Shopping Spree and Karaoke Showdown
Sssshhh—! Ssshh—! Umi changed clothes in the fitting room. Honestly, she could have done it quietly, but she made noise on purpose.
Huh. Men are so simple. The sound of her changing alone would spark their imagination.
Perfect... it's summer clothes, so plenty of skin showing... Umi smirked at her reflection.
Yeah!! I'll definitely make Shota go head over heels this time! With the resolve of a warrior heading into battle, Umi dramatically flung open the fitting room curtain.
"How's this?" Umi called straight to Shota.
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Back to Shota's POV.
"Ooh... looks good," I said sincerely. It was a frilly, airy sundress. Being summer wear, it emphasized coolness and freshness.
"But... isn't the floral pattern a bit much? It's pretty, but it feels like it's aiming too hard for cute. Don't you have something simpler in a solid color?"
Since I'd been dragged along as the reaction-and-review guy, I put real effort into my feedback.
"Hmm... you think so? You've got a surprisingly good eye for fashion," Umi said thoughtfully.
"Umi, you're already pretty without dressing up cute. It feels like your beauty gets overshadowed by the clothes. Something less flashy, with accessories for accent, would suit you better."
"Tch, 'pretty without dressing up'... aren't you embarrassed saying stuff like that?" Umi's face flushed as she spoke.
"I'm Shopping Man. No room for embarrassment."
"Shopping Man... uhuhuhu! You're so ridiculously shameless. Uhuhuhu!" Umi's laugh exploded right away.
"Got it. Next outfit!!" Umi dove back into the fitting room.
After that, I watched Umi's fashion show, offering timely advice. The result? She bought every single thing she tried on. Then why ask for my opinion? She also grabbed some point-accenting accessories.
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Just before leaving the store, Umi asked me, "By the way, aren't you buying anything?"
"Huh? Nah. Got my uniform."
"No... we wear casual clothes on weekdays."
Umi's eyes sparkled. Oh... this pattern. The one where she picks clothes for me. That'd drag out this boring shopping trip even longer. I dodged immediately.
"My clothes haven't ripped yet. No reason to buy new."
"Uhahahaha! 'No reason... since they haven't ripped.' Uhuhuhu! That's hilarious! Please stop being so funny..." Umi shook with laughter she couldn't hold back.
She really cracks up easy. Anyway, we put off my shopping and headed to the next spot.
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Back to Umi's POV. Umi belatedly remembered her original goal.
Oh right... I came to seduce Shota...
But she'd forgotten that midway.
It's just too fun!! Shopping was a blast. He waited without complaint, and they even had deep fashion talks. Plus, his occasional lines tickled her funny bone.
Seduction can wait... let's just enjoy this. Umi decided to stretch out their time together as long as possible.
Get closer first!! Then turn him into my slave! That was her rationalization.
As Umi tried to refocus on her goal—
"Here, let me carry the bags. That's why you brought me, right?" Shota casually lifted her shopping bags.
So gentlemanly!!!! It wasn't the showy chivalry guys pull to impress girls. It was effortless maturity—pure catnip for Umi.
Heeeuuuugh... A weird moan escaped her mind.
Soon, Umi stared openly at Shota's face. Not handsome by conventional standards, but those oddly sparkling eyes and kind impression drew her in.
Why does he look so hot?!?! Umi screamed silently inside.
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Back to Shota's POV.
Man... what a trip down memory lane.
Monday of the first week played out differently from the original game. The guy I possessed, Arikiri Shota, hits on Umi obsessively from day one. The player blocks it, creating a slight connection.
But Arikiri Shota doesn't quit—he stalks her at night. After a scuffle, they part, a monster appears, and he gets killed. Next day, his body's found.
The curious protagonist grills Umi, the last one to talk to him. True to his action-hero vibe, he sneaks to the scene at night without cops. Player fights their first monster.
Did I... hog all of Umi's connection? The thought made me uneasy.
But what could I do? I politely refused, but Umi clung on relentlessly.
If this could be my last day alive... a date-like outing with a beauty like this ain't bad. I'd allow it.
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"Karaoke!! Let's hit karaoke!!" Umi said in full excitement.
"Karaoke... ah, classic high school girl pick."
But... do I even know any songs? The only Japanese ones I know are total weeb bait.
"You aren't tone-deaf, are you?" Umi grinned.
"I don't sing great."
Honestly, singing in front of people felt awkward now.
"I wanna hear Shota sing."
She seemed even more eager after that. Is she planning to roast me at karaoke? I saw through it.
But backing out now would hurt my pride more.
"Let's go. Karaoke."
"Ooh, full of spirit?" Umi beamed and headed straight to a downtown karaoke spot.
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Japanese-style karaoke. First time for me. Pay by the hour, stupid expensive. Didn't expect billiard-hall prices.
Worth it? Private rooms, top gear. You could even order food. Drinks were aggressively pushed, of course.
Like a board game cafe on steroids. Felt like they'd crammed in every flashy annoyance. I'd stocked up on anti-Japan vibes at the conbini, and now they were sprouting like weeds.
Why no coin karaoke...? Best value.
"Alright, you go first."
I handed Umi the mic.
"Why say it like you're being generous?" Umi gave a wry smile.
"If I crush it first, you'll lose motivation. Don't wanna sing solo."
"So full of yourself!! You said you couldn't sing earlier!!"
Umi giggled loudly.
"Ah... right. But your taunt fired me up for real."
I swept back my hair dramatically.
"Uhahahaha! Quit the cringy weeb lines!!"
Umi's laugh erupted again.
"Fine!! Me first!"
Umi punched in a song number. Something sweet—she sang a fresh, upbeat love tune. I clapped and reacted appropriately.
She nailed it. Solid for an amateur. 95 points on the machine—pretty high.
"How was my singing?" Umi puffed up proudly.
"Yeah. Good job."
I praised honestly.
"...for a rookie."
Then added that.
"Uhahaha! Cocky bastard!! Let's see yours!!"
Umi cackled and shoved the remote at me.
I skimmed the songbook. Yep. Anison section.
Aaah... my anime song folder's burning. I picked a famous magical girl OP—even normie girls know it.
"Oh! This song!"
Umi knew it too—lost in nostalgia instantly. Exactly the effect I wanted.
The catchy anime intro ended. I grabbed the mic.
"Dokkiridokki dongdong!!"
I even did the dance moves.
"Chikara ga haitara doshi yoooooot!!!!!!! Dotsuru!!!!"
Today, I was Apollo, god of music.
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Song over, I exhaled.
96 points
"Hmph... not bad."
Trick to maxing karaoke scores? Steady volume over a threshold, hit the beat lines. Binary machine—piece of cake. My win.
Aaah... anticlimax. Expected a worthy foe.
"Uhuhuhuhu... please... stop... being funny... uhahahahaha! Even the dance... uhahahaha!"
Umi was doubled over, dying laughing.
"Feel the gap in power?"
I struck a pose at the score screen.
"Just 1 point!! What're you bragging about!!"
Umi raged belatedly.
"Aaah... to you, it's just 1 point, huh."
She hadn't grasped the deeper meaning yet.
"Aaaargh! So annoying!!!"
Umi snatched the remote and queued her next song.
"I'll win for sure!!!"
Umi burned with fighting spirit, grinning.
The karaoke battle heated up. We booked 1 hour—extended to 2, sang our hearts out.
Umi won in the end.
With light hearts, we left the karaoke place.