V4: Chapter 30. It is a Shopping Day? (Part 2)

Chapter 30. It is a Shopping Day? (Part 2)

It was a pleasant afternoon in a shopping mall, with the air conditioning on and a comfortable environment. we'd spent the morning looking at clothes, but the fact that we could find furniture in one place like this is definitely one of the biggest attractions of large commercial facilities.

We needed a shelf to put small items on, so I took Chinatsu-chan to a furniture store. I found a wood-grain cabinet that looked just right, but I was worried about the size...

"What size would fit?"

"The space for the shelf is..."

Up until now, the disadvantages had been more apparent, but in times like these, her photographic memory is really useful.

Normally, I'd have to write down the layouts of all the furniture, but... she never forgets anything she's learned. It's impossible for me to buy something only to find out there's no space.

"Are there any other pieces of furniture that would look good? Is there anything you want, Nacchan?"

"...Not really."

The problem was that she herself didn't have any materialistic desires. It might be wrong for an outsider to comment, but that room was far too bare. She didn't seem to be particularly fond of decluttering either.

"I'm... happy with whatever you're choosing for me."

"Really? Well, then, without hesitation, maybe a new barista machine next time..."

"Please be normal."

From large full-length mirrors, chairs and desks, to the latest white goods... I picked out items while observing her reactions, knowing that she probably wouldn't redecorate unless there was an opportunity like this. I think I've got most of the furniture now.

"Having a shelf is fine and all. But what should I put on it?"

"Houseplants... or maybe some of my merchandise?"

"...I don't dislike that about you."

Then, she suddenly stopped. In front of her were panda plushies lined up in a display case.

"Do you want one?"

"I don't know. I don't feel the need, but..."

She're so rigid, way too rigid... Because it's cute, because it's fun, because it's delicious. Those are enough reasons to want something.

"There's no benefit to having this plushie in the room...right?"

"Isn't it okay to want something if you want it? You don't need any other reason."

"Is that... how it is?"

"That's how it is!"

In the end, I somewhat forcefully put the plushie in the cart and headed to the checkout. If there's something she's even slightly interested, I'll take it. Attachment can also be a wedge to keep her tied down.

After that, we continued to buy slippers and other small items that seemed like they might be useful. The bill was exorbitant for a middle schooler, but it wasn't much compared to what I earned as Satellite.

Every year, trends change, and at this age, my body is still growing. Therefore, this shopping is necessary and inevitable. The reason I'm making these excuses is simply because I wanted something new.

"Another change of clothes...?"

"This time it's a swimsuit. What we looked at at lunchtime was clothes and underwear... they have different uses, different purposes."

"...That's true, but..."

Every year, various manufacturers release new swimsuits. Some girls are fine with the school-issued swimsuit... but I don't want to compromise on fashion.

When it comes to wanting to look good, I won't compromise!

"Besides, you can't go to the beach without a swimsuit, right?"

"I understand I need one. I'll just get something..."

"Don't worry! I'll carefully choose one that suits you!!!"

"Are you even.... listening to me...?"

We've made plans to go to the beach together during summer vacation.

This is also a present for someone, but... I'll talk about that when the time is right. For now, today we're choosing swimsuits for the beach.

A one-piece swimsuit that evokes a summery feel would be nice, but a cute flared bikini with frills is also tempting. As a junior high school student, maybe I should try a slightly more mature tie-side bikini.

Squire, I mean,... what kind of swimsuit would suit Chinatsu-chan? I come up with and discard several options in my head, selecting the swimsuits she should try on. She has fair skin, and even though she uses sunscreen, she's probably not very resistant to UV rays. Considering that, a rash guard would be a good idea too.

Since she's wearing a rash guard, the swimsuit underneath should be simple...but it's okay to be a little bolder.

No, in fact, it's better to be bolder. That must be it.

Thinking that, I chose a white hoodie-style rash guard and a simple black ribbon bikini underneath. The only question is whether she'll like it... but first, let's try it on.

"Should I close the front?"

"With this type, it's more stylish to wear it as a cover-up and leave the front open, right?"

She appears, looking a little embarrassed, having finished changing. The black bikini looks great against her fair skin. For sun protection and style in the summer, adding a hat might be a good idea.

"When you stare at me like that...it's embarrassing."

"It looks good, it suits you! You look really cute!"

"...Really? Then this is fine."

Perhaps not used to being complimented, Chinatsu-chan blushes slightly and heads back to the fitting room to change.

By the way, I bought a white off-the-shoulder swimsuit. I just couldn't resist the temptation of frills, and the design was to my liking too. I'm really looking forward to seeing what swimsuits the other members will buy.

Having finished buying most of what we planned, we had some time to spare, so we wandered around the shopping mall aimlessly. Even without buying anything in particular, just looking at the merchandise like this is fun. Window shopping...is that what it's called?

"...This."

"Come to think of it, wasn't it here from the day before yesterday?"

As we walked along, our eyes were drawn to a crane game in an arcade we happened to come across. After all, what was displayed inside were chibi-style plushies of us.

Besides Satellite, there were also Gracia and Bradia...and Squire. As expected, or rather, naturally... there was no Tinkerbell.

Well, I suppose it's understandable from a popularity standpoint. I'm sure you can find it somewhere if you look hard enough, though.

"Want me to get it for you if you want it?"

"Are you good at this?"

"Well, leave it to me."

It's ironic that the idea of ​​my merchandise being displayed seems to be becoming a reality, but this encounter must also be fate.

There's no way I, of all people, can't brilliantly clear one or two crane games.

The crane's arm stopped perfectly still, slowly descended, and grabbed the head of the Satellite doll...

"Isn't the arm too weak!?"

"I didn't say which doll I wanted..."

"......Ah."

