Chapter 2: Wanting to Give a Gift
She’s just too cute.
My girlfriend is just too cute.
She is, in fact, just too cute.
“...Hey, my girlfriend is too cute. What do you think I should do?”
“Like I’d know.”
When Yuuki said that during lunch break, Ootani, who was reading a manga, shot him down in one fell swoop.
However, Yuuki, in his high spirits, wasn't about to stop there.
“No, really. Just look at this.”
With that, Yuuki pointed at the bento box spread open on his desk.
It was a classic yet meticulously and warmly prepared homemade bento, containing tamagoyaki, kinpira with burdock root and carrots, karaage, stir-fried vegetables, and rice sprinkled with seasoned ground chicken.
“Looks delicious.”
“It’s not just that it looks delicious!! This stuff is seriously good!!”
“...So annoying.”
It felt like Ootani said something, but Yuuki decided not to pay it any mind.
Incidentally, it wasn't just this bento; from the first day she cooked for him, Hatsushiro had been making him breakfast, dinner, and his lunch bento every single day. Thanks to her, he’d been feeling incredibly healthy these past few days. It made him realize that a diet of only convenience store bento was probably lacking in many ways.
Today, too, when he returned from his part-time job, Hatsushiro would surely be waiting for him in a lit room with a warm meal prepared.
“I’m truly grateful.”
He couldn't thank her enough.
“So, well, I want to do something for her as a thank you. Something that would make a girl happy.”
“Hmm, then how about getting her a present?”
Ootani said, turning the manga she was reading towards him.
A girl, drawn with a delicate touch, was happily hugging a teddy bear, a gift from her boyfriend.
“Hmm, I see…”
He had certainly heard that girls love cute things.
In his mind, Yuuki replaced the manga's heroine with Hatsushiro.
She accepts the stuffed animal he hands her, blushing, and then...
『...Thank you (Hugging the stuffed animal tightly).』
“...Wouldn’t that be deadly cute?!”
“You’ve been deadly annoying lately…”
◇
“A present? A stuffed animal, you mean?”
“Yeah, as a thank you for always making me meals.”
That evening, while they were having dinner, Yuuki promptly decided to bring up the topic of the present to Hatsushiro.
“No, really, you don’t have to… I’d feel bad…”
However, Hatsushiro immediately shook her head.
“You’re already paying for both of our food expenses… I couldn’t possibly impose on you any further…”
“No, you don’t have to worry about that. With nothing else to do, I’ve been doing nothing but studying and working part-time jobs. I’ve got a pretty decent amount of savings.”
In fact, at this point, he could pay for both their food and utility bills for another half a year without any problem at all.
But.
“...No, even so… I’m really fine, so for someone like me…”
Hatsushiro said, looking down.
He thought she would be happy, but he hadn't expected her to be this apologetic.
Besides, she said “someone like me,” but Hatsushiro was cute, had a calm and gentle personality, and cooked delicious meals like this for him every day.
By the way, today’s menu was omurice. The eggs were sweetly seasoned and extremely delicious. He could eat it forever. She was a wonderful girl, and buying her one or two stuffed animals wouldn't make him feel like it was a waste at all.
“Ah, well, in that case, how about this? Look up something you want on a phone or something later. Anything that’s not too expensive is fine… oh, right, you don’t have a phone, do you?”
That’s right, in this day and age, Hatsushiro didn’t own a cell phone. From what he heard, it wasn’t that she’d left it at home; she had never owned one to begin with.
“Hey, aren’t you bored while I’m at school or work?”
It was strange for him to say it himself, but Yuuki’s room was rather bare, with very few belongings.
All he had were reference books, a desk, and a table; there was absolutely nothing to pass the time for entertainment.
He thought that if she could play games or surf the internet on a smartphone, it might help alleviate her boredom.
“I’m fine, I borrowed your reference books to study.”
“Even so, don't you get bored with just that?”
“Fufufu, are you the one to talk, Yuuki-san?”
“When you put it like that, I can’t say a thing. Ootani once even called me 『The Gray-Colored Youth Man』.”
After all, he was, by his own and others’ admission, a boring person who had done nothing but study and work part-time.
“But, well… maybe it’s not so gray now. You’re here when I get back. Having someone here when you come home is a really, really good thing.”
