"It's a shame—knocked on his door, no response. Looks like Hijikata-san's in complete coma mode. No way he's waking up today."
Wearing his school uniform, Kuroba Akira came downstairs holding his tracksuit, shrugging with palms up.
Hijikata-san was as busy as ever—his default state was basically the same as Akira's rush-manuscript mode, grind meter maxed out.
So much for a rare get-together of all three transmigrators. Tashiro Benika gave a wry smile.
"I see… Well, let him rest. We'll just pack up something tasty for him when we come back."
Akira nodded, tossed the tracksuit to Shiginomiya, and asked,
"Mm. What about Kobayashi-obaasan?"
"I just checked—she's not in her room, and not in the yard either."
"Then same as always—off playing mahjong, I bet."
Don't think Kobayashi-obaasan's lonely just because she lost her husband—she was busy. Mornings at the pachinko parlor, afternoons at mahjong, and sometimes sweeping the discount aisles at the supermarket.
"Tch, what a delinquent old lady…"
But really, that was an enviable retired life. This was exactly Akira's dream version of lying-flat living—no worries about food or drink, free to splurge, play when you want, buy whatever you like. Just imagining it felt amazing.
To reach the level Kobayashi-obaasan had now, he still had a long way to go.
"So looks like it's just the three of us this time. Family dinner will have to wait till next time. At least today you can save your wallet from bleeding out, Benika-san."
Akira teased with a grin, and Benika puffed her cheeks and put her hands on her hips in mock-cuteness.
"Honestly, Akira—do I look like someone that stingy? This onee-san doesn't mind spending money! Money's a thing you spend when it's time to spend! Hoarding it just makes it lose value!"
"Ha…"
Right—wasn't this the same onee-san who'd once gotten drunk and cried about never wanting to go to work again?
If she really didn't care about money, she'd have quit already, right?
In the end, it was because she didn't have the capital to support herself without a job, so she had to keep doing work she hated.
But Akira didn't poke through her bravado. She was probably just trying to project a reliable "adult" side in front of them.
Anyway—free dinner? Why not.
Benika, you looked pitiful crying about your job, but you'll look beautiful picking up the check. Onee-san's the best!
"Then let's go—how about Ginza? Lots of good shops there… Speaking of which, what should we eat for dinner? It's on me, so no need to hold back."
"I'm fine with anything. How about you, Shion—anything you want?"
"Ah! Y-Yes!"
The moment she'd gotten Akira's tracksuit, Shiginomiya had held it like a monk receiving a sacred relic.
She really wanted to press Akira's just-worn tracksuit to her face and inhale several deep lungfuls, flooding her nose with her beloved's scent—but the last thread of maidenly restraint held her back.
If she was going to sniff it, she'd do it alone. Couldn't risk showing that kind of expression in front of Akira-kun. And… had to keep an eye on the moisture situation in her underwear.
Akira completely misread her silence, thinking she was grossed out by wearing a guy's clothes.
"If you think it's dirty, you can wear Benika-san's instead."
"That's fine too, but Shion-chan might not be comfy in mine. Especially in the chest—might feel a little… empty…"
Realizing she'd stepped on a landmine, Benika hurried to add,
"Ah, sorry, Shion-chan, I didn't mean that! I mean—you're not small at all! Really! Guys actually like your size better. Right, Akira?"
"Uh…"
Why are you asking me?! And aren't you just digging yourself deeper?
He'd intended to stay out of it, but Shiginomiya asked anyway, clearly curious.
"Is that true, Akira-kun?"
"Uh… well, I don't really care about size…"
"…Oh."
Her gaze turned cold.
Liar.
He'd stared at Tomita Haruka's chest plenty before…
Akira-kun did like them bigger.
"I'll wear this one!"
Shiginomiya hugged the tracksuit tight, casting a resentful glance at Benika's chest before going to change.
First, new underwear. Then a pad in place. If she was wearing Akira-kun's tracksuit, she definitely couldn't let her own scent get on it.
Turned out this defensive measure was pure genius—because once she was in the tracksuit upstairs, she couldn't hold back her restless heart.
Lying on the bottom bunk, head on his pillow, she pulled the jacket over her head, breathed in his maddening scent, and quickly, deeply slipped into a dazed state of bliss—stealing a moment of private indulgence…
The pad was an MVP—successfully preventing any flooding, not a drop leaked.
When her "sage time" ended, Shiginomiya came downstairs acting as if nothing had happened, and the three of them took the subway to Ginza.
For the clothes-shopping part, Akira was pure pack mule. He barely knew clothing brands to begin with, and in this world the brand landscape had shifted so much that he was even more clueless.
Luckily, Benika was an expert—she went straight to target stores and, replacing the shop clerk entirely, excitedly pulled pile after pile of outfits.
Shiginomiya changed into them one after another, like a cover model in a fashion magazine, holding a private mini runway show right there.
She could pull off almost any style.
She was so striking that other customers and even shop staff stared, slack-jawed. Some even wanted to take photos with her—but Akira blocked them all.
By the end, Benika nearly blew her budget and charged over ten outfits to her credit card—but thanks to Shiginomiya's desperate resistance, they settled on just three.
One white off-shoulder camisole dress with an ojou-sama air, and two loose round-neck T-shirts paired with tight denim mini-skirts.
The first was pure, the second exuded her naturally commanding aura.
Benika's fashion sense was truly on point—no surprise from someone with a makeup-industry background. Her aesthetic judgment was solid.
After buying clothes, Shiginomiya added a request—she wanted a few new pairs of socks—and asked Akira's opinion.
As a foot-fetishist, Akira had plenty to say.
After weighing his preferences, the stuffiness of summer socks, and compatibility with her new outfits, he picked for her: ultra-thin 15DD black sheer pantyhose, thicker 30DD white pantyhose, and breathable black fishnet over-the-knee socks.
Together with her existing white over-the-knee socks, she now had black and white, thigh-high and pantyhose all covered.
And because of differences in thickness and fabric, each would have a distinct feel in the hand—meaning that in future foot massages, changing her socks would be like changing the type of jade in his hands. The anticipation was off the charts.
Class Rep's bentos and Shiginomiya's socked feet—those were Akira's two current peak enjoyments.
But once he started charging "friendship fees," those two might stop offering these special perks…
Ah… so while he still could, he'd better enjoy them to the fullest.
Life's short—savor it while it lasts.
Anyway, let's enjoy it first.
---
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Okay, real talk: I am extremely hungry for money, so I'm raising membership prices soon.
BUT.
If you're already subscribed before the change, your current price stays the same as long as you remain subscribed.
So for example:
Person A is already subscribed at $7/month
Price later goes up to $14/month
Person A still pays $7/month if they stay subscribed
Meanwhile:
Person B was not subscribed before the change
After the price becomes $14/month
Person B has to pay $14/month
So yes, prices are going up, but existing members get to keep their current rate if they stay in.
Which means:
If you want the cheaper price, join before the change. Otherwise, if you subscribe later, you'll be paying the new higher amount.
Price changes happen on Monday 16th, North America time.