On the last Saturday of May, at ten o'clock in the morning, Hikigaya and Naho Imamura were leisurely strolling through the streets of Nishi-Ikebukuro.
This outing wasn't work-related, and there was no Machida-chan around to bother Naho. She was thoroughly enjoying her time with Hachiman, especially since he had mentioned on the phone that he wanted to buy her a gift. She felt that the busyness of the past few months had been worth it.
To be frank, Sakuraba isn't a shady company. Even though she had been busy with overtime recently, Naho had been able to take advantage of various benefits, subsidies, and bonuses. As an unmarried woman, she could save money quite quickly. One day, while checking her account balance, she even entertained the illusion that if she continued to work hard, she might be able to buy a house in Chiyoda Ward.
But then reality set in, and she glanced at Hachiman, who, at just fifteen, could actually afford a house in Chiyoda Ward. She felt a wave of envy and let out a sigh without realizing it.
"What's wrong, Editor Imamura?" Hikigaya asked softly.
"Yeah, it's nothing. I was just thinking that if you were Mr. Hachiman, you should be able to buy a house in Chiyoda-ku."
"A house in Chiyoda Ward... It's a bit expensive, even for me. A slightly larger house would cost hundreds of millions of yen, not to mention the additional expenses every month. It's simply a bottomless pit. I think Chiba is a better option," Hikigaya replied.
Whenever he had free time, he would also look at houses in Chiyoda Ward. The prices were so high that he could hardly believe they existed.
"So you, Mr. Hachiman, can't afford the housing prices in Chiyoda either!? It really isn't a place for regular people. I might as well quit my job and go to Fuzuigawa Bunko to join Sonoko..." Naho Imamura said, growing more and more dejected as she spoke and lowering her head.
"Don't worry, this is just how life is in the capital. Editor Imamura, you've done better than most people," Hikigaya said, unsure of how to comfort someone who felt trapped by corporate life.
"Yeah, you're right, Mr. Hachiman. I think after working so hard for so many years since graduation, meeting you is the best gift life has given me," Naho said, turning to look at Hikigaya with sparkling eyes, as if she was cherishing a divine gift.
"Ahahaha... Editor Imamura, let's go check out the presents," Hikigaya said, turning his head away to avoid her intense gaze.
"No, absolutely not, Mr. Hachiman. I cannot accept such a valuable gift, no matter what. Please understand," she insisted.
"It's just Cartier; you're making a fuss, Editor Imamura." Hikigaya, who had a passion for watches, was browsing in a Cartier store in Ginza with Naho.
"What do you mean by 'it's just Cartier'? Hachiman, your sense of spending is completely off!" Naho exclaimed, exasperated. She found his perspective quite shocking but acknowledged his abilities.
"Really? Editor Imamura, your monthly salary should be enough for you to buy one of these," Hikigaya replied, puzzled. He didn't see any need to pretend; he truly didn't think these watches were that expensive.
"Who gave you the impression that you can save money by working and living in Tokyo…" Naho said, holding her forehead with her hand. If she used a month's salary to buy a watch there, she might not even have enough left to take the subway later.
"Don't worry, Editor Imamura. I don't usually spend money recklessly. I just feel that you've helped me so much all along, and this watch isn't enough to express my gratitude," Hikigaya said sincerely.
"Your words are enough for me, Mr. Hachiman. As an editor, there are many things I should do. But I truly can't accept such an expensive gift. If I don't wear the gift you give me, it will feel meaningless. Wearing it out might also create a bad impression. You may not understand, but in our world, all sorts of rumors can arise," Naho explained.
Seeing the other party's reaction, Hikigaya decided not to insist any longer. He took Imamura Naho to the Longines store next door. As a well-regarded brand at the lower end of the high-priced watch market, Longines is particularly popular among female customers. Imamura accepted the watch that Hachiman had selected for her, which cost less than 200,000 yen.
"Hehe, I'm going to take a selfie and send it to Yuanzi. I can't wait to see her jealous expression," Naho said excitedly as she put on the watch, raising her hand to block the sun and examine it closely.
"At least try not to irritate Editor Machida until after the awards ceremony tonight. I don't want to be bombarded with phone calls and emails from her," Hikigaya replied weakly.
"Don't worry, I understand. There will be plenty of chances to annoy her in the future," Naho said cheerfully, even changing the way she addressed him. She naturally placed her hand on Hikigaya's shoulder, feeling the moment warranted the familiarity.
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"What the—?" Haruno felt as if her eyes were deceiving her.
How could she see Hikigaya walking intimately with another woman, their arms casually draped over each other's shoulders? She had just set out for a stroll around Ikebukuro to relax before the award ceremony. Why was the universe punishing her like this?
As she took a closer look, it became increasingly clear that the boy was indeed Hikigaya . Her heart sank further.
"Haha, I thought I had everything under control," Yukinoshita Haruno said self-deprecatingly. All the plans she had painstakingly crafted now seemed a bit ridiculous in light of this new development.
"But isn't this woman a bit older? Is she Mr. Hachiman's mother? No, that seems too young... Could she be another relative?" Haruno pondered silently. She noticed that the woman beside Hachiman appeared to be at least a generation older than him. However, in all her previous conversations with Hikigaya, he had never mentioned having any relatives such as sisters, and this woman bore no resemblance to him.
"So being three years older than me isn't enough. I have to be thirteen years older than Hachiman to have a chance?" Yukinoshita Haruno complained.
Although this unexpected discovery had occurred during her shopping trip, Haruno's plan would not change. Realizing that her competitors extended beyond just Yukino, who had yet to join the fray, she knew she needed to act quickly.
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