???
Countless question marks surfaced in Sakura Airi's mind.
Why did Shiina Hiyori co to a ga store? Wait, wait, wait? Could it be... because of Katsuragi-kun?! Is Shiina going to give Katsuragi-kun a gift?
Airi's brain began to spin at high speed. However, this ti, it was Shiina Hiyori who spoke first:
"Sakura-san, is your destination also here?"
Shiina Hiyori was equally curious about Sakura Airi. She had initially thought Airi was going to buy daily necessities, but the girl had followed her all the way to the gaming section before stopping.
"I, I, I..." The words got stuck in Airi's throat. After struggling for a while without being able to speak, she could only nod.
"I see. I suppose Sakura-san has the sa idea as I do."
"The sa idea?" Airi's speech system seed to have been successfully repaired; her words suddenly beca fluent.
"I chatted a lot with Katsuragi-kun and beca very interested in the stories he told... I want to understand those stories further, so I planned to experience the gas firsthand. Perhaps it is sowhat similar to reading," Shiina Hiyori said with a smile.
After seeing Katsuragi Keima's "stories," Hiyori had beco curious about gas as a dium. Much like books, gas were carriers of stories, though she had never encountered them before. During their previous chat, Keima told her that gas could provide a sense of imrsion that surpassed books, which piqued her interest.
Similarly... she was also curious about Katsuragi Keima himself.
She could sense that Keima was the sa type of person as her. Moreover, through Elsie's description, Keima seed very knowledgeable about mystery novels as well, which gave Hiyori the feeling of having found a kindred spirit. Curious about gas and wishing to understand Keima better, she had co here.
"Sakura-san is here for the sa reason, I assu."
"Mm... mm..." At this mont, Airi had no idea how to respond. She was too embarrassed to say she actually wanted to buy a ga to give to Keima as a gift. So, she could only brace herself and nod.
"Let's go in, then."
"Mm..."
Airi and Hiyori walked inside together. Just then, a sowhat familiar voice ca from within.
"Honestly, what are these nas? I can't find it at all!"
Airi heard the voice and her eyes widened slightly. She knew exactly who the owner of that voice was.
Horikita Suzune.
Right now, Horikita was scanning the rows of ga cases with an impatient look. She had co here specifically to fulfill her previous promise to give Keima a ga. The formation of her study group had failed today, and Horikita was feeling extrely irritable, but she was not the type of person to go back on her word.
She had previously thought about asking Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to help her buy the ga, but she didn't want anyone to know about this—she had only told Ayanokouji about the bet with Keima, not the part about promising him a ga. So, in the end, she ca to buy it herself.
"That guy, Katsuragi..."
Frowning, Horikita looked down at her terminal, specifically the ssages Keima had sent earlier.
[Katsuragi Keima]: Don't forget about the ga!
[Katsuragi Keima]: That's the reward for agreeing to have lunch with you. You can't welsh on it.
[Katsuragi Keima]: Since you're gifting it, don't buy a duplicate. I want "Youthful Love: Ruthlessly Discipline My Tsundere Little Sister (Collector's Edition)."
After arriving in this world, Keima had imdiately searched for various Galga titles and even made himself a "clearance list."
"That guy actually had the nerve to set conditions! And how can he type out that title so nonchalantly?!" Horikita said through gritted teeth.
She had intended to just buy the ga and leave, but after searching for several rounds, she couldn't find it.
"Hello, may I help you with sothing?" A shop assistant walked up to Horikita and asked. "Are you looking for a ga? So of our physical cartridges aren't on display. If you give us the title, we can check the inventory for you."
"I want—" The words reached Horikita's lips and stopped abruptly.
'How could I possibly say that na out loud! Wait, that guy Katsuragi isn't trying to embarrass on purpose, is he? He really underestimates ; I'm not that stupid.'
Horikita gave a cold laugh and then displayed her terminal screen to the assistant. "I want this. I'm helping soone else..."
"We happen to have that in stock! Please wait a mont." The assistant imdiately went to search through the cabinets.
"Honestly." Horikita closed her eyes and sighed, shaking her head. Now, she just wanted to buy the ga and get out of there as quickly as possible.
The mont she opened her eyes, she made eye contact with Sakura Airi.
"Sakura?"
"Ho-ho-ho-Horikita-san?" Seeing Horikita's gaze turn toward her, Airi hurriedly looked elsewhere.
'Why is Horikita-san here? Oh, right, it's because she promised Katsuragi-kun a ga...' Airi felt a twinge of envy toward Horikita's decisive way of doing things.
Horikita, anwhile, frowned as she looked at Airi. Why was she here? And who was the person next to her? Her gaze focused on Shiina Hiyori.
"I am Shiina Hiyori from Class C. Nice to et you." Hiyori greeted Horikita very politely.
"Horikita Suzune. Nice to et you," Horikita replied sowhat coldly. The girl in front of her was from Class C. In other words, a future rival.
"I assu Horikita-san is also a friend of Katsuragi-kun?" Hiyori asked with a smile. Her reasoning was simple: Horikita was here, and her gaze had been wandering around the Galga section.
"Friend? I am definitely not his friend! I just happened to be passing by and accidentally walked into this place!"
Horikita prepared to turn and leave imdiately. But at that exact mont, the shop assistant ca rushing back clutching a ga box and hurried over to Horikita.
"Hello, custor! I found the 'Youthful Love: Ruthlessly Discipline My Tsundere Little Sister (Collector's Edition)' you wanted! This is an obscure masterpiece; most people don't even know the na!"
Horikita: "..."
Hiyori: "..."
Sakura: "..."
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