As he said that, he slowly took Hatsushiro’s hand.
Hatsushiro gently squeezed his hand back with her slender fingers.
Ever since that day he first held her hand, Hatsushiro had become able to at least do this.
“...Yuuki-san.”
“Hm?”
“...I also… like the time I spend waiting for you to come home while I’m cooking or cleaning.”
“...Is that so?”
“...Yes.”
(Damn it!! She’s such a good kid, I really want to do something to make her happy!!)
Yuuki screamed in his heart.
◇
“Hmm…”
The next day.
On his way home from school, Yuuki stopped by a cell phone shop inside a nearby shopping mall.
“Hmm. I came here thinking I’d buy one for Hatsushiro, but now that I think about it, a minor needs parental consent to buy one, don’t they?”
Besides, it would be almost a week since she came to his place, so why hadn't it become a big deal? Weren't her parents going to file a missing person's report? Her school would surely take action if she didn't show up for a while.
“And besides, considering the price of the phone itself and the monthly fees, Hatsushiro would definitely refuse. She was incredibly apologetic about just a single stuffed animal.”
He thought it was wonderful that she was such a good kid, but he also wondered if she wasn't a little too good. It would be fine if she were a little more selfish…
“Maybe I should just buy it without telling her. Hmm, but if I do that, Hatsushiro’s sense of guilt might break through the roof, and she might start feeling uncomfortable living here.”
He wanted to show his daily gratitude in a tangible form, but it would be meaningless if the other person wasn't happy about it.
As he wandered around the shopping mall, mulling over these thoughts and looking for something good, an advertisement caught his eye and made him stop in his tracks.
“...This might work.”
◇
“I’m home.”
“Welcome back, Yuuki-san.”
When he returned home, Hatsushiro greeted him as usual.
“You said you didn’t have work today, which is rare, but you’re a little late.”
“Yeah, I had something to buy.”
Hatsushiro tilted her head.
Yuuki took out what he had bought from the toy section of the shopping mall from a paper bag.
“...A game console?”
“Yup. A remake of a game I used to play a long time ago came out. It made me feel nostalgic, so I bought it. Well, I thought it would be a good way to take a break from studying. But more importantly, let’s eat. I’m starving.”
“Oh, right. We’re having grilled fish today.”
Hatsushiro’s repertoire was mainly Japanese cuisine. For some reason, her careful seasoning reminded him of his grandmother back home, and it was comforting to eat.
Tonight’s dinner was also delicious.
◇
“Alright then.”
What Yuuki had bought was the console, a PW4, and a game called 『Legend of the Holy Spear 3』.
It was a game he had played at a friend’s house when he was much younger, and he remembered having a lot of fun with it.
Yuuki said as he plugged the cables into the monitor.
Incidentally, this monitor was something Ootani had pushed on him a while ago, saying she didn't need it anymore, and it had been gathering dust, completely unused.
“Oh, it’s on.”
The opening movie began to play on the monitor.
Hatsushiro, who had probably never seen a game before, watched the footage with intense interest.
“...It’s beautiful.”
“Yeah. The one I played back in the day was all pixel art, and the characters didn’t have voices. The technological progress these days is really amazing.”
Well, he did like the old pixel art for its own charm.
Yuuki picked up the controller.
“Alright, let’s do this. Here, Hatsushiro.”
“...Eh?”
Hatsushiro blinked her eyes, staring at the 2P controller I offered her.
“This game can be played by two people. Would you like to play with me?”
“...”
Hatsushiro reached for the controller, looking very hesitant. As if she were asking herself if it was okay for her to touch such a thing.
“Please, Hatsushiro… okay?”
“...Y-yes.”
When I asked her again in the softest voice possible, Hatsushiro took the controller.
The way she fiddled with it, a bit bewildered by the new sensation yet intrigued, was incredibly cute.
“Alright, game start.”
◇
To sum it up, Hatsushiro was a complete and utter gaming novice.
First off, she didn’t know the basic conventions of the A and B buttons. Anyone our age would know that A is for confirm and B is for cancel; it’s practically second nature. But Hatsushiro kept getting it wrong, bowing her head and saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
As such, her handling of the controls was also completely off the wall.
