The bigger city felt lively — low buildings, a modest shopping center, colorful flags fluttering overhead, announcing sales that… weren't sales at all.
Harumi stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, hands on hips, taking a deep breath.
"Alright. The plan is simple."
"Since when are your plans simple?" Izumi muttered.
"Since now!" Harumi declared, ignoring the jab. "We buy the basics. Only the essentials. Nothing more."
Ten minutes later:
"IZUMI, WHY DOES THIS CHILD-SIZED JACKET COST A THOUSAND YEN?!"
"Haru, it's a bigger city, not a charity."
"It's tiny! It's the size of a pudding!"
"And expensive puddings exist, you know."
Mei was enchanted, tiny fingers sliding across a rack of colorful clothes.Takeru kept his distance, arms crossed, trying to look unimpressed… but Harumi noticed his eyes scanning the items quickly, evaluating which things were actually useful.
She approached holding three shirts.
"Okay, let's test sizes. Mei, how about this cute dress—"
"Haru." Izumi pinched the fabric. "This is size twelve."
Harumi blinked.
"How old is Mei again? Two? Three?"
"SEVEN, HARUMI. SHE IS SEVEN."
"Ohhh… so… maybe it's a little too big…"
Izumi rubbed her forehead.
"'Maybe'? She'll disappear inside it. She'll become a fabric amoeba."
Mei looked at the giant dress with sparkling eyes, as if silently insisting:"I will wear it."
Takeru finally commented:
"You don't know anyone's size, do you?"
"DON'T CALL ME 'MA'AM'! I am young. Modern. Fresh!"
"Yeah, you seem… fresh," Takeru replied with a completely serious face.
Izumi choked trying not to laugh.
Mei vs. Clothing: The Fashion Disaster Hour
Inside the fitting room, Harumi attempted to help Mei into a T-shirt. Attempted.
Mei had put her head through the sleeve hole and her arm through the neck hole.
"No, sweetheart, that is a portal to another dimension. Let's try again."
Five attempts, two accidental falls, and one mild existential crisis later, the T-shirt was finally on correctly.
Harumi pulled open the curtain.
"TA-DAAA!"
"Haru…" Izumi observed. "That's the wrong size again. Look where her shoulder is. At her elbow."
"It's fine! She'll grow!"
"Not in five minutes!!"
Takeru stood behind them with an expression that clearly said:I would prefer to be doing taxes.
But when he saw Mei spinning happily in the crooked T-shirt, his expression softened.
"…It looks cute," he admitted.
"See?" Harumi beamed. "Male moral support!"
Takeru turned away before anyone saw the tiny smile.
Hygiene Section: The Soap Wars
They moved to the hygiene aisle. Harumi pushed the cart, inspecting labels as if she were a specialist in children's dermatology.
"Kids' shampoo… gentle soap… toothpaste…"
Then she froze.
"Why does this cost more than my lunch?!"
"Because children have sensitive skin," Izumi explained.
"I HAVE sensitive skin too!!!"
"Yes. You're allergic to wind, Harumi. That doesn't count."
Mei sniffed a bottle.
"It smells sweet."
"Then we're taking it," Harumi said, grabbing three.
Takeru picked up a simple toothbrush.
"This one is fine."
"No, it isn't!" Harumi swapped it for a glittery one. "This one is more fun!"
Takeru made a face that said I refuse but also I accept my fate, and did not protest.
The Sock Crisis
Harumi dropped socks into the cart: size 25, 28, 30…
Izumi folded her arms.
"Why did you grab three sizes?"
"Because I don't know Mei's size!"
"We can just measure her foot."
"Oh… right…"
Takeru closed his eyes, breathing deeply — his tenth meditation attempt of the morning.
The Shoe Store and Harumi's Internal Meltdown
They entered a shoe store.Harumi picked up a pretty pair of kids' boots.
"How perfect!"
She checked the price tag.
And spiritually collapsed.
"Izumi… am I reading this right?? It says… 2,000 yen??"
"Haru… that's normal."
"Normal?? For boots the size of a hamburger??"
Mei touched the boot lovingly.
"It's pretty…"
Harumi clutched her chest.
"Fine… WE'RE BUYING IT!"
"Haru!" Izumi tugged at her hoodie. "Are you insane?!"
"I can't crush childhood dreams! That causes trauma!"
Takeru murmured:
"We can walk barefoot."
"SHUT UP, TAKERU!" Harumi cried dramatically. "You're getting shoes too!"
"…Okay."
The Scene That Broke Harumi's Soul
As they walked, Harumi saw it:
A mother trying to put a coat on her toddler.The kid screamed, kicked, yeeted the coat three times, and somehow managed to bite the sleeve.
The mother looked… defeated.
Harumi froze. Izumi noticed.
Mei held her hand, calm, clutching the expensive boot.
Takeru, in a simple jacket, watched quietly.
Harumi whispered:
"…Thank you for not screaming or kicking me… please stay like this forever…"
Izumi snorted.
"Oh, Haru—"
"DON'T START!"
After hours of chaos:
Mei left with new clothes, socks, fruity shampoo, and an expensive boot;
Takeru left with simple shirts and sturdy shoes;
Harumi left emotionally damaged and financially destroyed;
Izumi left with a candy.
Harumi staggered out of the last store carrying more bags than dignity.
"Izumi… when… am I paying for all this?"
"Never. You'll die in debt."
"Thank you for the honesty."
"You're welcome."
Mei held Harumi's hand tightly, tired but glowing with joy.
Takeru walked behind them, arms full of bags, not complaining even once.
Harumi exhaled deeply, looking at the two kids.
She was exhausted.Emotionally wrecked.Probably sweating anxiety.
But…
"…They looked so cute in their new clothes…" she whispered, already emotional again.
Izumi smiled.
"You sound like a proud mom, you know that?"
Harumi blushed furiously.
"SHUT UP!"
And together, they headed home — like a family that wasn't planned, but was somehow working perfectly through pure improvisation.