Shopping

I should be watching "Blush Queen Futaba" right now, but….

I'm stuck with Suzuki to help with her shopping.

God, help me escape this ordeal.

"Say Tanaka, does walking together make your heart throb?" asked Suzuki.

N….Next question please, quiz master!!

"A…Absolutely not!"

"Oh~? Time for a beat check, then." suggested Suzuki.

"H…Hey, what are you doi..ng…?!!"

S….She's too close!!

She leans her head in my chest in order to listen to my heart beat!!

"You're lying. It's beating rapidly right now." revealed Suzuki.

"I….IT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE STICKING TOO MUCH TO ME!"

"Hahaha! There goes your blushing syndrome!" teased Suzuki.

GRRRR, SUZUKI!!

"That's too bad, then. Mine is really throbbing when I'm with you, Tanaka." said Suzuki.

That again…..

"Y…You're just saying that because you know that I'll be shy when I hear those words."

"..." paused Suzuki as she stares at Tanaka.

W…What's with the long pause?!

"Who knows~" added Suzuki after about 5 seconds of silence.

T…Tsk!

After a couple of minutes, we reached the local supermarket.

"What are you shopping for? Cooking for dinner?"

"Yes, I often help my mom in preparing the dinner. Y'know, a step in growing up is to learn how to cook." replied Suzuki.

"T…That's a good attribute. Hahaha, hahaha."

I'm amazed, as expected of her!

"How about you? What food do you usually cook?" asked Suzuki.

"U…Uhmm… Karaage? (Chicken Fillet)"

"That's basically only frying, Tanaka." responded Suzuki.

S…She shouldn't know that I usually play games and watch anime when I am at home!

I never cooked an actual food!

She'll mock me when this top secret is uncovered.

"Hm~ I guess you only watch anime and play games when you are at home, am I wrong?" asked Suzuki.

P….PSYCHIC!

"W…What an assumption….!"

"I guess I'm right, slacker~" said Suzuki as she smug towards Tanaka.

Tsk!!!

"There's this rumor circulating around that when you cook food for someone you like, it is likely that the percentage of him/her falling for you will grow as high as 70% ." revealed Suzuki.

"T….That sounds dumb, who even spread that ridiculous rumor?"

"Beats me. Tanaka, what's your favourite food to eat?" asked Suzuki.

Why is she asking me all of the sudden?

"I guess it would be the usual bento or maybe karaage. Why do you ask?"

"Oh, is that so? Pretty plain choices, huh?" mocked Suzuki.

Even my food choices are getting teased. You're despicable, Suzuki!

"Least favourite food?" asked Suzuki.

"Raisins and garlic, eek! They taste weird."

"Hahaha! What a kid!" ridiculed Suzuki.

"Tsk! Then what's yours?!"

"Hmm, I dislike really spicy foods. Curry is fine because the heat is mild but stuff like chilli or so, I can't." replied Suzuki.

"Oh~ How girly."

"Well, I'm a girl, after all." responded Suzuki.

"Oh, that's right. Sorry."

Hmm? She only chose a basket instead of a push cart, I haven't noticed it yet until now.

It looks heavy though.

"Ah." reacted Suzuki as Tanaka pulled the basket from her.

"The basket is full of your items so I thought it has to be heavy right now. I'll carry it for you."

"….." paused Suzuki as she looks towards Tanaka.

T…That pause again!!!

"Thanks, gentleman~" said Suzuki.

"N…No problem!"

She's smirking!

"Good thing I used a basket instead of a cart." whispered Suzuki.

What was she murmuring about?

Anyway, she's taking advantage of my shyness, huh?!

"S…Suzuki, how about a game?"

"Sure, what's the mechanics?" asked Suzuki.

She took the bait!

"You see, there's a bottle of soy sauce here in the spices section. There seems to be someone who changed his mind at buying it."

"But…" replied Suzuki but was interrupted by Tanaka.

"Sssh, let me finish. Why don't we guess the exact price of this product? Closest to the exact value, wins."

Fufufu, I can sense my absolute win.

"I'm in, you take the first move." said Suzuki.

The bottle's size, 500 ml, plus the brand of this soy sauce, this must be around 130-150 yen. Which means….