Right now, we were in the middle of a battle, but the beastman character Hatsushiro had chosen was endlessly practicing combos in an empty space. It was the kind of bizarre behavior you’d expect from someone on Tami〇lu.
“S-sorry, Yuuki-san. I’ll be right there!! Uhm, here I go!!”
Hatsushiro exclaimed, tilting the stick with her entire body.
As a result, her beastman character ran in the opposite direction of the enemy for some reason and continued to run in place in front of a rock at the edge of the stage. Where on earth was it trying to go? Ho〇warts, maybe?
“Phew. That was close. Managed to beat them somehow.”
Yuuki somehow managed to defeat the enemies by himself. His HP was in the red.
“The enemies are getting tougher around here. Oh, a goddess statue to heal. That's a nice touch. This is a good place to stop for today.”
Yuuki said as he saved the game and turned off the power.
“...Ugh, I’m sorry. I just kept holding you back.”
Hatsushiro had been apologizing constantly.
“Well, everyone starts like that. So, how was it? Did you have fun?”
When asked that, Hatsushiro fidgeted with her long black hair with her right hand, looking a little troubled.
I’d recently learned that this was a habit of hers when she was hesitating about whether to say what was on her mind. Yuuki decided to wait patiently until Hatsushiro made up her mind.
Eventually, Hatsushiro opened her mouth slightly and said apologetically.
“Um… I know it’s presumptuous of me to say this after causing so much trouble… but… it was fun.”
At those words, Yuuki…
Yes!! he thought, striking a triumphant pose in his mind.
“Um, Yuuki-san. What’s wrong? Why the sudden victory pose?”
“Eh? Ah, no, no, it’s nothing. But, well, you were pretty bad at it, huh?”
“...Ugh.”
“So, how about this? If you feel like it, you can use the other save file to practice. You can progress through the story on your own with this one.”
“Eh, ah, yes. You’re right. I can’t cause you any more trouble.”
“Exactly. Well, I’m going to take a bath.”
Yuuki said as he stood up and stretched with satisfaction.
With this, she should be able to kill some time while she's alone.
(I had fun myself, too. Ah, now that I think about it, when was the last time I had fun playing a game…)
Although it took away some of his study time, he felt that time like this wasn’t so bad. That was what Yuuki thought.
◇
“Huh. Playing games with your girlfriend, eh?”
The next day, during the usual school lunch break. Ootani said as she ate her katsu sando from the school store.
“Yeah. I’m glad Hatsushiro seemed to enjoy it too. She might even be practicing right now… Hm? What’s with the surprised look?”
“Well, I’m just surprised that you were so considerate.”
“Hold on, hold on. That makes it sound like I’m usually an inconsiderate person.”
“...Eh?”
“Hey, stop making that face like you’re put off and thinking, ‘You really didn’t realize?’”
“I’m kidding. You’re not obvious about it, but you’re always considerate of others. It’s just profoundly hard to notice. As hard to notice as the difference between the Takasaki-bound and the Kagohara-bound trains on the Shōnan-Shinjuku Line.”
“That example is hard to understand!!”
Well, I mean. I did once mistakenly get on the Kagohara-bound train on my way back from Tokyo.
“This time, it just came out in an obvious way, I guess. You bought the game for her… for Hatsushiro-san, was it? You even went out of your way to say things like, ‘I got nostalgic, so play with me,’ or ‘Practice before we play together next time,’ so she wouldn’t feel reserved.”
Being completely seen through by Ootani, Yuuki felt a little awkward.
“Was it an unnecessary gesture?”
“I don’t think so. More importantly, that girl, Hatsushiro, seems to have more than just a few issues, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, you think so too?”
“It’s not normal for a kid nowadays not to have a cell phone or to have never played a game before. And the fact that her parents and school haven’t said anything even though she’s been staying at your place for days is just… odd.”
Ootani was right. He hadn't told her about how she had tried to jump off the roof of an abandoned building, or about the bruises and scars visible under her clothes, but even without that, it was sufficiently abnormal.
Yuuki decided to voice what he had been thinking.
“Also, she's an incredibly good kid, but I think she's too good.”
