Story of a Rhythm Game Couple

Chapter 18.5. The girl's outing

"Umm... Aunty Mia, what exactly are we doing?"

"Huh? I just said it: I've always fancied going shopping with my daughter... Or do you want to do something else?"

"That wasn't... I mean, going shopping is one thing, but why all of a sudden?"

While Sana wasn't completely on board with Mia's idea of having such an impromptu outing, she nevertheless followed her to the elevator. Once the "ding" signaled the elevator to open, they traveled down to ground level.

"Just think of it as a friend's hangout." Mia then motioned toward a distant car. "Look, there's our cab."

"But..."

"Or... do you prefer to stay back with Asahi?"

"..."

Sana didn't answer Mia's question, to which the mother couldn't help but chuckle teasingly.

"Well, there's also a few things I'd like to ask, ones that you and I couldn't discuss over the phone. This is a great opportunity."

"I'm not sure whether I should be honored or scared about it."

"I won't make it hard for you. Haha."

They boarded the cab together and headed to the mall.

"Sana-chan, do you usually go to the mall?"

"Not at all. I mean, things are quite expensive here, and I'm not particularly in the market for anything."

"Really? I think it's nice to just go around here once in a blue moon."

"It's far, and I don't really enjoy going outside that much..."

As sociable as Sana may appear to be, she was quite an indoor person. She found herself most comfortable at home, though recently the "home" in question had become Asahi's apartment. If there was no reason for her to leave, she preferred to take care of chores around the house.

Besides, the mall was quite a ride away from Asahi's home and their school, so the idea of even coming here together never once crossed their minds.

"Huh? Sana-chan?"

"Ah..."

Out of nowhere, Sana halted and fixated on one of the clothing kiosks.

"What caught your attention here?"

"Nothing; it really is nothing."

Sana turned back and attempted to walk away from the store. However, Mia grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Let's see what was on your mind."

Sana didn't try to resist and went into the store with Mia. She told herself that she was only window shopping and didn't really set eyes on anything, but she did consider it an opportunity for a personal change.

But no matter how long she spent browsing the aisles, she couldn't find anything that truly spoke to her. She then turned her focus to the men's clothing section. Since she was unlikely to buy anything for herself, she figured she should get some for Asahi.

Frankly speaking, Asahi had rather poor taste in clothing. His lack of self-consciousness meant that he frequently wore disastrously mismatched outfits. It would be fantastic if this section had something that could go well with Asahi.

As Sana was thinking about it, she spotted two garment sets in the corner of the store. Labeled "crimson red" and "midnight blue," these two colors drew her in the most. The outfits were understated, but the attention to detail on the front made them really glow. Furthermore, with their lightweight and flexible fabric, they were all suitable for wearing as pajamas or casual attire.

"Getting that for Asahi?"

As Sana gazed and imagined Asahi in them, Mia caught her unawares. Unable to deny it, Sana subtly nodded.

"Looking good, aren't they? I bet Asahi will be thrilled when he hears you picked these up for him."

"You made it sound like no one had ever gotten him any clothes before."

"Haha." Mia laughed. "There are two of them, right? Why don't you give him a call and see what he prefers?"

"I'd like him to physically be here to try these on," said Sana, reaching into her pocket to get her phone. "But I guess a phone call would work just as well."

Unfortunately, Asahi didn't pick up his phone, no matter how many times Sana tried to call him. Sitting on the floor, appearing somewhat dejected, she let out a rather disheartening sigh.

"Excuse me," Mia said, reaching out to an employee. "Could you perhaps get me two of these in XL size, please? Thank you."

"Sure, ma'am. One minute, please!"

After the shop clerk placed them in two different matching bags, Mia took out her credit card to make the purchase. Mia acted so quickly that Sana didn't know she had already paid for both of them until she pushed her to carry them.

When the transaction was complete, they hurried out of the store.

"Is it okay to buy both of these without asking Asahi-kun first?"

"It's fine. Asahi would be over the moon if he knew you personally picked these for him."

"I doubt that there would be any difference whether you or I chose new outfits for him, would it?"

"You know," Mia said, turning her head up as if in a reverie. "I bought him a lot of clothes—all of his clothes, actually—but he never really let me mix and match his styles. No matter how atrocious he looked, he still wanted to do it on his own. Haha, he was overall a nice kid back then, but he could be quite obstinate regarding these things sometimes."

"That explains his awful clothing sense." Sana made a slight chuckle.

"But, Sana-chan, I believe that he wouldn't resist and wear what you give him, knowing you went out of your way to choose them. Compared to back then, he acts very differently, especially when he's around you."

"There is no way that could be the case." Sana turned to Mia with an innocent expression. "I have come to rely on Asahi-kun so much... Thanks to him, I feel like I'm the one who acts differently, not the other way around."

"Haha. Is it really it?"

"What do you mean?"

Sana was baffled by Mia's question.

"It's hard to believe, but through today's talk with you both, I could see Asahi really had changed a lot. You see, one doesn't change oneself simply because they want to change themselves. For the change to happen, one needs a variable, and in Asahi's case, the variable was you, Sana-chan."

Sana looked so bewildered, as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"If both of you could encourage each other to be the best version of yourselves, I think it's a wonderful thing. You two are mutually supporting one other in your own way, and as a mother, I truly couldn't ask for more."

"..."

"And that's why, despite what you might think, I cherish you as my actual daughter, as a member of our family."

"Family..."

Sana suddenly stopped walking. She cast her gaze downward, and a bitter smile spread across her sour face. It was as if Mia's words had prompted her to dive deep into the maze of her own thoughts, which were now shouting out from within her, and no one could hear them except herself.

"Sana-chan?"

"Ah... yes?"

"What's wrong? Did you say something?"

Sana snapped out of her dreamlike state, and flashing such a mesmerizing smile, she turned to Mia.

"Nothing, aunty. Let's keep going."