Chapter 89: Seventh Chapter and Seventh-seventh Chapter – A Date with Oneself – Four Thousand Three Hundred Characters
Yui Yuigahama temporarily left the Service Club, but Yukinoshita Yukino wasn’t planning to sever ties with her.
“Yui’s birthday is on June 18th; did you know that?”
“How would I?”
Hachiman Hikigaya expressed her excessive confidence in him.
“If nothing unexpected happens, June 18th will be Yui’s birthday. That day is a Sunday. I plan to go celebrate with her,” said Yukinoshita Yukino.
“Oh, good luck then.”
Hachiman looked at his watch. It was almost time for the club activities to end. It was time to pack up and leave.
“Mm, let’s set the gathering time for four o’clock in the afternoon at Yui’s house. I’ll send you the details later,” Yukinoshita Yukino didn’t try to stop his departure.
“Huh… Do I have to come too?” He showed unwillingness, going would be awkward.
“Are you not planning to reconcile with Yui-chan?” she asked.
“…Yui and I are not friends, nor have we ever quarreled. What reconciliation?” he reasoned.
“Then you’re still okay with saying such things?” The girl sighed heavily in exasperation. “In fact, when Sensei Otsuka forced you into the Service Club, it was to make me correct your rotten behavior.”
“What are you going to do?” he felt a subtle malice from her words, becoming guarded.
“Reflecting now, perhaps Sensei Otsuka’s violent methods were effective,” Yukinoshita Yukino smirked.
“I understand, I’ll go… Please don’t resort to violence!” Hachiman hurriedly raised his hands in surrender.
He couldn’t bear Sensei Otsuka’s fist, let alone hers with her strength able to punch through concrete walls.
“Right, don’t forget to buy a gift,” a friendly reminder followed him as he left the Service Club.
“I got it,” he replied without much enthusiasm.
I only have experience gifting girls and failing miserably, so how could I pick gifts for her…
Hoping that Komachi would give me useful suggestions.
On his way out of campus, pushing his bike, he put his hope in his sister.
…
June 17th, Saturday, one day before Yui Yuigahama’s birthday.
“Thanks for doing this, Parasitic Bug.”
Under the enthusiastic summer sun, a youthful girl with a wide-brimmed hat.
Yukinoshita Yukino had changed into a more casual outfit today. She wore a light blue sleeveless blouse with a high collar, paired with a white long skirt. Her feet were adorned with beige sandals, revealing her smooth toes.
Her waist-length black hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and her red hair tie formed a butterfly knot, adding a vibrant streak.
“Why would you think I can’t follow you anywhere? Parasitic Bug commented.”
No, I mean, I wanted to ask if you would accompany me in picking a gift for Yui-chan, explained Yukinoshita Yukino kindly.
“I understand, since you don’t have many friends or experiences in giving gifts. It’s normal and understandable,” Parasitic Bug responded carelessly, eliciting a vein pulse on her forehead.
“And you Parasitic Bug, have you ever given gifts to your female friends?” she retorted.
You guess.
Forget about it, don’t argue with me, I mustn’t choose the gift for Yui in a bad mood.
Yukinoshita Yukino chose a large American-style shopping mall near Tokyo Bay, also known as the Chiba high school date location.
But the one accompanying her was someone who was mentally an alien from beyond the borders, rounding to say—she was dating herself.
As the first American-style shopping mall in Japan, it featured a car theater and other facilities like an open field and cultural center, meeting customers’ needs for sightseeing, consumption, leisure, and entertainment.
Adjacent to it was a racetrack visible from the pedestrian bridge leading from Minamifunabashi Station to the mall’s second floor.
The shopping center was bustling on weekends. Multicolored buildings housed young people dressed in summery attire, walking in groups, mostly groups of girls or mixed couples, happily under the summer sun.
Yukinoshita Yukino carried her rattan bag through the crowds into the mall. Refreshing cold air greeted her.
Elegant shops lined up beautifully, their goods sparkling in the sunlight streaming in from the glass dome, dazzling Lin Qi.
Fortunately, as a spirit, he wouldn’t need to accompany her through every shop.
“What are you planning to buy?” Lin Qi asked.
“Don’t know, hence the visit,” she examined the facility map, looking slightly worried.
