Natsume Sonoko felt a twinge of guilt as she recalled how confidently she'd made promises before leaving.
Really, it wasn't her fault—who could've predicted so much would happen in just a little over ten days? For a moment, she even felt a little hard done by.
Should she just say, "Next time, for sure"?
No, that wouldn't do. She had to find a way to make it up to everyone. There had to be another way—surely Academy City sold souvenirs from the outside world too, right?
As she mulled it over, Sonoko quietly stuffed her dresses and clothes into a box and shoved it under her bed. Barring some unexpected turn of events, she had a feeling she wouldn't be needing them for a long time.
The thought that she might still have a use for them someday suddenly made her feel even gloomier.
Finally, with her luggage sorted and the room tidied up, her dorm room looked familiar again.
"There's still almost two hours until lights out. I should make the most of this time."
Frowning in thought, Sonoko decided she ought to do something.
After searching on her phone for specialty goods from Tokyo's Beika Town, she discovered that the underground mall in District 7 actually sold some Beika products.
Technology wasn't something you lacked for in Academy City, so the worthwhile Beika specialties were mostly handicrafts and local foods from the outside world.
Beika was known for its Japanese dolls and the famous detective Kogoro Mori, but locally styled folding fans and lanterns were nice options too.
"If I'd known, I would've asked Uncle Mori for an autograph," Sonoko thought to herself.
Even if Kogoro Mori wasn't well-known in Academy City, that didn't change the fact that he was a celebrated detective.
Misaka-senpai had always been interested in detective-related things, and with Uncle Mori's real case records, it would've made a perfect souvenir.
Of course, Sonoko had prepared absolutely nothing.
She could give Japanese dolls to Misaka-senpai and Shokuhou-senpai, a folding fan to Kongou-senpai, some sakura mochi for Juufuku-san, and all-natural skincare products from Beika for Shirai-san… She couldn't forget the seniors from the Urban Legend Investigation Club, either.
Walking along, Sonoko turned things over in her mind and soon drafted a gift list in her head. The cost didn't matter much—she just hoped everyone would like what she picked.
Shops like these were pretty rare, since most people didn't have a need for outside goods. The only place you were likely to find them was in Academy City's sprawling underground mall.
The underground mall was always crowded, but with the holidays, it had reached an almost unbearable level of packed. Luckily, Sonoko's small build made it easier to weave through the crowd.
Making her way through the throng, she kept her eyes fixed on the shop signs around her, hoping to find what she needed quickly.
"Ow, Touma, I bumped into someone!"
While walking, Sonoko came to an abrupt halt as someone slammed into her, nearly knocking her over.
A faint, sweet scent reached her nose, and she snapped back to attention, looking somewhat surprised at the two people in front of her.
"Index, I told you to watch where you're going. Don't walk backwards."
"But I don't want you leaving my sight, hmph~!"
A girl who looked about her age, wearing an extravagant white nun's habit embroidered with gold thread and a matching headpiece, turned around with a slightly sulky expression.
It looked less like a nun's habit and more like a one-piece dress—and on closer inspection, it was even fastened in places with paper clips.
The girl had long silver hair, rare green eyes, and skin as pale as milk.
The ones approaching were Kamijou Touma and a little nun—though weren't nuns' habits usually black? This was her first time seeing a white one.
Sonoko's mind quickly registered: so this was Index Librorum Prohibitorum in the flesh, the female lead of A Certain Magical Index. Looked like that storyline had already kicked off, somehow.
"Are you okay? That was my fault."
The girl named Index offered an apology with a slightly awkward manner, as if still unfamiliar with Japanese customs, her expression genuinely remorseful.
"It's fine, I wasn't watching where I was going either."
Sonoko shook her head dismissively. The girl called Index seemed to be about her height, and talking to her felt surprisingly comfortable.
"Sorry about that. Index can be a bit of a handful—she's always a little scatterbrained," Kamijou said, scratching his head with an awkward smile as he held Index's hand.
"Touma!" Index seemed displeased and chomped down on Kamijou's arm.
"Don't talk about me like that!" she mumbled, her words blurred by the arm in her mouth.
After exchanging a few words, Sonoko watched Kamijou walk away, feeling a little baffled.
"It hasn't been that long since we last met. Why is he acting like he doesn't know me? I was going to ask if he ever found his bicycle."
It was strange. They hadn't crossed paths much, but she was pretty sure they knew each other. Yet this time, he acted like a total stranger.
The confusion flickered through her mind, but she didn't dwell on it. She had more important things to focus on.
A few minutes later, Sonoko finally found a shop tucked away in a corner of the underground mall, stocked with specialty goods from all over Japan.
She spent a small fortune on a pile of items, all locally produced in Beika. The prices here, though, were jacked up—almost double what they'd cost back in Beika.
Even so, Sonoko had to grit her teeth and pay. As the register chimed with the sound of her successful payment, her heart squeezed painfully.
By the time she left the store, Natsume Sonoko had officially become a broke girl.
The payment had neatly cleaned out her bank account, leaving her balance at an all-time low.
From tomorrow until the next scholarship payment day, Sonoko would be surviving on what she could get at Tokiwadai Dormitory—showing up punctually for every meal in the dorm dining hall, or else going hungry.
Those days of buying sweets now and then, filling a supermarket cart, or riding the train across multiple districts were gone for now.
She counted the days: more than ten until the next scholarship payment. It felt like a hopeless stretch of time.
--+--
Early the next morning, Natsume Sonoko knocked on the door of Room 208.
"Thank you! Is this a gift for me?"
Misaka-senpai's face lit up with a happy smile as she held the Japanese doll, delighted. The doll's face even wore a small Gekota mask, giving it a unique touch.
"Natsume-san, what are these?"
Shirai-san unwrapped the package and looked surprised at the contents: small white cubes nestled inside.
"They're handmade soaps from Beika Town. They're made with flower petals and honey, completely free of chemical additives."
Sonoko thought back to the shopkeeper's description and repeated it with earnest seriousness.
"Thank you. This looks like a lovely gift. I like it."
Shirai-san picked up one of the soaps. A pleasant fragrance wafted from it, and she nodded in satisfaction.
"I'm glad you like it, Shirai-san."
Armed with several gifts, Sonoko began her rounds of visits.
By the time she finished delivering all the omiyage to her friends, it was already noon.
To her relief, she'd made it just in time for the dormitory's lunch service.
"Thank goodness, I made it."
Sonoko sat down in the dining hall, feeling fortunate. On normal days, missing lunch wouldn't be a big deal, but now she had no extra money to buy a boxed lunch.
"Sonoko, thank you for the gift. Please accept this Tsuchimikado Special Seafood Bento as a token of my appreciation."
Tsuchimikado-san, dressed in a maid outfit, spoke in a leisurely tone.
Her round eyes watched Sonoko expectantly, waiting for her reaction to the bento.
"Let's eat."
Sonoko's stomach had been growling for a while. She picked up her chopsticks and opened the bento box.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.