Chapter Thirty-Five: Better not to think about it; it only leads to trouble.

It is only polite to return a favor. Since Kayoko had given him a bracelet filled with such sincerity, he felt he should reciprocate.

Considering the neglect she suffered from her parents—to the point where she was still wearing clothes from her high school days—Utoka Kaye decided to buy her a few outfits.

Of course, a gift for Fujie had to be prepared as well, and it had to be more expensive than the one for Kayoko, otherwise, she would surely throw a tantrum. Come to think of it, how had he slowly transformed into such a scumbag?

However... there didn't seem to be any way to handle it otherwise. Whether it was Fujie or Kayoko, if he were to let things take their own course... then the island nation would truly be left to drift into chaos.

"Excuse me, student, this is the women's clothing section. The men's section is over..."

"I am here to buy women's clothing. Could you please help me pick out some dresses for a girl about 175 centimeters tall?"

The sales clerk listened, pondered for a moment, then wore a knowing smile as she led Utoka Kaye to make his selections.

"Since you're buying clothes, would you like to pick out a set of lingerie as well? After all, a girl's undergarments need to match, you know~"

The clerk's suggestion left Utoka Kaye in silence. How was he supposed to know Kayoko's cup size? But the clerk's point was valid; given Kayoko's home situation, she likely lacked proper undergarments, and their importance to a young girl went without saying.

"Um, I'm not entirely sure of her... cup size. If I describe it or gesture, could you figure it out?"

The clerk nodded; judging a cup size was easy enough. Then, as Utoka Kaye described it and added a gesture, the clerk’s expression turned to one of surprise.

"E?"

The letter that slipped out of the clerk's mouth made Utoka Kaye freeze for a moment before he realized why. No wonder Fujie held such hostility toward her; after all, there was a two-letter gap between them...

After going back and forth with the clerk for quite some time, he selected two dresses, a set of casual wear, and three sets of lingerie, totaling 160,000 yen.

With Kayoko's gift settled, the next challenge was the headache-inducing gift for Fujie. After all, this young lady would complain if the price wasn't right, and she’d complain if the style wasn't to her liking. Furthermore, one couldn't simply hand over a gift; there had to be a corresponding sense of ritual. If it weren't for the fact that they had grown up together, and that Fujie was indeed stunning, Utoka Kaye would have slapped her twice by now.

*Look at how spoiled I’ve made you... Well, I suppose it is my own fault...*

As for Kayoko, given her personality, she would likely say she loved whatever he bought with a happy face. But with Fujie, if he handled it poorly, it would surely be another chaotic mess.

Finally, after browsing the counters, Utoka Kaye selected a trendy dark red women’s watch for Fujie.

The watch face was entirely dark, studded with faint starlight, and the hands were designed in a hollowed-out, floating style. Naturally, the price was quite beautiful—over 340,000 yen...

Carrying a bag full of items, he hailed a taxi home. He couldn't help but lament that a taxi starting at 10,000 yen was absolutely outrageous; he wouldn't be doing that again.

The items were bought, but the timing and method of giving the gifts remained a problem. First, Fujie had to receive her gift before Kayoko so that she wouldn't feel like an afterthought and throw a fit upon discovering Kayoko had also received something. Second, he had to carefully conceive a sense of ritual for giving the gift to Fujie, even if she didn't have a specific term for it yet, she certainly had the expectation.

"Why did you call me over in the middle of the night?"

Summoned by a special signal Utoka Kaye tapped out on the courtyard incinerator, Fujie arrived wearing a black tank top and gray hot pants, looking five parts displeased. Looking at her fair, rounded shoulders and her slender, toned body, she was indeed a feast for the eyes.

"I called you over to eat."

Using a secret code just to have dinner? Fujie looked at Utoka Kaye suspiciously before following his lead to see the candlelight dinner set up on the living room table.

"...Heh, who taught you to do this?"

Amidst Fujie’s muffled laughter, Utoka Kaye shrugged, pulled out a chair for her, and then picked up the orange juice on the table.

"Cheers."

Fujie glanced at the orange juice in their hands, her expression quite strange. Resting her elbow on the table and drawing circles with her finger, her eyes held a hint of something unnamable.

"Don't you think it's strange to have a candlelight dinner without red wine? And are you really sure you don't want to drink?"

Utoka Kaye naturally understood the implication behind Fujie's words, but to avoid the nightmare scenario of him dismembering her, he decided to refuse.

"I'm sure, because I don't want to provide any excuses or reasons."

As an adult soul, Utoka Kaye understood the suggestion, but who knew what would happen if he took the bait? Actually, he and Fujie would certainly know. If his memory served him right, back in high school, he had once found a condom under his pillow... and he was certain he had never bought such a thing. At that time, the only person who came over and slept there was Fujie. So, who bought it went without saying...

"Tsk..."

Fujie pouted in annoyance and gave Utoka Kaye’s foot a sharp stomp. *That blockhead!*

He wouldn't even drink; he really didn't want to give her any excuse at all! Out there in the world, wouldn't there be countless men who would jump at the chance to drug her?

While she ate her late-night snack in hidden frustration, contemplating what excuse she could use to get a little physical with him, she saw him get up, go to the kitchen, and return with a plate covered by a bowl lid.

"I made a special dessert for you. Take a look."

Looking at the special dessert, Fujie gave Utoka Kaye a look that was half-smile, half-mockery. Although the method was cliché and very crude, it was prepared by him, so she would reluctantly—not *too* happily—reveal what was underneath.

As the lid was lifted, she saw the watch he had carefully selected. She played with it for a moment, then extended her hand toward him. Utoka Kaye followed suit, took the watch, and gently fastened it around her snow-white wrist.

"Good taste~"

"Yeah, if you like it..."

Before he could finish, a sound of someone scrambling to hold onto the table and nearly knocking over the plate interrupted him. The naturally