Contrary to my turbulent days of summer vacation, the mood looming over the station was peaceful. Normally, students would fill this place to the brim, but classes were (thankfully) canceled due to some anniversary. Today, Kurosaki and I were going to the mall. Since I arrived too early for our 2 PM rendezvous, I just chilled and watched the crowd of people flow.
The streets hustled and bustled. Little kids happily held onto their parents as they toddled along the road. Office workers hastily marched around, phone in hand, hoping to make it in time. A woman held onto their man, both visibly head over heels for each other.
When I observe people, I sometimes enjoy guessing their backgrounds, emotions, and thoughts. Doing that makes me feel as though I live a life other than my own.
While my eyes perambulated the mob, they caught sight, rather they were caught by a figure that stood out among all others. She wore a black summer knit and donned brown pants. Her inwardly curled bob prevented her pale neck from being too exposed, and its second, much flashier color served as a distraction from her exposed shoulders.
Her cat eyes met mine and she broke into a corner-to-corner smile. Joyful, she sprung in my direction, waving her hand.
“Senpai~! Good morning!”
“It’s noon already, but morning.”
“My morning starts just when I see my senpai! Um, did you wait for long?”
“Nah, I just got here as well.”
With a textbook reply, we headed to a shopping mall just outside the station. Normally, when she wore a uniform, she was just another chirpy high schooler, a bit too beautiful for her own age. Today’s outfit, though, was a bit more mature than usual. Thanks to her witty style and nice face, she could pass as a college student rather easily. Her clothes were so thin, her badonkas swayed as she walked, and even though she was by my side, I could see them from the corner of my eye.
“I wonder where you’re looking at~?”
“No, no, I’m just thinking how neat and pretty you look today, Kurosaki.”
“Hmm… I’ll leave it at that. Well, you look cool… too.”
“I’m glad, thanks.”
I didn’t lie, but it seems I managed to escape from certain doom. In the meantime, we arrived at the entrance of the mall and looked up at the info map.
“I wanna go to the arcade, but I also wanna go to Castle Records and Advant as well.”
“There aren’t many customers, so let’s just take our time and walk around.”
“Mhm! Let’sago~!”
The first place we visited was Advant, or Advance Avant-Garde. It’s a bookstore that carries many subcultures and niche items. Even though it’s called a bookstore, it’s also a popular store that delights the young with its mysterious, yet abundant lineup of anime goodies and obscure foreign snacks. We made the effort to visit the place from time to time.
“Senpai, senpai! Captain Avocado’s new book is out!”
“Oh, that movie hooked you, eh Kurosaki? —Wait, 3200 yen?! That’s expensive!” (TL: 3200 yen is roughly 24 USD.)
YOU ARE READING
I cut off the exes that ridiculed me
Romance"You're just like a s*ave, Yuta-kun!" Those abusive words made me rethink myself in a new light. My model ex-girlfriend, my junior, and the best maid of the café all constantly abused me. I don't need these kinds of people in my life, nor do I need...