“Right. I wonder what kind of life she was living before she ended up at your place… Hey. Her school is that nearby all-girls' school, right? I have an acquaintance there, should I try to look into it?”
Ootani suggested, but after a moment of thought, I shook my head.
“...Hatsushiro doesn’t try to talk about herself. For me… I like the Hatsushiro who makes me dinner and waits for me every night. So, I think I’d rather leave her past alone until she naturally gets her feelings in order and feels like talking about it herself.”
“Hmph, yes, yes. Thanks for the dose of happy lovey-dovey aura. It’s giving me heartburn.”
Ootani let out a sigh as if completely exasperated.
“Well, you’re the type who doesn’t like to interfere with others unnecessarily. Still, there are a lot of people in this world who really want to say something but can’t bring themselves to do it. And those kinds of people are unconsciously waiting for someone to meddle in their business. Especially girls.”
“Is that how it is?”
“That’s how it is.”
Ootani said, her gaze drifting into the distance.
◇
“Wanting to say something but not being able to… huh?”
On the way home from his part-time job, Ootani’s words stuck in the back of his mind.
Well, of course, Yuuki was curious about Hatsushiro’s past.
Walking with a somewhat gloomy feeling, he found himself in front of his house before he knew it.
“But still, she seems to have really settled into my apartment recently.”
Her smile, which was a little stiff at first, had now become incredibly natural.
“I’m home.”
Especially the smile that greeted him with an “okaerinasai” when he came home like this, it was like that of an angel…
“...Ah, welcome home… Yuuki-san.”
“...”
Seeing Hatsushiro come out from the kitchen, Yuuki frowned slightly.
Her complexion seemed a bit pale. And, he couldn’t help but feel she was a little unsteady on her feet.
“What’s wrong, Yuuki-san?”
“Hatsushiro… did something happen?”
At Yuuki’s words, Hatsushiro’s eyes darted around for a moment before she spoke.
“No, um… nothing in particular…”
“...I see. Let me know if something’s wrong.”
“Y-yes. Oh, it’s curry today.”
“Oh, is it?”
After that, everything was as usual.
The curry Hatsushiro made was incredibly delicious, and she didn’t seem any different from her usual self.
That day, his part-time job had been busy, and he had gotten home later than usual, so they didn't play any games, and Yuuki went to sleep.
◇
From that day on, Hatsushiro's condition gradually worsened, little by little.
She herself would say, "I'm fine, it's nothing," but her complexion was clearly not good.
Ootani's words replayed in his mind over and over.
『There are a lot of people in this world who really want to say something but can’t bring themselves to do it. And those kinds of people are unconsciously waiting for someone to meddle in their business. Especially girls.』
His part-time job had been busy for the past few days, causing him to come home later than usual, which only heightened Yuuki's anxiety.
And then, one evening.
As Hatsushiro stood up to clear the dinner dishes.
She suddenly collapsed on the spot.
“Hatsushiro!!”
Yuuki rushed over in a panic. Regret swirled in his mind.
He knew it, Hatsushiro had been acting strange these past few days. Wasn’t there something more he could have done before this happened?
(That's not it. Right now, I need to call an ambulance...)
However.
“Hm?”
As Yuuki tried to help the fallen Hatsushiro up.
“...suu—, ...suu—”
He could hear peaceful breathing.
“Hmm?”
“...suu—, Sanctuary of Ma〇a… Will-o'-Wisps… Boos〇boo…”
“Hmmmm?”
What Hatsushiro was mumbling were terms from 『Legend of the Holy Spear 3』, if he remembered correctly…
Yuuki laid Hatsushiro on the bed, then turned on 『Legend of the Holy Spear 3』, which he hadn’t touched since they first played it.
And then, his eyes widened.
“What in the world is this?”
Below Save Data 1, which the two of them had played on, Save Data 2 had been 100% completed.
“Playtime, sixty hours…”
It had only been four days since he bought it.
“So, what, this is… just sleep deprivation?”
“...Ugh, Ninja Ma〇ter is… so tough…”
Hatsushiro mumbled in her sleep.
◇
The next day at noon. It was a holiday.
After sleeping soundly for twelve hours, Hatsushiro woke up, and Yuuki spoke to her.
“So you were playing all day long, huh? Waking up secretly in the middle of the night too.”
