Shaking his head, Dekisugi didn't think too much about it and started to focus on his own tasks.
To learn more advanced martial arts skills, Dekisugi knew he needed to have a decent body, so he'd need a lot of exercise. The system didn't provide any specific data on what kind of body was considered "qualified," but if he succeeded, the skills he wanted to unlock would change from gray to green. It was a simple system, but the possibilities it opened up were enormous.
Since it was only five o'clock, and dinner time was still a while away, Dekisugi decided to go for a stroll.
He had already decided to make some money, so he figured a trip to the comic shop was in order. There was something about the Japanese comic industry that intrigued him. Sure, the manga in the shop didn't seem very exciting at first, but he was curious to see what kind of work people in the 1980s were reading.
It was worth mentioning that the yen was still quite valuable in 1988— a few yen could be exchanged for one RMB. That made Dekisugi think back to his own world, where currencies fluctuated and had an almost unpredictable value.
He walked to his desk, took out his piggy bank, and counted the money carefully. There was more than 10,000 yen—enough for a few thousand RMB. Dekisugi thought to himself, "I really deserve to be a top student." It felt nice to have money saved up, though it hadn't come from any extraordinary efforts.
But Japan in 1988 wasn't as exciting as Dekisugi had imagined. Everything seemed dull compared to his real-world experience in the 21st century (2015). The comics in the store, in particular, were boring. He picked up a manga called Lion King Mask, but he could barely get through it. The characters were over the top, and the plots seemed to drag on. He bought it for 350 yen, so the store owner wouldn't think he was just reading for free.
Still, Dekisugi didn't mind spending the money. It wasn't his savings anyway. He was used to spending money as needed.
What really caught Dekisugi's attention was the snack street. He was quite fond of snacks. Small treats and street food always made the day better. He touched the money in his pocket and decided to head there. His stomach growled a little just thinking about the possibilities.
As he walked toward the snack street, he noticed a girl in a pink dress coming from around the corner, carrying a light yellow vegetable basket.
Dekisugi was a little surprised, thinking the snack street and the grocery store were mixed together. He had never been this area before. He had heard there were good snacks here, but now he wondered what else the place had to offer.
"Hi, Shizuka!" Dekisugi waved as he approached her, trying to figure out what snacks to try next. He had heard the octopus balls were good, and he'd been craving them for a while.
"Hey, Dekisugi! What are you doing here?" Shizuka asked, a little curious. She knew that Dekisugi usually stayed home after school, reading or writing in his diary, so this was unusual for him. It made her wonder what was on his mind.
"Well, I finished reading all my books at home and wrote my daily journal," Dekisugi explained. "I thought I'd go out for a walk. Can you help your mom with grocery shopping?"
Dekisugi chuckled awkwardly. In truth, they'd built their friendship through small talk like this. It didn't matter what they said to each other—it was the time spent together that mattered.
"Yeah, I was just helping my mom buy groceries," Shizuka replied, tilting her head slightly. She found it strange that Dekisugi was acting so different today—more cheerful than usual. He seemed more lively, as if something had shifted inside him.
"Actually, I was planning to go to the snack street near the vegetable market to try some snacks. How about I help you with the groceries, and then we can go get octopus balls?" Dekisugi suggested, without giving it much thought. He'd always seen himself as the big brother, so he didn't think anything special about asking her out for snacks. It was just a simple offer between friends.
Shizuka blushed a little, feeling a little flustered. "Ah, you want to treat me to snacks?" she asked, her cheek turning red as she gently touched it. Dekisugi paused for a moment, wondering if inviting someone for octopus balls had some special meaning. Could this be something more than just food? His thoughts momentarily drifted as he tried to process her reaction.
"Well… don't you like octopus balls?" Dekisugi asked, a bit confused. "I could get something else, like sushi, if you prefer."
Shizuka quickly shook her head. "No, it's fine. I like octopus balls."
Dekisugi smiled, relieved that Shizuka was happy with the idea. He called to the vendor. "Two orders of original octopus balls, please."
While they waited for their order, Dekisugi couldn't help but notice the scenery around him. The street was lively, the colors of the stalls and lights blending together in a mix of excitement. But then, in the midst of it all, he spotted someone familiar from the corner of his eye.
Nobita, carrying a basket full of groceries, watched from a distance. He was stunned. For someone like him, who always daydreamed about being alone with Shizuka, seeing her with Dekisugi felt like a blow to his hopes.
He had fantasized about asking Shizuka out to eat snacks many times, but now, seeing her with Dekisugi, it felt like his dream was slipping further away. The situation felt surreal and bitter. Nobita clenched his fists, a mix of frustration and jealousy boiling inside him.
.........................................................................
Please give me power stones...
Add this book in the library...