A few minutes passed since Fisa and I walked around the shopping center.
We hadn't bought anything other than the sandwiches, the reason being that Fisa didn't want to queue in the crowd.
Under the circumstances, we had no choice but to wait.
I guess there were a lot of first-year students who must have also bought various equipment.
"Fisa, want to take a break?"
Since we had been standing around for too long, I invited Fisa to take a break.
"Yeah, we haven't bought anything yet, but I already feel tired."
"You just sit there, I'll buy you a drink! What do you want?"
Then I told Fisa to go back and sit on the edge of the shopping bench and wait for me there.
"Same with you, but don't take too long!"
"I understand, wait about 5 minutes!"
Well, I guess I'll be back in less than 5 minutes.
I saw a drink machine at the end of the shopping center, so I walked towards it since there were few people nearby.
It turned out that this drink machine looked different from the usual ones.
Usually a drink machine would have a hole used to insert a coin, but here there was none at all.
The hole to insert the coin was replaced with a QR Code.
For those who don't know, the QR Code was created by Japanese company Denso-Wave in 1994.
"QR" comes from "Quick Response", as the creator of the code intended for its contents to be deciphered at high speed.
Code is a term used to describe text written using a specific language protocol by computer programmers.
So, a QR Code is a matrix code (or two-dimensional barcode) that can be used to store a lot of information.
Now it is answered why there is no hole to insert coins in the beverage machine and it is replaced with a QR Code.
The phone is useful for scanning the QR Code and after that it will display the drink you want to buy on the phone screen, after selecting it we will pay using points and the selected drink will come out through the hole at the bottom.
I opened my phone and scanned the QR Code on the beverage machine, soon the drinks appeared on the screen.
The contents were indeed quite a lot and in line with what was on the beverage machine.
I will probably choose two espresso coffees for 5.60 points.
I originally wanted to buy green tea, but unfortunately it was sold out.
I hope Fisa doesn't have a problem with caffeine-based drinks.
I pressed the espresso coffee section on the phone screen, then I was told to type in how many drinks I wanted to buy.
Typing in 2, I immediately pressed the buy button for 5.60 points.
Soon the sound of the drink falling was heard, I picked it up from the bottom of the drink machine.
Well, it was indeed an espresso coffee that looked refreshing.
I was a little curious, so I still opened my phone and opened the point history section.
It said -5.60 points with a description of 2 espresso coffees.
I already understood, so I put my phone back in my pocket and intended to meet Fisa.
Although it hadn't been five minutes, I guess she had waited long enough for me.
I couldn't linger any longer, and I also didn't want to make Fisa wait until she got bored.
By slightly speeding up my footsteps, I was finally able to reach Fisa's whereabouts.
Hmm...?
Who were those two men?
I saw Fisa as if she was talking to the two men.
No, I don't think it's like that.
I could see the expression on Fisa's face that didn't seem to feel comfortable with them.
She did smile, but it seemed forced.
I'm sure it was just a one-sided conversation, especially since it looked like coercion.
Well, what can I do.
I'll help her, especially since I'm the one who made her feel that way.
If only I had told Fisa to come with me, then she wouldn't have gone through that.
"What are you two doing?"
I approached Fisa and reprimanded the two men.
"Sa-satomi!"
Still with a forced smile, Fisa called my name.
"Tch, you already have a boyfriend."
"Let's go!"
"Tch."
One of the men clicked his tongue a few times before leaving me and Fisa, followed by the other.
The two men who had been bothering Fisa were now gone.
"Thank you, Satomi! You saved me again!"
Now I could see Fisa's sweet smile that didn't seem forced.
"Yeah, no problem. Now that it's pretty quiet, should we start shopping?"
"But I haven't drunk anything yet."
"..."
Ah, that's right.
I forgot about the two espresso coffees I had in my hand.
Then I handed one of them to Fisa and she accepted it.
"How many points do I have to pay? Doesn't this look expensive?"
"No need, let me just pay for the drinks."
"Then, thank you!"
"Yes."
We drank the coffee together before going shopping.
After a few minutes, we had finished the drinks.
Fortunately, there was a trash can next to the shopping bench, so we threw the trash away there.
"Let's go, Satomi!"
"Yes."
Fisa pulled my hand forcefully and I could only follow her.
"Fisa, what do you want to buy?"
"Maybe some tableware over there."
She pointed her finger at a place that seemed to sell tableware.
It wasn't as crowded as before, so we were free to shop now.
Once there, we were greeted by a special discount for couples at this place.