The vast mall had countless shops, and aimlessly wandering would take all day.
“Need to plan the route ahead…”
She murmured to herself, flipping through the directory, trying to decide where to start.
Start from what Yui might like; this should narrow down the areas, suggested Lin Qi.
You don’t even know what kinds of things Yui might like? He questioned later.
…
Yukinoshita ignored his comment and grabbed a guide manual, picking a direction and beginning to browse as if not hearing Lin Qi’s questions.
Of course not, because they’re directly in her mind, no chance of misunderstanding.
So you really have no clue? he found it hard to believe.
Be quiet, I’m thinking.
She browsed through the booklet, her focus resting on the pet area detailed on the map, which had events such as the Tokyo Cat and Dog Exhibition coming up soon.
After studying the paths to reach the pet section and noting several women’s accessories areas along the way, she closed the guidebook and stepped off.
Arriving at the female accessories area, she saw typical contemporary women’s clothing, accessories, and cosmetics.
Entering a clothes shop, she began selecting clothes for Yui using her taste.
Though rare visits to such malls, she had a keen sense of fashion thanks to her varied reading materials.
Sooner, she found several pieces suitable for Yui.
How about this shirt with a cute dog head print? She asked silently.
Pretty.
And another piece in line with Yui’s lively personality?
Pretty.
Infected with male instincts, he seemed to be a parrot regurgitating a single word.
Is ‘pretty’ all you know?
Perfect for you.
…
Seems we cannot rely on Parasitic Bug. Yukinoshita went by her own standards.
“The fabric isn’t quite right…” She tested the cloth, found some flaws, and hung it back after considering it unsatisfactory. Before the sales assistant approached, she left the store.
More important than design, the fabric quality and comfort mattered more in her criteria.
Ignoring puzzled glances, she kept searching, growing tired while seeing nothing satisfactory for Lin Qi.
How long do you plan to continue this?
How about offering constructive advice instead of complaining?
Lin Qi retreated, deciding silence was best.
With improved spirits, she cheerfully resumed her planned path to the next shop.
A jewelry store had various earrings and necklaces; she bypassed them, choosing hairpins. Seeing none suitable for Yui with her hair ties, she left this empty-handed.
Next, cosmetics, but since she was naturally beautiful and rarely used makeup, she passed.
Wandering, she entered a doll store, intrigued by a panda plushie.
You like this ugly panda? Lin Qi commented.
She owned similar pandas, but disliked the beady eyes, similar to how Hachiman’s face would be ruined with rotten fish eyes.
Why ruin such a cute image!
不如考虑《功夫熊猫》？
As she evaluated the plushie, Lin Qi sensed a murderous aura within the Realm of Birth akin to Siberian winds turning into ice sculptures.
Though not expecting high aesthetics, he was floored by hers. Considering Parasitic Bug a primitive, he felt speechless until her aesthetic improved to modern standards, hence…
Silence.
Cutting off her fast-paced dialogue, Lin Qi sighed, recognizing women’s shopping power.
Better avoid this topic.
Unaware of being excluded, she hummed, clutching the plush and heading for checkout.
Her eyes fell on a dog plush, considering giving it to Yui. Realizing rudeness moments ago, questioning remained unvoiced.
Lin Qi remained silent.
Did I overreact?
People’s tastes vary, and Yui might not share his aversion. His momentary irritation got the better of him.
Reluctantly, she picked up the dog and paid.
Carry it until finding a perfect gift or using it.
Rekindling her search, Yukinoshita’s enthusiasm waned.
Nearby, she heard dog barks and cat mews.
Raising her head in a daze, she realized reaching her journey’s end.
汪！
A bark nearby startled Yukinoshita. She took three steps back before noticing a caged Akita.
Their small, adorable limbs, chubby bodies, and angelic smiles made Shiba Inus popular in Japan.
Other breeds also exhibited, each unique.
The playful puppy stared at her, then barked again, asking for affection.
She shook her shoulders and briskly walked toward the cat exhibition.
Oh? So she’s afraid of dogs to such a degree?
Lin Qi, despite not interacting, continued observing.
This is troubling, significant weaknesses like this can easily be exploited.
Reflection led to a sudden idea, sparking a mad scientist-like laugh.
Now it’s time for desensitization training.
After class, become a jujutsu sorcerer
