Youko Miyake's gratifying attitude.

Youko Miyake

I was going to buy it for you, you blockhead! Stop trying to act like a hero! I'm trying to make you happy!

I sighed, then hugged the teddy bear more tightly.

... What am I going to do if he doesn't even smile once today? That was my plan for today, anyways. Trying to make Okumori smile. He never seems happy in the slightest and is always having this gloomy mood that surrounds him every time I approach him.

Just for once, I'd like to see that atmosphere of his turn into a delighted one. Even if it was for a few seconds.

I shoved the teddy bear to his chest. "You hold it now!"

Okumori stumbled back after I had pushed him, and held the teddy bear provokingly.

"Jeez..." I mumbled.

There was still Kojima's option. The good luck coin keychain. Hopefully, Okumori won't do this “valiant” stunt of his once more. Seriously, why did he have to buy the teddy bear? Does he feel bad for me? If so... Then that's generous, but still! I brought a lot of money for today, and he won't even let me spend some of it?!

I leaned closer to Okumori. "That was kind of selfish of you to do..."

He apprehensively brought himself back.

Well, even if I say that, it's just insincerity at best. Buying this teddy bear for him was just an individualistic thing to think of. An artificial act, as much as I hate to say it. It was just because I wanted to benefit from it.

It's selfish of me to do this compassionate act if I'm only thinking of myself.

Seriously, I just want to close our distance.

Plus, that was all I could think of for today! If I just… Didn’t fall asleep in his bed… Then… Then we could’ve gone to so many stores already! Ohhh, Screw you, sleepiness! Now I have to rely on that weird pervert’s- Kojima’s idea!

Okumori didn't say anything and only stepped back while holding the teddy bear with his right arm wrapped around it. After seeing him in such a childlike pose, I couldn't help but let out a weary sigh.

I cleared my throat. "I can't get mad at you if you look that adorable."

Okumori's cheeks turned to a crimson hue before he shook his head rapidly. He then looked at me with peeved eyes.

Oh, I'm such a teaser, aren't I?

"Relax, I'm not flirting with you! It's just a joke!" I grinned. "Don't worry, you'll find a better girl eventually!"

Okumori breathed out. "I'm not looking for a significant other. Especially you." He said in his usual affronted voice.

"Haah? What? Am I not good enough for you?" I sarcastically spoke. "I have pretty big boobs too, you know. Are your standards high? Do you like bigger girls? Like, busty ones?" I proposed while I held my breasts with my hands.

"I—Wh—?" Okumori stuttered, with his confident look earlier now returning to a mess of redness just like before.

His cheeks were also the most flustered I've ever seen yet, and it looked like his head was going to pop any second.

"I'm just kidding, haha!" I laughed.

I removed my hands from my chest and slapped his shoulder. A cute and meek sound came out of him when I did so, only making me more vivacious.

"Hmm? Was I right? Do you like taller girls? Bigger bust? Is that your type of girl?" I went back to joking.

Okumori shook his head rapidly, downright rejecting my statements.

"... Sh-Shut up." He innocently grumbled, then looked down at the floor. I could see his bright red ears that hid behind his silky smooth black hair.

I froze and looked at him in shock.

"Woah. That was cute." I bluntly said.

Okumori had small and sinless grunts coming out of him while he frowned.

"You had a side like this too?! Is this even legal to look at?! You're like a small little child! It's so cute!" I stepped forwards and inspected him closely. "But, wow, you can get pretty flustered, huh? Did I just activate some kind of dere mode in you?"

He frantically waved his free arm at me without a word in evident bashfulness.

"You're so helpless... But it's so funny to watch." I exhaled. "Fine, fine! I won't tease you anymore! Let's go! I still have other places I want to go to! We should go to—!"

Wait… What was the name of the keychain store again?

"To..." I said again, lowering my hands in unison. "To..."

It was then that I was now embarrassed.

Where do I even get a good luck coin keychain here? I’ve never even been in here before! Kojima never told me! He just said, “get it!” What does that even mean?! Where, Kojima?! From my pocket?!

"Erm... Somewhere..." I awkwardly smiled towards him.

Okumori's voiceless personality only made it worse, and I was already too shy to try and change his brooding humor.

"W-We should leave! On to the next store!" I tried to spread a fervent tone.