“...Yes. You’re such a heavy sleeper, Yuuki-san, so I figured I wouldn't wake you if I played with the sound off.”
Hatsushiro said, sitting in seiza in front of Yuuki with her head down.
It was true that Yuuki, usually exhausted from studying and working, was an extremely heavy sleeper. He was the type who wouldn't wake up from a little noise.
“Still, you really went all out. You’ve collected almost all the equipment, haven’t you?”
Oh, this character has this kind of equipment in the remake, huh.
Seeing the other equipment in CG like this gives it a different, fresh impression.
“...I’m sorry.”
Hatsushiro's dejection was severe.
From Yuuki's perspective, he didn't think she'd done anything particularly wrong, but...
“...I made you worry. I couldn't even make breakfast this morning, and above all... while you were working so hard at your studies and your job, I was just playing around.”
Yes. That was the kind of girl Hatsushiro was.
She was an overly good girl who would reflect so strongly on something like this, considering the other person’s circumstances.
Her voice was trembling. Like a child being scolded by their parents for breaking a window.
She looked like she was about to cry at any moment. Fear or regret, she was likely terrified of the anger she expected to receive from him. He didn’t know why it was like this, but Hatsushiro had a tendency to excessively fear others’ anger.
Hatsushiro spoke in a strained voice.
“...I will never play games again. So please.”
Therefore,
“Yeah. I’m glad. That you enjoyed it so much.”
Yuuki said in a cheerful voice.
“...Eh?”
Hatsushiro looked at him blankly, as if she didn't understand what he had just said.
“What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“You played for sixty hours, which means you had fun, right?”
Hatsushiro was frozen for a moment, but eventually replied in a small voice.
“...Yes, very much. Um...”
Hatsushiro asked, her voice filled with apprehension.
“...You’re not angry?”
Yuuki let out a sigh, moved closer to Hatsushiro, and placed his hand over her trembling one.
Hatsushiro, who had been looking down, raised her face.
Their eyes met. Yuuki looked straight into Hatsushiro’s eyes and said.
“I’m not angry.”
“...!!”
“I wouldn’t get angry over something like this. In the first place, I kind of bought this game for you to have fun with during your free time.”
“Oh, is that so? I had a feeling that might be the case, but…”
“So, I’m happy that you enjoyed it. That’s all. Oh, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t forget to make meals. Lately, eating your cooking has become one of my reasons for living.”
“..., ...Uuu.”
“Huh?”
“Uuu-waaaaaaaaaaaaaah…”
“Whoa!? What’s wrong?”
Hatsushiro suddenly started crying like a child. What was going on? Did he squeeze her hand too hard?
Panicked, Yuuki tried to pull his hand away, but Hatsushiro gripped it tightly.
“...Yuuki-san… why… why are you so kind to me…?”
Hatsushiro asked, her eyes welling with tears.
It wasn't so much that he was being kind; from Yuuki’s perspective, he was just doing what he wanted to do for Hatsushiro. He hadn't expected her to cry this much, so he was starting to panic.
But well, if she was asking why, then it was because.
“I’m your boyfriend, after all. Hatsushiro’s.”
Hearing that, the tears flowed from Hatsushiro's eyes with even greater force.
Yuuki hesitated for a moment, then gently patted the sobbing Hatsushiro on the head.
The feel of Hatsushiro’s soft hair was pleasant.
For a while, the sound of Hatsushiro’s crying echoed in the quiet room.
“...It’s okay, it’s okay. When you calm down, we’ll play together, okay? The game.”
He said, over and over again. Yuuki continued to stroke Hatsushiro's head until she stopped crying.
◇
Once Hatsushiro calmed down, they decided to play a game together before his part-time job in the evening.
He loaded Save Data 1, the one they had played together on the first day he bought it.
Now, as for Hatsushiro’s skills, honed over four days of playing without sleep…
“Ah, Yuuki-san. I’ll take care of this enemy (shupapapapa).”
“O-okay.”
Sh-she’s good. She was overwhelming the mid-boss with a mysterious combo that Yuuki couldn't even comprehend, taking almost no counterattacks.
“Tch, I took a hit I didn't need to. How impudent…”
It seems like it would be better for me to just focus on support so I don't get in her way.
