
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