I walked outside the toy store with Okumori following. He didn't say anything, of course, and only continued to zone out as we walked. I glanced over at him and noticed his usual dour appearance, along with the remains of red on his cheeks from earlier.

Well, at least he isn't completely emotionless.

"So? Was I right about your type?" I asked.

As per usual, Okumori pointed his head even farther away from my eyes to overlook my question.

"We're not at that level yet, huh?" I forced a smirk.

I wonder how long it'll be when Okumori will start talking to me as if I was his friend.

While he continued to look to the side, I could notice his dry but rather spotless cheek, and his long eyelashes.

"You have some pretty eyelashes, Ki-kun. It's kinda cool." I remarked.

"Will you stop flirting with me? It makes me cringe." He harshly spat.

There was a sudden warmth that wrapped around my head after his insult.

“I’m not flirting, damn it! I’m just complimenting you! You’re not even cringing either, you dummy, you’re just blushing!” I shrieked at him.

"I'm not blushing." A monotonous reply came out of him. “Who said I was blushing?”

"I did! What, are you just red because of the heat? It’s cold here, Ki-kun!”

Okumori groaned and finally faced me. He swallowed, then changed his discomfited appearance into a revolted one.

I aggressively pointed at him now. “I-It's too late to do that! It's just weird! It just doesn't make sense! You can't just change your expression to a desperate attempt to look at me disgustingly!"

He had the face of "That's exactly what I just did."

I lowered my finger. "Fine! But, even so, I now know you like tall girls!" I then leaned forwards and cupped my hands around my mouth, whispering. "You probably like being dominated too, don't you?!"

That was enough for his composed look to vanish away. He immediately planted his palms on his face loudly to cover the uneasy expression he had while he denied my speculation by vigorously shaking his head.

I crossed my arms and huffed with the feeling of victory overcoming me.

"Anyways!" I hollered. "I'm thirsty. I want to go buy something."

Okumori let out a shy nod.

He's really embarrassed, isn't he?

Well, If I am right with this claim of Okumori having an eye for bigger girls, then that steers me away from his attention. I just didn't know whether to feel relieved or demoralized about it. If I indeed was some tall, ambitious, and assertive girl, would he open up to me? Or would he continue this forlorn and isolated life?

Ah, I don't know anymore. I’ll worry about it later!

"Hey, speaking of girls, do you actually think there's someone perfect for you out there? You know, someone who'll comfort you, love you, blah blah..." I inquired while we walked.

He lowered his hands, revealing his still present rosy image, but mixed in with a stumped look.

“Well, I’m just wondering!” I justified myself.

He shook his head now as an answer.

I tilted my head to the right. "Huh. Really? Do you not believe in love, Ki-kun?"

“Trying to find someone perfect is like deliberately stepping on landmines..." He said in a low-toned voice.

"That's pretty edgy to say, you know." I shrugged.

His unpleasantness gradually disappeared, and now he just looked at me with his cold, violet eyes as we strolled forwards. He looked offended by my facetious comment, and it made me grin.

"Though, I think you're right in a way. Everyone is flawed. So, saying that a person is perfect is just a downright lie. But, mistakes are inevitable, and you'll never find a way to stop making them. That's why you should just accept them."

I put my head back up and smiled at him.

"The more you adore someone, the more they become your own definition of perfect. That's what I think, anyway."

"... What, did you get that quote online?"

I grimaced at him. "Oh, shut up, party-pooper.”

But, he didn't seem to argue against my claim either, and that was enough to please me a little bit.

He rolled his eyes and walked ahead of me. As he passed by, I could see the teddy bear we had bought earlier now mounted on his shoulders. I had to hold in my laughter after spotting it.

I can't take him seriously if he's treating the teddy bear like a kid.

We would see the food court that was occupied by many people: all lively and high-spirited as they returned words with one another. There was the smell of a variety of foods, with the main aroma being fried garlic that made me famished and drooling.

There was the white, spotless floor that we stood on, and the mass amounts of tables and chairs all colored in hazel in front of us, with people crowding around them and sitting down while they ate their food joyfully.

"Woah..." I murmured.

I turned to Okumori and saw him staring at the food with enviousness. Once I had seen his coveted eyes, an idea popped into my head.

Will this make him happy?