Chapter 46

The classes at my school, Tsukishin High, and at the school that Milk and Ayame attend, Kiriyo High, end early on Wednesdays, it seems.

That day, I met Ayame at a station near her house.

This station is accessible by a single bus ride from my nearest station and is quite a bustling place with department stores and the like.

It would be great if there were a movie theater for dates, but unfortunately, there isn't one in the city where I live or in the city where this station is located.

There is a shopping mall with a movie theater if you ride a bicycle for about 40 minutes, but it's quite far.

Well, I don't have anyone to go on a date with anyway, so I only go to the movie theater with Aoki.

Our destination is Osaka Station.

If we were going to Tennoji, the station near my house would be more convenient, but since we're going to Osaka Station, it's easier to meet here.

Still, it's only about a 20-minute bike ride from my house, so it's my nearest station as well.

There's about an hour left until our meeting time.

We can't go to a movie, but it would be a waste to do nothing.

"Ayame, is there anywhere you want to go?"

"Well, I want to go to the Dungeon Shop."

"The Dungeon Shop, huh? Sure, let's go."

It had been about a month since we last went to the Dungeon Shop.

I thought it would be less crowded because the number of explorers had decreased, but it wasn't.

The number of new explorers had decreased, and they had no reason to come to the exploration office. The number of explorers above level 10 had decreased, but there were also explorers like Aoki who had just reached level 10, so it was a wash.

There were various items for use in the dungeon.

"Someone is filming."

Ayame said.

At the Dungeon Shop, filming is allowed as long as permission is granted and it doesn't bother other customers.

Even people who aren't interested in the dungeon find the product introductions amusing, so it serves as advertising.

Wait, what?

The person who had just finished filming, I called out to them.

"Aoki?"

It was Aoki.

"Hey, Ichino is here too. Who's that girl? Is she your girlfriend?"

"No, she's a fellow dungeon explorer. Anyway, are you streaming?"

"I'm about to go into the dungeon, so I'm doing this before—"

"Are you streaming in that outfit?"

"You don't watch my streams, do you? Wednesdays are so popular that they're called 'Service Day.' Sorry, I'm keeping Kyo waiting. See you again sometime, let's have tea together."

And with that, Aoki thanked the shop clerk and left.

I often run into acquaintances at the Dungeon Shop, like Milk.

Wait, why does Ayame look so down?

Oh, I remember, Milk said Ayame is shy with strangers.

We met in a way that transcends shyness, and she had a mysterious competitive spirit with Hime, but she hardly talked to Ako or Hime.

Maybe she was nervous around Aoki?

I think she would get along well if they talked.

"Um, Ichino, who was that person?"

"Oh, that's Aoki. We've known each other for a long time."

"Are you close?"

"Yeah, I think we're close. We have similar interests, and he came to my house the other day to watch Dragon Ball DVDs together. He doesn't get shy with strangers, so he gets along well with my parents too."

"......He was really cute."

"I think so too. He's really cute, you know."

I said that as a joke, but Ayame seemed even more down.

Maybe she doesn't like Aoki?

Is she worried about having to deal with Aoki in the future if she gets along with me?

"Um, is Aoki your girlfriend?"

"No, he's a guy."

"......"

"......"

"......Huh?"

Ayame froze.

Oh, right, I didn't explain that part.

I recognized Aoki immediately because I had seen his photos and videos, but without that knowledge, he could look like a girl.

His voice is also high-pitched for a guy.

"But, it's a diverse era, so—"

"No, it's his job as a streamer. He streams in women's clothing, but he's a guy at heart and in his everyday life. It seems he's only made to wear women's clothing on Wednesdays."

Aoki was in his streaming outfit today.

I can see why it might be confusing.

I took out my phone and showed her a photo we took together before going to the dungeon in April.

"Here, this is what Aoki usually looks like."

"He's really a boy..."

"Right?"

Finally, Ayame believed me.

Still, seeing him in person is quite different.

I didn't recognize him immediately either.

If we went to Ebisu Bridge, he'd probably get hit on by a hundred guys.

"I was mistaken."

Ayame said with a smile.

I don't know why, but she seems to be in a better mood now.

Let's look at the equipment.

Usually, we look at the relatively cheaper items at the front, but today we'll look at the more expensive ones in the back.

"Would something like this be good for Ayame?"

"A robe for a mage? But it's too expensive, isn't it?"

"True, 80 million is a lot, but if you buy cheap stuff, you'll have to replace it soon."

"That's true... But I'll think about it. It's hard to decide right away."

"Right. I found something good too, but—"

There was a combat suit that looked easy to move in.

It cost 21.8 million yen, including the adjustment fee.

I can afford it, but it's not something I can decide on immediately.

Anyway, we'll need these for deeper levels.

"Ichino, they sell D-cans here."

"Really? They sell them at the Dungeon Shop too. 5,000 yen each."

The price is the same as at the auction.

Unlike the auction, you can only buy the ones that can be opened according to the detailed appraisal, which is more convenient.

The problem is the limited number of cans available.

"I heard that a rich person bought up all the D-cans in Kansai last month, causing a shortage."

Last month?

A rich person bought them all up?

...Could it be Uzakura!?

I thought he was collecting a lot for a personal collection, but maybe he bought all the D-cans available in Kansai to give me as a present.

I'll check if there's anything easy to open.

Oh, this one looks good.

【Opening Condition: Must be touched for 10 seconds by someone with an agility of 250 or higher】

Hime can open this just by touching it for 10 seconds.

I'll give it to her as a present.

"By the way, my borrowed staff also came from a D-can. Maybe I'll buy one. I'm pretty lucky, you know. It's hard to compare myself to Ichino, though."

Ayame picked up a D-can, and the opening condition was—

【Opening Condition: Must win all eight major shogi titles】

No way, winning all eight titles is impossible.

If she buys this, she'll never be able to open it.

Is there anything better?

I looked at the D-can next to it.

【Opening Condition: Must be owned by the owner of a Grand Mage's staff for more than half a day】

...!?

This is the perfect D-can for Ayame.

What's inside?

"Are you going to buy these two, Ichino?"

"I'm thinking about it."

Would it be unnatural to suggest Ayame buy this?

But only Ayame can open it.

Is there a way to get her interested in this D-can instead of the one she already has?

I'll give it to her as a present?

What's the reason?

A special day?

A special day... like the anniversary of our meeting at the Expo Memorial Park—how many days has it been?

I think she won't accept it if there's no reason.

I've put Ayame in too much debt.

"I want to give this D-can to Ayame."

"Huh? But Ichino, you've always been so kind to me, and—"

"Let's consider it a memento of our outing today—"

...No, that's not a good reason.

I need a better one—

"Thank you."

Wait, Ayame accepted it so easily?

I paid for it and gave it to her as a gift.

It was wrapped as a gift.

"This is from me to you—"

She gave me the D-can she had earlier.

...I can't become a shogi champion even if I start now.

I'll keep it as a decoration in my room.

Thank you.

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