I was being far too self-conscious. My face is a little hot from embarrassment, but I continue. It may be obvious, but the more popular the item in a crane game, the harder it is to win. So, if you want to get it quickly, you need to be creative with your technique.

This time, I stopped the crane arm precisely a short distance from the doll's head. As the arm slowly lowered... it slipped perfectly between the product description tag attached to the doll and the transparent ring connecting them, hooking onto the arm and lifting upwards.

"Amazing, so skillful!"

"Right? For me, this is a piece of cake."

It might be a little cheating, but the exceptional spatial awareness I had—or rather, had acquired—through using Magic came in handy.

Just like a fire-attribute magical girl who uses fire, or Gracia who uses ice... abilities often grow in conjunction with the Magic one uses.

In my case, it's the ability to perceive space within one meter and intuitively understand the forces acting on that space. This is also why I understand the Earth's orbital and rotational directions without even having to look them up.

"Just a moment, okay?"

"Oh, Nacchan, you wanted to try too?"

Saying that, Chinatsu-chan inserted a 500 yen coin into the crane game, her face serious as she faced the crane. On her fourth attempt, she finally managed to slip the arm's claws between the doll's arms and body, and the doll slowly lifted up, free-falling towards the drop-off point, following gravity.

She was surprisingly skillful; I wondered if she'd seen how to do it somewhere.

"I saw it on TV."

"I see, you're good, but... it's unexpected?"

"Here you go."

Just as I was thinking that, she handed me the gray-haired magical girl doll she'd just won.

Indeed, she didn't seem like the type to want her own doll, but it seemed like it was a present.

"I can't keep receiving things from you like this."

"If that's the case, then I'll gratefully accept it."

She's being quite conscientious, even though I don't need to worry about it. I choose things because I want to, and I give things because I want to.

That said, gifts from friends are always nice.

As I put the Squire doll into the provided bag, she did the same, putting the Satellite doll into her bag and holding it carefully.

"There's one more shop I'd like to visit. Is that okay?" (Chinatsu)

"Of course, let's go then!"

★

Led by her, who had unusually expressed a desire for something, we walked through the shopping mall. What we found there was something completely different from what I had imagined her to be... in a way, something she didn't seem to need.

"You want a camera? I didn't picture you as someone who'd like that kind of device..."

"That's true, for someone like me who can't forget anything... it's unnecessary."

A photographic memory device. For her, who can remember everything as images, there should be no need to take pictures and look back at them later.

"But, the world I just saw. The beautiful things, the fun things..."

That was a small but undoubtedly significant step for her.

"Sharing it with someone, like you, wouldn't be so bad, would it?"

She had decided to not only read other people's minds, but also to communicate her own thoughts and feelings to someone.

"I see... I see. Have you decided what you want to photograph first?"

"Yes, I've decided."

She paid for the rather expensive SLR camera. She insisted on buying it with her own money, and we headed home with the camera. It was already getting dark outside; they say time flies when you're having fun, and that seemed to be true.

The furniture and other items we bought will probably arrive by postmail sometime tomorrow. When that happens, I intend to take responsibility and help with the redecorating. But still, I can't stop wondering what she wanted to photograph first.

★

When entering and leaving the Magical Girl Association, I naturally transform into a magical girl before going in and out. Otherwise, if my face is photographed, it would almost certainly confirm that I'm a Magical Girl. 

Therefore, I transform in a suitable private room before heading to Squire's private room in the back of the association.

"Phew, I'm really tired... but it was fun."

"Yeah, I'm tired."

We arrived at her private room. Putting down our spoils of the day, I literally felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. I definitely bought too much.

Chinatsu took a camera out of the box and pointed the lens at me.

Because of my profession, or rather, my usual habit, I started to pose, but... I suspect that's not the kind of photo she wants to take. I deliberately avoided looking at the camera and shifted my gaze to the corner of the room.

A click of the camera shutter rang out. Turning towards it, I saw her nodding with a satisfied expression.

It seemed I was her first ever subject.

"So, lie down on the bed?"

"Huh? Okay, but... why?"

I was pushed down onto the bed as instructed. It was a composition I'd seen somewhere before. But I can't quite remember where it was. It was definitely recent, though...

"A secret private photoshoot with a beautiful cosplayer..."

At that single word, a cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

You're kidding, right?

I want you to tell me you're kidding!

There's no way I've remembered something like that since meeting her, I can say that with absolute certainty. It's not the kind of thing I'd think about in a shopping mall in broad daylight.

"It's not just what you're thinking that I can read. The fantasies you were using yesterday. Is this... what you call... 'side dish'?"

"...!?"

"Good. So you like this kind of thing too, huh?"

The shutter clicked. My blushing face is probably perfectly captured in the camera's memory.

I knew Squire never forgets, but being reminded of it like this... is incredibly embarrassing.

"I'm a little regretful about treating you like a dress-up doll, you know? So today..."

"No, you did it with Chloe and Amane too... I don't want to be left out."

After she smoothly lifted my skirt, the shutter clicked again.

A daring photo, with camera work that barely concealed the pure white fabric.

I could push her away if I wanted to. I'm sure I don't resist because I don't want to hurt her.

Surely, surely that's all.

"I'll capture all sorts Shizuku on camera... okay?"

"Ah, haha... can I just tell my mom I'm staying the night first?"

Even though I was transformed, the reason she deliberately called out my name... I understood without thinking too deeply.

Starting with a "ping" sound as a message app was sent... she traced her slender fingers along my thigh... and slowly lifted and spread my legs. Then, the shutter clicked again.　

"Mmm, mmm. Ah, ah... If you don't want these photos to be spread around... you know what to do, right?"

"I'll do anything... anything at all...♡"　
　
And then, the shutter clicked again—it echoed through the room.

Over and over again.