Chapter 269: Random Encounter
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 269: Random Encounter
「A music box? Isn't that a little too old-fashioned for a Christmas present?」
"…You think so?"
I was pretty sure music boxes were often used in old rom-coms as a symbol of a promise or something.
Disheartened by Chiaki's unexpectedly cool reaction, I lowered my hand.
「I'd prefer something a little more practical.」
Something more practical, huh…
Pulling myself together, I looked around until I spotted something and let out a small "Ah!"
"Then what about that?"
Chiaki's eyes followed my finger.
What I was pointing at with such confidence was a digital wristwatch, the kind you could see anywhere on the street.
「A watch?」
"It's exactly what you're looking for. You can keep it for a long time, and it's practical."
Smartphones may have made wristwatches less of a necessity these days, but they're still useful to have.
「Hmm—」
Seemingly intrigued by my explanation, Chiaki moved closer to inspect the wristwatches in the display case.
Since I was fairly confident in my choice this time, I walked over to her side.
"So? See anything you like?"
Chiaki's reply was:
「Nope.」
A firm rejection.
"…What is it this time?"
Feeling my confidence start to wane, I asked for a reason. Chiaki crossed her arms and said.
「The designs aren't very pretty. If I'm giving a gift, I want it to be pretty.」
"Well, they have regular analog watches too."
I casually pointed to the display case next to us. Chiaki gasped, "Oh!" and practically shoved her face into the glass.
「This one! I'll take this one!」
The watch Chiaki had chosen was from the famous brand SEIKO.
It had an orange accent color, the same as Ryuji's hair, and its casual yet clean design seemed perfect for a student.
"Oh, that's not bad."
「Right? Right?」
Pleased by my compliment, Chiaki puffed out her chest proudly.
Moments like this really made it feel like Chiaki's mental age was stuck in her childhood.
I smiled wryly and was about to call a clerk to get the watch she'd picked out when I froze, my eyes landing on the price tag below.
"…Wait a minute, Chiaki. What did you say your budget was?"
「Huh? 5,000 yen?」
"This is 14,900 yen."
「──」
Hearing a price nearly three times her budget, Chiaki's eyes became little dots.
「Maybe…」
Chiaki started to say something, but I cut her off a beat faster with a firm refusal.
"Forget it."
*
「Ten thousand yen! Just lend me ten thousand yen!」
"Sometimes, a person has to know when to give up."
They say people in love start to resemble each other, but I never thought she'd even resemble me in trying to borrow money.
I tried to ignore Chiaki desperately clinging to me and just walked straight ahead, but whenever she fell behind, she'd use her ghostly advantage to pop right back in front of me.
Maybe it was because she was a powerful, yokai-class ghost with immense Yin energy, but a strange chill ran through me every time she passed through my body.
I quickly circulated the Yang energy in my body to drive out the chill and asked Chiaki, who was pestering me right in front of my face.
"Let's say I do lend you the money. How do you plan on paying me back?"
At that, the girl who had been making such a fuss just moments before averted her gaze.
「Well…」
"See? How can I trust you and lend you the money when you're like this?"
As I shrugged and walked past her, Chiaki belatedly shouted.
「If you need my power later, I'll lend it to you anytime!」
Hmm?
That was a better offer than I expected. I turned back.
"Anytime?"
Thinking I'd taken the bait, Chiaki's face brightened instantly.
「Anytime!」
It wasn't a bad deal.
If I lent her the ten thousand yen as a sort of donation, I'd be able to borrow her power whenever I wanted.
Her Stand power that could even 'freeze' time, combined with my body and Hayate's power, would make me truly invincible…!
"Alright. We have a deal."
「Yes!」
And just like that, for a mere ten thousand yen, I purchased an all-access pass to Chiaki.
*
「Hee hee—」
"You're that happy?"
「Of course! It's the first Christmas present I've ever given Ryuji!」
Chiaki said, gazing lovingly at the shopping bag in my hand.
My precious ten thousand yen may have vanished from my wallet, but seeing her so happy, it didn't feel like a complete waste of money.
We were done picking out gifts for each other, but it felt a bit of a shame to head straight home. We decided to stop by a fast-food restaurant for a bit.
Ding!
"Welcome! To the Mc○Donald's that delivers happiness!"
"…Fuma-senpai?"
"Hah, Kim Yoo-Sung?!"
Clearly not expecting to run into someone she knew while working, Fuma-senpai jumped in surprise and pulled her cap down low.