"140 yen!"

"Oh~, good guess, Tanaka." praised Suzuki.

"What's your answer, Suzuki?"

"Exactly 144 yen." answered Suzuki.

W…Why is she confident?!

She's bluffing 'coz she feels I got it right.

It must be!

"Tanaka, do the honor of checking the price in the verifier over there." suggested Suzuki.

"It is my pleasure."

Fufufu, I got thi…. WHAT?!

144 YEN?!

HOW DID SHE….?!

"Hahaha! I got it correct!" lively said Suzuki.

"H…How….?"

"Tadaah! I already placed that item in the basket earlier, airhead." disclosed Suzuki.

"Huwaaah! I should have known!"

I wasn't paying attention!

"I win, Tanaka. I wonder what penalty is appropriate for this~" declared Suzuki.

I… LOST… AGAIN…. TO HER…..

"I'll let this slip for the mean time." said Suzuki.

"Huh? Why?"

"I've seen your agonizing look of defeat and it's enough for me as a reward at this moment.

Hahaha!" ridiculed Suzuki.

"W….Whatever, let's just go to the counter."

I faced several teases within from the time we're here!

"Oh, that reminds me. Tanaka, can you fall in the line for me for a minute? I forgot some specific ingredients. Wait for me, 'kay?" requested Suzuki.

"Make it quick, please."

*sigh* Now I have to wait here.

It's already 17:30, the screening must be over by now.

I didn't even get to record it. Ugh.

Hmm….

She's taking a bit long.

.....

C…Crap, the person In front of me is having his items packed quickly.

.....

Come back now, Suzuki. We're the next one!

.....

"Hello Sir, please place the basket here." said cashier.

"O..Okay."

Just where is she….?!

...

"That would be 1200 yen, sir." said cashier.

D…Did she leave me alone here?!

My total money right now is just….. 120 yen?!

I wasn't aware I was this broke today.

"E…Excuse me, can you please add these?" asked Suzuki as she was panting.

"No problem, Ma'am." responded cashier.

"Where have you been?"

"Accumulated few important ingredients, it is." answered Suzuki.

Few, huh? Your hands were full the moment you placed it here.

...…..

After some minutes, we're finally done shopping.

"Thanks for today, Tanaka. You've been a big help." praised Suzuki.

"N…No problem."

"We should head home now. See you tomorrow, Tanaka." said Suzuki.

"W…Wait!"

"Hmm? Why?" asked Suzuki.

"S…Since it's getting dark and we're heading to an almost identical direction, l….let's walk together half of the way."

C…Come on, why am I getting worked up?! T…This is just normal! Testosterone boost!

"Hoho, playing the gentleman card, huh?" teased Suzuki.

Here she goes!!!

"Hahaha! Let's go, Tanaka." added Suzuki as she shows a genuine smile towards me.

Suzuki looks…..

Argh, snap out of it! It must have been the sunset effect. Nothing more, nothing less.

....

Night quickly passed by and it is another cold morning.

I'm in a class preparation duty again, so I expect I'm the first person in the room.

"Huh?"

Something is placed on my table, what could it be?

"B…Bento…. box!"

W…Who placed it there?!

"I…Is this kind of magic?! Maybe a ghost?!"

*door screeches*

"EEK!"

"Good morning, Tanaka." greeted Suzuki.

"G..Good morning."

Why is she early again?

"Oh, a lunch box. Where did you get it?" asked Suzuki.

"I happen to see this placed on top of my table."

"Say, who do you think gave you that bento box? Hm~" asked Suzuki.

I…It must be Koyanagi playing a prank to me.

"Must be Koyanagi…."

"Wrong answer, contestant." said Suzuki as she somehow mimics a game show host.

No, if it was Koyanagi, he must have eaten this beforehand!

Then, it means…!

She made this?!

"Would you mind sharing your answer, Tanaka? Hm~"

I….I can't possibly say that!

"B….Beats me…."

"Lame… Even though you're blushing right now." mocked Suzuki.

"I…It must be your imagination!"

"Hahahaha!" laughed Suzuki as she ridicules my reaction as usual.

-------------END OF CHAPTER 5-------------------