Chapter 73

"Then what am I supposed to do with this ticket?"

"Today is a date where I get to call all the shots, Yumi!"

Yumi maintained her high energy and said this with enthusiasm.

After a brief pause, Yuki tilted his head and asked in return.

"Do you really want to use the 'do-as-I-say' ticket for a date? With me?"

"Ah, no, that's not it! I mean, it's not really a date, what would you call it? A pseudo-date? A date-like thing? Yeah, that's it, a practice session for the real date. In short, you're just a stepping stone. A dummy, that's what you are."

Yumi then started to panic and rambled on in a rapid, jumbled manner.

However, if he pointed out that being at her beck and call wouldn't help with the practice for the actual date, would he be admitting defeat?

"So, let's start over from the beginning."

"From the beginning?"

"If I say 'Waited~?' then you should smile and say 'I didn't wait at all.'"

"Relationships where one says 'I waited but you didn't' are bound to end in a breakup, don't you think?"

Yumi froze at this, her gaze shifting upward for a moment.

Then she gave a creepy smile,

"Hmph... I did put some thought into it."

"What's with that smile? It's creepy."

"Alright, then do as you please, Yuki."

In the end, he thought, what's going on here? But it would be endless to point out every little thing.

"Stay here," he said, and Yumi, who had taken a step back and blended into the crowd, approached again with a smile.

"Sorry, I waited~?"

"I did wait. Yumi, you're always late, no matter what. What's up?"

"You're really saying that now? If you keep this up, we'll break up right away."

Since she told him to do as he pleased, he simply stated the objective facts.

Yumi, who had suddenly become serious, placed her hand on her forehead, closed her eyes lightly, and looked down, deep in thought.

But she quickly raised her face and said,

"Well, never mind, let's move on to the next thing!"

She pointed towards the station and started walking without waiting for a response. Despite her unusually high energy, she never explained why she was late.

It was probably something trivial, like hesitating over what to wear.

Since Yumi was enthusiastically moving forward on her own, Yuki had no choice but to catch up and walk beside her.

"Where are we going?"

"Let's start with that place over there!"

Yumi pointed to a large department store adjacent to the station.

While it was a prominent location, it wasn't a place Yuki usually had much use for.

"Yumi suggesting a specific place is rare."

"I'm the devil today, so don't expect the usual Yumi, or you'll be in for a surprise."

"But it's better that you're being straightforward about it."

"Is it?"

Yumi glanced at Yuki's face from the side.

If he complained that she had no plan, this was much better.

They entered the department store with Yuki looking around curiously, while Yumi confidently headed towards the escalator.

Following Yumi obediently, they went up to the second and third floors. At the top of the escalator, Yumi said,

"Let's look at clothes on this floor first."

"Then I'll go to the bookstore upstairs."

"Hey, wait a minute."

As Yuki turned to leave, Yumi grabbed the hem of his shirt.

Yumi leaned in with a threatening presence,

"Why are you suddenly disobeying? What happened to 'do-as-I-say'?"

"Well, I don't really want any clothes."

"What are you, a dad who's dragged along for his wife's shopping? Look at this with me, okay? 'That looks good on you, this is cute, too.'"

"Ah, I'd like to do that."

"What's with that lackluster response?"

Yumi thrust the 'do-as-I-say' ticket in front of Yuki's nose,

"Can't you see this? I'm going to call you out on it. Got it?"

"Is that how you're supposed to use it?"

For some reason, Yumi tried to insert the ticket into Yuki's nose.

Not wanting to be poked, Yuki obediently followed Yumi into a fashion shop.

Yumi, who seemed to be a regular, wandered around the store while looking back at Yuki and asked,

"Hmm... what do you think would suit me?"

"Why don't you think about it yourself instead of asking for my opinion?"

"That's not the point..."

Yumi waved the 'do-as-I-say' ticket like a talisman,

"Say, 'Yumi looks cute in anything, even full-body tights.'"

"Doesn't that sound hollow even to you?"

