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When Sandai went to school, he got showered with gazes to an annoying degree; it was because the relationship they had been hiding had instantly become well-known because of Shino’s action.
Though, Sandai had predicted it to be like this, so he just ignored it without any panicking or getting bewildered.
On the other hand, speaking of Shino, on top of understanding that the people around were looking at her, she got a strong attitude of, ‘So what of it?’
But that seemed to bear fruit, and none came up to ask for more details. It had been so brazen that it made it hard to approach.
With such school life, his after school had even been added with the routine of going home once and picking up Shino later on.
Then time flew by in the blink of an eye, and Sunday arrived.
As planned, Sandai had set aside this day to think about a Christmas present for Shino. For the time being, he booted up his PC and began to look it up as he tapped away on the keyboard.
10 minutes… 20 minutes.
After about that much surfing through the internet, he found several websites listing presents a girlfriend would be happy about. However, Sandai tilted his head as the presents and the reasons for them were greatly in contrast for each site.
In short, it would be like the following:
>Small items that can be carried close are the best. Everytime she looks at it, she’ll get reminded of your face. To always want to remember the man she loves is the woman’s heart. If you give a present that can be used up, the feelings for you will become empty at the same time the content runs out, so please keep it in mind.
>Makeup and skin care products should be a good choice. Small items of any kind would simply be a challenge for her to handle. A considerate man is the one who prepares a present that won’t become a mental burden.
Something that would be considered okay on one website would be denied on the other; all of them were like so. Once again he became unsure what the right answer would be.
“…”
Tick tock tick tock—as the sound of the clock’s seconds hand ticking was echoing through the room, the doorbell suddenly rang.
“Who is it?”
Sandai stopped his thinking for a moment to check on the visitor; then he saw that it was Miki, Shino’s little sister. Sandai hurriedly headed to the entrance.
“Yoo-hoo Onii-chan.”
“Miki-chan, it’s been a while, isn’t it?”
“Isn’t it?”
“You came alone? Were you fine with the train?”
“Even Miki can ride the train alone. …That aside, can Miki go to your room?”
Although it was sudden, there was no way Sandai could chase out his girlfriend’s little sister who had come here alone, so he decided to take her all the way to his room.
“Well, not like I mind letting you in, though…”
“Yaaay!”
After letting the grinning Miki inside, Sandai took a canned juice out of the refrigerator and handed it to her.
“Here, a drink.”
“Thanks.”
“So, Miki-chan, what’s up today? Did you have some kind of errands?”
“Reason? Not really. Miki just kinda wanted to come and play.”
It certainly seemed that way judging from her attire; it was easy-to-move-in overalls. It truly was such an atmosphere of ‘wanted to come and play.’
“I see.”
“Yup. …Eh, Onii-chan, is this…” As Miki was gulping down the canned juice, she suddenly saw the PC screen.
A chill ran down Sandai’s spine for an instant, but he remembered that all the screen was displaying was present-related, and he patted his chest down in relief.
It would’ve been a disaster had it been showing a naughty picture or video. He was glad it didn’t come to that.
“…Present? Are you gonna give something to Onee-chan?”
“Yeah? Well… you could say that.”
“Miki sees. Just maybe, but… Onii-chan, are you not sure what to give Onee-chan? Alright, this gotta be Miki’s turn. Miki shall let you know what Onee-chan will be happy with, Onii-chan.”
Although Sandai was dazed for a moment, he immediately thought, I guess I could also ask Miki-chan for advice. At any rate, Miki was Shino’s little sister; no doubt she would be well-informed about what Shino liked as well.
“It sure would be great if you could tell me. And I’m certainly unsure just like you said, Miki-chan.”
“That settled it. Then let’s get to the store.”
“Eh, the store?”
“‘Cause it’ll be easier to understand by just showing it than explaining it.”
“Oh I see now. All right.” When Sandai expressed his understanding, Miki held out both her hands while grinning. “And those hands…?”
“Miki can’t just tell it, you see. You get it, right?”
Speaking of which, Miki was this kind of girl. Previously she had pestered Shino for money to play at the game arcade.
Sandai had also given her money at that time, but… that was simply because making her wait without being able to do anything had made him feel sorry for her, and the situation was a little different now.
That said, pocket money in exchange for helping with something was also fair game, so he didn’t particularly feel like criticizing her for it.
Despite thinking that Shino would probably get mad if she saw this, Sandai handed Miki 500 yen.
“Here.”
“500 yen, huh…”
“Sorry. It’s not like Onii-chan’s rich either.”
“Well, Miki is kind so Miki will still tell you even if it’s 500 yen. But… if Onee-chan’s happy with the present, add extra as the success reward, okay? That much is fine, right? Pleeease~.”
Truly a girl with a very good mouth and head. Looking at how she mixed in a cunning, cute-girl-playing-innocent-and-helpless acting at the end, it seemed she would turn into a very calculating woman in the future.
When Miki eventually grew up to be a beautiful girl on the same level as Shino, she might quickly realize that she could use her charm as a weapon and think of ways to make the most of it.
It would be good if she wouldn’t start a business that might create many victims with toyed feelings like, ‘One handshake with a boy is 100 yen, +100 yen for locking fingers,’ though… Well, it was simply just that there was a possibility of her doing something like that.
It wouldn’t be good to be so assuming, and there was also the possibility that she wouldn’t do such a thing. To trust would surely be more important than to doubt.
However, “Right, I guess I’ll add it if it’s a success.” Miki smiled broadly after hearing Sandai’s words.
Huh… Could I have made the wrong judgment?
Feeling that he had ended up encouraging Miki to tread a path in a no-good direction, Sandai began to regret it, but he also realized about the gentlemen other than him falling victim in the distant future.
Well, if I don’t get victimized, guess that’s fine…
That was simply not a full-acceptance, but it was also essential to give up like this at times. That was how it was.