Chapter 21: Fake Outdoor Date (3)

As I was getting one-sidedly hit by So-yul’s reckless teasing, the staff member conveniently returned.

I thought they might comment on the dress I’d chosen, but they just gave a knowing smile and asked “Card for payment?” before walking away.

Seeing So-yul follow, they must be going to pay. I told her I’d wait at the entrance and quietly slipped out.

When So-yul walked to the shop entrance moments later, her hands were empty.

Oh dear, what happened? Hiding my concern, I asked:

“Not enough balance?”

“Even if I’m broke, I can at least afford one dress… I just asked them to bring it to school that day since it’s hard to store. They’ll adjust it a bit more to fit me too.”

That’s what she said.

I was just shocked by her casual statement about being able to afford a dress even when broke.

As we left the shop, the staff member waved:

“Come back together again sometime.”

Adding this meaningful comment.

Would we have reason to visit again? Well, So-yul seemed to wear dresses quite often. If this relationship continued, another opportunity might come someday.

After finishing the somewhat troublesome dress shop schedule.

Next we headed to the large mart near school.

“I’m almost out of shampoo and body wash, so I need to buy more.”

“Is that so.”

“Yeah. So if you copy what I buy, you can smell my scent even when I’m not around.”

“I don’t want to.”

Exchanging such pointless conversation as we walked, our destination quickly appeared.

The building housing the mart was crowded from the entrance.

No surprise there. The spring weather was warm, it was weekend afternoon, and above all, the building itself was full of things to do.

Floors 1-4 were the mart, and from floor 5 up there were restaurants, a large arcade, and even a movie theater. All sorts of entertainment gathered in one place. No wonder people flocked here.

Of course, there wouldn’t be any other students from our school.

Thinking this made our school feel like an isolated island.

I laughed it off and was about to start walking, but for some reason So-yul stood frozen in place. She had her head lifted up, staring intently at something.

Following her gaze, I saw the movie theater’s electronic billboard. Movie posters for current releases were cycling every few seconds.

“Want to see a movie?”

“H-huh?”

When I casually asked, So-yul’s shoulders jumped as if startled. Then she turned to look at me. Her eyes held a questioning light.

“H-how did you know?”

“You were staring at the movie poster billboard.”

“I was just trying to see what movies are out these days. But I guess I got caught.”

So-yul gave a small “ahaha” laugh and embarrassedly ran her fingers through her hair.

Looking straight at her, I continued:

“Plus, last time when we ate in the club room, you said you really love watching movies.”

At these words, So-yul slightly tilted her head.

“…You remember surprisingly well?”

“What’s surprising about it?”

“I thought you’d be internally annoyed like ‘You like movies, so what? Please don’t ask to watch together.'”

How did you know… I decided absolutely not to say that out loud.

“Even with my bad personality, I wouldn’t go that far.”

“True.”

So-yul chuckled briefly then walked into the mart. Relieved she hadn’t caught on, I followed beside her.

Since So-yul was already small, I stayed a step closer to avoid losing her in the crowd.

Striding into the mart, So-yul pulled out a shopping cart near the entrance and started pushing it. She looked around, searching for which direction to go.

Watching this scene made me feel somewhat anxious.

Come to think of it, she wasn’t that small, but how should I put it – she looked like a kindergartener running errands for their mom. I felt an urge to help.

I moved beside her and started pushing her cart.

So-yul flinched, then turned just her face to look up at me.

“What’s this? You came shopping with nothing to buy because of me, and now you’re helping too?”

“Yep.”

“…Why?”

So-yul asked with a quite suspicious look.

No need to make up excuses. I just said what was on my mind:

“Because you look like a kindergartener.”

An elbow flew from beside me. Ouch…

“What do you mean kindergartener? Dummy.”

Though she complained, she didn’t seem the type to reject offered kindness. So-yul maintained her somewhat blank expression but quietly moved aside slightly.

Thanks to this, So-yul and I ended up pushing the cart together.

So-yul first stopped in front of the shampoo aisle.

“It should be around here somewhere.”

Muttering this to herself, So-yul started looking around the shelves, turning her head. She seemed to be searching for her usual shampoo.

Finally fixing her gaze somewhere, she stood on tiptoe and stretched out her arm.

She apparently wanted to grab a shampoo, but it happened to be on the very top shelf. Despite several attempts, her hand fell just short of reaching it.

Looking at her like this, she really did seem like a kindergartener running errands.

Trying not to let her notice my amusement, I reached over her head and grabbed a shampoo.

“Here.”

When I handed her the shampoo, So-yul took it with a “…thanks.”

“If you can’t reach, why not just buy a different shampoo?”

Though I made this reasonable suggestion, So-yul pushed out her lips.

“I usually reach fine, I’m just in bad condition today.”

What nonsense.

As I looked at her with obvious disbelief, So-yul continued explaining with a sulky face:

“And it’s important to use the shampoo that suits you best. Especially to maintain nice hair like mine. Use just anything and it’ll turn into dog hair right away.”

