Chapter 89: Beautiful Girl Looks for a Birthday Present

The alarm rings.

I wiggle around under the blanket and turn it off. Using every last drop of energy just to move, I force my body upright. I rub my bleary eyes and glance at the clock. It’s exactly seven.

I practiced again after coming home yesterday… dragging my little brother Kaname into it. Even though I dragged him in, he ended up enjoying it way more than I did. Just reading lines out loud is enough to make me embarrassed, but Kaname doesn’t feel that way at all. He really must be some kind of different creature from me.

I have work at noon today, but I get off at three, so maybe I’ll go look for a birthday present for Ryoji afterward.

Back when I was a boy, I never cared about birthdays or anything like that, so I have zero idea what I’m supposed to give someone. Still, since he gave me something for my birthday, I can’t exactly ignore his.

I rub my sleepy eyes again and get out of bed.

My gaze drifts to the script sitting on the table. I practiced so much yesterday that I was practically practicing inside my dreams too… and even after all that, Kaname still told me I was “still bad.” If even Kaname—who’s ridiculously biased toward family—calls me bad, then I really must have no talent.

Looking at it positively, being “still” bad means I’m at least a little better than before thanks to the practice. There’s still time left, so even if it’s bit by bit, I have to catch up to everyone else.

To wake up my still-drowsy head, I lightly pat both cheeks with my palms—tap, tap. Alright. Let’s do my best today too.

"Ryoji’s birthday present?"

Right before noon, while no customers had come in yet, I decided to ask Yazaki-san for advice about what to get Ryoji. She looked genuinely surprised and repeated my question.

"You’re asking me? I’ve never given him anything like that either."

"You haven’t?"

I was honestly surprised that Yazaki-san—who’s known Ryoji since elementary school—had never given him a present even once.

"Nope. I mean, it’s not like we’re dating or anything. Actually, I didn’t even know when his birthday was."

"I see…"

So much for that idea. I thought Yazaki-san might’ve given him something before, and that asking her would help. But if she has no experience there, then with my tiny circle of friends, I have no one else to ask.

I guess I could ask Aoi-kun since they’re both boys…

No, no, that is absolutely impossible.

"So, so! The fact that you’re giving Ryoji a present—does that mean that?"

"That?"

I tilt my head.

"He gave me a present for my birthday, so I thought I should return the favor."

Hearing my answer, Yazaki-san suddenly deflated with a disappointed expression.

"Oh… I see…"

That was all she muttered. I’m not sure what that reaction was, but it clearly wasn’t the answer she was hoping for.

"So basically, Ryoji just gave you a birthday present on his own, right? Then you don’t need to give anything back. Just accept it and that’s that."

Is that really how it works?
Hmm… yeah, if a girl gives a boy a present carelessly, he might get the wrong idea. Back when I was a boy, if a girl had given me something, I absolutely would have misunderstood and assumed she liked me.

But… that’s with normal classmates. I can’t imagine Ryoji misunderstanding something like that.

And even if that’s how the world usually works, I don’t like it. Just taking something without returning the favor feels wrong.

"Hmm. Something Ryoji would be happy with, huh."

Seeing that I wasn’t giving up, Yazaki-san paused to think. I felt a bit bad making her stop working, even if we still didn’t have customers.

"If you hugged him or something, he’d probably be thrilled. And it’s free."

"That’s… not happening…"

She burst out laughing. Yep. I definitely asked the wrong person.

Once she noticed my sulky expression, Yazaki-san gave an apologetic little smile. "Sorry, sorry."

If you’re going to apologize, answer seriously from the start!
…Is what I wanted to say, but since I was the one who suddenly asked her, I swallowed the words.

"Honestly, I’ve never given Ryoji anything. And I have no idea what he even likes. If I had to guess, maybe games?"

"Hmm…"

He definitely likes games, but… is giving a video game as a birthday present from a friend okay? I guess it’s practical—way better than something he doesn’t need at all.

But then I realized a huge problem.
I have no idea what games he already owns.

Back in middle school, we used to hang out a lot. He’d come over to my house, and I’d go to his. But ever since high school—or rather, ever since I turned into a girl—our visits to each other’s houses dropped dramatically. I haven’t been to Ryoji’s house even once since.

