1:10 PM, outside the swimwear store.
Hoshimi was carrying two paper bags in his left hand and three in his right. The ones on the left contained his clothes, while the ones on the right held three swimsuits he had bought for Kasumigaoka.
Two of them were solid-colored two-piece swimsuits, one black and one white. The black one was the one Kasumigaoka had accidentally damaged earlier. The third was a light blue crisscross back one-piece swimsuit.
It must be said that Kasumigaoka, with her perfect hourglass figure, was the ideal model for any outfit. She could effortlessly pull off any style of clothing.
Moreover, from what Hoshimi knew about Kasumigaoka, she wasn't just the perfect model; she was also the perfect art...
"Hoshimi, what are you thinking about?" Kasumigaoka suddenly sensed a faint, unclear, sticky malice.
"Nothing," Hoshimi replied, his expression unchanged. "Where should we go next, Utaha?"
"Next..." Kasumigaoka pondered for a moment.
After a while, she looked up at Hoshimi, "Do you have any place you'd like to go?"
"Not really. It's up to you, Utaha. I don't mind," Hoshimi said, though he wouldn't mind visiting Kasumigaoka's place. But on second thought, he dismissed the idea.
If there was someone at Kasumigaoka's home, he wouldn't be able to do much other than get acquainted with her room. If no one was there, he feared he might not be able to leave for days... After all, Kasumigaoka wasn't as resolute as Yukino when it came to rejecting him...
"Listening to my plans, huh?" Kasumigaoka nudged Hoshimi's side with her elbow, a hint of displeasure in her tone. "Hoshimi, let's get this straight. If you cause any more trouble later, you're in for it!"
"Don't worry, I guarantee nothing will go wrong this time," Hoshimi said, not entirely convinced of his own words.
Now is now, and who knows what might happen later?
"Alright, follow me." Kasumigaoka linked her arm with Hoshimi's and led him towards the upper floors of the mall.
This comprehensive mall had its second, third, and fourth floors primarily dedicated to clothing, while the fifth, sixth, and seventh floors were all about food and entertainment. Perfect for a date.
The date proceeded smoothly, and Hoshimi mentally opened his little notebook, starting to record his progress in making amends.
...
Hoshimi's Amends Progress Diary, Date Edition.
Optician's store: Kasumigaoka mocked me for looking like a proper gentleman but still a beast in glasses. I took note of this grudge, grudge level +3% (Pro tip: Holding a grudge equals progress in making amends).
Accessory store: Kasumigaoka tied a small ponytail on the top of my head with a hair tie and made fun of me. Grudge level +7%.
VR Experience Store: A frightened Kasumigaoka hit my chest in a panic and blamed me for not standing farther away. Grudge level +5%.
Archery Experience Hall: Oh, wow, the bowstring really does hit the chest! It's pretty intense... What a sight to behold. No grudge.
Bowling Alley: Bet with Kasumigaoka over a game, stakes involved something personal. Kasumigaoka cheated midway, breaking the bet. Grudge level +20%.
I, Hoshimi Kiyokawa, despise nothing more than people who don't follow the rules! Especially when they don't follow rules that I set!
The date continues...
...
2:30 PM, at Hoshimi's house in Chiba.
Sitting on the living room sofa, Mrs. Arisugawa continued to smile as she waited for Hoshimi to return.
She had left Tokyo around 9:00 AM and arrived at Hoshimi's house at about 10:30 AM. After searching around with no results, she began to patiently wait for Hoshimi to come back.
At 11:00 AM, Hoshimi hadn't returned yet, which was normal. After all, Hoshimi was still a child and could get caught up in playing. Understandable. Anger level +1.
At 12:00 PM, Hoshimi still hadn't returned. Understandable, still understandable. Anger level +1.
At 1:00 PM, Hoshimi still hadn't returned. This child was getting a bit out of hand. Skipping school was one thing, but why was he out playing for so long? Anger level +1, hunger level +1.
At 2:00 PM, when Hoshimi returned, she would need to give him a good talking to. Anger level +3, hunger level +2.
At 2:30 PM, Hoshimi still hadn't come back. Could something have happened to him out there? Anger level -2, worry level +3.
"Mukami, go find out where Kiyokawa has gone," Mrs. Arisugawa said with a slight frown.
"As you wish, Madam." The old butler, who was almost stiff from standing, felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders but maintained a calm demeanor as he walked out of the mansion.
Not long after, the old butler, who had obtained information through special channels, returned to the living room and bowed respectfully, "Madam, I found out. Young Master Kiyokawa went to Tokyo."
Mrs. Arisugawa's smile returned, her tone seemingly gentle, "Kiyokawa has improved quite a bit, knowing how to go out and have fun. That's progress."
In the next moment, Mrs. Arisugawa's tone shifted, "By the way, Mukami, do you know exactly where in Tokyo he is and what he's doing?"
The butler replied, "Madam, we checked Young Master Kiyokawa's bank card transactions. The most recent two transactions were in a shopping mall in Shinjuku. The first at 1:08 PM was at a women's swimwear store, and the second at 1:45 PM was at an accessory store."
Women's swimwear store? Accessory store?
Hearing these two terms, Mrs. Arisugawa immediately understood what Kiyokawa was doing in Tokyo.
"Not bad."
She calmly uttered these two words and fell silent.
The old butler sighed inwardly, silently mourning for Young Master Kiyokawa.
Young Master Kiyokawa, may you be blessed with good fortune. This time, the Madam is truly angry.
After a long while, the hungry and thirsty old butler slightly bowed and softly asked, "Madam, shall I prepare lunch?"
"No need. We'll wait until Kiyokawa returns."
"Understood, Madam." The old butler stood up, his aged face showing a bit of helplessness.
Who knows how much longer we'll have to endure hunger? Young Master Kiyokawa, please return soon. This old body can't take much more of this.
3:00 PM, Hoshimi still showed no signs of returning. Mrs. Arisugawa continued to wait with a faint smile.
Time steadily marched on, and so did Mrs. Arisugawa's rising anger levels: +1, +1, +1...
The hunger levels followed the same pattern: +1, +1, +1...
...
Meanwhile, in Tokyo.
With heavy legs, Hoshimi raised his left hand, "Utaha, can we find somewhere to rest?"
"Sure, how about that café?" Kasumigaoka pointed to a café on the seventh floor of the mall.
Hoshimi followed Kasumigaoka's gesture and saw that the café was already packed, with people even sitting on small stools outside, waiting in line.
"Sigh~" Hoshimi sighed lightly, feeling a headache. "Utaha, can we find a quieter place? It's too crowded here."
"A quieter place?" Kasumigaoka thought for a moment.
After a while, she took Hoshimi by the hand and led him outside the mall. "Come with me. I know a café that's both quiet and unique."
That café was indeed nice, just as she said, but it was a bit too close to Toyogasaki Academy. There was a chance they might run into students from the school.
But so what? Since when did I, Kasumigaoka, care about the opinions of others?
===
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