That's how strong the beastman character Hatsushiro controlled was. While Yuuki was mesmerized by her brilliant play, the mid-boss unceremoniously exploded into a million pieces.
“Phew… Five minutes and thirteen seconds. Because I took that one unnecessary hit, I lost five seconds compared to the last time I fought it. A mistake of a lifetime. I apologize for showing you something so embarrassing.”
“No, it was spectacular enough that I couldn't even tell what you were doing.”
Besides, this wasn’t supposed to be a time attack game in the first place.
“Ah, from this map, it’s better to go to the end of this passage instead of the way you came in. I think it’s probably a glitch, but you can get to a town that’s supposed to be accessible later and buy stronger equipment.”
She had even discovered something like a secret trick. She hadn't spent sixty hours in four days for nothing.
“Fufufu, a rare enemy has appeared. I'll be taking those experience points.”
(Hmm, but, maybe… I feel a little lonely.)
While watching Hatsushiro play the game happily with a smile, Yuuki couldn’t help but think that.
For some reason, it felt like she was smiling more brightly and energetically than ever before. To be jealous of a game, he mocked himself for being such a petty man.
“Ah, Yuuki-san. It's almost time for your part-time job. Shall we stop here?”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
At Hatsushiro’s words, Yuuki saved the game and turned off the console.
The beautiful graphics and sound disappeared, leaving only Yuuki and Hatsushiro sitting side by side in front of the monitor in the now quiet room.
There was still a little time before he had to go to work. Yuuki wished they could stay like this and talk a little longer.
“You’ve gotten so good, Hatsushiro. I couldn’t do anything but follow you.”
As Yuuki said ,
“Um… Yuuki-san.”
“What is it?”
“Your… shoulder.”
Shoulder? Yuuki looked at his own shoulder, but there was nothing on it.
Hatsushiro fidgeted for a moment, then eventually spoke with great trepidation.
“Is it okay if I lean on it?”
“Eh? Ah, yeah. I don’t mind.”
Yuuki was a little surprised by the unexpected request.
“But, are you sure you’re okay?”
After all, this was Hatsushiro, who was so afraid of being touched by people that she couldn’t even touch his hand at first.
“I-it would be a lie if I said I wasn’t scared… but… I want to, so…”
Hatsushiro said, trembling slightly.
I see, so Hatsushiro is trying to move forward despite her fear.
“I see. Well then, here.”
“Y-yes. Here I go…”
After saying that, Hatsushiro froze for a moment in hesitation, but then.
Eventually, thump, a warm sensation rested on Yuuki’s shoulder.
“It’s warm… Yuuki-san… Thank you.”
The gentle scent, different from his own despite using the same shampoo, made Yuuki’s heart beat a little faster.
They stayed like that for a while, savoring each other’s body heat and the silence, until Hatsushiro finally spoke.
“...Hey, Yuuki-san. You’ve been coming home late recently, haven't you? Is work busy?”
“Yeah, it’s been a little hectic. But the busy period is over now.”
“I see… That’s good.”
Hatsushiro said in a genuinely relieved voice, and then placed her hand on top of Yuuki’s.
“...Um, I know it’s not right for me to think this way when you’re working so hard at your studies and your job outside. But the truth is, it makes me happy when you come home early.”
Hatsushiro rested her head on Yuuki's shoulder.
“The game is fun… but… but, I’m happier when I’m spending time like this with you, Yuuki-san…”
“Hatsushiro…”
Ah.
Really.
She's so cute.
Her face turning red, as if she became embarrassed after saying it herself, was so endearing.
…I’m starting to want to skip work today.
I want to stay like this for another sixty hours.
◇
As they started dating as boyfriend and girlfriend, he began to see various sides of Hatsushiro.
That’s what Yuuki thought.
At first, she had the impression of a dark, gloomy girl. After talking to her for a bit, he realized she was an elegant, domestic, and incredibly good girl. But then, she was so good that she became overly frightened, and she could also get passionately engrossed in a game.
“She's just too cute, no matter what side of her I see. What do you think I should do?”
“Ahhh, yes, yes. You look so haaaappy.”
The next day, when he told Ootani about it, she brushed him off with a monotone voice while stuffing her face with a katsu sando.
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