So I have no clue what games he has.

Should I just ask him directly?
No… that ruins the surprise.

"Oh, sorry, Sakura-chan! Looks like a customer’s coming, so let’s talk later, okay?"

I see a shadow outside the store. It’s almost eleven. Usually customers start coming in earlier, but today they’re a bit slow.

I hurry to prepare water for the first customer.

"I’ll be leaving now!"

"Alright, good work!"
"Good job."

Hearing the manager and Yazaki-san’s voices behind me, I slipped out the back door. Once outside, I stretched.

Today had been really busy. I’m exhausted… This time of day is usually when things slow down and we get a bit of calm, but for whatever reason, customers just never stopped today.

Because of that, I never got to finish my conversation with Yazaki-san, and the matter of Ryoji’s birthday present remained completely unresolved.

"Now what should I do…"

I hesitated, unsure of my next move.
There’s still a little time before Ryoji’s birthday, but… maybe I should ask Moeka-chan or the others? No, they’ve known Ryoji for a shorter time than I have. Even if I asked, they’d probably have no clue.

Which means, in the end, I have to decide on my own.
…But the whole reason I tried asking someone else is because I can’t decide on my own…

I get all worked up on my own, only to sink into disappointment on my own. People passing by look at me like they’re wondering what’s wrong with this weird girl talking to herself.

For now, I head toward the station and step into my usual game store.

In an age where online shopping reigns supreme, a small game shop like this must be having a rough time. But seeing shelves full of game software still makes my heart flutter, and I really want this place to stay in business.

And, more practically, I’ve never bought anything online before, so I don’t really know how it works.

Inside, a few scattered customers browse quietly.

There are actually quite a few games I want. I pick up a couple of cases. Oh, I want this too. Wait, no. That’s not why I’m here.

Something Ryoji would like… and doesn’t already have…

I scan the shelves slowly from end to end.

"Hey, isn’t that Ayumi?"

I thought I heard Ryoji’s voice. Maybe I’ve been searching for “things Ryoji would like” so intensely that I’m hearing things.

I keep browsing the shelves.

Then—bonk—something taps me lightly on the head.

"Waah!"

I grab my head and look around.
Ryoji is standing right behind me.

"R—Ryoji!? What are you doing here!? How long have you been there!?"

Seeing how startled I am, Ryoji smirks.

"I’ve been here since you were gazing longingly at the boys’ love game section."

"I wasn’t looking at anything like that!"

I’d been looking at action and puzzle games. I hadn’t even gone near the romance-sim area.

"Well, I’m joking. I only spotted you just a moment ago."

I’d gotten carried away and even asked “Why are you here,” but now that I think about it, there’s nothing strange about Ryoji being in a game store on a day off. He likes games too—this really is just a coincidence.

If that’s the case… maybe I could casually ask what games he wants.

"So, what kind of game are you here to get?"

"Honestly? There’s nothing I want right now. I’ve been completely absorbed in that monster-hunting game that came out recently."

"O-Oh…"

My plan collapsed immediately.
If there’s nothing he wants, then what am I supposed to give him?

Game prices were higher than I expected, so in a way it’s a relief that gifting him one is off the table, but… I’m right back where I started on what to get him.

"Why don’t you buy the game I got? It’d be fun if we played together using voice chat on our phones while hunting online."

Ryoji grabs the hunting game from a nearby shelf and shows it to me.

The fourth installment came out this year, and it’s super popular among middle and high school students. I often see kids playing it on the train after school.

"Eeh… I’m terrible at these kinds of games. I’d just drag you down."

"If we’re playing among friends, that doesn’t matter. Togo would be excited too if you joined us."

He really, really wants me to try this game.

Wait… wasn’t I here to pick out Ryoji’s birthday present? How did this turn into him recommending a game to me? It’s true that whenever I overhear Ryoji and Togo talking about it at lunch, it sounds fun. I’ve even thought it might be worth trying.

But right now, I need to focus on rehearsal more than getting into a game…
And the reason I came here was to look for his present. I need to dodge this gracefully.

"I appreciate the invite, but I’ve got practice for the play right now."

