The Delinquent Shimizu-san Sitting Next to Me Has Dyed Her Hair Black-Chapter 4Volume .1 - Shimizu-san and Shopping

Shimizu-san and Shopping 1

“Daiki, wait up for a moment!”

It was a week into the second term, and as I was about to head to the Astronomy Club’s room after school, Toshiya called out to me.

“What’s up, Toshiya?”

“There’s something I need to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“I want you to come with me on a shopping trip.”

“Shopping? Oh, for the class’s festival booth?”

Our class decided on a festival-themed presentation for the event. Specifically, we were going to make and sell food like yakisoba and takoyaki.

“Yeah. We don’t need to buy the ingredients just yet, but we do need to buy decorations and check the prices of ingredients at the store to set our prices. I said I’d do it, but I don’t think I can finish it all in one day by myself. So please, I’m begging you! Help me with the shopping!”

I wanted to help Toshiya if possible, but there was something I needed to check first.

“I’m supposed to have drama practice with the Astronomy Club today, so is it okay if I ask Shimizu-san and Seto-san first?”

“Oh right, the Astronomy Club is putting on a play for the festival. If you’re busy with practice, I can ask someone else. Does it look like you’ll be free?”

“We were planning to do a script reading with just me, Shimizu-san, and Seto-san today, so I think they’ll understand if I explain the situation.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”

“Yeah, then let’s go to the Astronomy Club’s room to check with them.”

“Alright!”

Toshiya and I grabbed our things and headed to the Astronomy Club’s room.

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***

“...So that’s the situation, but would it be okay if I went shopping with Toshiya?”

A few minutes after arriving in the clubroom, I explained the situation to Shimizu-san and Seto-san.

“I understand the situation. You can go shopping with Matsuoka-kun, but there’s one condition.”

“What do I need to do?”

“Take me and Shimizu-san along with you on the shopping trip.”

“Huh?”

I let out a strange voice because it was an unexpected condition.

“What are you saying, Seto!”

“It wouldn’t be very meaningful for just me and Shimizu-san to practice alone. It would be more productive to help you two.”

“That might be true, but...”

“Matsuoka-kun, having more people to help with the shopping would be better, right?”

“...That might be true.”

Toshiya was hesitant, probably because Shimizu-san might come along.

Toshiya still felt uncomfortable around Shimizu-san.

“Then it’s decided. Let’s go quickly.”

“Hey, I haven’t agreed to go yet!”

“Are you not going? Then will you wait here alone?”

“...I didn’t say I wouldn’t go.”

It seemed Shimizu-san preferred going shopping with everyone rather than waiting alone.

And so, the four of us decided to go shopping for our class’s festival booth.

***

“So we’ve made it here, but what should we do?”

After leaving the school and walking for a while, the four of us arrived at the shopping mall.

“Well, like I told Daiki earlier, there are two main things I was asked to do. One is to buy decorations to spruce up the classroom for the festival. The other is to check the prices of ingredients for yakisoba and takoyaki.”

“If there are two things to do, we should split up.”

“That’s a good idea, especially since there are four of us. How about we divide into pairs?”

The moment I said that, Toshiya and Shimizu-san’s expressions clouded over slightly.

“...It might take time, but isn’t it okay if all four of us stick together?”

Hearing that, I finally realized.

Toshiya and Shimizu-san didn’t want to be paired with each other.

It was clear that Toshiya, and probably Shimizu-san too, wouldn’t feel comfortable being paired with someone they were uneasy about.

I hadn’t considered their feelings enough.

“No, I think it’s better if we split into pairs.”

“Seto, you...”

“It’s definitely more efficient that way. Don’t you think so, Hondō-kun?”

Our eyes met. Seto-san must understand how Toshiya and Shimizu-san feel.

Yet, she suggested splitting into pairs, so she must have her reasons.

“Like I said before, I think it’s better to split into pairs. What do you two think?”

“Not just Seto-san, but Daiki too...”

“Matsuoka-kun, do you disagree?”

“Seto-san, that look is unfair...”

“What will you do, Toshiya?”

“Alright! Let’s split into pairs! Shimizu-san, is that okay with you?”

All eyes turned to Shimizu-san.

“...That’s fine. Do whatever you want.”

“Then everyone, please throw out either rock or paper! We’ll decide the pairs based on that!”

“Got it, I’ll give the signal. Ready, set, go!”

On the cue, everyone thrust their hands forward.

***

“We’ve got the prices for the vegetables. What ingredient should we check next?”

“I think we should look at the yakisoba noodles.”

“Alright, let’s go then.”

“Understood.”

It must have been about twenty minutes since we arrived at the shopping mall.

I was with Seto-san in the grocery section, checking the prices of ingredients for yakisoba and takoyaki.

“I wonder if the other two are okay.”

The moment it was decided that Toshiya and Shimizu-san would be a pair, they both had looks of despair.

They had both said that they didn’t need to change pairs, but I wondered if they were managing the shopping without any problems.

“...I don’t know if they’re okay.”

Seto-san seemed worried too. But that left me with a question.

“Seto-san, you were the one who said it was better to split up. I thought you said that knowing this pairing might happen, but was I wrong?”

“No, you’re not wrong. I thought it would be fine even if this pairing happened.”

“Why? You knew they both had a hard time with each other, right?”

I don’t think Seto-san would do something that Toshiya and Shimizu-san would dislike without a reason.

“...I hold Matsuoka-kun and Shimizu-san in special regard.”

“I understand that, but...”

“That’s why I wanted to create an opportunity for the two of them to get along better.”

I see, so Seto-san wanted them to become friends.

If that was the intention behind inviting Shimizu-san for the shopping trip, it makes sense.