I guess this place doesn't only sell tableware.
"Special for couples, 7.50 points off?"
Fisa looked so interested in the discount that she read it.
"Do you want to buy it?"
"N-no, how do I show my couple to get a discount anyway?"
"That's easy, you just have to make out in front of us."
While Fisa was asking me, a shop assistant answered her question.
"Making out, huh?"
"That's right, just show us and we'll give you a special couple's discount!"
"N-no, I-I'd be so embarrassed."
Really, Fisa.
You look evasive, but on the other hand you want to get that discount.
I really don't understand you.
"What kind of intimacy is that?
I asked the shop assistant.
I've never experienced it before, so I don't know what kind of intimacy it is.
"It depends on you, but if you kiss, then we'll give you a 100% discount."
"Kiss?! T-that's impossible!"
I think Fisa and I have been here for a while but haven't bought anything.
If only I had understood the current situation, we would have continued shopping for something else.
Well, I think I should urge Fisa to buy something soon.
"Excuse me, Fisa."
"Eh-eh?! There's a-..."
I slightly pulled Fisa's head to my face and then I pressed my lips against hers.
I'm doing the kiss that the shop assistant was referring to, right?
I thought it would be great if we could get free equipment, so without thinking I kissed Fisa.
"Emm?!!"
I continued kissing Fisa and felt the soft sensation of her own lips.
Our lips touched for a few seconds, before Fisa pushed my head away.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
She looked surprised, her face and ears also turning red for some reason.
"Sorry, I wanted free equipment, so I kissed you without thinking."
"Wh-why can you do that without being embarrassed?"
Then Fisa covered her own face with both hands.
"That's great, you're the best couple I've ever seen! You kissed without hesitation in front of all of us, so we'll give you everything you chose for free!"
The shop assistant suddenly got excited and she said that we could choose everything we wanted for free.
"Fisa, save your shyness for later. Now we can choose for free."
"Alright."
I looked around and found a package that said "Full Set Tableware" with a price of 47.50 points.
"I want the full set of tableware that costs 47.50 points, yourself?"
"I guess I'm the same."
Of all the utensils available, rather than choosing, it was better to buy the full set, after all we could take it for free.
"So you want the full set of tableware? Alright, I'll pack it for you!"
Without taking too long, the shop assistant immediately moved to pack our order.
"Is there anything else you want to choose? Don't worry, everything is still free before you leave the store!"
When she was done, she handed us the order and asked about what else we wanted to choose.
"Umm... do you have any toiletries?"
"We also have a full set of toiletries for 30.00 points, but I'll free it up for you!"
"Alright, we'll take that too."
"Please wait a moment!"
The shop assistant moved back to pack our second order.
"Fisa, if you hate it, leave me after this!"
While the shop assistant left, I engaged Fisa in conversation.
"Why did you do it?"
"Of course to get free equipment, I guess saving points is necessary."
"Even though you've already been given 1,000 points?"
"Yes, sorry."
"N-no. It's not like that, I don't hate it."
"Is that so?"
I was a little relieved that Fisa didn't look angry.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! Is there anything else?"
Now that the shop assistant returned with the packed full set of toiletries, she gave them to us.
"No, this is enough. Thank you for the 100% discount! Let's go, Fisa!"
"O-okay!"
"Thanks for the show too, please come again later!"
Since Fisa and I had already gotten our tableware and toiletries, we headed out of the store.
"Sa-satomi, thank you for today! You were willing to accompany me shopping, but now I have to buy my own clothes."
"Umm... yes, alright. See you tomorrow, Fisa!"
"..."
She just left with the equipment she had bought earlier.
Maybe Fisa had a point too, since we were of different genders, she couldn't take me to buy clothes with her.
What the heck, I'm going to do my own shopping from now on.
First of all, I wanted to buy some food.
I bought one liter of regular milk for 1.00 points.
Then I also bought 1.5 liters of water for 1.90 points, then a 500 gram white fresh bread for 3.30 points.
Lastly, I bought 1 kg of cottage cheese for 6.80 points.
The rest I bought casual clothes and also men's underwear, adding up to 20.40 points.
I think I bought what I needed, so I'll just go home for now.
If there's anything I forgot, then I'll buy it tomorrow.
Today I had bought a lot of equipment for daily needs such as clothes, cutlery, toiletries, and so on.
I opened my phone and checked the point history section, it turned out that I only spent 39.00 points for today.
Everything became more efficient thanks to the tableware and toiletries that the shop assistant gave me for free.