But even if she covered her face, she couldn't hide her chest, which was the largest of any girl I knew.
Just how big was she if even a baggy shirt couldn't hide her volume?
"Wh-what are you doing here?"
"We came to a fast-food restaurant to eat hamburgers."
"Just the two of you?"
"If you count ghosts, then yes, there are two of us."
I glanced at Chiaki beside me as I spoke, and she blinked in bewilderment.
「Who is this person? How can she see me?」
"You don't remember? We went to that Western-style house you used to live in together."
「Ah! The jiggly ninja from back then!」
"Who are you calling a jiggly ninja!"
Fuma-senpai, who rarely got angry, snapped back when Chiaki called her by that strange nickname.
Her voice was quite loud, and I noticed other people looking toward the counter where we were standing and whispering.
"Did you hear that? 'Jiggly'."
"Is that guy sexually harassing her in public?"
"Should we call the police…?"
Why did it feel like I was the one getting blamed for everything?
"Ah, sorry. I got a little carried away."
Having finally grasped the situation, Fuma-senpai cleared her throat with a "Ahem!"
Then she whispered in a low voice.
"It's peak time right now, so I'm busy. Let's talk in a bit."
"Ah, okay."
Tears welled up in my eyes seeing Fuma-senpai still working so hard at her part-time job, even though she was graduating in just three months.
「But why is that woman working here?」
"It's a complicated situation."
「A complicated situation?」
"It's a long story, so I'll skip the details."
「…That's mean.」
When I dodged her question, Chiaki puffed up her cheeks like a blowfish.
It was the kind of action that would be cringey if a normal high school girl did it, but on Chiaki, with her young girl appearance, it looked picturesque.
Anyway, as I was chatting with Chiaki and eating my hamburger, Fuma-senpai came up to the second floor carrying a tray with her own burger.
"Senpai."
"There you are."
I waved, and she strode over and sat down across from me.
"Is it okay for you to be slacking off during work?"
"It's my meal break. Employees take turns eating lunch."
Fuma-senpai said as she unwrapped her hamburger.
"The great thing about working at Mc○Donald's is that I can make any hamburger I want for my meal. It's on a different level from discarded convenience store rice balls."
"I-I see."
It felt a bit like she was bragging, but knowing Fuma-senpai's usual eating habits, I couldn't bring myself to make a snide comment.
"Did you quit your old convenience store job?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah. The manager was sexually harassing me."
"Sexually harassing you?"
"It happens sometimes, doesn't it? People using their position to boss around their subordinates."
"…Let's go to the police station after we eat."
"I appreciate the concern, but it's fine. I already took care of him."
"You did?"
"I heard he needed about twelve weeks to recover. The manager tried to sue me for assault, but my grandfather pulled some strings, and instead, the manager's past crimes were exposed and he was the one who ended up in jail."
It was a relief that justice was served.
If this had turned into one of those frustratingly unjust, Korean-style endings, I would have stepped in and messed up the manager myself.
"Anyway, you there, the ghost."
「Huh? Me?」
"Who else here is a ghost?"
Fuma-senpai said bluntly, sipping her cola through a straw.
"What kind of lingering attachment do you have that's keeping you wandering the mortal plane instead of passing on?"
「Lingering attachment? I don't have anything like that.」
Fuma-senpai chuckled and rested her chin on her hand.
"That's what most ghosts say. But for a ghost, a lingering attachment—a han—is, in a way, their very reason for being. The desire to achieve something they couldn't in life is what keeps them here, unable to cross the Sanzu River."
Fuma-senpai's explanation raised a question in my mind.
"As far as I know, this girl's wish was to meet her childhood friend, Ryuji. Does she still have something you could call a lingering attachment?"
Hearing my question, Fuma-senpai wagged her index finger back and forth.
"You only know half the story, Kim Yoo-Sung. Human desire is endless. Fulfill one wish, and another one quickly takes its place. In other words, there's no reason a ghost should only have a single wish held in their heart."
"So you're saying Chiaki still has an unfulfilled wish?"
"She might not admit it herself, but that's likely the case."
I looked over at Chiaki, who was listening to our conversation with a fascinated expression while munching on the french fries she'd received as an offering.
'…This girl has a lingering attachment?'
Honestly, it was hard to believe.
But since I was a complete layman when it came to this stuff, I had no choice but to trust the expert, Fuma-senpai.
With that thought, I crumpled up my empty hamburger wrapper.