Chapter 161 ~ Smartphone

Chapter 161 ~ Smartphone

The sole department store and shopping mall within Tooya City was located near the center of the suburban city.

It was the largest building of the entire city at four stories high and a basement floor underground.

For a department store, the four stories high building with an additional floor for the basement level was considerably small compared to other department stores in Japan. But when compared to other buildings, the building stood out as the largest building that existed within the city.

Many visited the department store daily.

Although the shopping district would be the more popular choice to go buy groceries, cheap, yet delicious, street foods, and simple things, the department store offered more choices of restaurants, cafes, branded shops, stores, as well as a play area at the roof, making it a more popular choice for a family outing or an outing with friends.

And given it was the weekend, the mall was fairly filled with visitors.

Yuuji, Yuna, and Nina attracted the attention of many visitors as they walked around the mall. In addition to Sena being there as well, herself a beautiful young girl on par with even Yuna and Nina, many turned their heads and made multiple glances at them, in awe of their appearance.

However, having been accustomed to such attention, the four ignored the eyes and enjoyed themselves.

Filled with excitement and curious wonder, Yuna led the group while dragging Sena by the hands. Nina followed closely after her twin sister, while Yuuji followed them from behind, watching over them.

Although they had an objective, which was to buy Sena a new phone, they decided to explore the mall first and try to find things that would interest them.

Yuna and Nina originally asked Sena to be their guide and introduce them to the interestings there would be in the mall. Perhaps her favorite spots to hangout or a favorite store she’d often visit for her wardrobe.

Unfortunately... Sena was also unfamiliar with the place.

Although she lived in the city, she had almost never gone to the mall... Because she never had the reason to.

Whenever she’d like to buy something, she would simply tell her father what she wanted, and it would arrive at her doorstep the next morning.

For food, her household had a group of dedicated chefs that would cook all her meals and snacks.

For a family outing, she’d usually go abroad with her father.

For an outing with friends... Well, she never had any friends, so she didn’t have anyone to go hangout with in the mall...

‘That’s... so sad...’

Yuuji couldn't help but look at Sena pitifully when she told them this.

Her lips was curled into a depreciating smile, and her eyes were dull and empty. And Yuuji swore he could see tears beginning to pool around the corner of her eyes.

She looked... so defeated.

But fortunately, Yuna and Nina quickly cheered her up.

“D-Don’t worry! We can explore it together now!!!”

“T-That’s right...!” for new novels

Their friendship and encouraging words brought light back into Sena’s eyes, and she began nodding with tears of joy now wetting her eyes.

Since then, they stopped bringing up anything that might remind Sena of the fact that she had been friendless ever since they left her...

As would any teenage girls, the three instinctively made their way to the fashion area of the mall and began visiting the stores there.

Her cheeks blushed redly, but she put up a tough front and lifted her chin up as she shoved her new phone towards Yuuji.

And seeing her acting like this, Yuuji couldn’t help but smile teasingly at her.

“Oh~? You want my contact too?”

“D-D-Don’t misunderstand! I-It’s not like I-I want it or anything... B-But, I-I might as well have it too as back up if I can’t contact Yuna and Nina...!”

Sena doubled down on her tsundere acting, but Yuna, Nina, and Yuuji easily saw through it and couldn’t help but look at her with doting eyes. It’s like seeing a small animal trying to be tough even though it’s being extremely shy.

“Hmm~ I wonder if I should give it to you or not if you don’t really want mine...”

Yuuji tapped his chin and faked his hesitancy to give her his contact. He didn’t even try to act, but Sena showed a genuine reaction of shock and fear, afraid she won't’ be able to get his contact now after seeing his reaction.

“Heh, I’m kidding. Here you go~”

“G-Geez! W-Why did you have to say that...! Y-You should’ve just given it to me!”

“Ahahaha! It’s because you’re just so easy to tease!”

Sena glared and pouted “angrily” at Yuuji, but she still carefully copied Yuuji’s contact into her phone before naming it “Idiot Yuu-kun”.

And after exchanging their contacts, the four continued to explore the mall for a bit.

They got matching phone straps in the shape of butterflies with colored “jewels” as its wings.

Yuna got a pink one. Nina got a light blue one. Sena got a yellow one, while Yuuji got a black one.

And they all immediately used it on their phone, before going around to find some snacks for the afternoon.

As they were walking around, Yuuji noticed a gaze in his periphery that attracted his attention...

When he turned to look, he saw a young man around his age with an interesting appearance, looking at him with widened eyes.

He had blonde hair with brown tips and a pair of menacing eyes that made him look like he was perpetually glaring, even if he wasn’t.

And holding his hand was a small, cute, blonde-haired girl, dressed in a peculiar gothic lolita fashion while hugging a bunny plushie in her arms.

They were... quite the particular looking pair...

Yuuji nodded at him with a small smile, causing him to snap out of his daze. He quickly nodded back and began walking away with his, presumably, little sister.

“Hm? Yuu-kun, what’s wrong?”

Yuna asked, tilting her head as she looked at him in confusion.

“It’s nothing.”

Yuuji shook his head dismissively.

And just as the girls returned their attention to their search for some snacks, Yuuji received a notification from his group chat.

Suzuki Satoru: “Everyone.... Yggdrasil is shutting down in a few days...”