They continued walking through the shopping district, passing rows of colorful storefronts and bright window displays.
Kuroki was still in a daze from what had happened earlier. He couldn't wrap his head around his own emotions. Every time he tried, his thoughts tangled themselves into knots.
"So, Ichinose…" Aohana's voice suddenly cut through his thoughts.
He flinched. "Y–Yes?" He turned his head toward her.
"How's the kitty?" she asked with a soft smile.
"O–Oh. Kuro?" he replied nervously. "He's doing fine. He eats a lot… and sleeps a lot too."
"Hehe… His name is Kuro?" She giggled gently.
"Y–Yes… his name is… Kuro…" His face flushed red as he tried to cover it with his hand.
"That's so cute. Kuroki and Kuro," she teased, laughing lightly.
"S–Sorry," he blurted out, embarrassed.
"Why are you apologizing?" she asked between giggles. "I think it's adorable."
His cheeks and even his ears were burning now. He brushed his hair forward, trying to hide his face.
As they continued walking, Kuroki pulled out his phone to check the address of the store Satsuki had sent him.
(I guess it's right here…)
He was still staring at his screen when Aohana's hesitant voice stopped him.
"Umm… Kuroki…"
"Yeah?" He looked up.
"Is… this the place you need to go?" she asked with an awkward laugh.
"Mmm?" He raised his head fully—
—and froze.
(Wha—)
His eyes widened.
(Satsuki… you want me to go to an underwear store?!)
Standing in front of them was a women's lingerie shop.
(Goddamn it. Why didn't you tell me, you idiot?!)
"Um…" Aohana said, clearly embarrassed.
"Aohana, this isn't what it looks like!" Kuroki panicked. Sweat dripped down his face. "I–I'm here for a friend! She asked me to buy something for her!"
"A friend?" Aohana tilted her head.
"Y–Yes! A friend!"
"She's a girl?" Aohana asked.
"Ah… yeah… she is," he admitted nervously.
"I see."
"She just told me to pick something up. I didn't know it was underwear," he muttered.
Aohana paused.
"…Well, let's go."
"Huh?"
"I said, let's go." She grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.
"W–Wait!"
Too late.
The moment they stepped inside, Kuroki covered his eyes instinctively—but curiosity made him peek.
His brain short-circuited at the sight of rows upon rows of bras: simple ones, lacy ones, sports bras, colorful sets.
(T–This is insane…)
Aohana dragged him further in before finally stopping.
"So, what does she need?" she asked casually.
"Um… hold on…" Still half-covering his face, Kuroki quickly texted Satsuki.
[I'm at the place. Why didn't you tell me it was a lingerie store??]
Ping.
[You actually went inside? LMAOOOOOO]
His grip tightened around his phone.
[Just tell me what you need.]
A second later, she sent a picture of a sports bra.
"Did she say?" Aohana asked.
"Yeah. It's a sports bra." He showed her the image.
"Oh, okay."
Before he could react, she grabbed his arm again and led him toward a rack.
"I think this is it," she said, comparing the picture.
Kuroki peeked. "Yeah… that looks right."
"Okay, let's—"
"Wait." She suddenly stopped him.
She picked up two bras from a nearby rack.
"Wow, these are so cute."
She held them up—one pink, one purple with a small flower detail.
"Which one looks cuter, Kuroki?"
"What?!" His soul nearly left his body. "Um… I… the purple one…"
"Really?" Her face lit up. "I'll go try it on!"
"W–Wait—!"
She dragged him toward the fitting rooms.
"Wait here, okay?" she smiled before disappearing behind the curtain.
"A–Alright…"
Kuroki stood awkwardly in front of the changing room. He could feel the stares from the other women in the store.
(God, I just want to leave…)
Minutes passed.
(She's taking her time…)
"Ah!" Aohana yelped from inside.
"A–Are you okay?!" he called out, alarmed.
"Y–Yeah! The strap just snapped!"
(Just snapped…?)
His imagination began to run wild.
(T–That means it was too small—)
His thoughts spiraled until he realized he was grinning like an idiot.
(O–Oh crap.)
"Is everything alright?" he asked quickly.
"Yeah…" she said softly.
A moment later, she stepped out, fully dressed—but looking disappointed.
"Let's go," she said quietly.
"O–Okay."
They paid for Satsuki's sports bra and quickly exited the store.
Kuroki felt completely drained. Aohana seemed unusually quiet.
"Well… today was interesting," he said, attempting small talk.
"Yeah." She smiled gently.
"I guess I should thank you. Without you, I probably wouldn't have stepped foot in there."
"Don't worry," she said warmly. "That's what friends are for."
Friends.
The word hit him like a weight crushing his chest.
(Friends… huh.)
He forced a smile.
"Kuroki?" she asked, noticing his expression.
"It's nothing," he replied. "Do you still need to go somewhere?"
"Yeah, I was supposed to go shopping."
"I'm sorry for taking up your time." He bowed slightly.
"It's fine. I'm glad I could help a friend."
Again.
That word.
His eye twitched slightly, the heaviness returning.
"Alright, I've gotta go. Bye, Kuroki!"
She waved and walked away.
He waved back.
As soon as she turned the corner, his smile faded.
He walked to his bike in silence, the sports bra hanging from his hand.
He unlocked it and began pedaling home.
Her voice echoed in his mind.
"That's what friends are for."
"But… I don't want to be friends."
He kept pedaling, his face blank.
—
"Ugh, where is he?" Satsuki groaned, lying on her bed and eating chips.
Ping.
"Mmm? That must be Kuroki."
She checked her phone.
Her eyes widened.
"H–Huh?!"
Her body began shaking with rage.
"This… this asshole!"
She jumped off her bed.
"I'm going to kill him!"
Her phone lay open on the bed, displaying the message Kuroki had sent:
A picture of the sports bra—
Cut into pieces.
And beneath it:
[Next time, get your own stuff.]