"Really? Then why were you looking at games in a game store?"

Fair point. If I’m so focused on the play, what am I doing here?

"I was thinking about what kind of game Kaname might want."

So I drag my brother into this as cover. Sorry, Kaname.

"Then what about you? If there’s nothing you want, why’d you come?"

"Me? I just came to browse and see what new games have come out."

We were just two customers who came to browse around and tease each other—exactly the kind of visitors a game shop clerk would never be happy to see.

We left the store together. When Ryoji asked whether I was heading straight home or going somewhere else, I checked the time on my phone. It was almost five in the evening. If I wandered around any longer, I wouldn’t make it home in time for dinner, so I decided to head back with Ryoji for today.

Even as we walked side by side, I kept thinking about possible presents.

But no matter how hard I thought, nothing came to mind. At this point, maybe I should just ask Ryoji directly. It would be better to give him something he genuinely needs rather than surprising him with something useless after agonizing over it.

"By the way, your birthday’s coming up, right? Is there anything you want?"

"You remembered?"

Ryoji’s eyes widened.

Seeing his reaction, I couldn’t help but laugh a little. Back when I was a boy, neither of us paid much attention to birthdays. No wonder he’s surprised.

"If I tell you what I want, you’ll give it to me?"

"Well, if it’s something I can manage."

Hearing that, Ryoji suddenly stopped walking, put a hand on his chin, and started thinking seriously.

I appreciate the thought, but isn’t he taking this a bit too seriously? I’d be in trouble if he named something expensive…

"Just so you know, I can’t get you anything too pricey."

Unable to help worrying, I added a weak little disclaimer.

"Haha, I know. Honestly, I wasn’t really thinking about asking you to buy me anything."

Ryoji laughed lightly at that.

"If anything, I’d be happier if you made something for me."

"Made… something?"

A scarf? That’s the classic option. But that’s more of a girlfriend thing, isn’t it? Definitely not something for me to give Ryoji. Besides, I don’t know how to knit.

So then what? There’s practically nothing I’m skilled enough to make.

"Maybe… home-cooked food?"

After a moment of thought, Ryoji answered.

"Food? But the dishes at my part-time job, Tamago Ginza, are way tastier than anything I can make… Are you sure you’d be okay with that?"

"You don’t get it! It’s not about taste! It’s the fact that you’d go out of your way to cook something just for me—that’s what matters!"

"I—I see…"

His intensity was so strong I had no choice but to accept it.

Well, if all I have to do is cook, then it won’t cost much, and it’s something I can handle. Honestly, if that’s enough to make Ryoji happy, it’s a pretty good deal.

"If that’s what you want, then sure—I’ll cook for you."

"For real? Seriously?"

"Yeah."

Ryoji kept asking again and again as if he couldn’t believe it, and each time I nodded and said, "Yeah."

"For real? Then… show up in a maid outfit, please."

"Never mind, I’m canceling."

Where did the maid outfit even come from!?

That has absolutely nothing to do with anything!

"Wait! It’s my birthday—throw me a bone here, I beg you!"

"Eeeh… Why do I have to wear something that embarrassing…? Besides, I don’t even own a maid outfit."

"No, no—you totally do! I remember. You wore that maid outfit during the sports festival, right? You took it home afterward. Knowing you, there’s no way you threw it out."

"Why do you even remember that…"

The maid outfit I ended up wearing during the obstacle race. I had planned to return it to the festival committee afterward, but for some reason everyone insisted I should keep it, so I eventually took it home.

I never intended to wear it again, of course. But since everyone had gone out of their way to give it to me, tossing it felt wrong, so it’s been sitting in my closet ever since.

And now, for his birthday, he wants me to wear that.

"So it’s no good?"

"Hmm… I mean… it’s fine, I guess…"

Unlike the sports festival, it’ll only be Ryoji who sees me this time… And he already saw me in it before anyway, so it’s not like it’s anything new.

"Seriously? I’m really looking forward to it."

"Don’t get your hopes up too high. I’m nothing special, so you’ll just end up disappointed."

"No way—there’s no chance of that! Now I’m even more excited for my birthday."

It’s definitely embarrassing… but if he’s looking forward to it that much, maybe it’s fine.