“Is that so?”

When my shampoo runs out, I just grab whatever’s on sale… Though I suppose the longer the hair, the more important and difficult maintenance becomes. Not completely incomprehensible.

Indeed, So-yul’s hair gave off an impression of being well-maintained.

Not a single tangle in her neatly arranged hair. The texture was like soft fabric. The strands sliding through my fingertips were so soft they almost tickled.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

Looking up at her question, So-yul had her brow slightly furrowed.

A faint rosy tint colored her cheeks. Her lips held a somewhat incredulous smile.

Coming to my senses, I realized I was playing with So-yul’s hair.

What on earth was I doing? I quickly pulled my hand away and apologized.

“Ah, sorry. I suddenly wanted to touch it.”

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to pass this off as another mistake?”

“…I was going to.”

Apparently unsatisfied with my apology, So-yul just made a “hmph” sound and turned away.

But soon she added:

“…Next time, ask before touching.”

Don’t tell me she’d actually give permission if I asked first.

Well, I’d just touched it unconsciously when hair care came up. I probably wouldn’t do something like this again anyway. Deciding not to think too deeply about it, I let it go in one ear and out the other.

Next the shopping cart stopped at the body wash aisle.

So-yul stood back from the display and looked over the whole section. Then before long, she quickly grabbed one. Fortunately, this time her desired item was on a lower shelf.

Returning with happy little steps, So-yul put the body wash in the cart then:

“This is the secret to smooth skin.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“You’re quite full of yourself.”

“Just stating facts. It means I take good care of myself too.”

So-yul pushed out her modestly-sized chest while bragging like this.

But this didn’t last long either. Soon she suddenly crossed her arms over her chest.

As I blinked in confusion, So-yul gave me a drowsy look and:

“…I let you touch my hair when shampoo came up, but don’t think you can touch my body just because we’re talking about body wash.”

“As if I’d do that while crazy.”

Making such unfounded suspicions. I’d be arrested on the spot before I could even apologize for something like that.

I snorted loudly enough for her to hear, and So-yul responded with a “hmph” before starting to push the cart again.

After that, So-yul swept up various items.

Green tea because she might get thirsty practicing piano. Wet wipes because she thought she was running low at home. Pens because she’d used them all studying for exams. Even a broom and dustpan saying she wanted to clean her room better.

I wondered if she really needed all these things. The doubt was enough to raise questions.

After thoroughly exploring floors 1-4, So-yul ended up with two paper bags at her feet.

They were packed full of various items, clearly heavy just from looking at them.

Could So-yul even carry these?

As I watched silently, So-yul made an “nnngh” sound and flexed her arms. Then she carefully lifted one bag in each hand, trying not to drop them.

The bags must not have been as heavy as they looked, as So-yul succeeded in lifting them. Though her outstretched arms trembled delicately, she seemed able to move while carrying them somehow.

Of course, even so, I’d feel bad just watching.

I went to So-yul’s side and grabbed the heavier-looking bag from her.

Flinch. I noticed her shoulders shake slightly.

Then her thin voice lingered in my ear:

“…Taking it as payment for your help?”

What nonsense.

“As if. I don’t even need any of this stuff.”

“…Hmm.”

When I answered immediately, So-yul’s eyes dimmed slightly. Her gaze seemed to ask why, then.

Though it was embarrassing having to explain this out loud, well, if she wanted to hear it I had no choice.

“I’m helping you carry it.”

“Won’t it be heavy?”

“If it’s heavy for me, it’d be heavier for you. Come on, let’s go.”

I threw out quick answers and jerked my chin to suggest we get moving.

So-yul looked like she had more to say but walked toward the elevator without opening her mouth.

There was no one in front of the elevator. As we waited, thinking this was unexpected, several people lined up behind us.

Had it just left with passengers right before we arrived?

After waiting briefly, the elevator arrived.

Though it was spacious inside, there were just as many people to fill it. Considering those getting on after us, we went all the way in. Seeming to reach the same conclusion, So-yul stood right against the back wall.

Soon the elevator doors closed and.

For some reason, the elevator started going up.

Come to think of it, we’d gotten on without checking the direction. Behind me, So-yul also chuckled as if realizing our small mistake.

We hadn’t expected to go up. Well, we could just go up then come back down. It shouldn’t be a problem.

5th floor, 6th floor, 7th floor… Passing floors one by one, the elevator finally reached the 12th floor with the movie theater ticket counter.

Everyone else got out, leaving just the two of us alone inside.

No one seemed to be getting on, so we could just go down now.

Thinking this while waiting for the doors to close, I saw people running toward us from far by the ticket counter.

They seemed to be running after seeing the elevator had arrived just as they wanted to go down.

But somehow their faces felt familiar.

There were too many recognizable features. I didn’t even need to think hard about it. As they got closer, where I’d seen them became increasingly clear.

Of course it did.

Those people running toward us now… were students from the academic track in our class.