Go-Toubun no Hanayome √AE

Chapter 21:Summer's Memory ③

Upon opening the door to the store, everyone was greeted with tons of shelves spaced out across the vicinity. It seemed to have everything, from action figures, dolls, board games, video games and much more. Atop the wall at the back was the slogan of the company, "Life is but a game." As Raiha was checking out the dolls, the quints were exploring as well.

Nino:"They even have makeup?"

Ichika:"They have a lot of sound equipment too."

Yotsuba:"They got books and manga."

Itsuki:"Even school supplies. Magic tools, too. Mom loved those tricks."

Fuutarou:"Look at all those cameras."

Miku:"I-Is this a lifesize Takeda Shingen statue!? There's a ton of Sengoku general goodies...no, it's all historical stuff. I-Is this what heaven is like?"

Ichika:"Miku, your nose is bleeding!"

As Miku was cleaning her nose, Fuutarou noticed a desk at the very end of the hallway. There was someone wearing a tanktop reading a book. She was a slender woman of average height, with brown hair tied at the back with the hair on the side reaching her shoulders. She was wearing glasses and had a single hairpin. She had light skin and blue eyes with dark circles around her eyes. Once she noticed Fuutarou and the girls, she took out one of her earplugs and made a sign for any one of them to come. On their way there, Fuutarou noticed that she blushed upon looking at one of the sisters, but he didn't think much of it. Once they got to the desk, she put her head on her hand. Noticing something, she stared at Fuutarou.

Fuutarou:[Why's she staring at me?]

Upon closing her eyes, she finally spoke.

"Welcome. What will you be having?"

Miku, immediately pulling out her wallet with the Takeda Shingen's emblem in her eyes, had to be stopped by Nino before blowing all her money away on figures.

Raiha:"Do you have any books on flowers?"

"Yeah, over on isle eleven."

Raiha:"Thank you!"

Itsuki:"Is this place new? I don't think I've ever heard of this store."

The woman nodded.

"We used to be a local business, but recently, the owner has begun branching out. I was sent here to study something, but I'll be leaving soon now that my job is done."

Yotsuba:"There's a lot of stuff here."

"It's usually quite busy, but we were told this location would become private for the day...Should you be here?"

Itsuki:"Ah, well, you see..."

"I get it, you're the VIPs. Well, take your time...I'm gonna keep reading."

Ichika:[Not much of a talker, huh?]

Before she could put her earbud back in, her ears twitched. Without hesitation, she began to speak to seemingly nobody.

"It's unlocked."

Suddenly, a door relatively far away opened with someone walking out.

Fuutarou:[She knew someone was coming? I didn't hear anything.]

"Heeho~~, Yae-chan!"

The woman who's name had been shouted dropped her earbud..

Yae:"Stop yelling, Sandy. Your voice hurts my ears."

Sandy:"Soooorrry!"

The man who had just gotten in was covered in makeup. From his face, to his arms, to his spiky, unkempt hair had signs of aesthetic makeup all over. Any more and he could be powder in clothes. He had an assortment of different colored wear, from a fur coat, to baggy pants. He was covered in jewelry. His eyes were also different colors due to his two special contacts, one purple, one yellow. A collective "Who's this weirdo?" was thought up by basically everyone in his presence.

Nino:[This guy reeks of chemicals. I'm surprised he hasn't poisoned himself.]

Sandy:"I see we have guests! It's been a slow day, ah, you must be the special ones today. My name's Sandy! It's not my real name, but that doesn't matter, it's what everyone calls me! Oh, what do we have here?"

Sandy got up close to Fuutarou, looking at him intensely.

Fuutarou:[What is with these people and staring?]

Sandy:"Hmm, interesting."

Sandy then looked up at Fuutarou's hair.

Sandy:"Your hair has signs of tampering, you've bleached your hair before."

Fuutarou:"How did you...?"

Sandy:"That stuff never truly goes away."

Fuutarou:"Really? That sucks. Anyway, yes, I've done it, but I stopped in middle school."

Sandy:"That's a shame, you'd make a cute delinquent."

Fuutarou:"You'd probably prefer my dad..."

Sandy turned toward the girls.

Sandy:"Quintuplets, huh? And ho~w sweet, you all have little accessories. Oh, sweetie, your nails are pretty."

Nino:"You noticed, huh? Painted them with care."

As the two were talking, Itsuki got a phone call. Seeing it was Shimoda, she began to take it while walking away. But, even with the distance she was making, Yae's ear twitched again.

Yae:[That voice, I've heard it before...]

Before she could continue her thoughts, Sandy, having finished his conversation with Nino, suddenly remembered the reason he was there.

Sandy:"Yae-chan! Why didn't you tell me about our next meeting!? Our owner was wondering about us."

Yae:"I didn't feel like speaking up. You should take that advice too."

Sandy:"No time to argue, let's go, we can catch up if we at least video chat!"

Taking Yae by the wrist, the annoyed woman and the flamboyant man began to leave.

Sandy:"Since you're the special guests, I'll assume we can leave you here. Just don't steal anything, Mr. Delinquent!"

Fuutarou:"What the hell? Do I really look like that?"

Miku:"You do have the eyes of a villain."

Fuutarou:"Can't really change that, can I?"

Miku giggled.

Fuutarou:"What about that was funny?"

Miku:"Take a guess. Come on, let's make sure Raiha-chan found her books."

Fuutarou, following Miku, noticed Itsuki panicking.

Itsuki:"I know, I know. I'll make sure to look over them. Please, Shimoda, I'll make sure to be as good as my mom, promise."

Fuutarou:[Wonder what's making her like that.]

...

Sandy:"So, are you wondering about what the meeting will be."

Yae:"No."

Sandy:"I'm sure he'll give us our next assignment. For such a boring looking bald man, he has a good taste for talent."

Yae:"He likes to send us to random places, though."

Sandy:"By the way, did you notice?"

Yae:"Hm?"

Sandy:"That boy, we've seen him before."

Yae:"Oh, I guess. Compared to your disco ball of a suit, all men start looking the same."

Sandy:"Ha, you sure are a case, huh? My girlfriend said she knew him...Hmm..."

...

Soon after, Fuutarou and the others left the store, ready to continue the rest of their day off.

End of Chapter 21