"It's super fun."

"Even full-body tights? That's impressive."

"What are you putting me in?"

Yuki, annoyed by her constant nagging, pointed to a mannequin's outfit.

"Isn't this one good?"

"Oh, you found a good one right in front of you? You didn't just pick the closest one, did you?"

Devil Yumi was surprisingly perceptive.

Yuki, still skeptical, thought for a moment,

"Hmm... doesn't this look like Yumi?"

"Then who?"

"Who? Hmm... maybe Mina?"

Yuki didn't quite get it.

Mina didn't seem to care much about clothes, often saying that as long as they fit, it was fine.

The last time, she showed off a pair of torn pants she had bought, causing a commotion.

Since she didn't go out much, she didn't need many clothes.

"What do you think?"

"Hmm... Mina doesn't usually come shopping for clothes."

"Then how does she get clothes?"

"Well, she doesn't really wear them... I mean, she wears the same things her mother bought a long time ago. Her body hasn't changed much... but recently, her chest has gotten tighter."

"Hmm... cheeky."

Devil Yumi pouted.

(Maybe she doesn't wear clothes because she doesn't have any?)

Yuki thought.

However, Mina never mentioned anything about it.

He understood that she valued the things her mother had chosen, but they were all worn out.

"Maybe I'll invite her to go shopping with me. I can give her some of my old clothes if she wants."

"Thank you. You care about Mina."

"Y-Yeah... well..."

Yumi, who had been looking away, suddenly turned back and widened her eyes.

"No, that's not it! It's a waste of time. It won't work on the devil."

"What won't work?"

"You're not Ryo, you know."

Yumi turned away and started rummaging through the skirts on the rack, muttering to herself.

She eventually picked one up and waved it around,

"What do you think? This kind of skirt. It sways, you know. Sway, sway."

"Hmm? It's not bad."

He wasn't sure what was good about it, but it was probably fine.

"But that color makes you less devilish."

"Already half-devil."

"Half-fried rice?"

"Totally different. Say, 'It looks super cute on Yumi.'"

"It looks super cute on Yumi."

Yumi beamed at his compliance.

"Hmm... if you say so. I'll try it on then."

"Then I'll go to the bookstore upstairs."

"Wait."

This time, Yumi grabbed his arm more firmly.

Yumi leaned in again, looking intimidating.

"Is this a skit? Are you doing this on purpose?"

"No, it's not like that... I don't understand these situations. What should I do while waiting?"

"You don't have to do anything, just wait quietly."

"But doing nothing is kind of..."

"Then do some squats."

Devil Yumi was indeed strict.

Yumi picked out a sleeveless top and headed towards the fitting room.

However, she seemed to be struggling with her bag, which she had slung over her shoulder.

"I can hold your bag for you."

"Huh? Oh, thanks..."

Yumi seemed surprised by Yuki's offer but then broke into a grin.

"Good job~ That's five points for you."

"What's in this bag? It feels unnecessarily heavy..."

"Minus a thousand points!"

Yuki's points were instantly taken away.

Yumi, saying, "If I give it to you, you might look inside, so I'll keep it," took the bag back and placed it on the floor of the fitting room.

It probably contained something silly, like a joke book.

"Got it? When I say 'Ready,' you have to give me a huge compliment."

"A huge compliment...?"

"An even bigger one is fine."

With that, Yumi entered the fitting room.

She closed the curtain with a swoosh but quickly peeked out.

"Actually, go somewhere else."

"Huh?"

"I'll text you when I'm done changing."

Yuki, taken aback by this strange command, was about to ask, "Why such a hassle?" when Yumi, blushing slightly, said,

"W-Well, you can hear... the sounds of undressing."

"...Sounds? You're being picky for a devil."

"Shut up, already!"

Yumi waved her hand dismissively, "Just go, shoo."

Yuki, realizing it was pointless to argue, left the fitting room as instructed.

The button to open Yumi's bag (minus a thousand points) is at the bottom.